This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_0027_01C9DF61.E1C3D820
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
	boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0028_01C9DF61.E1C3D820"


------=_NextPart_001_0028_01C9DF61.E1C3D820
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

My name is Suzanne Nicksic with Organic Garden Company.  

Would you rate my video for Intuit's small business grant contest?  This is
the final phase for the contest.  

Here's the link to my video:
<http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P4pmk>
http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P4pmk

You have to create an account.  Intuit will never send you an email.  It's
so you don't rate the story twice.  Takes one minute

Once you've signed in you'll see next to my video "rate this video" 

Underneath it says 

Useful 

Inspiring 

Funny 

Click on all of them.  I need all the votes I can get.  It will say Thanks!
once you pressed on the words and you'll see the numbers increase.  Leave a
comment if you wish.

 The contest winner receives 25K.  4 runners up receive 10K.  

I would appreciate it if you forwarded this on.  Try to get your co-workers
to vote.  

 Demonstration:  <http://blip.tv/file/2101410> http://blip.tv/file/2101410 

 Intuits email if you're still having trouble:
<http://us.mc830.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=smallbusinessunited@intuit.com
> smallbusinessunited@intuit.com 

 Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

 

 

Suzanne Nicksic

Organic Garden Co.

312.373.9322 (o)

312.375.3032 (c)

312.324-0656 (f)

organicgardenco.com

 

  _____  

From: safelawn [mailto:admin@news.spcpweb.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:26 PM
To: suzanne@organicgardenco.com
Subject: Safer Pest Control Project - Spring 2009 Newsletter

 


  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/header.jpg> 

visit us online at  <http://www.spcpweb.org> www.spcpweb.org

 

Spring 2009 

 


  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif> 



INDEX

 

Note from Board Chair 

SPCP Helps Pass Bill to Protect Illinois Children from Outdoor Pesticide Use


Natural Lawn Care - Cheap and Easy 

Municipal Program 

Illinois a National Leader in IPM Training for Schools and Childcares 

Beating Back Bed Bugs 

Bed Bug Confessions 

Chicago Public Schools Leads the Way in School IPM 

Celebrate SPCP's 15th Anniversary at the Ladybug Bash 

Donate to Safer Pest Control Project 



 <http://www.spcpweb.org/donate/> 

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif> 

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif> 

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif> 


Note from Board Chair

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/lil_levant.jpg> As I
started to think what to write for this letter, I procrastinated, of course,
and went into my kitchen for a snack. Who would have guessed that my topic
was right in front of me! They were traveling in packs of hundreds or maybe
thousands. They were marching across my kitchen floor, up and down my
cabinets, and across my counter tops. It seemed as though Chicago's entire
population of ants had taken over my kitchen and now was resolutely moving
toward my dining room. I could have sworn I was in the kitchen not more than
an hour ago, and there had been no sign of ants. 

 

So now what? Pull out the insecticide? Not a chance. Squash them one-by-one
with my fingers? I thought about it. Instead, I sat down at my computer,
turned to our friendly website, www.spcpweb.org, and downloaded the
factsheet about how to deal with ants using Integrated Pest Management
(IPM). I followed the simple, cost-effective, non-toxic instructions and -
it worked! With a mixture of Borax applied to key areas, the ants
disappeared within a few days. 

 

Most people would have pulled out a can of spray insecticide or called an
exterminator who might have sprayed poisons all over my kitchen. Thank
goodness that through my involvement with SPCP, I am aware of the long-term
risks of using toxic chemicals. For 15 years, Safer Pest Control Project has
been at the forefront of providing good counsel about reducing health risks
and adverse environmental impacts by promoting safe alternatives to pest
control. SPCP's website is visited each year by over 200,000 people
delivering free information to an international audience. 

 

I hope you can help us by spreading the word of this great organization and
resource for safer pest control methods. With your help, we can make sure
people stay informed and make the right choices.

 

As chair of the board, I am committed to the good work of SPCP. We are
looking for new volunteers to help the organization grow and expand in our
mission. Won't you join us? If you are interested, please contact me
directly at 312-339-8356 or  <mailto:%20llevant@sbcglobal.net>
llevant@sbcglobal.net. 

 

Best,
Lil Levant
SPCP Board Chair 










SPCP Helps Pass Bill to Protect Illinois Children
from Outdoor Pesticide Use 

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/rachel_heather.jpg>
Did you know that it is perfectly legal to spray chemicals on a school
playing field and to allow children to play on the grass 20 minutes later?
According to current Department of Agriculture regulations, as long as the
labels are followed (usually until the chemical is 'dry'), kids can play on
the fi eld soon after toxic pesticides are used. SPCP is concerned that
these products continue to remain active for several hours to several days
after application and can be tracked indoors, inhaled, and absorbed through
children's skin.

Lawn chemical use at schools and childcares put children in harm's way by
using pesticides exactly where they play - on the grass. Evidence strongly
suggests that pesticides disproportionately affect children's health. Their
bodily systems are still developing and their organs are not mature enough
to filter out these chemicals. However, children often receive higher
exposure to these contaminants because they tend to play on the ground where
they come into direct contact with pesticide residue.

Children are currently protected from pesticides inside schools and
childcares. SPCP decided to take action to extend these protections to
outdoor areas. We worked with State Senator Heather Steans who introduced
SB1769 in the Senate and with Representative Karen May who sponsored the
bill in the House. SB1769 passed the house and awaits the Governors'
signature. The following provisions are included:

 

*	Recommends a pesticide-free turf care program for schools and
licensed childcares.

 

*	Increases the required parental notification time to 4 days (from 2)
prior to application.

 

*	Adds childcares to the law; the current law only applies to schools.

 

*	Requires schools to assign a staff person to coordinate their lawn
care program.

 

*	Gives customers and neighbors the right to request and receive
copies of health and safety information from lawn product applicators.

 

*	Adds Illinois Department of Public Health as a supervising agency
with responsibility for communicating and educating people about the law.

A provision to keep children off treated fields for at least 8 hours after
application of lawn chemicals met with resistance from the chemical lawn
industry and is not included in the fi nal version of the bill. While this
was a small setback, the bill as it stands does create more accountability
and will move schools and childcares in a safer direction regarding lawn
maintenance.

 

 


Natural Lawn Care- Cheap and Easy 

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_grass.jpg>
Spring is the perfect time to transition to natural lawn care. This approach
focuses on restoring soil to create a healthy and safe lawn. A natural lawn
care program can reduce the cost, input, and labor associated with lawn care
over time. That said, you still need to pay attention to potential weed,
pest, and disease problems and act quickly with solutions. 

Creating conditions that allow your lawn to fl ourish will take some effort,
but the payoff is huge. More information on natural methods, products and
service providers, and upcoming trainings is on our website at
<http://www.spcpweb.org/yards> www.spcpweb.org/yards. 









Municipal Program 

 
<http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/municipal_program.jpg>
For the past year, SPCP has been collaborating with Evanston, Lisle, and
Orland Park on a pilot project to reduce municipal pesticide use. Funded in
part by the Grand Victoria Foundation, the Municipal Pesticide Reduction
Policy Project was created to help these partner municipalities develop
procedures and policies to reduce their use of pesticides while transforming
them into models for others to emulate.

To date, we have helped them restructure their pest control and landscaping
contracts and produced flyers to promote natural lawn care to their
communities. These materials and more will be compiled into a toolkit to
help more communities put similar programs in place.


Illinois a National Leader in IPM Training for Schools and Childcares

  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_girl.jpg>
For the third year, SPCP and the Illinois Department of Public Health are
collaborating to educate schools and childcares statewide about IPM.
Attended by hundreds of school and childcare staff across Illinois, these
workshops are designed to help staff comply with IPM laws and keep them
up-to-date on the latest IPM tools and techniques. To make the concept of
IPM easier to put in place, the workshops emphasize custodial, maintenance,
and other programs already in place and organize them into a coherent IPM
strategy. SPCP staffers Ruth Kerzee and Holly Thompson, along with Illinois
Department of Public Health IPM Director, Derrick Pehlman, conveyed the
message that using IPM will control pest problems and help protect Illinois'
children from unnecessary pesticide exposure.


Beating Back Bed Bugs Beating Back Bed Bugs
<http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/bug.jpg> 

Like many cities in America, Chicago is experiencing a huge increase in bed
bugs and the problems that arise from this pest. Difficult to eradicate, and
with a severe lack of a coordinated strategy in Illinois, bed bugs pose an
impressive challenge. 

SPCP has begun to provide information to key staff at the City of Chicago
and to educate tenants and landlords on prevention and safe methods of
eradication. Below is a first hand account from a renter in Chicago who
succeeded in beating bed bugs in her apartment.





Bed Bug Confessions 

By Lindsay Muscato, a writer and arts administrator in Chicago

I used to be a pack rat. I kept boxes and boxes of sentimental notes,
half-finished scrapbooks, craft supplies for someday, and cassettes without
a cassette player. But last spring, my boyfriend and I were renting a quaint
coach house on the north side of Chicago when bedbugs hitched a ride into
our lives. We still don't quite know where to point the finger: I had bought
a couch on Craigslist; he carted home a headboard from an alley. Whatever
the cause, we began waking up with a few bites here or there, in little
groupings of threes. After I researched our symptoms and learned it could be
bedbugs, I immediately called our landlord, who said he would call a
professional exterminator. Instead, while my boyfriend and I went on a
long-planned week of camping, he sprayed chemicals from the local hardware
store all over our possessions.

When we returned home from camping to find empty spray bottles of generic
pesticides scattered around the room, panic set in. We knew we needed a
licensed exterminator, but no company would come out without the permission
of the landlord, who refused to entertain the notion. My legs and arms were
covered in ever-increasing bites, and I was becoming a complete insomniac,
crouched by the bed with a mason jar at 3a.m. to catch more specimens.
Fortunately our lease was ending in a month, so we went DIY. We rented a
moving truck, and after taking two days off of work, we put several plans
into action at once:

1.      We washed everything washable in hot water or put it in the dryer on
high.

 

2.      We baked all of our books and papers at 150 degrees, one cookie
sheet at a time.

 

3.      We bought a $600 steam cleaner and steamed each object before
placing it in a moving box.

 

4.      We encased our nearly new mattress in Protect-A-Bed covers and
tossed the rest of the bedroom furniture and the couch.

 

5.      We used a dusting of food-grade diatomaceous earth on anything we
couldn't steam, wash, or bake.

 

After each object was declared clean, we put it into a moving box in our
vestibule and then immediately put each full box in the truck. We discarded
all of our furniture right before the garbage trucks arrived and marked it
clearly as "do not take." We sawed the couch in half with a circular saw so
it wouldn't be re-used.
Oh, and I rented a lot of disaster documentaries, to watch while I lifted
cookie sheets of books in and out of our oven and transferred new books in.
I learned about the Jonestown massacre, the fl oods in New Orleans, anything
to put this in perspective, because it felt like everything I owned was
ruined, diseased, or a liability.
Now it's a year later. My childhood bookshelf is gone, our couch is gone,
along with boxes and boxes of college books, those half-finished scrapbooks,
old clothes, and useless ephemera. It was an excellent lesson in minimalism,
and we escaped to our new place, bug-free. But effects do linger: An instant
of panic over any insect bite. A flutter of anxiety near the furniture at
yard sales. Before tossing down my suitcases at a hotel, I have to do a
quick check of the mattress seams. I've let go of a lot of stuff; I'm not a
pack rat anymore. But I have yet to ditch the paranoia.

 EarthShare
<http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_earthshare.jpg
> 


Chicago Public Schools Leads the Way in School IPM

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has been a leader in developing the state's
largest school district IPM program since 2001. Recent amendments to CPS IPM
policy, pest control contracts, and landscaping contracts demonstrate the
benefits of the relationship SPCP and CPS have developed over the past 10
years. These changes will reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides inside
and outside CPS schools and will help move CPS toward a sustainable,
environmentally friendly pest control program in line with Chicago's overall
goal to be a 'green' city. This year, we'll be developing an online training
course for CPS staff - look for its debut in early 2010. Thanks to the
support of Michael Reese Health Trust and our other funders, real change is
taking hold at CPS.


Celebrate SPCP's 15th Anniversary at the Ladybug Bash

 Bug
<http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/save_date_bug.jpg>
Save the date for SPCP's anniversary celebration. Join us on Friday,
October 2 at Evanston's SPACE for an evening of festive fun as we celebrate
fi fteen years of accomplishments. The unique venue coupled with music,
food, and a silent auction will make this an evening to remember. We are
looking for volunteers to serve on the event committee. 

If you're interested in helping out, contact Kim Stone at
<mailto:%20kstone@spcpweb.org> kstone@spcpweb.org or 
(773) 878-7378 x 205.


 
<https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/SaferPestControlProject/OnlineGiving.html>


Donate To Safer Pest Control Project 

 

Safer Pest Control Project relies on individual donations to support our
work. One benefit of your donation is the complete version of the
newsletter. Please take a minute and contribute! 

You can use the link provided here, or call us at (773) 878-7378. Thanks! 


  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/bug.gif> visit us online at
<http://www.spcpweb.org> www.spcpweb.org

 



 <http://spcpweb.org/contact> 

4611 N. Ravenswood Ave., Suite 107   Chicago IL, 60640   773/878-PEST (7378)



  <http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif> 

 

 

--
SPCP is sending this e-mail because you subscribed to our newsletter online
or at one of our events. If you do not want to receive any more newsletters
please use
<http://spcpweb.org/phplist/?p=unsubscribe&uid=027a8b4853841c9dc7997a8808922
007> this link.

To update your SPC preferences and to unsubscribe visit
<http://spcpweb.org/phplist/?p=preferences&uid=027a8b4853841c9dc7997a8808922
007> this link.

To Forward this to a friend use
<http://spcpweb.org/phplist/?p=forward&uid=027a8b4853841c9dc7997a8808922007&
mid=35> this link.

 

 <http://www.phplist.com> Powered by PHPlist2.10.5, C tincan ltd


------=_NextPart_001_0028_01C9DF61.E1C3D820
Content-Type: text/html;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html xmlns:v=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" =
xmlns:o=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
xmlns:w=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" =
xmlns:st1=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">

<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<meta name=3DGenerator content=3D"Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><o:SmartTagType
 namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"country-region"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"PlaceType"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"PlaceName"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"PostalCode"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"State"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"City"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"place"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"Street"/>
<o:SmartTagType =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
 name=3D"address"/>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]-->
<link rel=3DStylesheet type=3D"text/css" media=3Dall
href=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/styles2.css">
<style>
<!--
a:hover {  text-decoration: underline; }

 /* Font Definitions */
 @font-face
	{font-family:Wingdings;
	panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
	{font-family:"Century Gothic";
	panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
@font-face
	{font-family:Tahoma;
	panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
	{font-family:Verdana;
	panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
 /* Style Definitions */
 p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	color:windowtext;}
h1
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:10.5pt;
	font-family:Verdana;
	color:#666666;
	font-weight:bold;}
h2
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:10.0pt;
	font-family:Verdana;
	color:#666666;
	font-weight:bold;}
h3
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:9.0pt;
	font-family:Verdana;
	color:#666666;
	font-weight:bold;}
h4
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:8.5pt;
	font-family:Verdana;
	color:#666666;
	font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
	{font-family:Verdana;
	color:#2517E1;
	font-weight:bold;
	font-style:normal;
	text-decoration:none none;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
	{font-family:Verdana;
	color:#2517E1;
	font-weight:bold;
	font-style:normal;
	text-decoration:none none;}
p.MsoAutoSig, li.MsoAutoSig, div.MsoAutoSig
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:12.0pt;
	font-family:"Times New Roman";
	color:windowtext;}
p
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:9.0pt;}
p.forwardform, li.forwardform, div.forwardform
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:9.0pt;}
p.forwardinput, li.forwardinput, div.forwardinput
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:9.0pt;}
p.forwardsubmit, li.forwardsubmit, div.forwardsubmit
	{margin:0in;
	margin-bottom:.0001pt;
	font-size:9.0pt;}
p.footer, li.footer, div.footer
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:7.5pt;}
p.headline, li.headline, div.headline
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:13.0pt;}
p.note, li.note, div.note
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:8.5pt;}
p.larger, li.larger, div.larger
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:10.0pt;}
p.spacer, li.spacer, div.spacer
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	line-height:3.0pt;
	font-size:3.0pt;}
p.larger1, li.larger1, div.larger1
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:10.0pt;}
p.spacer1, li.spacer1, div.spacer1
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	line-height:3.0pt;
	font-size:3.0pt;
	color:white;}
p.headline1, li.headline1, div.headline1
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:13.0pt;
	color:#44864C;}
p.footer1, li.footer1, div.footer1
	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
	margin-right:0in;
	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
	margin-left:0in;
	font-size:7.5pt;}
span.EmailStyle32
	{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
	font-family:"Century Gothic";
	color:#003300;}
@page Section1
	{size:8.5in 11.0in;
	margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;}
div.Section1
	{page:Section1;}
 /* List Definitions */
 @list l0
	{mso-list-id:1287664146;
	mso-list-template-ids:757881962;}
@list l0:level1
	{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
	mso-level-text:\F0B7;
	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
	mso-level-number-position:left;
	text-indent:-.25in;
	mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
	font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1
	{mso-list-id:1524442226;
	mso-list-template-ids:-1404513334;}
ol
	{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
	{margin-bottom:0in;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapedefaults v:ext=3D"edit" spidmax=3D"1034" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
 <o:shapelayout v:ext=3D"edit">
  <o:idmap v:ext=3D"edit" data=3D"1" />
 </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>

<body lang=3DEN-US link=3D"#2517E1" vlink=3D"#2517E1">

<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>My =
name is
Suzanne Nicksic with Organic Garden Company.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Would you</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
rate my <b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>video</span></b> for =
Intuit&#8217;s small
business grant contest<font color=3D"#003300"><span =
style=3D'color:#003300'>?</span></font>&nbsp;
This is the final phase for the contest.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Century Gothic"'>Here&#8217;s the link to my video:&nbsp; =
<a
href=3D"http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P4pmk"
target=3D"_blank"
title=3D"blocked::http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P=
4pmk"><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>http://community.intuit.com/<wbr
title=3D"blocked::http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P=
4pmk">contests/<wbr
title=3D"blocked::http://community.intuit.com/contests/cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P=
4pmk">cl6mpPAtaqllvkab8P4pmk</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>You have to create an
account.&nbsp; Intuit will never send you an email.&nbsp; It&#8217;s so =
you don&#8217;t
rate the story twice.&nbsp; Takes one =
minute<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>Once you&#8217;ve =
signed in you&#8217;ll
see next to my video &#8220;rate this video&#8221;</span></font><font =
size=3D2
face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:windowtext'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>Underneath it =
says</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Useful</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Inspiring</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Funny</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>Click on all of =
them.</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>
&nbsp;I need all the votes I can get.&nbsp; </span></font><font size=3D2
color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>It will say </span></font><b><font
color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-family:"Century Gothic";
color:#003300;font-weight:bold'>Thanks!</span></font></b><b><font =
size=3D2
color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Century Gothic";color:#003300;font-weight:bold'> =
</span></font></b><font
size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Century Gothic";color:#003300'>once you pressed on the =
words and
you&#8217;ll see the numbers increase.&nbsp; Leave a comment if you =
wish.</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>&nbsp;</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic"'>The
contest winner receives 25K.&nbsp; 4 runners up receive 10K.&nbsp; =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";font-weight:bold'>I would appreciate =
it if
you forwarded this on.&nbsp; </span></font></b><b><font size=3D2 =
color=3D"#003300"
face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic";
color:#003300;font-weight:bold'>Try to get your co-workers to =
vote.&nbsp; </span></font></b><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Century Gothic"'>&nbsp;Demonstration: <a
href=3D"http://blip.tv/file/2101410" target=3D"_blank"
title=3D"blocked::http://blip.tv/file/2101410"><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>http://blip.tv/file/2101410</span></b></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Century Gothic"'>&nbsp;Intuits email if you&#8217;re still =
having
trouble: <a
href=3D"http://us.mc830.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=3Dsmallbusinessunite=
d@intuit.com"
target=3D"_blank"
title=3D"blocked::http://us.mc830.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=3Dsmallbus=
inessunited@intuit.com&#10;blocked::mailto:smallbusinessunited@intuit.com=
"><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>smallbusinessunited@intuit.com</span></b></a> =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Century Gothic"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Century Gothic"'>&nbsp;Thank you, Thank you, Thank =
you!</span></font><font
size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New =
Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Suzanne
Nicksic<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>Organic
Garden Co.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>312.373.9322
(o)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>312.375.3032
(c)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>312.324-0656
(f)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoAutoSig><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'>organicgardenco.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

</div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3D"#003300" face=3D"Century =
Gothic"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century =
Gothic";color:#003300'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<div>

<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>

<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter tabindex=3D-1>

</span></font></div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D2 face=3DTahoma><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font =
size=3D2
face=3DTahoma><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> =
safelawn
[mailto:admin@news.spcpweb.org] <br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, May 27, =
2009
12:26 PM<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> =
suzanne@organicgardenco.com<br>
<b><span style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Safer <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Pest</st1:place>
Control Project - Spring 2009 Newsletter</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

</div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<div align=3Dcenter>

<table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 cellpadding=3D0 =
width=3D720
 style=3D'width:7.5in'>
 <tr>
  <td valign=3Dbottom style=3D'padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
  font-family:Verdana'><img border=3D0 width=3D260 height=3D55 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1025"
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/header.jpg"><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
  </td>
  <td valign=3Dbottom style=3D'padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dright =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
  auto;text-align:right'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack =
face=3DVerdana><span
  style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:black'>visit us =
online at <a
  href=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
  =
font-weight:bold'>www.spcpweb.org</span></font></b></a><o:p></o:p></span>=
</font></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dright style=3D'text-align:right'><font =
size=3D1
  face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <p class=3Dlarger1 align=3Dright =
style=3D'text-align:right'><strong><b><font
  size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana'>Spring 2009 </span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p class=3Dspacer1 align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D1
color=3Dwhite face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:3.0pt'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>

<div align=3Dcenter>

<table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 cellspacing=3D1 cellpadding=3D0 =
width=3D720
 bgcolor=3D"#44864C" style=3D'width:7.5in;background:#44864C'>
 <tr>
  <td style=3D'padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
  font-family:Verdana'><img border=3D0 width=3D2 height=3D1 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1026"
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif"><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 =
cellpadding=3D0 width=3D"100%"
   style=3D'width:100.0%'>
   <tr>
    <td width=3D"30%" valign=3Dtop style=3D'width:30.0%;padding:0in 0in =
0in 0in'>
    <p class=3Dheadline1><strong><b><font size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" =
face=3DVerdana><span
    =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>INDEX</span></font></b></s=
trong><o:p></o:p></p>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
    =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
    size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
    Verdana;color:black'><a href=3D"#01"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:
    8.5pt;font-weight:bold'>Note from Board Chair</span></font></b></a> =
<br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#02"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>SPCP Helps Pass Bill to Protect Illinois Children from Outdoor
    Pesticide Use</span></font></b></a> <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#03"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Natural Lawn Care &#8212; Cheap and Easy</span></font></b></a> =
<br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#04"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Municipal Program</span></font></b></a> <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#05"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Illinois a National Leader in IPM Training for Schools and =
Childcares</span></font></b></a>
    <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#06"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Beating Back Bed Bugs</span></font></b></a> <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#07"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Bed Bug Confessions</span></font></b></a> <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#08"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Chicago Public Schools Leads the Way in School =
IPM</span></font></b></a>
    <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#09"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Celebrate SPCP&#8217;s 15th Anniversary at the Ladybug =
Bash</span></font></b></a>
    <br>
    <br>
    <a href=3D"#10"><b><font size=3D1><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:
    bold'>Donate to Safer Pest Control Project</span></font></b></a> =
<br>
    <br>
    <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
    font-family:Verdana'><a =
href=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/donate/"><b><span
    style=3D'font-weight:bold'><img border=3D0 width=3D146 height=3D47 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1027"
    =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/donatenow.jpg"></span></b></a><o:p></o:p></=
span></font></p>
    </td>
    <td width=3D10 style=3D'width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
    font-family:Verdana'><img border=3D0 width=3D10 height=3D1 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1028"
    =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif"><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
    </td>
    <td width=3D10 bgcolor=3D"#44864C" =
style=3D'width:.1in;background:#44864C;
    padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
    font-family:Verdana'><img border=3D0 width=3D1 height=3D1 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1029"
    =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif"><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
    </td>
    <td width=3D10 style=3D'width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
    font-family:Verdana'><img border=3D0 width=3D10 height=3D1 =
id=3D"_x0000_i1030"
    =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spacer.gif"><o:p></o:p><=
/span></font></p>
    </td>
    <td width=3D"70%" valign=3Dtop style=3D'width:70.0%;padding:0in 0in =
0in 0in'>
    <table class=3DMsoNormalTable border=3D0 cellspacing=3D0 =
cellpadding=3D0>
     <tr>
      <td valign=3Dbottom style=3D'padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'>
      <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><a =
name=3D01></a><strong><b><font
      size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana'>Note from Board =
Chair</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id=3D"_x0000_t75" =
coordsize=3D"21600,21600"=20
       o:spt=3D"75" o:preferrelative=3D"t" =
path=3D"m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled=3D"f"=20
       stroked=3D"f">
       <v:stroke joinstyle=3D"miter" />
       <v:formulas>
        <v:f eqn=3D"if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"sum @0 1 0" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"sum 0 0 @1" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @2 1 2" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"sum @0 0 1" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @6 1 2" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"sum @8 21600 0" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
        <v:f eqn=3D"sum @10 21600 0" />
       </v:formulas>
       <v:path o:extrusionok=3D"f" gradientshapeok=3D"t" =
o:connecttype=3D"rect" />
       <o:lock v:ext=3D"edit" aspectratio=3D"t" />
      </v:shapetype><v:shape id=3D"_x0000_s1026" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" =
alt=3D""=20
       =
style=3D'position:absolute;margin-left:50pt;margin-top:0;width:90pt;
       height:108.75pt;z-index:1;mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;
       mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;
       mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;
       =
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical-relative:line=
'=20
       o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
       <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/lil_levant.jp=
g" />
       <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
      </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D120 height=3D145
      =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/lil_levant.jp=
g"
      align=3Dright hspace=3D5 border=3D0 =
v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1026"><![endif]><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'>As I started to think what to write for this =
letter,
      I procrastinated, of course, and went into my kitchen for a snack. =
Who
      would have guessed that my topic was right in front of me! They =
were
      traveling in packs of hundreds or maybe thousands. They were =
marching
      across my kitchen floor, up and down my cabinets, and across my =
counter
      tops. It seemed as though <st1:City w:st=3D"on"><st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City>&#8217;s
      entire population of ants had taken over my kitchen and now was
      resolutely moving toward my dining room. I could have sworn I was =
in the
      kitchen not more than an hour ago, and there had been no sign of =
ants. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana;color:black'>So now what? Pull out the =
insecticide?
      Not a chance. Squash them one-by-one with my fingers? I thought =
about it.
      Instead, I sat down at my computer, turned to our friendly =
website,
      www.spcpweb.org, and downloaded the factsheet about how to deal =
with ants
      using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). I followed the simple,
      cost-effective, non-toxic instructions and &#8211; it worked! With =
a mixture of
      Borax applied to key areas, the ants disappeared within a few =
days. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Most people would have pulled out =
a can
      of spray insecticide or called an exterminator who might have =
sprayed
      poisons all over my kitchen. Thank goodness that through my =
involvement
      with SPCP, I am aware of the long-term risks of using toxic =
chemicals.
      For 15 years, Safer Pest Control Project has been at the forefront =
of
      providing good counsel about reducing health risks and adverse
      environmental impacts by promoting safe alternatives to pest =
control.
      SPCP&#8217;s website is visited each year by over 200,000 people =
delivering
      free information to an international audience. =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana;color:black'>I hope you can help us by =
spreading the
      word of this great organization and resource for safer pest =
control
      methods. With your help, we can make sure people stay informed and =
make
      the right choices.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana;color:black'>As chair of the board, I am =
committed to
      the good work of SPCP. We are looking for new volunteers to help =
the
      organization grow and expand in our mission. Won&#8217;t you join =
us? If you
      are interested, please contact me directly at 312-339-8356 or <a
      href=3D"mailto:%20llevant@sbcglobal.net"><b><font size=3D1><span
      =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold'>llevant@sbcglobal.net</span></=
font></b></a>.
      <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
      size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
      Verdana;color:black'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
      auto'><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
      font-family:Verdana;color:black'>Best,<br>
      <strong><b><font face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-family:Verdana'>Lil
      Levant</span></font></b></strong><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'><br>
      <strong><b><font face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-family:Verdana'>SPCP =
</span></font></b></strong><em><i><font
      face=3DVerdana><span style=3D'font-family:Verdana'>Board =
Chair</span></font></i></em></span></b>
      <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D1
      face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
      <br>
      <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
      </td>
     </tr>
    </table>
    <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
    font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    </td>
   </tr>
  </table>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
  font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3Dheadline1><b><font size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" =
face=3DVerdana><span
  style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-weight:bold'><br>
  <br>
  </span></font></b><a name=3D02 id=3D02></a><o:p></o:p></p>
  <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on"><strong><b><font
   size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;
   =
font-family:Verdana'>SPCP</span></font></b></strong></st1:PlaceName><stro=
ng><b><font
  face=3DVerdana><span style=3D'font-family:Verdana'> <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Helps</st1:PlaceName>
  <st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Pass</st1:PlaceType> Bill to Protect =
<st1:State
  w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State> =
Children</span></font></b></strong><b><span
  style=3D'font-weight:bold'><br>
  <strong><b><font face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-family:Verdana'>from Outdoor
  Pesticide Use</span></font></b></strong></span></b> <o:p></o:p></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><!--[if gte vml =
1]><v:shape=20
   id=3D"_x0000_s1027" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" alt=3D"" =
style=3D'position:absolute;
   =
margin-left:90.5pt;margin-top:0;width:130.5pt;height:115.5pt;z-index:2;
   mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
   mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
   mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
   mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
   <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/rachel_heathe=
r.jpg" />
   <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
  </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D174 height=3D154
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/rachel_heathe=
r.jpg"
  align=3Dright hspace=3D5 v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1027"><![endif]><font =
size=3D1
  color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
  color:black'>Did you know that it is perfectly legal to spray =
chemicals on a
  school playing field and to allow children to play on the grass 20 =
minutes
  later? According to current Department of Agriculture regulations, as =
long as
  the labels are followed (usually until the chemical is =
&#8216;dry&#8217;), kids can play
  on the fi eld soon after toxic pesticides are used. SPCP is concerned =
that
  these products continue to remain active for several hours to several =
days
  after application and can be tracked indoors, inhaled, and absorbed =
through
  children&#8217;s skin.<br>
  <br>
  Lawn chemical use at schools and childcares put children in =
harm&#8217;s way by
  using pesticides exactly where they play &#8211; on the grass. =
Evidence strongly
  suggests that pesticides disproportionately affect children&#8217;s =
health. Their
  bodily systems are still developing and their organs are not mature =
enough to
  filter out these chemicals. However, children often receive higher =
exposure
  to these contaminants because they tend to play on the ground where =
they come
  into direct contact with pesticide residue.<br>
  <br>
  Children are currently protected from pesticides inside schools and
  childcares. SPCP decided to take action to extend these protections to
  outdoor areas. We worked with State Senator Heather Steans who =
introduced
  SB1769 in the Senate and with Representative Karen May who sponsored =
the bill
  in the House. SB1769 passed the house and awaits the Governors' =
signature.
  The following provisions are included:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
  size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Recommends a =
pesticide-free
       turf care program for schools and licensed =
childcares.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Increases the =
required
       parental notification time to 4 days (from 2) prior to =
application.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Adds childcares to =
the law;
       the current law only applies to =
schools.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Requires schools to =
assign a
       staff person to coordinate their lawn care =
program.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Gives customers and
       neighbors the right to request and receive copies of health and =
safety
       information from lawn product =
applicators.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-left:.5in'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></f=
ont></p>
  <ul type=3Ddisc>
   <li class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
       auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span
       style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Adds Illinois =
Department of
       Public Health as a supervising agency with responsibility for
       communicating and educating people about the =
law.<o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
  </ul>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
  size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana;color:black'>A provision to keep children off treated fields =
for at
  least 8 hours after application of lawn chemicals met with resistance =
from
  the chemical lawn industry and is not included in the fi nal version =
of the
  bill. While this was a small setback, the bill as it stands does =
create more
  accountability and will move schools and childcares in a safer =
direction
  regarding lawn maintenance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;
  font-family:Verdana'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
  size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana;color:black'>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><a =
name=3D03></a><strong><b><font
  size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana'>Natural Lawn Care&#8212; Cheap and =
Easy</span></font></b></strong> <o:p></o:p></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><!--[if gte =
vml 1]><v:shape=20
   id=3D"_x0000_s1028" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" alt=3D"" =
style=3D'position:absolute;
   =
margin-left:167.75pt;margin-top:0;width:207.75pt;height:219.75pt;z-index:=
3;
   mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
   mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
   mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
   mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
   <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_grass=
.jpg" />
   <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
  </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D277 height=3D293
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_grass=
.jpg"
  align=3Dright hspace=3D5 v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1028"><![endif]><font =
size=3D1
  color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
  color:black'>Spring is the perfect time to transition to natural lawn =
care.
  This approach focuses on restoring soil to create a healthy and safe =
lawn. A
  natural lawn care program can reduce the cost, input, and labor =
associated
  with lawn care over time. That said, you still need to pay attention =
to
  potential weed, pest, and disease problems and act quickly with =
solutions. <br>
  <br>
  Creating conditions that allow your lawn to fl ourish will take some =
effort,
  but the payoff is huge. More information on natural methods, products =
and
  service providers, and upcoming trainings is on our website at <a
  href=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/yards" target=3D"_blank"><b><font =
size=3D1><span
  =
style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-weight:bold'>www.spcpweb.org/yards</span></=
font></b></a>.
  <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D1 =
face=3DVerdana><span
  style=3D'font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><a name=3D04 =
id=3D04></a><strong><b><font
  size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana'>Municipal Program</span></font></b></strong> <o:p></o:p></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><!--[if gte vml =
1]><v:shape=20
   id=3D"_x0000_s1029" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" alt=3D"" =
style=3D'position:absolute;
   margin-left:197pt;margin-top:0;width:237pt;height:180pt;z-index:4;
   mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
   mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
   mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
   mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
   <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/municipal_pro=
gram.jpg" />
   <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
  </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D316 height=3D240
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/municipal_pro=
gram.jpg"
  align=3Dright hspace=3D5 v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1029"><![endif]><font =
size=3D1
  color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
  color:black'>For the past year, SPCP has been collaborating with =
<st1:City
  w:st=3D"on">Evanston</st1:City>, Lisle, and <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Orland Park</st1:place>
  on a pilot project to reduce municipal pesticide use. Funded in part =
by the
  Grand Victoria Foundation, the Municipal Pesticide Reduction Policy =
Project
  was created to help these partner municipalities develop procedures =
and
  policies to reduce their use of pesticides while transforming them =
into
  models for others to emulate.<br>
  <br>
  To date, we have helped them restructure their pest control and =
landscaping
  contracts and produced flyers to promote natural lawn care to their
  communities. These materials and more will be compiled into a toolkit =
to help
  more communities put similar programs in =
place.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><a name=3D05 =
id=3D05></a><st1:State
  w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><strong><b><font size=3D4 =
color=3D"#44864c"
    face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Illinois</span></font></b>=
</strong></st1:place></st1:State><strong><b><font
  face=3DVerdana><span style=3D'font-family:Verdana'> a National Leader =
in IPM Training
  for Schools and Childcares</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
  <p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><!--[if gte vml =
1]><v:shape=20
   id=3D"_x0000_s1030" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" alt=3D"" =
style=3D'position:absolute;
   =
margin-left:176.75pt;margin-top:0;width:216.75pt;height:207.75pt;z-index:=
5;
   mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;
   mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;
   mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
   mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
   <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_girl.=
jpg" />
   <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
  </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D289 height=3D277
  =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/sidebar_girl.=
jpg"
  align=3Dright hspace=3D5 v:shapes=3D"_x0000_s1030"><![endif]><font =
size=3D1
  color=3Dblack face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
  color:black'>For the third year, SPCP and the Illinois Department of =
Public
  Health are collaborating to educate schools and childcares statewide =
about
  IPM. Attended by hundreds of school and childcare staff across =
<st1:State
  w:st=3D"on"><st1:place w:st=3D"on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State>, =
these workshops
  are designed to help staff comply with IPM laws and keep them =
up-to-date on
  the latest IPM tools and techniques. To make the concept of IPM easier =
to put
  in place, the workshops emphasize custodial, maintenance, and other =
programs
  already in place and organize them into a coherent IPM strategy. SPCP
  staffers Ruth Kerzee and Holly Thompson, along with Illinois =
Department of
  Public Health IPM Director, Derrick Pehlman, conveyed the message that =
using
  IPM will control pest problems and help protect <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:place
   w:st=3D"on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State>&#8217; children from =
unnecessary
  pesticide exposure.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td bgcolor=3Dwhite style=3D'background:white;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt =
7.5pt 7.5pt'>
  <p class=3Dheadline1 style=3D'margin-bottom:13.0pt'><a name=3D06 =
id=3D06></a><strong><b><font
  size=3D4 color=3D"#44864c" face=3DVerdana><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;font-family:
  Verdana'>Beating Back Bed Bugs</span></font></b></strong><!--[if gte =
vml 1]><v:shape=20
   id=3D"_x0000_s1031" type=3D"#_x0000_t75" alt=3D"Beating Back Bed =
Bugs" style=3D'position:absolute;
   =
margin-left:148.25pt;margin-top:0;width:188.25pt;height:199.5pt;z-index:6=
;
   =
mso-wrap-distance-left:0;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:=
0;
   mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;
   =
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical-relative:line=
'=20
   o:allowoverlap=3D"f">
   <v:imagedata =
src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/bug.jpg" />
   <w:wrap type=3D"square"/>
  </v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=3D251 height=3D266
  src=3D"http://www.spcpweb.org/newsletter/archive/spring2009/bug.jpg"
  align=3Dright alt=3D"Beating Back Bed Bugs" =
v: