[Convention Extra] PestWorld brings a capital convention to Washington, D.C.

This year’s convention at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center brings together more than 3,600 pest management professionals, including 500 international delegates representing more than 55 countries.

The National Pest Management Association’s four-day show also marks PestWorld’s 75th anniversary.

Cal Ripken Jr. will speak at the convention’s opening session, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences. Ripken, baseball’s Iron Man, is synonymous with strength, character, endurance and integrity. His philosophy of working hard, playing with passion and enjoying the game has made a tremendous impact on the sport, and on fans everywhere.

He retired from baseball seven years ago after 21 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. His name appears in the record books repeatedly, most notably as one of only eight players in history with 200 home runs and 3,000 hits. In 1995, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played, and he voluntarily ended his streak in 1998 after playing 2,632 consecutive games.

Friday’s general session, sponsored by FMC Professional Solutions, brings together two veteran politicos — Bob Beckel, a political consultant and analyst, and John Kasich, an author and former congressman — for a friendly debate.

Combining political savvy, campaign experience and a sharp wit, Beckel is one of Washington’s leading political analysts. He has a veteran’s perspective from his years in the White House, on Capitol Hill and leading dozens of political campaigns. He is a regular Democratic political analyst for Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes.”

As a former nine-term congressman, New York Times best-selling author, popular Fox News commentator, and frequent guest host for the “O’Reilly Factor,” John Kasich calls it like he sees it. He believes in the power of individual actions to bring about historic change in our country.

NEW IN 2008. To celebrate the convention’s 75th anniversary, all attendees are invited to the O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Visitors can observe live insects and their many-legged relatives at the world’s largest natural history museum. Volunteers conduct tarantula feeding demonstrations and work with live insects that visitors may touch and hold. While enjoying dessert and coffee, guests can explore other special and permanent exhibits including the Gem Hall, Dinosaur Hall and the Mammal Hall.

The party, sponsored by BASF, is Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

To wrap up the convention, Doc Scantlin and his Imperial Palms Orchestra will play at Puttin’ on the Glitz for Saturday’s final night banquet from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Attendees will step back in time to the 1930’s for an evening with the vintage costume-clad 17-person ensemble, called the “best band in town” by the Washington Post.

SPECIAL EXCURSIONS. This year’s convention also offers attendees the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes look at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., visitors can see how the park handles its pest management.

National Zoo representatives will be presenting an overview and tour of their pest control operations, including their unique challenges and sensitive approaches they must take to ensure the safety of their exotic zoo animals, while also eliminating problem pests. This excursion requires advance registration.

And, international delegates are invited to an open house at NPMA’s new headquarters and tours of Washington-area pest management operations. The open house and tours take place Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This tour includes a visit to two successful local pest management firms, including a Western Pest Services branch office in Fairfax, Va., and Connor’s Termite & Pest Control in Springfield, Va. International delegates also will visit the newly constructed NPMA headquarters in Fairfax.

These host pest management companies provide a broad range of services including termite protection, residential and commercial pest management.

Company representatives will present an overview of their entire operation including field and sales structure, call center, quality assurance programs, technical and training support, business software and more. There also will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

Pre-registration is required and available only to international delegates.