When I talk
to elected officials, legislators, regulators and the media, one of the things
that impresses them about PCOC is the fact that we have 19 districts throughout
the state. That each district meets either monthly or every other month and
that our members come to these meetings to network and discuss issues. The fact
that PCOC members attend district meetings, come together to break bread, after
competing with one another during the day, is truly inspiring.
The foundations of PCOC were built, more than 75 years ago, on the camaraderie that exists between fellow members of our profession. Remember, pest control professionals came together and helped form a state regulating body that would regulate them – the Structural Pest Control Board. It just goes to show what can be done with a united group with a common goal. There is real power in grassroots.
Another example of this came a few weeks ago. As you know, PCOC is sponsoring the legislation, AB 1685, which will statutorily create the authority for electronic testing. Once again, the industry came together to support this concept, even though it involves a fee increase. This is what legislators have a hard time understanding. All of the attendees to this year's Leg Day carried with them to the Capitol talking points on AB 1685. Normally, on something like this, there would be opposition from various sides of the political fence, both practical and philosophical.
Fast forward to the hearing of AB 1685 in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee a week after Leg Day. Our bill passed out of the committee 9-0...with no "No" votes! In fact, one of the legislators who was on the fence, commented at the hearing that he had been visited and educated by a group of pest control operators who had described why this legislation was necessary to the industry.
That is grassroots power in action. That is the work of protecting the pest control industry in California. That is what PCOC does.