PPMA OFFICERS
Ed Van Istendal
President
Ensystex
Coatesville, PA
Paul Kutney
President Elect
Orkin
Ashley, PA
Keith Hamilton
Vice President
J.C. Ehrlich Co.
State College, PA
David M. Hyres
Past President
David M. Hyres Pest Control
Douglassville, PA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Central Division
Gary Lesher
Governor
Perry Pest Control
Landisburg, PA
Keith Hamilton
J.C. Ehrlich
Pleasant Gap, PA
Keith Jones
Archer Pest Control
Camp Hill, PA
Eastern Division
Jim Daly
Governor
Daly Termite & Pest Mgmnt
Ardmore, PA
Ed Van Istendal
1st Vice Governor
Coatesville, PA
Mike Snyder
Township Pest Control
Warrington, PA
Jim Nase
Moyer Indoor/Outdoor
Souderton,
Northeast Division
Paul Kutney
Orkin
Ashley, PA
Diane Lown
Ajax Environmental Solutions
Dalton, PA
Jeff King
The Pest Rangers
Hanover Twp., PA
Western Division
John Morrison
Governor
D-Bug, Inc.
Latrobe, PA
Adam Witt
Witt Pest Management
Pittsburgh, PA
Eric Herrington
Terminix
Bridgeville, PA
John Besic
Besic Pest Control
Transfer, PA
Technical Advisor
Chad Gore
Rentokil North America
Carnegie, PA
AWDII Chairman
Ed Van Istendal
Coatesville, PA
Legislative Chairman
Keith Hamilton
J.C. Ehrlich
State College, PA
Bed Bug Taskforce Chairman
Marty Overline
Aardvark Pest Management
Philadelphia, PA
Salino Scholarship Chair
Dana Lown
Ajax Environmental Solutions
Dalton, PA
Industry Liaison
Brian Smith
Univar
Sharon Hill, PA
Executive Director
Versant Strategies
Harrisburg, PA
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Dear Friends:
PPMA's Eastern Division had a busy weekend at Delaware Valley University's A-Days Celebration at the end of April. New to the exhibit this year was a butterfly house with a butterfly mascot as well! Lori Lewis donned a butterfly outfit and flitted about the DVU grounds drawing children and adults to the exhibit area where insects on loan from The Insectarium were displayed. Kids were fascinated as usual with Rosie the Tarantula and Maddie the Hissing Cockroach from Madagascar. Thanks to all who made this event another successful PPMA endeavor.
The Northeast Division hosted its spring conference again this year at the PNC ball field in Moosic with a training program and a ballgame in the evening. PPMA's President-elect Paul Kutney got some one-on-one time with Champ, the Rail Riders mascot. The meeting agenda focused on dealing with flies, rodents, and bed bugs. Oh my!
It's time to renew your annual PPMA dues. If you have not received a renewal notice for July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, please contact the PPMA office at 1-800-842-9090.
Team Versant
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EPA's Pollinator Protection Policy and White House Pollinator Task Force Report
Despite much speculation about an Earth Day announcement, the White House and EPA still have not released their much anticipated pollinator protection strategies. So to recap, here's what we do know to date:
- EPA has stated publicly that the Task Force Report has been submitted and will become available for public comment in the first part of the 2015 (Interpretation: before June 30th).
- The EPA updated policy utilize a dual approach: a) label changes for pesticides to protect managed pollinators at or near the application site, and b) state-developed pollinator protection plans intended to help mitigate potential exposure to managed pollinators visiting the treated areas from hives housed away from the application site.
- EPA is encouraging states to develop managed pollinator protection plans that are specific to conditions in their state/region. EPA has indicated that they will not review/approve these plans, but will provide support/input if needed.
- NPMA has developed Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection that can serve as model language for state managed pollinator protection plans with regard to the structural pest control industry. Stakeholder involvement is a key principle in the development of state plans and PMPs are encouraged to engage through their state associations.
- NPMA has championed the industry's position that structural pest control applications typically pose no threat to pollinators. In fact, in some situations, otherwise beneficial pollinators may become pests, and must be controlled.
NPMA has developed pollinator focused resources for both the public and industry. Consumer-focused designed to be shared with clients can be accessed at: www.pollinatorhealth.org.
Industry-focused resources, including the NPMA Best Management Practices for Pollinator Protection, information about getting involved in the development of your state's pollinator protection plan, and guidance for fighting local pesticide bans disguised as pollinator protection efforts, visit: www.pollinatorfacts.org .
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Upcoming Meetings
The Eastern Division continues to hold its monthly meetings with varying topics of discussion on the second Thursday of every month at the Crowne Plaze in Trevose. For more information on monthly topics and speakers, contact Sue at (215) 331-1121.
Mark your calendars now for PPMA's 2015 Annual Conference on November 9 & 10 at the Eden Resort in Lancaster.
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Paige E. Miller of Halifax, PA is awarded $700.00. She was sponsored by Hillcrest Critter & Pest Control. She is presently attending Harrisburg Area Community College. Throughout her high school career she has been in Student Council and the National Honor Society. Paige plans for a career in Biology or Zoology. Her GPA is 98.27 and her class rank 9 out of 72. Elizabeth Lee Knaub of Dover, PA is awarded $700.00. She was sponsored by Rentokil/Ehrlich. Elizabeth has been admitted to Shenandoah University and will major in music performance on the viola. She aspires to play the viola in a professional orchestra. She has participated in York Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Dover Area High School Symphonic Band & Choir. She is a two year member of the National Honor Society. She recently won the York Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and will be performing her concerto with the orchestra at the May concert. Elizabeth attained a 94.58 GPA and her class rank is 28 out of 217. Kristen M. Applegate of Springfield, PA is awarded $700.00. She was sponsored by Jones Termite & Pest Control. Kristen has been granted admission to Temple University's Division of Theater, Film and Media Arts. She would like to work in the film or television industry. She is a member of Covenant UMC Appalachia Service Project, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and many others. Kristen received the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. She attained a 3.6 GPA and is in the top 15% of her class. The Salino Scholarships are awarded annually by the Pennsylvania Pest Management Association to high school students who are residents of Pennsylvania and who have been accepted as full time students at an accredited 4 year college or university or enrolled in a 2 year associate degree program leading to an Associate or Bachelor's degree. Applicants must be sponsored by a Pennsylvania Certified/Registered Applicator and/or an owner or employee of a pest control company which has maintained active membership in the PPMA for a minimum of 4 years and is currently an active member in good standing. Applicants must also meet two of the following requirements: "B" high school grade average or GED equivalent; minimum of 900 combined SAT score (reading & math only); is now attending college, minimum of 2.8 cumulative college GPA. Documentation & other application information are required. We congratulate this year's winners and wish them great success in their future endeavors!
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The information below represents legislative activity (including bill introductions) that has occurred since the last newsletter. For a full listing of legislation that Versant is tracking for PPMA, please contact us at (717) 635-2320 or [email protected]. Activity marked HCO or SCO indicates a co-sponsorship memo which precedes the actual introduction of legislation and is designed to secure the support of other legislators prior to introduction as a bill.
Legislation introduced since last month's newsletter:
HB 243 sponsored by Rep. Anthony DeLuca
Amends Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law further providing for private actions.
4-20-15 Meeting of House Consumer Affairs Committee scheduled
HR 188 sponsored by Rep. Robert Godshall
Resolution recognizing the month of April 2015 as "Pennsylvania 8-1-1 Safe Digging Month"
4-13-15 H Adopted
SB 155 sponsored by Sen. Rob Teplitz
Act establishing the Veteran's Entrepreneurial Training and Support Program; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Community and Economic Development; and making an appropriation
4-22-15 Discussed in roundtable discussion...Senate Democratic Policy Committee
SB 737 sponsored by Sen. Scott Hutchinson
Amends Title 34 (Game), in hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.
4-16-15 Filed; introduced and referred to Sen. Game & Fisheries Committee
SR 69 sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf
Resolution designating the month of May 2015 as "Lyme Disease Awareness Month" in PA.
4-20-15 Filed; introduced & adopted
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Articles of Interest
05-06-2015
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Listening to buzz on bees A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Pottsville Republican and Evening Herald
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05-05-2015
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Stinging report on pesticides A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Hazleton Standard-Speaker
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05-04-2015
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Listening to buzz on bees A precipitous decline in honeybee populations raised public awareness of the importance of the bees and other pollinators in maintaining the nation's food production. And research into the causes of the bees' demise has produced other invaluable insights upon which regulators should... - Scranton Times
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05-04-2015
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Warmer weather means more rodents, feral cats It happens every spring. When the weather warms up, Throop zoning and code enforcement officer Bob Lokuta's office phone lights up with folks complaining about feral cats and other nuisance animals. "It seems like the cat problem gets worse every year," the borough's zoning and code enforcement officer said.... - Scranton Times
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05-01-2015
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Pa. senator calls for more money to prevent Lyme disease Pennsylvania, known for its mountains, historic battlefields and standout linebackers, can add another claim to fame - the nation's highest incidence of Lyme disease. That's been the case for the past five years. In fact, in 2013, nearly one out of five cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. occurred in... - Pocono Record
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04-23-2015
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Research Suggests Pesticide Is Alluring and Harmful to Bees Research by European scientists raised fresh questions on Wednesday about the impact on bees of neonicotinoids, a ubiquitous and controversial class of pesticides whose future use was restricted this month by the Environmental Protection Agency. In a study published in the journal Nature, Swedish researchers reported... - New York Times
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