NEWS BRIEFS
September 18, 2020
MVCAC Fall Meeting
November 5-6, 2020

Now happening virtually, more details coming soon!
GVH COVID-19 Impact on Vector Control Survey Results

Click here to view.
Special Districts Made Easy - educational brochure, video promotes understanding of special districts

Sacramento, CA - The California Special Districts Association (CSDA) has released two tools aimed at a wide array of audiences to help raise awareness and understanding of what is dubbed the most local and specialized form of local government-special districts. They include a free downloadable 16-page educational brochure about special districts and a three-minute video entitled "Special Districts 101." 
 
These publicly available tools bring alive the essential services provided by special districts, such as: fire protection, water, utilities, sanitation, parks and recreation, libraries, health services, and even mosquito abatement and cemeteries. They address how the public forms a special district, how it is funded and governed, and most importantly, the profound impact special districts make on the daily lives of every Californian.

In This Issue

MVCAC Annual Conference Corner
January 31 - February 2, 2021
Happening at the Portola Hotel & Monterey Conference Center AND Live online! 

2021 William C. Reeves New Investigator Award Applications Due 10/5/20
Applications for the 2021 William C. Reeves New Investigator Award will be accepted through Monday, October 5, 2020. 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. The Reeves New Investigator Award application differs from the MVCAC Call for Papers, if you have an additional speaking topic for the Call for Papers, please follow that application and guidelines.
 
Please click here for more information.
_______________________________________

MVCAC Call for Papers, Presentations and Posters

Deadline is October 5, 2020

The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) will hold its 89th Annual Conference January 31-February 2, 2021 at the Portola Hotel and Monterey Convention Center. You are invited to submit a paper or poster for presentation at the conference.

In consideration of COVID-19 contingencies, all submitted papers should be available for electronic presentations. 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.

_______________________________________

Click here to view the Exhibitor Prospectus.
Join us at the Portola Hotel & Monterey Conference Center AND Live online! Register your company booth now!
New Manager of Santa Cruz County Mosquito Abatement / Vector Control

MVCAC and fellow managers,
It gives me great pleasure to announce that the new Manager of Santa Cruz County Mosquito Abatement / Vector Control CSA 53 will be Amanda Poulsen, M.S.
Amanda has accepted the position and responsibility and will be starting October 5. 
 
Amanda earned her Master's degree in Ecology from UC Davis (emphasis in Vector-borne diseases; J. Foley Lab) and worked two summers in the San Mateo County MVC lab before joining us as our Vector Ecologist for four years, earning recognition from the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors with a Gold award. Amanda has been working since 12/19 as a Vector Control Ecologist at Santa Clara County VC, expanding her experience in Dr. Tietze's lab, so is well prepared for this new challenge.
 
Thank you very much,
Paul L Binding, Manager
Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control
San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District hires new manager

September 15, 2020

The San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District will have a new district manager as Brian Weber is slated to take over for Dr. Chindi Peavey, who is retiring after five years.

The district's Board of Directors voted for the selection in August. Weber, the assistant manager for the past seven years, will take over Oct. 1.

"Brian has worked closely with all the staff to support and deliver excellent service to the public," Board of Trustees President Kati Martin said in a statement. "The board looks forward to a bright future working with Brian."

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!
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.
Statewide COVID-19 Response Discussion

We will be continuing the Tuesday COVID Zoom calls bi-weekly beginning 8/4/2020 
 
MVCAC Organization is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting
 
Topic: Statewide COVID-19 Response Discussion
09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) bi-weekly on Tuesday's

Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 981 828 657
Password: 020005
One tap mobile
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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 981 828 657
Password: 020005
Southern California isn't known for its large wetland areas, but within the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District boundaries we have a very large riparian area known as the Prado Basin. This basin is managed by the Orange County Water District and is made up of several duck hunting clubs and flood planes for Inland Empire region.

In 2016, Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control decided to create a specialized team that would supervise the control of mosquitoes in these wetland areas.  The original wetland crew was supervised by Vector Control Technicians Tim Shellow and Eric Ballejos. The team's first task was to troubleshoot applications in hard to access parts of the wetlands and develop a more efficient way to treat these areas. The goal was to get a product shot out as far as possible over the cat tails and bulrush.

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!

Applications can be submitted to the MVCAC office at mvcac@mvcac.org
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.

Click here to access the Google Drive.
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.
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.
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.



9/16/2020: Invasive mosquitoes found in Winters - Daily Democrat

9/16/2020: Two human West Nile virus cases found in Valley - The Antelope Valley Press


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
Jobs

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.
FOR SALE: 2013 ARGO XTI Titan 8x8 
OFFERED FOR SALE: $15,000
 
2013 ARGO XTI Titan 8x8
487.2 Hours              
Comes with 2 new tires and spare parts  
 
Contact:     
Douglas County Mosquito Abatement District
Krista Jenkins
dcmosquito@gmail.com or 775-790-2558

Click here for more information
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.