VMCA Committees

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Chair: Carolyn LaLiberte

Organizes and manages food and entertainment at the annual conference hospitality room suite

Chair: Charles Abadam

Chooses annual conference locations; negotiates contract with hotels for association needs; dictates conference times, layout, food and drink menus, etc.

Chair: Janice Pulver

Responsible for creating the annual conference program - recruiting speakers, organizing submissions, managing time slots, coordinating with Local Arrangements Committee plans, designing program brochure

Chair: Steve Molnar

Liaison for executive board and current sustaining members; communicates vendor concerns and needs; notifies current vendors of annual conference plans; recruits new vendors

Chair: Penelope Smelser

Conducts annual audit of VMCA financial records

Chair: Jay Kiser

Maintains and makes proposed changes to association Bylaws; maintains and updates Book of Guidelines for Board Members and Committees 

Chair: Wes Robertson

Collects and maintains reference collection of mosquito specimens (adult and larvae) for use at VMCA educational events, viewing by VMCA members, and submission to WRBU

Chair: Katherine Reutt

Organizes and oversees annual adult mosquito identification course, annual winter recertification course, and other training events as desired

Chair: Lauren Lochstampfor

Sets up online and/or in-person election; coordinates with Membership Committee to maintain list of members and associated voter ID; emails ballot to all members and may conduct in-person voting on paper as needed; tallies votes at annual conference for announcement at business meeting

Chair: Alex Riley

Collects and stores historical items and documents belonging to the association; digitizes and archives paper files where possible

Chair: Alex Riley

Produces official VMCA newsletter, maintains social media accounts - posting upcoming association events, current news, and other relevant content

Chair: Wes Robertson

Notifies membership of important legislation affecting mosquito control; contacts officials and represents VMCA's position on legislative issues; provide tools and information to membership

Chair: Alex Riley

Maintains current list of VMCA members and associated contact information; enhance membership

Chair: Penelope Smelser

Designs and orders merchandise for sale to membership; maintains inventory and accurate records of purchases/sales; sells merchandise at annual conference and other VMCA-sponsored events

Chair: Karen Akaratovic

Responsible for choosing candidates for the next year's board - Vice President, Secretary (odd years), Treasurer and Industry Representative (even years); creates ballot

Chair: Wes Robertson

Organizes submissions and voting for annual photo contest; acquires funding from sustaining members or fundraising

Chair: Gina Serge

Responsible for taking photos at annual conference and other VMCA-sponsored events; maintains photo archive; shares photos with committees and members as needed

Chair: Katherine Reutt

Responsible for securing annual Governor Proclamation for Mosquito Control Awareness Week; coordinates other public outreach events as desired

Chair: Jennifer Barritt

Manages award submissions; creates and orders plaques; maintains historical list of award recipients and past president plaque display

Chair: Jay Kiser

Organizes annual student poster competition; conducts fundraising events to support student awards including Tour de Skeeter, Silent Auction, and 50/50 Raffle

Chair: Charles Abadam

Provide expertise on software and hardware for association technical needs including computers, audio/visual equipment, and assorted software for virtual meetings and media productions

Chair: Karen Akaratovic

Maintain website and keep updated with current events; monitor subscription renewal and advise board on price/product changes

For detailed information on what each committee does, check out the VMCA Book of Guidelines.