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Over the years, the members of PCOC have together faced and conquered many challenges, including some which have even threatened our industry and our way of life. Through the sheer determination and collective strength of our members, we have welcomed each challenge as an opportunity to build our organization into one that truly represents and works on behalf of all pest control companies, both large and small alike.

To achieve all that we have accomplished, there is no greater weapon in our arsenal than the board of directors. One of the first pieces of advice I was given when I was appointed to the executive committee six years ago was from one of our past presidents, Bobby Gordon. Bobby urged me to always remember that PCOC is run by the board of directors. Over the years I have remembered his exhortation that this organization is run, not by the executive committee, not by Martyn or the staff, but by the directors who carry out the wishes and desires of each of the districts they represent. Bobby is right. Without the input from the districts through the voices of their directors at our quarterly meetings, PCOC would become a stale ivory tower institution run by a select few. That is certainly not the vision held by any member I have ever met, whether it be from a past president, or from a brand new member who is engaged at the district level. Our staff at the PCOC office does a fantastic job and the executive committee members put in many extra hours to create an agenda and try to navigate the issues we face, but all of that hard work can only have meaning with input from the directors.

It is imperative, then, that we have an effective board of directors and strong committees at the state level to react to the needs of the districts as well as to communicate to them effectively on the issues of the day. It is that combined synergy that makes PCOC the strong and effective organization that it is. But there is a problem.

Over the last three years, we have seen on average only about 60 percent of the elected directors attending the quarterly board meetings. I cannot impress upon you more the importance of having all of the directors present so that each district is represented as intended by those who created our bylaws. When a district is not represented by its "full complement" as Ron Suber used to put it, that district runs the risk of having little or no say in the direction and activities of PCOC. It also runs the risk of missing out on vital discussions that produce a wealth of information that the members of their district desperately need. And perhaps most significantly, we as an organization begin to lose the strength that of our collective power to make a difference across California.

Something must be done.

During my year as president, I am making it my top priority to find out why so many of our districts are under-represented at the board meetings. Right now there are a number discussions about how to "fix" this problem. I am sure you have heard about proposals to reduce the number of directors or to reduce the number of meetings. Perhaps these ideas might seem controversial, but without more input and other creative solutions, we lack the full range of options from which to make the best decision for the direction we are to take.

The truth is we cannot solve this problem without input from EVERY district speaking with the voice of ALL of their elected directors. I urge each director to be sure to come to the next meeting on Sept. 29 in Monterey so that we can have a much needed discussion about this matter. Is your district strapped for money? Is your district having a hard time finding volunteers? Are there too many other PCOC commitments that prevent all of the directors from attending all of the functions? Is it the economy? Is there just too little value in our board meetings since they don't last for four or five hours anymore? I ask each of the directors and district chairs to ask these and other questions at your district meetings and bring those answers to the board meeting in Monterey so that we as a group can tackle this issue and resolve it in a way that is amenable to everyone.

If you have any ideas you wish to share, please email them to me at showell@missioncity.net.

Thank you.

Pest Control Operators of California
www.pcoc.org

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