News Briefs | September 29, 2021 |
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On September 16, Governor Newsom signed AB 361 into law that allows local agencies to use teleconferencing until January 1, 2024 without complying with specified Brown Act restrictions in certain state emergencies. On September 20, the Governor signed an executive order waiving the application of AB 361 until October 1, 2021, when the provisions of a prior executive order that established certain requirements for public agencies to meet remotely during the COVID-19 emergency will expire. The executive order specifies that for any meetings held to determine if remote meetings are justified beyond September 30, local legislative bodies must follow the statutory requirements established by AB 361. The California Specials Districts Association (CSDA) created an AB 361 resource page with an implementation guide and sample resolutions and a memo and sample staff report prepared by the law firm of Bartkiewicz, Kronick & Shanahan is on the member resources section of the MVCAC website.
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October is CyberSecurity Awareness Month |
The MVCAC Information Technology Committee invites you to take part in Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 this October as we raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity to help ensure that all individuals and organizations have the information and tools they need to be safer and more secure online.
Each week during the month of October this space will provide a cybersecurity topic and links to many more resources available for guiding our organizations and staff to steps we can all take to increase our security, including resources to take home to help protect our families and our digital lives.
All the information provided will also be available on the IT Committee's resources page on the MVCAC website, at https://www.mvcac.org/resources/it-resources/ (must be logged in to view). We will also publish on that page links to printable posters for your office, prepared emails to send to your staff, and many more resources to help assess and improve on your information security.
If you have any questions about this program, cybersecurity in general, or would like to share a cybersecurity story for something that happened to you or your organization that others can learn from, email Dan Fisher at dfisher@fightthebite.net, and remember, don't click on any links unless you know who sent them!
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Tick Survey for MVCAC Members |
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Paula Macedo, MVCAC's representative on the Lyme Disease Advisory Committee (LDAC) is requesting your participation in a survey to assess member district's tick programs. This survey is on behalf of MVCAC and the results will be presented to the Lyme Disease Advisory Committee (LDAC). The LDAC was established by state statute and a MVCAC representative was added to the committee in 2008. As a member of MVCAC, your answers to this survey are very important and contribute to statewide efforts to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease. Please complete the survey by October 15, 2021.
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Send dead protected birds to CDFW for study at no cost to you |
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If you pick up a dead raptor and identify it as one of the protected species on our salvage permit, please notify the West Nile virus and dead bird call center (877-WNV-BIRD) or Leslie Foss (Leslie.Foss@cdph.ca.gov); they will connect you with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). The most common protected species are peregrine falcons, white-tailed kites, and Swainson’s hawks, but other species of raptors, shorebirds, and songbirds are also listed. CDFW is interested in these species for a full necropsy. Vector control agencies may sample the dead bird for WNV testing prior to shipping at CDFW expense. Please see a list of threatened and endangered bird species at the end of the salvage permit (our MOU which allows dead birds to be collected for the WNV program).
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Public comment period for Oxitec CA project is open |
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The U.S. EPA has opened a 30-day public comment for Oxitec’s application to amend it Experimental Use Permit (EUP) to bring its Friendly™ Aedes aegypti to California. More information about the application can be found here and there is a comment button at the top of the webpage where you can submit a comment. Comments must be received on or before September 30, 2021.
Additional information about the project is available at https://www.oxitec.com/california and there are numerous communications materials on the member resources section of the MVCAC website. If you have any questions or would like additional information please contact Lisa Yarbrough at lyarbrough@ka-pow.com
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Fall Meeting
October 26-28, Hilton Costa Mesa
*planning in person meeting
Hotel Booking Information:
RATE: $181
BOOKING CUT-OFF: LAST WEEK TO BOOK IS THIS WEEK
PARKING: $18 SELF
Zoom login info is behind the member login here.
Fall meeting agenda is available behind the member login here.
The Fall Board Meeting Agenda Packet is also available behind the member login.
Register:
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MVCAC 2022 Annual Meeting
Registration Now OPEN!
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February 7-9, 2022: Annual Conference, Sacramento Convention Center
February 10, 2022: Board meeting, Sheraton Hotel
Register:
Hotel Information:
Exhibitor Information:
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Call for Papers, Presentations and Posters |
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The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) will hold its 90th Annual Conference February 7-9 2022 at the Sacramento Convention Center and Sheraton Grand hotel. You are invited to submit a paper or poster for presentation at the conference.
Presentations should be related to mosquitoes or other vectors, the disease organisms they transmit, or their surveillance and control. Presentations may be about research results, the development and testing of new methods, equipment or products, education, community outreach and the adaptation or development of new technology relating to vector research, surveillance or control, or the administration of a vector control agency.
All presenters must register for the conference and are responsible for registration and arranging their own travel.
Deadline for submission of the completed “Request to Present a Paper” form is Friday, October 8, 2021. Requests received after the deadline may not be accepted.
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2022 William C. Reeves New Investigator Award Applications Due 10/4/21 |
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Applications for the 2022 William C. Reeves New Investigator Award will be accepted through Monday, October 4, 2021. The William C. Reeves New Investigator Award, memorializing Dr. William C. Reeves, who was a renowned University of California entomologist, is sponsored by the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC). The award is presented to the best scientific paper submitted and presented at the annual MVCAC conference.
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MVCAC Monthly Committee Meeting Information |
MVCAC All Hands Call: Third Tuesday of every month at 9am
The MVCAC is now holding monthly statewide Zoom meetings to engage, inform and support our members. Join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9am for an Association update and discussions on topics of importance including legislative and regulatory matters, outreach efforts, committee projects, continuing education updates, and COVID-related activities.
If you have a topic you would like to discuss, please email mvcac@mvcac.org with “Monthly Meeting Topic” in the subject line.
PR Committee: Second Thursday of every month at 2pm
The MVCAC PR Committee is now holding monthly Zoom meetings to exchange information, provide updates on subcommittee progress and to support each other as communications professionals.
Please note: No meeting on October 14. We are instead using our slot at the MVCAC Fall meeting on October 27 at 9:00 a.m.
VVBD Committee: First Tuesday of every month at 8am
Committee members are not required to make every meeting, but are required to check in prior to any meeting they cannot attend.
If you are interested in being on the VVBD email list please email Mir Bear-Johnson (mirbearjohnson@deltavcd.com). The email list is notified of the meetings.
Ad hoc Drone Committee: Second Wednesday of each month at 1pm
Please contact Eric Haas-Stapleton if you would like to be included on email notifications sent by this committee (Eric.Haas@mosquitoes.org).
Laboratory Technologies Committee: Fourth Wednesday of every month from 2pm – 3pm
Please contact Eric Haas-Stapleton if you would like to be included on email notifications sent by this committee (Eric.Haas@mosquitoes.org).
MVCAC New Professionals Virtual Lounge: Second Tuesday once a quarter from 11am – 12pm
This is a networking hour for vector control professionals with less than 5 years of industry experience.
Click here for more information and upcoming topics.
Next meeting topic:
Holiday Lounge
Nov 9 – Gotta catch ‘em all: Arthropods!
- Describe a time when you had a trapping experience that did not turn out how you expected.
- What are some knowledge gaps in trapping or collecting vectors?
- How does your prior experience guide you on where you are now as a new professional?
- Invite Lab Technologies committee.
All meeting zoom login information is behind the member login, please click the button below to access it.
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Share Your Post COVID-19 Exposure Methods With Us |
MVCAC is looking for member districts to share with us their post COVID exposure methods and logistics. Please email the methods you have in place to mvcac@mvcac.org and we will add them to the COVID-19 page on the MVCAC website.
Thank you!
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MVCAC Member Resources Re: COVID-19 |
MVCAC will be assembling and posting some information and templates of what some Districts have created and shared as they manage their operations. Items like sample document for field staff to carry in addition to their ID to validate status/purpose and actions related to seasonal hires. It will be posted as it becomes available to a new members-only page on the MVCAC website.
Click the button below to login and view.
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“The only constant in life is change.”
Whether it’s changing sources, zones, products or even species of mosquitoes, anyone in the world of mosquito control knows this quote very well. And now the Delta Vector Control District has a new change to announce—the District has a new name. Delta Vector Control District is now Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District (District).
According to District Manager Mustapha Debboun, Ph.D., the reason for the change is rooted in increasing constituent understanding.
“I felt the residents of the District did not understand the word, “vector” by itself and didn’t have a clear understanding of our mission until we explain to them that we are providing mosquito surveillance and control services. Adding the word, “mosquito” better reflects and publicizes the primary purposes and goals of the Delta Mosquito and Vector Control District and illustrates that the District’s services and responsibilities include both mosquito and vector surveillance and control activities.”
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Submit your district for the next Agency Spotlight |
Does your agency have a success story, a staff member you would like to publicly recognize, or an innovation by your agency that you would like to highlight? "Agency Spotlight" on the MVCAC website is one way to share your story! Each submission which meets the specified criteria will be reviewed and posted on the MVCAC website on the Agency Spotlight page and highlighted on the homepage in the rotating feature box. Each story will remain posted for 1-2 months before being moved to a publicly archived page.
Interested? Click here to fill out an application!
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HR resources for districts to use and to upload information into |
District Managers - Please upload your HR resources and information into this Google Drive along with using it for your own district.
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MVCAC News Briefs - Giant Asian Hornets |
Please note: The items contained below are not the views or opinions of MVCAC but they are what is being reported in the media. The goal of MVCAC providing this information is to keep MVCAC members informed of all news articles that are being presented regarding Giant Asian Hornets.
CSDA Giant Asian Hornets Video:
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MVCAC News Briefs - Zika Updates |
Please note: The items contained below are not the views or opinions of MVCAC but they are what is being reported in the media. The goal of MVCAC providing this information is to keep MVCAC members informed of all news articles that are being presented regarding Zika.
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MVCAC News Briefs - Other Outbreaks |
Please note: The items contained below are not the views or opinions of MVCAC but they are what is being reported in the media. The goal of MVCAC providing this information is to keep MVCAC members informed of all news articles that are being presented regarding other outbreaks.
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Do you have important news to share about your district or mosquito and vector issues? |
If you would like your news to be included in the MVCAC News Briefs, please send press releases and/or links to relevant news articles to mvcac@mvcac.org
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Interested in a career in mosquito and vector control? Check out the MVCAC Jobs Board at www.mvcac.org
Have a Job or RFP to post to MVCAC.org?
Requests to post job listings (no more than 500 words in length) should be submitted to the webmaster at mvcac@mvcac.org.
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MVCAC Sustaining Member Corner |
Note: MVCAC does not endorse the products below, but we do support our Sustaining Members
Central Life Sciences has announced the release of Aqua Zenivex™ E20, a reduced-risk adulticide for mosquito control professionals.
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