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IPCA SPRING CONFERENCE

Join us for our annual Spring Conference, showcasing educational sessions on topics such as growth regulators, labels, perimeter pest management, applicator safety, ant and termite control and chemistry formulations. Continuing education credits have been approved in  Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.

February 23 - 24, 2016
Hilton Garden Inn, O'Fallon, IL

 
ONLINE REGISTRATION INFORMATION 

Special Discounts: IPCA members receive a discount if attending multiple sessions. Two Segments = $104. Three Segments = $144.

Exhibit Hall : A one-stop-shop for all of your business needs.  Shop for new products, network with vendors and discover the latest technology in the world of pest management. 

New Silent Auction: IPCA members are raising money and awareness for the Toys-for-Tots charity. Once again, we'll raffle off a prize at this year's event. Be sure to bring a few dollars to support this worthwhile cause. IPCA members generously donated $1,210 to Toys-for-Tots last year!

Hotel Reservations:  Contact the Hilton Garden Inn Green Mount/O'Fallon, 360 Regency Park, O'Fallon, IL at 618-624-4499. 
REGISTER TODAY: BED BUG FORUM 
 
2016 Bed Bug Forum
Presented by IPCA, GCPMA and NPMA
March 2-3, 2016
Four Points Sheraton Chicago O'Hare
Chicago, IL


The 2016 Bed Bug Forum, presented by the Greater Chicago Pest Management Alliance (GCPMA), the Illinois Pest Control Association (IPCA) and the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is designed to offer a forward-thinking, strategy-driven experience for pest management professionals, offering the latest legal and technical information.  A brochure with session descriptions is available here.

The conference will feature top industry experts as well as vendors from across the country that will be showcasing the newest technology in bed bug control. 

REGISTER FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY:
MARCH 13-15, 2016 


Join us for Legislative Day 2016, March 13-15 in Washington DC, featuring keynote speakers Paul Begala, Political Commentator, CNN, Ari Fleischer, Author and Former White House Press Secretary, and Nicolle Wallace, Political Analyst, New York Times Best-Selling Author, and Former White House Director of Communications, and SE Cupp, Political Commentator and Writer.

In addition to the fantastic line-up of speakers and educational sessions, this is our annual opportunity to storm Capitol Hill and speak face-to-face with your Federal elected officials.  The reality is that no single voice carries more weight with your elected official than your own.  While NPMA provides the strength, the vision and the infrastructure to move the industry forward on public policy issues, the biggest part of our collective success is you.

Please click here to view the program and register today! 

PESTWORLD 2016: CALL FOR SPEAKERS
 
Deadline for Submission: Feb. 26, 2016


NPMA is looking for your assistance to help identify the most innovative and exciting speakers for PestWorld 2016, scheduled for Oct. 18-21 at the Washington Convention Center/Sheraton Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA.

Speaker suggestions may include, but are not limited to:
  • academics
  • business owners
  • technical experts
  • consultants from within and outside the industry
  • subject matter experts in sales, marketing, information technology, and human resources
  • other "outside of the box" ideas that no one has seen in the past
Please feel free to provide multiple speaker names and topics. NPMA welcomes both technical and business-related sessions. The information gathered in the application will help identify speakers and make decisions regarding the content of the program. Self-nominations are welcome. 

One question that has had scientists buzzing in recent years is, "What is  killing the bees?" Many reports have documented the mysterious  decline in honeybee populations around the world, with research focusing on possible causes including parasites, a type of pesticide called neonicotinoids, and other factors. Now, research out of the University of Exeter in the UK and the University of California, Berkeley, reveals another explanation: the spread of a viral disease, inadvertently helped along by humans.

The study, published in the journal Science, found that European honeybees are the main source of Deformed Wing Virus, which has spread through bee hives around the world. The researchers determined that the spread of this insect pandemic is largely fueled by human trade and transportation of  bees.  Read the full article here.

As concern over Zika virus, an emerging mosquito-borne disease, continues to grow, NPMA is urging the public to take precautions now to help curb problems during the warmer months when biting mosquito populations tend to increase. 

"We recognize that local vector transmission of Zika virus has yet to be confirmed in the continental U.S., but the number of reported travel-related cases continues to increase," said Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs for the NPMA. "We are monitoring the situation closely and working to help educate the public on ways to not only avoid contact with mosquitoes when traveling to regions where the disease is present, but also how they can eliminate breeding grounds at home as spring and summer approaches. Read more here. 

The Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), NPMA's consumer and media outreach arm, created National Pest Management Month (April), Termite Awareness Week (March 13-19), Bed Bug Awareness Week (June 5-11), and Rodent Awareness Week (Oct. 23-29) to enable the public to learn more about the work industry professionals do to protect health, food, and property from the dangers and diseases of pests - and learn more about the insects and rodents themselves. This year these occasions will once again be recognized by Chase's Calendar of Events, the world's foremost authority on observances and celebrations. 

With all these wheels in motion bringing attention to the industry, how will you capitalize on the added business focus? Unfortunately, for many busy offices, the important task of connecting to these marketing-oriented events is often overshadowed by urgent priorities that surface. If your company hasn't yet identified how to jump on the marketing bandwagon provided by these events, click here for some ideas to jumpstart your brainstorming.
QUALITYPRO: 
MODEL EMPLOYMENT
APPLICATIONS

In the past few months, more states have "banned the box." Companies in certain cities and states may no longer ask about criminal convictions on employment applications. In an ongoing effort to keep certified companies on the cutting edge of professionalism in pest management, QualityPro has updated its employment application guidelines at www.qualityprotools.org.

"The regulations around asking criminal convictions questions are constantly changing right now. My recommendation is for all companies to use the QualityPro model application that does not ask criminal conviction questions. Criminal history will come out through the pre-employment background check and can be dealt with fairly at that stage in the hiring process," says Sandy Seay, PhD. As an NPMA member benefit, you can contact Sandy Seay to discuss this and any other employment concerns.
HAVE YOU UPDATED YOUR MEMBER PROFILE? 

The NPMA website,  www.npmapestworld.org , has gotten a facelift. You will find it easier than ever to access your benefits online using your member login. Here are the top five things you can do as of today...we'll be adding a lot more features over the next few months!
  1. You can update your own member profile
  2. You can tell us what you want to hear about
  3. You can print your membership certificate (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)
  4. You can add new staff to your membership listing (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)
  5. You can update your company information (but only if you are the primary contact for your company)

You should have received an email in the last few weeks which included your login information. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact NPMA at 800.678.6722 or  npma@pestworld.org . 
COMING IN MARCH: NPMA'S NEW FIELD GUIDE APP  

The printed NPMA Field Guide is the industry's leading resource for pest professionals.  Now thanks to NPMA's new Field Guide App buyers will have access to hundreds of pest photos, biology, behavior and control methods right on their tablet or phone for just $4.99.

Technology has irrevocably changed the way a business works. Today most pest control companies expect employees to use mobile devices to respond to customers quickly. With the Field Guide App, technicians will be able to use a phone or tablet to email a staff entomologist at NPMA directly with pest identification questions or send a fast email to clients that includes photos of pests. A notes section within the App makes adding protocols, notes and standard operating procedures used for clients simple and efficient.  Users can also add their own photos for use as future reference or sales tools
 
The NPMA Field Guide App can be downloaded by anyone with a need for identifying pests and researching pest problems.  Look for more detailed information on purchasing the app in March.
IPCA

10460 North Street

Fairfax, VA 22030

 (800) 678-6722