WV Job Announcement – Entomologist

WV Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology:  As Public Health Entomologist, this position is responsible for developing and maintaining surveillance for vectors (insects and ticks) of arthropod-borne diseases.  This position is also responsible for providing expert advice and consultation to local health departments and state agencies on identifying and controlling the vectors of arthropod-borne diseases in West Virginia, including appropriate use of pesticides and repellents.  Periodic travel to regional or national scientific meetings for entomology and epidemiology is expected.  Knowledge of arthropod vectors and methods of control and public health principles is required.  See West Virginia Division of Personnel online posting for complete information.   Apply online at: http://www.state.wv.us/admin/personnel

Then click on:

-Staffing Services Section (bottom of page)

-Jobs Open for Application (top left of page)

-Go to Page 2; Epidemiologist 2 – Entomologist (Closing Date- 11/23/2010)

2010 Conference – Registration Documents Available

Hello everyone.  Registration documents are now available for download for the 2010 conference at the Ramada Inn in State College, PA. Links for download are at the end of this post.

Here’s a message from your Secretary:

Dear Colleague:

Please join us for the 2010 training conference of the Pennsylvania Vector Control Association on November 15-17, 2010 at the Ramada Conference Center, 1450 South Atherton Street, State College, PA 16801.

Fee structure for this conference is as follows:

  • Class 1 – $120.00 – Non-license and public license attendee
  • Class 2 – $175.00 – Commercial license without exhibit or presentation
  • Class 3 – $300.00 – Commercial license with exhibit and/or presentation
  • Class 4 – $120.00 – Additional commercial license(s) from same company

This fee will include Monday-Wednesday breaks, and a Tuesday lunch banquet at the hotel.  Please pre-register by mailing or e-mailing a separate registration form with the name and complete mailing address for each attendee to me at the above address by October 29, 2010.  (To speed up registration at the door, please mail your registration check prior to the conference, if possible.)  If attaching a business card to the registration form, complete only the items not on your card.

EXHIBITORS:  For those pre-registering to exhibit and give an exhibitor presentation, time has been set aside on Wednesday to introduce your company and your products.  There will be ample time during the three-day event to speak with individuals.  Please complete the enclosed registration form and return on or before October 29, 2010.  If not pre-registered, we cannot guarantee exhibit space or presentation time.   

A complimentary breakfast buffet is served for hotel guests in the restaurant on weekdays from 6:30 am – 10:00 am.  All room rates are $75.00 per night + 8 ½ % occupancy tax.  We have a block of rooms reserved ONLY until October 29You must make your own reservation with the Ramada Conference Center by that date, or you will not be guaranteed a room. Even if you have not received approval to attend, you are encouraged to reserve a room.  You can always cancel the reservation if you do not receive final approval. Be sure to ask for the “PVCA room block” when you make your reservation, to be assured of obtaining the above rate.  The Ramada Conference Center phone number is (814) 238-3001.  Please remember, in order to receive reduced fees for the hotel facilities for the conference, we must guarantee a minimum number of rooms. Please plan to stay at the Ramada Conference Center.

Attached is a preliminary agenda for the conference.  If there are any changes, an updated agenda will be posted on the website. Continuing Education Credits for PA Pesticide Applicators licenses will be issued by the PA Department of Agriculture.  Please bring your license with you if you wish to receive credits.

 Please complete the attached registration form, and/or exhibitor registration form, and return it to me by October 29, 2010.  Please note any special needs you may have on the reservation form.

We look forward to seeing you at State College!

Sincerely,

Carmen L. Reichard, Secretary – PVCA

PVCA 2010 Registration Form

PVCA 2010 Agenda as of 10-5-2010

PVCA 2010 Conference Notice

2010 Annual Conference – Agenda Now Available

The 2010 annual PVCA conference is coming soon. Dates for this year are November 15, 16, and 17. This is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and different from the Wed/Thu/Fri we’ve done in past years. Unfortunately, with the drop in attendance due to various agency budgetary constraints, we had to yield our normal end of the week time slot to a larger group.

Location is at the Ramada Inn, State College, PA. Click here to visit their website.

An agenda has been added to this posting and revised as of 10-4-2010.

Click here to download –> PVCA agenda 9-27-10

Rodent infestation closes Capitol cafeteria

Rodent infestation closes Capitol cafeteria
By DAVID WENNER, The Patriot-News
December 17, 2009, 5:59PM

The cafeteria at the state Capitol was shut down today — right after lunch, no
less — because of rodent infestation and other health issues. The state
Department of Agriculture found the violations during a routine inspection,
spokesman Justin Fleming said.

The most serious issue involved droppings indicating the presence of live mice.
“There were mouse droppings around the facility too numerous to mention,”
Fleming said.

Full story here:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/12/rodent_infestation_closes_capi.html

New PVCA website layout

I am currently working on migrating the old PVCA website to this new layout.  This will definitely make things easier to manage on the back end.  Hopefully, the new interface will be sufficiently pleasing to the user. Le me know what you think.

Sincerely,

Mr. Webmaster

First PVCA Technical Bulletin Released

At the 2009 annual conference, the Pennsylvania Vector Control Association released its first technical bulletin.  This guide, “The Mosquitoes of Pennsylvania” is also known as PVCA Technical Bulletin 2009-001 and was distributed to conference attendees free of charge.  This guide includes sections on adult female mosquito morphology, larval mosquito morphology, an illustrated taxonomic key to species found in Pennsylvania, and one page species accounts that include life history information, PA DEP virus testing results, and distribution maps.

The book will soon be available for download via the PVCA website.  Stay tuned.

Update:  The book is now available for download. Click here.