Welcome to the First professional association for IPM Coordinators. TIPMAPS is Texas Integrated Pest Management Affiliate for Public Schools. The affiliate means we are associated with the Texas Association of School Business Officials. However, unlike other affiliate chapters within TASBO you can be just a member of TIPMAPS and not have to be a full member of TASBO. Only officers are required to be TASBO members and that is at the President and Vice-President level.

This group was developed for school IPM coordinators to network amongst themselves. Texas AgriLife Extension Service serves as mentor to this group to offer support for organizing and educating their members.

Professional groups offer a way for workers to network among others in order to learn from one another. Texas IPM Coordinators hold a variety of positions in their respective school district and each district allows for many opportunities to ‘deal’ with pests. IPM is often referred to people management. However, people management is not an easy task to learn. TIPMAPS allows its members to determine what is the best way to network with their peers.

Each year TIPMAPS, TASBO, TDA, and AgriLife Extension offer a day and half long conference. This statewide conference allows IPM coordinators and pest management professionals obtain continuing education credit. At this conference is the annual membership meeting.

The annual membership meeting allows members to vote for officers, network to form regional meeting groups, discuss further training opportunities and much more. Becoming a board member is really simple, find a current board member to find out how. Membership into this group is what YOU make of it.

TIPMAPS also allows retirees a chance to lend their expertise and experience to help. If you are interested in help or need assistance with your IPM program. Contact Janet Hurley, ja-hurley@tamu.edu to find a mentor near you. If you are a retiree and want to help, please remember to keep your information current with the Board Treasure.