DECEMBER 4 & 5, 2019
EPA Region 1 Laboratory
11 Technology Dr, North Chelmsford, MA
REGISTRATION FEE IS $50 PER PERSON
https://www.uvm.edu/extension/northeast-region-pesticide-safety-education-and-certification-meeting
· Meeting attendees must make their own hotel reservations. See Hotel & Travel Information for more details.
· State Reports: All state and PSEP contacts will receive a short survey with questions on your state’s PSEP program from Rachel Maccini, UNH PSEP. Responses will be compiled for the meeting where we will have brief “lightening talks” scheduled for each state to present highlights from their report.
· State Roundtable Discussion on Hemp Issues: Please come prepared to give a brief general update to the group on your state’s rules and regulations on this new crop.
Hotel & Travel Information
HOTEL
· Meeting attendees must make their own hotel reservations
· Recommended hotel is listed below (15-minute walk, includes breakfast)
· Other hotels are available nearby
Westin Element North Chelmsford
25 Research Place, North Chelmsford, MA
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosen-element-north-chelmsford/
(978) 256-5151
$149 group rate for “Northeast PSEP & Exam Workshop” available until 11/1
TRAVEL
If flying to the meeting, consider coming in to Manchester–Boston Regional Airport (MHT), 1 Airport Rd, Manchester, NH. The airport is about an hour away from the meeting site. We may be able to arrange pickup from the airport to the meeting.
MEALS
· Dinners and Breakfast will be on your own; see list of area restaurants below.
· Lunch on Thursday, light snacks and beverages will be provided at the meeting.
An Exam Writing Workshop will be held at the same location beginning on December 3rd at 8am through noon on December 4th so you can attend both meetings or just one or the other. The workshop requires a separate registration. See details below.
Draft agenda; subject to change
Northeast Region Pesticide Safety Education and Certification Meeting
DECEMBER 4 & 5, 2019
DECEMBER 4 - WEDNESDAY
1:00 Welcome/Logistics/Introductions - Ann Hazelrigg, Ph.D., UVM PSEP Coordinator
1:15 Partnership in Pesticide Certification & Training - A Perspective on the Past, Present, and Future - Amy Brown, Ph.D., UMD Professor Emerita, and Coordinator of the Maryland Pesticide Safety Education Program
1:45 A Collaborative Review of Certification & Training Programs and Initiatives - Robert Koethe, Environmental Protection Specialist, US EPA Region 1, Candace L. Bartholomew, UCONN PSEP Coordinator, Taryn LaScola-Miner, Director, Crop & Pest Services, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
3:00 Break
3:15 Fighting the Bite: Managing an Exploding Expansion of Tick and Other Vector-Borne Disease Risks - Kirby C. Stafford III, Ph.D., Connecticut Chief Entomologist, State Entomologist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
4:15 Hemp Regulatory Update and Overview - Taryn LaScola-Miner, Director, Crop & Pest Services, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
4:45 The American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators: Opportunity for Professional Growth and Development - Kim Pope-Brown, AAPSE President
5:15 Adjourn for the day; Dinner on your own with lots of possibilities, please see handout available at the meeting or link in travel information below.
DECEMBER 5 - THURSDAY
8:00 State Certification and Training Roundup -10 minutes/state- ‘lightening talk’ to share highlights of your state report including new educational tools, new audiences, new personnel, something that you are excited about that is happening in your state
10:00 Break
10:15 Common Glyphosate Concerns - Pam Bryer, Ph.D., Toxicologist, Maine Board of Pesticides Control
11:15 Invasion of the Lanternflies: Impact, response, and management of the new invasive insect, spotted lanternfly - Heather L. Leach, Extension Associate, Penn State (Tracey Harpster will facilitate via Zoom)
12:15 Lunch provided
1:00 Communicating Risk to the Public - Pam Bryer, Ph.D., Toxicologist, Maine Board of Pesticides Control
2:15 State Roundtable Discussion on Hemp Issues - please come prepared to give a brief general update to the group on your state’s rules and regulations on this new crop.
3:15 Break
3:30 Tools of the Trade FIFRA State Program Reporting - Andrea Szylvian, Environmental Protection Specialist US EPA Region 1 and Rachel Maccini, UNH PSEP Coordinator
4:30 Northeast Region: What’s Next - Pat Hastings, Northeast Chair and Rutgers PSEP Coordinator
5:00 Adjourn
Exam Writing Workshop
· The workshop requires a separate registration. See details below.
· Dan Wixted, Cornell and Drew Martin, Purdue University will lead the Exam Writing Workshop.
· Any SLA manager, Certification and Licensing Coordinator or CES trainer from EPA Regions 1, 2 and 3 are welcome to attend.
· All travel-related expenses will be fully reimbursed for Region 1 attendees.
DRAFT AGENDA (PDF)
Why is it important to attend the Exam Writing Workshop?
The cornerstone of any state’s pesticide applicator certification process is a job-related examination. A well-crafted exam provides a sound basis (i.e., valid score results) for making informed judgments about which individuals are most likely to perform their pesticide-related work activities in a qualified manner.
The Exam Writing Workshop will address the knowledge and skills that SLA certification managers and CES trainers need to successfully identify testable content, apply best item (i.e., question) writing practices, and build an exam that meets state’s interests of promoting public health and environmental quality while also treating test-takers fairly. Special emphasis will be paid to incorporating these test development activities into existing programs in a fashion that limits additional work burden on certification managers and trainers and minimizes cost and disruption to current institutional practice.
The workshop is arranged as a blend of classroom learning, hands-on activities, and interactive discussion. It is designed to meet the specific needs of state pesticide applicator certification managers and trainers in order to provide a direct and immediate return to your organization. We request only your time and support.
Exam Writing Workshop goals
Workshop attendees will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to:
· Develop a job-related test plan (i.e., blueprint)
· Write and review multiple-choice items according to accepted practice
· Assemble a test that reflects the job-related nature of the test plan
Registration: To register for the Exam Writing Workshop, contact Taryn.LaScola@state.ma.us
