As I write this article, we are still waiting to hear what type of legislation will be introduced this year. While we would welcome a quiet year in the legislature (I’m not betting on it), it doesn’t change the fact that we have our annual PCOC Legislative Day coming up in April 8-10 and it’s more important than ever that we show up in large numbers. It tells the legislature that we are an important industry in this state and we care about the issues that impact us. You can be sure that we will have our tent again posted outside the L street entrance for all to see and they will know that we are ready to tell our story!

Please click here sign up now and be part of this exciting day for PCOC.

Chris Reardon
PCOC Executive Vice President

West Coast Rodent Academy (WCRA)
March 12-14, 2019
Irvine, California

University of California Cooperative Extension, South Coast Research & Extension Center, Irvine, CA
7601 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, CA 92618
$299.00 for PCOC Members ($349.00 for Non-Members of PCOC)
Click here for WCRA Registration Form (Please note: All registrations to go to Target Specialty Products)

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PCOC 2019 Legislative Days and Board of Directors Meeting
April 8-10, 2019
Sacramento, California

25th Annual Golf Tournament – April 8, 2019
Teal Bend Golf Course, Sacramento, California
Check In: 10 am / Tee Off: 12 pm
$135/player
$175/tee sponsor
Click here for Golf Registration Form

Professional Women in Pest Management (PWPM) 5k Walk - April 8, 2019
Hyatt Sacramento and surrounding area, Sacramento, California
Information to follow

PCOC Executive Office Open House - April 8, 2019
Join us for lite appetizers and drinks and check out our office!
Where: 3031 Beacon Blvd., West Sacramento, CA 95691
When: 5 pm to 7 pm
Please RSVP to sarah@pcoc.org by March 22

Scholarship Bowling Fundrasier - April 8, 2019
Join us for a fun evening of bowling to help raise money for the PCOC Scholarship Fund!
Where: Capitol Bowl, 900 West Capitol Ave, West Sacramento
When: 7:30 pm
Click here for Registration Form

April Committee Meetings & Board of Directors Meeting – April 9, 2019
Hyatt Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Click here for Schedule of Events

2019 Legislative Day - April 9-10, 2019
Hyatt Sacramento, Sacramento, California
Click here for Legislative Day Registration Form
Click here to make your room reservations at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento

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Expo 2019 and Board of Directors Meeting
June 18-21, 2019
Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa (Rooms at the Sheraton and Westin)
Carlsbad, California

Exhibitor Registration Packet
Attendees Registration Packet(See the link for a tentative schedule of events)

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September Board of Directors Meeting
September 12-14, 2019
Sheraton Pasadena Hotel
Pasadena, California

Thursday, September 12: Golf Tournament (Information to follow)
Friday, September 13: Committee Meetings, 1 pm to 5 pm
Saturday, September 14: Board of Directors Meeting, 8 am to 11 am

Valerie Rosas, XT-2000’s Sales & Training Coordinator. Ms. Rosas has been working with PCO’s & Distributors throughout the U.S. promoting XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® since 2016. 

Ms. Rosas, originally from Virginia, joined XT-2000, Inc. © while working with an NGO to build a children’s hospital and also teach in the country of Bolivia. She is bi-lingual (fluent in Spanish and English), possessing an extensive background in education, sales and digital marketing.    

XT-2000, Inc.©  is excited to have Valerie Rosas promoting “orange oil​," in pursuing her passion and enthusiasm in educating the industry on XT-2000 Orange Oil Plus® , a product that has effectively treated over millions of homes/commercial buildings/schools/restaurants/hotels for over 2 decades now.

“I’m proud to represent a product that provides a least toxic/low impact option to an industry that’s heading in that direction.”

Direct Phone: 619-359-9263 Email: valerie@xt2000.com website: XT2000.com

With companies like MetLife and Travelers working together to create programs such as their trademarked Synchrony, the concept of integrated disability is gaining wider acceptance, though there are still hurdles. 

Integrated disability means combining the administration of the disability component of workers’ comp and the disability programs in the benefits arena. 

Here are some of the issues that Integrated Disability aims to address:

• Increased complexity of dealing with leave regulations at the federal level, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family Medical Leave Act — as well as regulations on state and municipal levels where there are at least 500 different regulations in all.
• Inconsistencies in leave policies on the workers’ comp side and the human resources side, exposing employers to audits and fines.
• Reductions in lost time — Absentee rates declined by 10 to 25 percent when employers implemented integrated disability management programs, according to a white paper by Sedgwick Claims Management Services.
• Administrative cost savings — when data is analyzed collectively, better preventive programs can be designed.
• Opportunities to combine initiatives that improve overall employee health while reducing workers’ comp incidents, such as health screenings and education, smoking cessation programs, health interventions, and even cooking classes with suggestions about how to prepare simple, healthy meals.

What seems like a good idea in concept, though, has been difficult to put in practice mainly because of organizational silos, according to Tim Rarick, vice president of product strategy and solutions at Phoenix-based Matrix Absence Management Inc.

“Employers are required to have work comp coverage, so it is viewed as an insurance program and tends to fall to risk management. Disability is viewed as a benefit and part of compensation packages. There are two different buyers and two different mentalities, and because of this disparity, their focus tends to be different,” Rarick told Business Insurance magazine.

One of the silo issues that’s always been troubling for employers is that occupational injuries and non-occupational injuries are treated differently, eliminating the opportunity to reduce overhead costs by managing medical claims as a single process. But while the concern applies to workers’ compensation medical claims, disability claims are a different matter.

Some employers are realizing that compliance is better addressed when the silos come down and disability is integrated, even if there are some hurdles. “It’s a very painful process trying to get everybody to work together,” said Terri Rhodes, CEO of San Diego-based Disability Management Employer Coalition, to Business Insurance. “In the current environment, FMLA [applies to benefits administration] and ADA applies to workers’ comp claims, so it’s important if they are not integrated programs that they all communicate with each other. The [U. S. Department of Labor] and [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] don’t care about organizational silos.” If they are integrated, though, they will communicate as a single voice.

Aside from compliance issues, the real benefits of integration can occur when workers’ comp and disability programs work together to prevent injuries, improve medical outcomes and reduce costs.

“One of the things most people don’t notice is the impact wellness and health plans can have on workers’ comp,” points out Matt Sears of EPIC Insurance. Smokers, people suffering from obesity and stressed workers in general have a higher risk of being injured at work — and these kinds of people also incur higher costs when they are injured on the job. Taking a holistic approach just makes more sense. It’s not only a more productive and efficient approach, it’s also less stressful for employees.

“It’s really taking an employee-centered position, not a company or department-centered position, which is the way it used to be,” said Ms. Rhodes.

For more information on how your firm can take a more integrative approach to disability claims, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program professionals of EPIC at (877) 860-7378 or, email us @ ProPest@epicbrokers.com.  Also, check out our website: www.pcocinsurance.com.

Paul Lindsay
Senior Vice President 
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

February

SAN GABRIEL DISTRICT
February 19 – Social @ 5:30 p.m., Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Gilbert Alvidrez – Downtown Pest Control
downtownpestcontrol@gmail.com • (909) 802-0052
El Sombrero, 3550 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte

BIG VALLEY DISTRICT – February 20 @ 5:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Sean Bradley– Neighborly Pest Management 
sean@neighborlypest.com • (916) 782-3767
Cattlemen's Restaurant, 200 Taylor Road, Roseville

SANTA CLARA VALLEY DISTRICT – February 20 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Janet Thrasher – Thrasher Termite & Pest Control
jthrasher@thrashertermite.com • (408) 354-9944
Drying Shed, 402 Toyon Ave, San Jose

DIABLO VALLEY DISTRICT – February 26 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Gordie Zilke – Valley View Termite Control
valleyviewtc@gmail.com • (925) 787-2118
Zio Fraedo's, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DISTRICT
February 27 – Social @ 5:00 p.m., Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Tarry Howard – Hydrex
tarry_h@hotmail.com • (818) 437-6584
Los Toros Restaurant, 21743 Devonshire St., Chatsworth

March

SAN BERNARDINO/RIVERSIDE DISTRICT
March 6 – Social  @ 5:30 p.m., Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: John Burnard – Compass Pest Management
jpburnard1@msn.com • (951) 688-8066
La Casa Ortega, 1690 Spruce St., Riverside

VINTAGE COASTAL DISTRICT – March 7 @ 7:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Tyler Merritt – Hitmen Termite and Pest Control
tmerritt@hitmenpest.com • (707) 526-6055
Please contact District Chair for meeting location

SHASTA DISTRICT – March 12 @ 12:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Shawn McFarland– Trinity Termite & Pest Control
trinitytermite@yahoo.com • (530) 222-6990
Vittles Restaurant, 2385 North Street, Anderson

MID CAL DISTRICT
March 12 – Class @ 4:00 p.m., Meeting/Dinner @ 5:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Brad Delk – Delk Pest Control
bdelk@delkpestcontrol.com • (209) 465-5656
Stockton Country Club, 3800 West Country Club Blvd., Stockton

SAN DIEGO DISTRICT– March 12 @ 5:30 p.m.
CHAIR: David Hinrichs– Lloyd Pest Control
david.hinrichs@lloydpest.com • (619) 668-1953
Country Inn & Suite, 5975 Lusk Blvd., San Diego

BAY AREA DISTRICT
March 13 – Social @ 5:30 p.m., Meeting / Dinner @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Allen Kanady – Omega Termite & Pest Control
allenrobert@omegapest.com • (510) 544-5913
El Portal Restaurant, 2028 Lewelling Rd., San Leandro

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT – March 14 @ 6:00 p.m.
CHAIR: Heidi Aguilar-Alvarez– Your Way Fumigation
heidi@ywfumigation.com • (951) 232-2388
Dave & Busters, Irvine Spectrum, Irvine

SOUTHERN VALLEY DISTRICT – March 14 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Patrick Clark– Clark Pest Control
pclarkzapbugs@aol.com • (661) 635-3535
Chalet Basque Restaurant, 200 Oak St., Bakersfield

VENTURA DISTRICT – March 20 @ 7:00pm
CHAIR: Rudy Ayala – Spearhead Pest Control 
rudy@spearheadpestcontrol.com • (805) 746-4547
Marriott Hotel, 600 East Esplanade Dr., Oxnard

CENTRAL COAST DISTRICT – March 21 @ 6:30 p.m.
CHAIR: Dave Watkins – O’Connor Pest Control
Dwatkins@oconnorpest.com • (805) 482-2782
F. McLintocks, 750 Mattie Rd., Pismo Beach

February is a busy time around the State Capitol. The end of the third week of this month is when all of the bills for this year are due and the question on everyone’s mind is: What does the Rodenticide Ban bill look like this year? However, as I write this article, there are rumors and indications that there most likely will be one, but we are not sure who the author will be or what exactly it will (or will not) consist of. There may also be some other bills that may pop up that we will need to address that could surprise us. Either way we will need to be prepared for opposition this year. This is the reason we should all be attending Legislative Days in April. Remember, your voice is the best voice to carry your concerns to your local legislator. 

We expect Rodenticides to continue to be in the front and center. As DPR moves forward and addresses the rodenticide reevaluation, we as end users will need to be prepared to engage with DPR. Again, we are not sure what this will look like, but we can expect some sort of mitigation, whether temporary or permanent. 

Click here to sign up for Legislative Day

Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
Structural Pest Control Board, President
LEED Green Associate & Technical Director, Clark Pest Control
darrenv@clarkpest.com

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As many of you know, there has been great interest in Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) exams. The Structural Pest Control Board has some UPCOMING EXAMINATION DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS. These workshops help the SPCB develop their licensing questions. We know this is a busy time of year for us all, but our input is important, so we hope you can participate or send someone you work with! 
Here is a list of upcoming workshops organized by license type: 

 
Visit California Structural Pest Control Board website for more information

PestWorld 2019 | October 15-18 | San Diego, California

Every year, NPMA gathers thousands of pest management professionals from across the globe to offer opportunities for information sharing, provide access to the latest products, services, and technologies in the 100,000 square foot exhibit hall, and generate critical thinking in world-class educational sessions.

Join us as we celebrate this year’s PestWorld in San Diego!

WHO ATTENDS PESTWORLD?

• Owners and managers of pest management companies
• Pest management technicians and sales representatives
• Product manufacturers and distributors
• Industry researchers, educators, and students

WHO EXHIBITS AT PESTWORLD?

• Manufacturers and Distributors of Products and Equipment for Pest Control, Rodent Control, Termite Control, Mosquito Control, Bed Bug Control, Nuisance Bird and Wildlife Control, and Lawn Care
• Mold Remediation Suppliers
• Companies that Provide General Services and Products for Small Businesses such as Cell Phones, Credit Cards, Insurance, Legal, and Security Video Systems
• Vehicle Equipment and Accessory Suppliers
• Computer Systems Technology Vendors
• Human Resource Consultants

Get Connected

Follow NPMA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SnapChat to keep in touch with us before, during, and after the conference.
Joining us in San Diego? Be sure to use the official hashtag #PestWorld2019 and let us know you're coming!

Click here for registration information

*NEW* NPMA Login for Joint Membership

LOGIN: Email or Personal ID

PASSWORD: npma

Frequently Asked-For Websites

Department of Fish & Game
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/

Department of Food & Agriculture
www.cdfa.ca.gov

California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
www.cdpr.ca.gov

DPR on Facebook
www.facebook.com/capesticideregulation

DPR on YouTube (see "playlists" for videos pertaining to new surface water regulations)
www.youtube.com/user/californiapesticides

DPR on Twitter
twitter.com/ca_pesticides

DPR LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/company/california-department-of-pesticide-regulation

Healthy Schools Act
http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/

Structural Pest Control Board
www.pestboard.ca.gov

Find Your Legislator
www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

NPMA's QualityPro Accrediation Application
www.npmaqualitypro.org/apply