Functions
The objectives and purposes of the association
shall be to promote and encourage close cooperation among those directly
and indirectly concerned with, or interested in, mosquito control and
related work, the stimulation of educational activities to increase the
knowledge of mosquito control and the advancement of the cause of
mosquito control and related environmental concerns in the State of New
Jersey and elsewhere. The association may also encourage such other
insect control programs as the association or board of trustees may
determine.
The Association's (NJMCA) primary goal is to
promote, encourage, develop and record safe, effective and
environmentally sound mosquito control activities n order to protect the
health and welfare of the citizens of New Jersey, and to make this
information available to all who may be interested or concerned with
mosquito control activities.
Research and Cooperation
The Association works closely with Rutgers - The
State University, State and County Mosquito Control agencies in the
advancement of mosquito control with a true and sincere concern for the
environment.
Public Education
The Association exhibits at numerous public
functions to explain mosquito biology, mosquito borne diseases and
mosquito control methods. Advice on mosquito control for the homeowner
is disseminated.
Training
The Association holds annual training sessions
to review accepted mosquito control practices and regulations.
Continuing education credit is given for those individuals certified to
practice mosquito control in compliance with state and federal
regulations.
Scholarships
The Association offers scholarships to stimulate
educational activities that will help to expand the present knowledge of
mosquito control and that of related insect pest species.
Annual Meeting
The Association holds an annual meeting to
present research findings on biology, water management practices and
chemical strategies for the control of mosquitoes and related insect
pest of public health importance. There are presentations by
representatives of various government agencies and industry to keep the
association members abreast of current thoughts or concerns. Information
is presented to the mosquito control community and the public. The
presentations are published in the proceedings of this annual meeting.
Awards
Several member organizations of NJMCA have been
recognized by various organizations which acknowledge and demonstrate
appreciation of outstanding work and efforts which contribute to the
benefit of the environment.
Examples of awards received by those in NJMCA
include:
- Monmouth County Mosquito Commission - An
award in recognition of service by way of water management projects
for mosquito control - by the Monmouth County Water Resources
Association.
- Cape May County Mosquito Commission - An
award in recognition of outstanding work in "open marsh water
management" and its benefit to waterfowl as a mosquito control source
reduction strategy - by Ducks Unlimited.
- Atlantic County Mosquito Control Unit - An
award for excellence in mosquito control by the National Association
of Counties.
- Chistine Musa, Kenneth Bruder, Wayne Crans, Ray Ferrarin, Dan
Arbegast & John Beckley - The Northeast Extension Directors' Award
from the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension for the establishment of a black
fly management program in New Jersey.
History
Mosquitoes plagued mankind long before history
records their annoying and painful interference with daily activities.
Thousands of years passed before it was learned that mosquitoes carry
diseases that have killed countless millions of people, changing the
course of history many times.
Early settlers of North America faced many
hardships. Chief among indigenous afflictions was malarial fever which
is said to have caused more anguish than the threat of Indians.
In New Jersey, historians are not sure whether
it was mosquitoes or the British who drove the Swedes from the state.
Window screens, introduced in the 1880's, were
called "the most humane contribution the 19th century made to the
preservation of sanity and good temper."
Mosquito borne yellow fellow was known as the
American plague since it had struck the bay colony in 1647. Yellow Fever
also decimated Philadelphia in 1793, thus ending that city's supremacy
in the young union. Approximately, the disease was stamped out by an
American, Dr. Walter Reed, an army surgeon who in 1900 with a team of
heroic assistants traced its source to a virus carried by the Aedes
aegypti mosquito. This eliminated, almost in a single blow, one of
the scourges of mankind.
With many pieces of the puzzle of the mosquito's
life cycle and disease transmission coming together at the turn of this
century, organized, multi-disciplinary mosquito control became possible.
New Jersey had many citizens and local governments interested in a
crusade against the mosquito. Dr. J. B. Smith, N.J. State Entomologist,
did extensive research on the types of mosquitoes in the state and their
life cycles.
Considerable public debate was given to the
question whether mosquitoes could ever be controlled. Mosquito control
operations grew in some towns but not in all towns. Newspaper battles
raged when it was painfully noted that mosquitoes ignored municipal and
even state borders.
Local boards of health funded most of the
extermination work. Laws in 1906 required support for local efforts from
the state experiment station. Another law in 1912 directed the creation
of county mosquito extermination commissions to assure full time
mosquito control.
With an increase in mosquito control workers and
their rapid progress, it became clear that an organization was
needed within which these workers could discuss their problems and share
their experiences.
In 1913, a statewide organization,
the New Jersey Mosquito Extermination Association (NJMEA), was first
established in Trenton at which time there were delegates from several
of the county commissions who were present and the concept of an annual
meeting/convention was called for by the Essex County Commission and Mr.
Thomas Headlee. At the same time, Mr. Ralph H. Hunt of East Orange was
named as President pro tem
of this new organization.
A convention of
county commissions was planned and held on February 20 & 21, 1914 at
the
Hotel Traymore in Atlantic City. Mr. Hunt presided.
On the last day of
the meeting, a Committee on Permanent Organization presented a
Constitution
which was approved. The first slate of officers and executive committee
members at large were elected as follows:
- President:
Dr. Ralph H. Hunt of East Orange (Essex County)
- First Vice
President: Dr. William E. Darnall of Atlantic City (Atlantic County)
- Second Vice
President: Mr. Howard B. Vannote, of Hasbrouck Heights (Bergen County)
- Secretary-
Treasurer: Dr. Thomas J. Headlee of New Brunswick (Middlesex County)
- Members of
the Executive Committee (in
addition to the Officers):
- Mr. William
C. Hope of Roselle (Union County)
- Dr. H. H.
Brinkerhoff of Jersey City (Hudson County)
- Mr. C. H.
Crammer of West Creek (Ocean County)
- Dr. William
A. Westcott of Berlin (Camden County)
The annual meeting of the Association continues
as a forum for New Jersey and national experts and workers to present
ideas on funding and efficiency, reporting scientific results, questions
and operational successes that could benefit others. The proceedings of
these meetings are distributed and referenced worldwide.
The Association draws on the collective efforts
of all its members and those in related fields. The executive committee
has even notified commissions when improvements were needed to protect
neighboring counties.
The results of work and research can be
successful or unsuccessful but all information is of use. Mosquito
control methods have evolved and this process has been enhanced by the
association.
Recognizing a national agenda for mosquito
control, 15 leaders of NJMCA and 10 colleagues from other states created
the Eastern Association of Mosquito Control Workers at Trenton in 1935.
In 1944 EAMCW was renamed the American Mosquito Control Association, the
paramount organization in the field today.
A special meeting of the membership was held on
August 14, 1974 at which point the "NJMEA" was officially terminated and
the incorporation of the organization with the new name of "New Jersey
Mosquito Control Association, Inc." was unanimously approved.
Today the NJMCA continues to lead the way to modern, professional
mosquito control headed into the 21st century.
Reasons for Mosquito
Control
Reasons for mosquito control are many and
varied. Public opinion being so diverse, ranging from the "I can't stand
one bite" to "leave them alone as part of nature", has made it necessary
for scientists, health officials and regulators to pass certain laws for
protection of humans and their domestic animals from mosquitoes. There
are four major reasons for control:
Public
Health
In tropical areas, mosquitoes transmit malaria, yellow
fewer, dengue and encephalitis. In New Jersey we have had serious
outbreaks of Eastern Encephalitis and St. Louis Encephalitis and in
1991, malaria reappeared. Dog heartworm is rarely a threat to humans but
is a common and often fatal disease in canines. Control measures lessen
and often prevent outbreaks of these vector borne diseases.
Public
Welfare
The standard of living in America has progressed to a point
where citizens wish to enjoy the outdoor recreation areas and especially
their own backyards without taking extreme protective measures or
avoiding certain areas altogether. The economic climate of today's
tourism makes places such as campgrounds and the Jersey Shore a billion
dollar industry that could be decimated by an outbreak of disease during
the peak tourists season. Control measures are employed to avoid this
and to enable people to enjoy their outdoor recreation.
Environment
People are important in today's world too. Many people
and animals have developed allergies to mosquito bites. Sound techniques
and integrated control programs are designed to benefit or to have
minimal adverse effect on people, wildlife and environment. A mosquito
free environment is important in today's world of active outdoor
pursuits. The selection of scientifically sound suppression methods are
based on consideration of what is ecologically and economically in the
long term best interest of mankind.
Mandate
In 1906, and again in 1912, the New Jersey legislature under the Title
26 - Health and Vital Statistics, passed laws creating mosquito control
commissions, mandating county governments fund them and giving the
commissions the power "to perform all acts which in its opinion may be
necessary for the elimination of mosquito breeding areas or which will
tend to exterminate mosquitoes within the county". A law just as
valuable today has reduced mosquito populations and kept them under
control.
Executive Committee and Officers
- President: Robert
Duryea
- First Vice-President: John
Kranz
- Second
Vice-President: Teresa Duckworth
- Secretary: Stormy
Freeze (Please contact for more information)
c/o Cape May Department of Mosquito Control, 4 Moore Rd. DN 607 Cape
May Court House, NJ 08210 , Phone 609-465-9038 ext. 3904 Fax 609-465-7228
- Treasurer: Jennifer
Gruener
- Trustee Representatives: Doug Abdill, Peter Bozak, Joe Pezillo
- Past President: Eric Williges
Click to view a list of past presidents.
Trustees
Click on an agency to go to their home page.
PESP
This "Partnership Strategy Document" for USEPA's
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
(PESP) has been
developed by the New Jersey Mosquito Control Association (NJMCA), a
sustaining member organization and affiliate of the
American Mosquito
Control Association (AMCA).
Chapter VII of the AMCA
Partnership
Strategy Document provides for qualified member organizations to attain PESP partnership status under the auspices of AMCA. NJMCA is the oldest
ongoing professional association of mosquito control workers in the
United States and heartily endorses the concept of a PESP. This document
and accompanying appendices describe the current status of mosquito
control activities in New Jersey. The document also details our use of
an Integrated Pest Management approach to controlling mosquitoes that is
consistent with the goals of the PESP.
We, the members of NJMCA, have been
stewards of the environment for more than 8 decades. This platform gives
us an opportunity to tell our story, establish goals for the future and
create parameters for measuring achievable PESP milestones.
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