They say you always should surround yourself with people who share similar values, mindsets and goals. We are lucky enough to experience that through Pi Chi Omega. This year alone, we’ve seen our mission “to connect and enrich the urban pest management community” come alive in several ways, including:
⦁ Furthering the science of pest control — Members have worked closely with one another and our industry partners to collaborate on emerging issues facing pest management.
⦁ Scholarship — There are now six scholarships we award to entomology students each spring.
⦁ Connecting and enriching the community — If you have attended a “Raise the Bar” event, you know this is a mission we take very seriously!
⦁ Mentoring the next generation of urban and structural entomologists and pest management professionals (PMPs) — A task force has been working to develop new opportunities. As you’ll hear next month at the National Pest Management Association’s PestWorld event in Boston, Mass., we are on a mission to expand our scholarship offerings in the form of industry grants. We want to increase PMPs’ access to professional development opportunities. Our goal is to reach more individuals with funds to foster the next generation of pest management specialists, and help our current colleagues grow with continuing education opportunities.
Pi Chi Omega believes we rise by lifting others. That is why we are so happy to welcome new members to the fraternity. While the organization has its roots in a group of students at Purdue University, our membership base is very broad now.
In addition to degreed entomologists, we have pest control firm owners, technicians and administrators; members who hold technical or sales positions at manufacturing or distributing companies; or are in-house government/military, food safety and specialists. We also have undergrad, graduate and postdoctoral students and their professors as members. And, our members stick around — we have a retired category of membership! There is a place for you in Pi Chi Omega, and we encourage you to learn more at PiChiOmega.org.
Last but not least, Pi Chi Omega loves PestWorld, because we see “our people”! On Tuesday, Oct. 11, we’ll get together for the serious business during our membership meeting
at 10 a.m. The fun happens at the Pi Chi Omega booth; look for us this year in the education hallway. Then, the serious fun happens at “Raise the Bar” on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Yard House in the Marriott. We hope to see all of our members there,
and meet some new friends, too.
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