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NFDA Moves to prohibit Consumer Protection and to make more money from it's members
Here is a little of what NFDA's Washington Office is doing to keep itself busy.
Funeral Service/Small Business legislative and regulatory concerns submitted to Congress NFDA submits its legislative and regulatory concerns to the Senate and House Small Business Committees for consideration.
Over the recent past, NFDA has been asked by both the Senate and House Small Business Committees to participate in round table discussions with other small business groups and advise the committee members what issues are of immediate concern to our members.
NFDA's Senate presentation, NFDA outlined several key legislative concerns for the Committee. Some are:
A Passage of legislation to allow associations to offer affordable health care insurance to its members (Association Health Plans). This could enable NFDA to sell health Insurance to it's members and perhaps commissions would bolster up NFDA's Finances.
B Prohibit the FTC from using their undercover sting operations to enforce the funeral rule; and, to require them to adopt NFDA's definition of the term "timely distribution" of a General Price list. This way those Funeral Directors who have been ignoring Price List Distribution for almost twenty years, to get away with it forever!
C Classify licensed funeral directors and embalmers as professionals for purposes of exemption from the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1934. This would make it legal for companies to never pay overtime to licensed employees: watching the phones 24/7 will be the employees job, working holidays, wedding anniversaries will be a forced issue, those funeral homes that have never had at time clock nor paid any overtime will be able to to it legally FOREVER.
D Allow employers to use employee negligence or error as a defense to OSHA citations. Could this mean if an owner has an unsafe workplace it's not the employer's fault? Would this create a less safe work place?
E Require EPA to provide documented evidence that funeral home discharge into a septic system or public sewer system threatens underground drinking water sources or public health BEFORE they regulate funeral homes. Shouldn't we know what we are dumping into the environment? Especially in our the neighborhood.
In a message dated 3/17/03 2:40:38 PM, Ted in Arizona writes:
Ancient Brits mummified dead too
Monday, March 17, 2003 Posted: 9:49 AM EST (1449 GMT)
LONDON (Reuters) -- Ancient Britons started mummifying their dead at around the same time as the ancient Egyptians, according a British archaeologist.
Dr Mike Parker-Pearson, who will feature in a BBC documentary "Meet the Ancestors" on Tuesday, discovered four Bronze Age bodies showing signs of mummification in the remote Scottish isle of South Uist.
The 3,000-year-old bodies are believed to be the first ever discovery of mummification in Britain.
"The Cladh Hallan bodies lay beneath the floor of a Bronze Age roundhouse, deep underneath layers of old jewelry, whalebone lamps and tools, and deeper still under animal remains," said a BBC preview on Sunday.
Unwrapping a mystery
While the Egyptians used hot sand and natural salts to preserve their dead and ancient Peruvians cured their dead in dry mountaintop winds, Parker-Pearson believes Britons used naturally-occurring acids in peat bogs.
Wrappings have since rotted, but proof they were mummified comes from the fact that the bodies were gutted and carbon dating shows them to have died up to 600 years before burial.
Only mummification could have prevented them from rotting in the meantime.
"The female, bizarrely, held two of her own front teeth in her hands," said the preview.
"So-called bog bodies found preserved in peat bogs are distinctive by their leathery skin and the almost complete absence of bones which are eroded and dissolved over the years by the bogs' complex chemicals," it added.
In a message dated 3/29/03 1:17:50 PM, anonymous writes:
FAMOUS CASKET MAKER MARSELLUS TO CLOSE
3/28/2003 4:45:00 AM
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Mar 28, 2003 -- After 131 years of building
caskets fit for presidents, the Marsellus Casket Co. will close over the next month,
leaving 315 workers without jobs.
The decision announced Thursday by the casket-maker's troubled parent company,
Service Corporation International, left workers stunned and local union and
government officials angry.
"We feel like we've been stabbed in the back," said Bob Tompkins, union
representative for Service Employees International Union Local 200, which represents
about 270 workers at Marsellus plants in Syracuse and nearby DeWitt.
Although the company is guarded about the names of those buried in its caskets,
those it does acknowledge include presidents Harry Truman, Richard Nixon and John
Kennedy; vice presidents Hubert Humphrey and Nelson Rockefeller; football coaching
great Vince Lombardi, and Cardinal Terrence Cooke.
Workers learned of the closing at a special meeting Thursday morning, Tompkins said.
A construction crew then arrived and began boarding up the Syracuse factory.
The company was founded in Syracuse in 1872 by John Marsellus and became world
famous for its handcrafted hardwood caskets.
On the strength of second- and third-generation workers, Marsellus Casket operated
as a family owned business until 1997, when it merged with Houston-SCI, which owns
3,100 funeral homes, cemeteries and crematorium and is the world's largest provider
of funeral services.
"We know about Marsellus' long history and tradition. This was an extremely
difficult decision. It's just unfortunate that the business landscape in our industry
has changed," said SCI senior vice president Stephen Mack.
A major problem is that more people are choosing cremation rather than more costly
burial services.
Mack, who met with workers on Thursday, said SCI conducted an analysis that showed
the company couldn't remain competitive without SCI spending significant money to
modernize the plant's production capabilities and develop an extensive distribution
network to replace the costly third-party system it was using.
"We could not justify that investment," said Mack. He did not give any cost figures.
Mack said the company sought to find a buyer for Marsellus Casket, but there were no
takers.
He added, however, that SCI is selling Marsellus' patents, copyrights and name to
Batesville Casket Co. of Indiana, the industry's leading builder of metal and
hardwood caskets and one of Marsellus' chief rivals.
He did not disclose the price. Batesville officials did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. <-----( See Below for Batesvilles word)
The shut down of Marsellus Casket operations will occur in phases during April, with
a final closing date of no later than May 2.
Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll and Onondaga County Executive Nicholas Pirro met
Thursday morning with SCI senior officials.
"This is completely outrageous," Driscoll said. "This is entirely premeditated. They
have shown no respect for the working men and women they employed."
He said he was especially angry the company "never approached the state, the county
or the city about how we could help."
Meanwhile, SCI has had to deal with its own fiscal and legal problems.
Two of its cemeteries in Florida have been accused of digging up bodies, removing
them from plots and using the plots for new burials. Lawsuits by family members are
pending in those cases.
The company lost $232 million last year and nearly $600 million in 2001.
----------------------------------------end of submitted news story
I sent Joe Weigel at Batesville a copy of the above and and told him of word on the street on the purchase price and here is what he wrote back
In a message dated 3/28/03 12:08:21 PM, Joe_Weigel@Batesville.com writes:
As you and I both know all too well, "the street" certainly will have it's
"word" on this news. For the record:
· SCI had reached an independent decision to exit the casket manufacturing
business. They indicate they had contacted a number of potential buyers in
funeral service, but had not consummated a deal. They then decided to offer
parts of the company for sale. Batesville had interest only in the
intellectual property - design, blueprints and the brand name.
· This agreements is unrelated to our existing customer relationship with
SCI. SCI is a respected customer of BCC ? as are our 16,000 other
customers. They offered an asset for sale and we saw value in that asset
for BCC. The business decision to purchase the Marsellus brand and the
terms of the purchase were reached wholly apart from our customer
relationship with SCI. The purchase does not include the Marsellus
manufacturing facilities or any other assets of the company.
· While Batesville is excited about the opportunity to offer Marsellus
designs to our customers, we are taking a deliberate approach to any
introduction to the marketplace. Since we are not acquiring the Marsellus
manufacturing facilities, we must first integrate the brand into our
operation. As such, we have not yet defined a timetable for the start of
production. We have much work yet to do, but when we're ready to announce
our plans, we're confident they're going to generate excitement in the
marketplace.
· We believe the ability to offer the Marsellus brand together with
Batesville's superior service and distribution capabilities has the
potential to make these products more accessible to more families than ever
before. We believe that combination will give Batesville customers another
important advantage with families over funeral homes that buy from other
casket suppliers.
Needless to say, we are delighted to help bring the Marsellus tradition
back to the funeral service community.
In a message dated 3/27/03 5:49:31 PM, Joe_Weigel@Batesville.com writes:
John - I certainly want to keep you informed of the latest news from Batesville.
CONTACT: Joe Weigel
Director of Communications
Batesville Casket Company
812.934.1610
joe.weigel@batesville.com
Batesville Casket Purchases Marsellus Brand
Plans to broaden availability of Marsellus brand caskets
BATESVILLE, IN., March 27, 2003 -Batesville Casket Company, one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of burial caskets and cremation products, announced today that it has purchased the Marsellus Casket brand name and certain related intellectual property of the Marsellus Casket Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Service Corporation International. Based in Syracuse, New York, Marsellus is well-known as a U.S. manufacturer of fine hardwood caskets.
Batesville's purchase is limited to the Marsellus name and certain other brand assets of Marsellus Casket Company, including product blueprints, patents, trademarks and designs. The purchase does not include the Marsellus manufacturing facilities or any other company assets.
According to Batesville Casket president and CEO, Kenneth A. Camp, this purchase should broaden the market availability of Marsellus brand caskets and provide funeral directors and consumers with a powerful new combination of product and service excellence from two trusted and well-respected names in funeral service.
"We're delighted to bring the Marsellus tradition back to funeral directors across North America," said Camp. "We believe the ability to offer the Marsellus brand together with our superior service and distribution capabilities has the potential to make these products more accessible to more families than ever before."
Camp indicated the company will take some time to fully integrate all aspects of each product introduction to the marketplace. Because the company is not acquiring the Marsellus manufacturing facilities, Batesville has not yet finalized a timetable for the start of production.
John Marsellus founded Marsellus Casket Company in 1872 in Syracuse New, York. After more than 125 years of Marsellus family stewardship, the company was sold to Service Corporation International in 1997.
About Batesville Casket Company
Batesville Casket Company, a subsidiary of Hillenbrand Industries (NYSE: HB) is recognized as one of North America's leading funeral service supplier of burial caskets, cremation products and related support services. Headquartered in Batesville, Ind., for more than one hundred years, Batesville has been committed to assisting funeral directors help families honor the lives of those they love.
Hi Joe
I hear more each week "on the street" Batesville is involved with a web sale of merchandise to the consumer, I am remembering it is called Funeraldepot.com, visited there and on this site is says ther are authorized re-seller
http://caskets.veteranssociety.com/cgi-local/search.cgi?cf=user_casket_search&user_type=user&task=search&clientid=veteransfuneralcare&category=Precious&title=Copper%20&%20Bronze%20Caskets
Since I am sure the issue will come up Sunday Night, your input would be
appreciated
Thanks Joe
John McDonough
Here is Joe's Response
In a message dated 3/28/03 1:54:22 PM, Joe_Weigel@Batesville.com writes:
Thanks for the opportunity to address the topic of unauthorized individuals
selling Batesville caskets on the world wide web.
Long ago, Batesville chose the Funeral Director as our channel of
distribution. We believe the investment that a Funeral Director has in a
community - licensure, staff, real estate, etc. - gives a community
presence that helps protect consumers from fraudulent behavior. We believe
that casket stores (usually in rented space) and internet sellers (who
exist only in cyberspace) do not have ongoing community presence and,
therefore, can easily mislead the consumer and then quickly disappear. I'm
sure there are many honest operators of casket stores, but their transitory
nature poses a risk to consumers, the community, and to the reputation of
Batesville. The history is that many, if not most, casket stores do not
exist even a year or two after the casket sale. This means that the family
has no recourse after their purchase. That is one of the major reasons why
we do not sell to casket stores.
Moreover, these often-transitory sellers want to gain use of our
distribution system to support their delivery promises. That is why we
changed our ship-to bill-to process so the receiving Funeral Home must call
the CSC and place the order. We do this to prevent fraudulent behavior by
casket stores and internet sellers who represent themselves as a Funeral
Home over the telephone.
As you can imagine, casket stores do not like this. We have been sued by
casket stores because we have refused to sell to anyone other than funeral
homes. We also have a lawsuit coming to a jury trial in January '04
against funeraldepot.com.
It is our understanding from an article written earlier this month by Bob
Tedeschi for the New York Times and picked up by several other papers
including the Naples News
http://www.naplesnews.com/03/02/business/d836758a.htm that "Magliocca
(owner of Funeral Depot) has set up a nationwide network of about 45
independent funeral homes that are authorized to sell coffins from
well-known manufacturers and have agreed to ship orders on Funeral Depot's
behalf.
I hope this gives you the information you're looking for on this topic. If
not, write back and I'll provide more information.
In a message dated 3/6/03 7:18:30 PM, RonAHast writes:
John: You may want to cut and put the following in your bulletin. I was rather surprised that many contributors to the "living on premises" chat seemed disinterested in the consequences of improper wage and hour arrangements for those on premises.
The Federal Wage and Hour laws are quite simple and easily complied when understood. It amazes me how many funeral directors hold to past years of their (unlawful) interpretations, claiming their methods are just fine (even if the employee agrees that the schedule is fine). There are two brief, well stated standards that must be considered when scheduling on-call, night and week-end duties. "Engaged to wait" and "Restricted to premises" clearly dictate the application of federal wage and hour laws. Wage and hour laws do not apply to owners who live in their funeral service premises. The laws do apply to employees, students, (and managers who do not meet the test of exemption) and anyone who lives in the premises and is expected to answer telephones (especially [with emphasis] when there is no other means connected to an outside answering source). If in doubt, a call to the Federal Wage and Hour office of the U.S. Government will be helpful.
A true story: Husband is hired to work as embalmer and funeral director, and provided an apartment adjacent to the funeral home. Wife is not employed, but agrees to cover the telephone on nights and weekends that her husband is on-call, if and when he is away on a call, or embalming, etc. Three years go by, and differences cause the husband's employment to be terminated. The wife contacts the Wage and Hour Bureau, and presents a calendar with entries every time she was covering phones, riding along with him on death call and long-distant business, present in the embalming room while he was embalming, and any other activity pertaining to business. She applied for back wages for three years, with proof of time "spent" recorded. At the formal hearing, the owner was asked: "What proof do you have that this woman did not work." His answer: "I have none &endash; she was never hired." The wage and hour board ruled in the woman's favor, and thousands of dollars were paid to her for back wages.
In a message dated 3/25/2003 8:32:12 PM, Margaret in Pennsylvania writes: John, here is a good example of NFDA talking out of both sides of it's mouth! IN RED.
The Latest News
NFDA Advocacy Summit
Posted: March 20, 2003
With the realities and the possible timing of war, NFDA has researched several issues regarding its upcoming Washington, D.C., congressional and business meetings. Based on current information, we are proceeding to hold all events in conjunction with NFDA's Advocacy Summit.
If the country is moved to a "Red Alert" status, however, all slated NFDA meetings, including the Advocacy Summit, will be immediately canceled.
We have been briefed by the Office of Homeland Security that they do not intend to go to "Red Alert" and have advised organizations and individuals to conduct business as usual. The homeland security representative even affirmed his plans to travel on commercial flights early next week as well.
We have also checked with area hotels, which have reported few cancellations, and with other national organizations&emdash;all are continuing with their Washington, D.C., events this and next week. NFDA has received less than 5 cancellations from members to date. As of late this morning, we have been in contact with several states and it appears that NFDA registrants are planning to attend as scheduled.
The congressmen with whom we have been in touch have indicated that they foresee meeting with constituents as usual next week.
NFDA is sensitive and shares your concerns for safety. We will continue to closely monitor the situation. If "Red Alert" is established, all scheduled NFDA meetings will be immediately cancelled and event participants notified by fax and phone. You may also check www.nfda.org for details under "Breaking News."
If you require additional information, please call (800) 228-6332
In a message dated 3-25-2003 5:45:19 PM, kmonfre@nfda.org writes:
National Consumer Education Campaign
Rescheduling
Statement from Dwayne Spence, NFDA President
As a result of recent developments in the world, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has decided to reschedule its National Funeral Service Education Campaign.
The new launch date will now take place in September, with Consumer Education Week taking place September 21-27, 2003.
Funerals are a sensitive subject, and in these uncertain times the positive public messages we are trying to build could become tarnished by the perception that the Campaign's timing is inappropriate. However, we are still committed to educating consumers about their choices, and helping them to make wise decisions.
This Campaign is one of our most important consumer initiatives in recent times, and NFDA is extremely excited about its potential to educate consumers. However, as they say, timing is everything, and this is a time to focus on our individual families and communities.
In the meantime, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the events in the Middle East.
THE REVOLUTION THAT DID NOT HAPPEN
Curtis D. Rostad, CFSP
The argument goes something like this-
How can NFDA, the National Funeral Directors Association take the position that funeral directors should be classified as "professionals' under the wage and hour laws so that owners can get away with paying their employees a monthly salary rather than paying them hourly with overtime?
Whose interests do they represent, anyway?
Is this the National Funeral Directors Association or is it the National Funeral Home Owners Association?
The truth is of course, that regardless of the name, NFDA has always represented the interests of the owners. It was funeral home owners who started the association in 1882. It is the owners who have funded it, run it, and have set its agenda for well over 100 years.
Dues were based on how many calls the firm did. The membership directory listed the name of the funeral home and then the name of its owner. It truly was a funeral home and funeral home owners association.
That is until the mid 1990's.
Of the 22,000 plus funeral homes in the United States, NFDA represented approximately 18,000. With the consolidation frenzy, the number of total funeral homes and the number of NFDA members were both dropping and association finances were being squeezed. In addition, members in some states demanded the choice of joining just their state association or the national association without having to join both. Even if NFDA were able to convince every funeral home in the country to join or rejoin NFDA, they would see no more than a 25% increase in members.
The leadership of NFDA knew however, that there were over 45,000 licensed funeral directors working in the profession. If they could get individual funeral directors to join the association, they could at least double their membership.
And so after much debate, NFDA became an individual membership organization. A two-tier dues system was devised whereby owners would pay under one category to also receive benefits for the funeral home while licensed employees would pay a lesser dues amount but receive the same individual membership rights and voting privileges.
On paper the change was dramatic. It was downright revolutionary. For the first time in history, employees could join NFDA on the same basis as their employers.
NFDA would truly become a funeral directors association. Employees suddenly had their own association and they did not even have to start one.
They had the opportunity to take over the oldest and largest funeral association in the world.
The membership directory would now show the name of the person first and the name of the funeral home they represented second. Owners and employees would appear together with the same size type.
For less than $100 employees could not only join the association, but by their shear numbers, they could become the majority and set an agenda that for the first time, would favor employees over employers.
It was almost like letting the secretaries join the Bar association and letting them tell the lawyers what to do.
But that was on paper.
In reality, employers were not about to pay additional dues for their employees to join NFDA and few employees saw any value in spending their own money to join an association that was still seen as representing the interests of the owners. It was the boss who got the magazine and went to the big convention.
The truth is and always has been that funeral service is not made up of individual practitioners like doctors and lawyers, but by firms where individual licensees work. Those employees do not see themselves as independent practitioners, but as part of the firm.
So as a whole, funeral directors failed to see the opportunity this membership change represented. There were never enough employee members to challenge the leadership structure or its agenda or even have a real voice in the proceedings.
For the association, membership went from bad to worse. The consolidation frenzy turned into bankruptcy filings and the membership numbers at NFDA shrank even further. The number of funeral homes represented hovered around 10,000 and even when adding in the individuals, the total membership number could not be stretched above 13,500. Somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000 funeral homes were no longer affiliated with NFDA.
Early on, the leadership of NFDA saw that it wasn't working, but no one wanted to admit defeat of the concept too quickly.
Eventually however, the inevitable and logical decision had to be made. It was time to go back-back to a membership based on funeral firms.
All that had resulted in the interim was an administrative nightmare especially for those states attempting to collect dues for both themselves and NFDA.
Most of those states still based their membership on firms, only adding individual categories to be compatible with the NFDA by-laws. The resulting combined dues statements looked just slightly less complicated than a tax return.
And so in 2001, the NFDA House of Delegates approved the by-law amendments that would turn back the clock. Beginning in 2003, dues will once again be based on firm membership.
The revolution that never really happened was over.
There will always be those who will argue that NFDA should represent individual funeral directors. But for better or for worse, that window of opportunity came and went.
There will always be those who will disagree with the owner-biased stands that NFDA takes. But those who pay the dues that support the association will, as always, be setting the agenda. And that is as it should be.
In a message dated 2/24/03 6:24:19 PM, Tibbles in Massachusetts writes:
Whatever you may think of our involvement in Iraq, thought you might like to participate... If you are so inclined, visit the Department of Defense web page below and add your name to the list of folks thanking the men and women of the U. S. military services for defending our freedom. The compiled list of names will be sent out to our soldiers at the end of the month. As of this email, there were almost 3.9 million names (a little over 1 % of all Americans). (I couldn't verify this info on the web site, but the site is legit.) What a shame. There should be a whole lot more. It's National Military Appreciation Month, so please pass it on to your email friends.
http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html
In a message dated 2/24/03 12:03:43 PM, Kelly in Minnesota writes:
Hi, Lowell
I've been following your work for quite some time. You do an excellent job.
I was wondering if you would be interested in a small story about a new
project that the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association has been working on
for a couple of years now and has finally launched in earnest.
It's called
The Minnesota Foundation for Children, and its primary activity is Camp
Amanda-Minnesota, a weekend grief camp for school-aged children who have
lost a parent, sibling, or other significant person in their lives and are
struggling with the grief. The Foundation raised more than $100,000 from
funeral directors last year, and we had our first camp last month; two more
are scheduled for later this year.
We think it's a wonderful project that not only provides valuable service to
grieving children, but is a fantastic public relations opportunity for
funeral service that promotes the profession in a substantial way. There is
no puffery, no advertising campaign, no need to sell the project. People
are fascinated and moved by the effort, and it ties so well to what funeral
service is all about.
If you'd like to find out more before saying yes or no, check out Camp
Amanda-Minnesota's web site at
http://www.campamandaminn.com/
you'll find the Foundation's history a streaming video about the effort, and
photos from the first camp.
Let me know fi you're interested in a little blurb, and I'll be glad to put
on together.
Thanks, Lowell, and keep up the good work.
Kelly
---------------------------------------
Kelly F. Guncheon, CAE
Executive Director
Minnesota Funeral Directors Association
10800 County Road 15
Plymouth, MN 55441
763/398-0115
(F) 763/398-0118
(e)kguncheon@mnfuneral.org
www.mnfuneral.org
In a message dated 2/21/03 2:54:05 PM, Kel writes:
John-
Beyond Indigo has made a special Grief & War message board. It is located at
http://www.beyondindigo.com/beyondtalk/forum.php?forum=25. Funeral homes are more than welcome to link to this message board or any of Beyond Indigo other message boards to help their families. We also have an information to help people with sudden and violent loss located at http://www.beyondindigo.com/death/.
Kelly
ICFA INTRODUCES REFERRAL PROGRAM PACKAGE BY BILL CATES
RESTON, VA (February 19, 2003) -- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association now offers a proven line of sales referral tools by Bill
Cates, America's renowned expert on increasing sales through referrals.
Cemetery and funeral preneed sellers can develop stronger customer
relationships and boost their referral programs through Cates' trio of
referral tools:
o "Unlimited Referrals" --This dynamic 260-page book shares Cates'
proven strategies for cultivating an unlimited supply of prospects
through referrals. Cates tells audiences that "Cold calling is God's
punishment for failure to get enough referrals." This book gives sales
counselors the tools they need to eliminate cold calls by building
customer loyalty and networking.
o "Your Blueprint For Referral Success" --Recorded live, this 52-minute
upbeat audio CD presentation teaches sales counselors how to rethink the
referral process and provides the blueprint for proactive, value-based
prospecting.
o "Introductions"-- This invaluable referral log offers a step-by-step
guide to Cates' "Unlimited Referrals" system, followed by a log for
recording referrals and an "activity tracker" that allows counselors to
evaluate their referral efforts. The log not only includes space for
name and contact information, but also prompts the counselor to request
suggested information such as the referred individual's profession,
family information, personality traits and more.
Bill Cates is the nation's foremost expert on developing quality
referrals. He has provided training for a number of cemetery and funeral
preneed programs, including Arbor Memorial Services, a multi-ownership
corporation in Canada. As a featured speaker at the ICFA's Naked Sales V
Conference in January, Cates received an excellent audience response for
his highly practical advice on obtaining, managing and following up on
referrals.
The ICFA is offering these referral products at exceptional rates:
o "Unlimited Referrals" book: ICFA members, $21.95; non-members, $24.95.
o "Your Blueprint For Referral Success" CD: ICFA members, $16.95; non-members, $19.95.
o "Introductions" logbook: ICFA members, $16.95; non-members, $19.95.
o 3-piece package set : ICFA members, $49.95; non-members, $59.95.
To order, call 1-800-645-7700.
Founded in 1887, the ICFA is the only international trade association
representing all segments of the cemetery, funeral and memorialization
industry. Its membership is comprised of more than 6,000 cemeteries,
funeral homes, memorial designers, crematories and related businesses
worldwide.
ICFA ANNOUNCES "KEEPING IT PERSONAL" AWARDS WINNERS
RESTON, VA (February 10, 2003) -- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association is pleased to announce its 2002 KIP (Keeping It Personal)
Awards winners, recognizing the best in personalization in the cemetery
and funeral industry.
Created by the ICFA Personalization Committee, the KIP program honors
recipients in four categories: Special Events Over $1,000, Special
Events Under $1,000, Magic Moments and Products That Personalize. This
year's contest drew entries from across the United States and abroad.
Six marketing professionals from outside the cemetery and funeral
industry performed the judging.
Descriptions of all of this year's entries, including judges' comments,
are available on the ICFA Web site at www.icfa.org. Applications for the
2003 KIP Awards will be available from the ICFA in April. The ICFA
congratulates the winners and all who entered the 2002 KIP Awards.
Winners are as follows:
SPECIAL EVENTS OVER $1,000
1st Place and Grand Prize Winner
Kelly Dwyer
Michigan Memorial Park
Flat Rock, Michigan
Michigan Memorial Park held a 9/11 remembrance service, "Downriver
Remembers," in conjunction with other community organizations. The event
was to dedicate four permanent memorials - one each to fire, police and
emergency personnel and one to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001.
Honorable Mention
James D. Price
Keystone Group Holdings
Tampa, Florida
100 of Keystone Group's funeral and cemetery properties each held 9/11
ceremonies featuring a memorial wall with the names of each of the 3,044
victims of September 11, 2001, a balloon release, charitable fundraising
and other events.
SPECIAL EVENTS UNDER $1,000
First Place
B. David Daly, CCFE
Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park & Funeral Home
Seattle, Washington
Evergreen-Washelli holds an annual memorial service to honor those who
have donated their bodies to medical science in the past year. The
memorial service is held in Evergreen-Washelli's chapel so that
relatives and medical students may honor the generosity of the donors.
Honorable Mention
Beth Reaves
Anniston Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home uses 2,000 luminary candles
to line its cemetery grounds and holds an evening Christmas memorial
service at the funeral home. All of the families Anniston has served in
the past year are invited to attend in the hope of easing the first
Christmas without their loved one.
Honorable Mention
Andrea L. Vittum, CCE
White Haven Memorial Park
Pittsford, New York
White Haven Memorial Park held its "America Standing Guard" dedication
for a new monument in their veterans section. Dedicated to "all who risk
their lives to keep us safe and free," it honors military, law
enforcement and fire and rescue personnel.
MAGIC MOMENTS
First Place
Deborah VanNostran
Lakeland Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland Funeral Home takes two photos of all flower arrangements
received and gives them to the families. This allows families to reflect
on the floral tributes at a later date and to place the pictures in a
memory book.
Honorable Mention
Tim Montesonti
Santa Rosa Memorial Park
Santa Rosa, California
When Santa Rosa Memorial Park places new memorial markers at grave
sites, a staff member photographs each one. Santa Rosa then includes the
image with the letter it sends to family members notifying them of the
memorial installation.
PRODUCT THAT PERSONALIZES
First Place
B. David Daly, CCFE
Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park & Funeral Home
Seattle, Washington
Using readily available word and image processing software and printers,
Evergreen-Washelli creates personalized funeral folders and registry
books with photos provided by the families. After the service, these
personalized folders become a memorial keepsake for family and friends.
Grand prize winner Kelly Dwyer receives a free registration to the ICFA
Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 10-13. All
first-place and honorable mention winners are to be recognized at the
Convention and are being provided promotional news releases to submit to
their local media.
Founded in 1887, the ICFA is the only international trade association
representing all segments of the cemetery, funeral and memorialization
industry. Its membership is comprised of more than 6,000 cemeteries,
funeral homes, memorial designers, crematories and related businesses
worldwide.
In a message dated 2/14/03 9:19:03 AM, staff@ncfda.org writes:
NORTH CAROLINA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
919-876-7886 * 800-616-2332 * FAX: 919-876-5382
http://www.ncfda.org
E-LINE DATE: February 14, 2003
The following is a list of individuals from the General Assembly who have sent back their RSVP regarding the NCFDA Legislative Reception to be held Monday evening from 5:30 - 7:00 PM at the NC Museum of History. (Received as of 2/13/03)
The following individuals have replied from the General Assembly and
indicated they WILL attend: Approximately 100!!!!
Rep. Frank Mitchell
Rep Mitch Gillespie
Rep Phillip Frye
Rep Steve Wood
Rep Ron Sutton
Rep Tracy Walker
Rep Dewey Hill
Sen John Garwood
Rep Joe L. Kiser
Rep Larry Womble
Rep Arlie Culp
Sen Fred Smith
Sen Ellie Kinnaird
Chris Dillon
Rep Mitchell Setzer
Rep Eugene McCombs
Mrs Jean McCombs
Rep J. Sam Ellis
Rep Wilma Sherrill
Rosa Kelly (Leg. Assistant)
Rep Beck Carney
Rep John Sands (hand writing not clear)
Rep Wayne Goodwin
Sen Bill Purcell
Rep Roger West
Rep Mike Gordon
Rachel Faison
Sen John Kerr
Rep Bill Daughtridge
Monica Saunders
Rep John Rayfield
Jacqueline Rayfield
Sen Pryor Gibson
Rep Edd Nye
Sen Andrew C. Brock
Rep Larry Bell
Rep Carolyn Justus
Rep L. Hugh Holliman
Sen A. B. Swindell
Rep Alex Warner
Sen Steve Metcalf
Rep Earl Jones
Rep Gene Wilson
Sen Virginia Fox
Rep Deborah Ross
Rep Rick Eddins
Sherry Eddins
Rep Walter Church
Sen Kay Hagan
Sen Cecil Hargett
Rep Howard Hunter
Rep Robert Grady
Rep Keith Williams
Dot Waugaman
Bonnie McNeil
Dorothy Sabow
Julie Jernigan
Rep Thomas Wright
Sen Robet Holloman
Rep Ed McMahan
Rep & Mrs. Bernard Allen
Jerry W. Tillman
Rep Bruce Goforth
Rep Stan Fox
Rep Don Munford
Sen Tony Moore
Sen Bob Rucko
Rep John Hill
Delta Prince
Rep Martha Alexander
Rep Maggie Jeffus
Sen Charlie Dannelly
Rep Debbie Clary
Rep Karen Ray
Marvin W. Lucas
Rep Stephen LaRogue
Rep Michael Decker
Rep Nelson Cole
Carmen Cauthern
Rep Marian McLaughorn
Rep David R. Lewis
Rep Earline Parmon
Rep Tom Moore
Rep Leo Daughtry
Sen Harris Blake
Rep Patrick McHenry
Rep Bobby Barbee, Sr
Rep Ray Rapp
Rep Bob England
Sen Austin Allran
Sen Jeanne H. Lucus
Rep Beverly M. Earle
Ann Raeford
Dusty Rhodes
Earl Tharrington
Martha Gadison
Martha Parrish
Carolyn Browder
Bob Fowler
Ann Lassiter
Asron Woodlief
Walt Spell
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following have sent RSVP cards and indicated they WILL NOT attend the
legislative reception. (Received as of 2/13/03)
John M. Blust
Rep Rick Glazier
Sen Weinstein (Has Conflict)
William C McGee
Sen Scott Thomas
Rep Rex Baker
Sen Richard Stevens
Rep Connie Wilson
Rep Jerry Dockham
Sen Web Gulley
Rep Danny McComas
Linda Goss
Edgar Starnes
Rep Jim Crawford
Rep Jeff Barnhart
Gordon P. Allen
Judy Tardiff
Sen Eric Reeves
Sen Jim Forrester
Sen Clark Jenkins
Rep Trudi Walend
Rep Alice l. Bordsen
Danny Lineberry
Rep Bill Owens
Rep Jonio Bowie
Sen Hamilton C. Horton, Jr.
John H. Carrington
Role Buzzard
PRESS RELEASE For Further Information Please Contact
For Immediate Release Christian Chambers (800) 331-6270
OUTLOOK GROUP ANNOUNCES "NEW" ADVANTAGE PROGRAM
Franklin, OH. The Outlook Group, Inc., America's premier funeral
prearrangement marketing company, today officially unveiled their new and
industry selected "Advantage Program" and pronounced it ready for family
funeral home use.
Are you an independent funeral home in competition with a cemetery that has
an active and aggressive sales program? Do you recognize the need to be
more hands-on with your pre-need program, but don't know where or how to
start? Does the idea of maintaining complete control over your pre-need
program sales and marketing efforts appeal to you? Does the thought of
working with knowledgeable and dedicated funeral directors who truly
understand your unique needs appeal to you? If you answered YES to any of
these questions the Advantage Program was specifically designed to meet your
needs.
Funeral Directors have been asking for this type of specialized assistance
for years and no company has yet stepped up to help in a manner family owned
and operated funeral home owners can really feel comfortable with and put to
immediate use. The Outlook Group, Inc., with over 18 years of experience,
understands these concerns and wanted to develop and provide a menu of
services to meet funeral director needs.
Items selected from the Advantage Program menu of services can be provided
through the mail; personally delivered to the funeral home or are available
for training through the Outlook Academy of Advance Funeral Planning. All
items are available in most areas of the United States and Canada. In
implementing the "Advantage Program" at your funeral home you will learn how
to:
Develop & maintain an effective follow-up program.
Following up with families recently served is extremely important in today's
service oriented environment. This program outlines effective, seamless
approaches developed by funeral directors to continue a relationship with
the family from committal through funeral pre-planning.
Implement successful marketing strategies - developing the winning edge.
This program will teach proven marketing strategies developed by funeral
directors that for years have worked for funeral homes around the country.
Establish realistic pre-need program goals and objectives.
The Outlook Group has created a an easy to use and understand computer
program that can provide a daily breakdown of what is required to achieve
financial, volume or number of contract goals. This program provides this
detailed accurate information and guidance on how to achieve these goals.
Organize & present a successful pre-need community group presentation.
This program will teach you everything you need to know to organize and
present effective community presentations. You'll learn first hand; how to
find the proper contact person to set the group; how to set the group; how
to present the material; how to obtain leads and how to set appointments
that get sales.
Find quality pre-need leads.
Where can you find truly good and pre-qualified pre-need leads? How do I set
appointments with them? This program will answer both to help you better
secure and increase your market share.
Effectively utilize "open ended communication".
Better communication is an area that we all need improvement in. Being able
to effectively ask open-ended questions is invaluable. This program will
teach the skills necessary to effectively use open ended communication in
dealing with families at-need or pre-need.
Turn your bad debt into a profitable relationship.
Funeral homes have faced the dilemma of serving families in their
communities and not receiving full payment for generations. This program
squarely addresses that concern and provides proven ideas and suggestions
that are effectively working at independently owned and operated funeral
homes.
Discerningly discuss pre-need in the at-need funeral environment.
This program will provide proven ways and ideas to encourage the tactful
discussion of funeral prearrangement during this difficult time.
Effectively recognize & respond to consumer pre-need interest in any
situation.
This program will provide proven ways and suggestions for funeral directors
and staff to recognize any potential interest, and then teach how to turn
this into a discussion of the benefits funeral pre-planning.
Better educate the at-need consumer to increase merchandise sales.
This program will enhance your current merchandise presentation. In
addition, you will learn proven techniques that better educate the at-need
consumer. A better-educated consumer makes better, more satisfying
selections for themselves and their family.
Organize & execute a pre-need refund account.
This program will offer suggestions on how pre-need overages can be turned
into further relationships through funeral pre-planning.
For more information on the Advantage Program contact Christian Chambers at
(800) 331-6270 or e-mail christian@theoutlookgroup.com.
In a message dated 2/18/03 1:02:37 PM, John in New York writes:
From NYSFDA fax:
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Thomas J. Shepardson age 59 years on February 18, 2003. Tom was a long time faithful member of the New York State Funeral Directors Association and a valued member of the Onondaga-Oswego Funeral Directors Association.
He was indtrumemtal in forming the Disaster Program for NYSFDA. He was nationally known for his work with FEMA/DMORT, and was involved with such disasters as Sept. 11, Oklahoma City and Noble, Ga.
Visiting hours will be Thursday, February 20, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Frasier-Shepardson Funeral Home, Inc., 1217 N. Salina Street, (Court Street, Rt 298) Syracuse and Friday, February 21, 4:00pm-8:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Church.
Memorial may be made to:
Thomas J. Shepardson Scholarship Fund
c/o Blessed Sacrament School
3131 James Street
Syracuse, New York 13206
You may go to our Website: www.fergersonfuneralhome.com , Go to links and click on obituaries. Tom's obit should appear tomorrow.
John Babb
Contact: Fay Spano 800/228-6332
NFDA Sets May Launch for National Consumer Education Campaign
Brookfield, Wis. &endash; The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA)
will kick-off its Consumer Education Campaign this Spring. Throughout
the year, NFDA will provide its members and state associations with
several initiatives, and the necessary tools, designed to better educate
the public about funeral service options. Collectively, the Campaign
will unify public messages and educational materials to advance funeral
service in the public's eye.
"As the leading funeral service organization in the United States, NFDA
and its members are committed to educating the public on the value of
funeral service," said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper.
"This is a grassroots campaign that will be successful through the
participation of both our state associations and NFDA members."
The Campaign is in response to requests from membership for a national
image building campaign and is designed with the results of NFDA's
two-year marketing study in mind. Tactics will include guidelines and
prepared materials for contacting legislators on funeral service issues
related to the Campaign, holding special events, and distributing public
relations information to local media.
The entire Campaign will kick-off with National Funeral Service
Education Week, May 12-18, 2003. Funeral Service Education Week
materials that will be made available to members include newly developed
educational brochures on subjects such as arranging a meaningful funeral
service and cremation, news release templates, ad slicks, and more.
"NFDA realizes the scope of interest and abilities of our membership,"
explains Pepper. "We have developed the Campaign so all funeral homes,
large or small, that want to be a part of this grassroots effort will be
able to take part at a level that fits their resources."
More information on the ongoing national Campaign and Funeral Service
Education Week will be made available in the next several weeks.
NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in
Washington, D.C. It is the world's oldest and largest nationwide
funeral service association, serving about 13,500 members. To learn
more about NFDA, visit our Website at www.nfda.org.
END
ON THE OTHER HAND
NFDA is working to prohibit the FTC from using their undercover sting operations to enforce the funeral rule; and, to require them to adopt NFDA's definition of the term "timely distribution" of a General Price list. How can this be good for our image, we don't want FTC policing the lawbreakers?
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In a message dated 2/24/03 4:43:39 PM, Dennis in New Jersey writes:
Click here: A life of facing death
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/24/03 6:45:52 PM, Mark in Massachusetts writes:
HOW TO STAY YOUNG (George Carlin)
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop," And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Got any Hot News for us. Issues that involve funeral service, in your community, it in, Everything you see here was send in by someone just like you. If there is a newspaper article in your area, send the link and we can all learn from it, even if it is your opinion we all learn from one another. Any HOT NEWS OR SCUTTLEBUTT WILL BE POSTED IN THE READER'S WRITE BACK SECTION.
Send your story or issue to FSPA just click here --->Lowellma@aol.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, No posts in this issue.
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You are welcome, to write us with your comments, suggestions, complaints and especially stories about funeral service. Please remember only FSPA members will have information posted in the weekly update, it's easy click here ---> Mailto:Lowellma@aol.com Your participation is appreciated and essential.
You are welcome, to post your professional article here, you need to author your article and agree it will be posted with your full name. Please remember only FSPA members will have information posted in the weekly update, it's easy click here ---> Mailto:Lowellma@aol.com Your participation is appreciated and essential.
FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION does not share membership info with anyone, no one will be given your information with out your permission or a court order.
To Join the Funeral Service Professional Association you must derive some of your income from the funeral industry, students and retirees from the funeral profession are welcome as well, please e-mail the following information.
If you skip answering one of the seven questions, you are wasting your time, the standards are the same for everyone, FSPA is open to everyone in funeral service, we are all equals here no exceptions, FSPA will not tell anyone who you are unless you request your identity be disclosed, FSPA is only open to any type of Funeral Service Professional, or Funeral Service Affiliate such as: Funeral Association employees, Mortuary School Students, Funeral Service product providers and Funeral Service Media.
Accountants will tell you FSPA is a write off ! Please check with your accountant. If s/he approves Go get yourself a nice laptop and possibly write off your hardware as well as AOL or other Internet service charge as an expense, the more your participate in FSPA the more proof you have.
If you have a suggested question this please just send it along, none of FSPA 's mail will be possible with out your sending information into us,
To make life easier on me
First and foremost, Send your info or story in to FSPA.
2nd Please put on the top line your name and location, like "John from Massachusetts writes :"
3rd please address the subject line put:
This is just a hobby, if you send and don't address the subject line with FSPA, it usually delete it because it looks like junk mail, FSPA get over 50 pieces of mail a day, most gets deleted, THE SUBJECT LINE is the key so please, use the subject line properly. Put FSPA in the Subject line along with the flavor of your message.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE the posting(s) you send are some times resent to others be careful, if you are proud of what you said and want the world to know how you feel Put your name, location and e-mail address at the end.
However If you don't want the world to know your ideas and you want to remain anonymous, just put name withheld at the end. FSPA does not reveal who its members are nor does FSPA lend it's list of members to others. There is no need to identify yourself. If you are not proud of your response (like the air line lost a body on us) it is not recommended you identify yourself, since we can all learn from problems. We need your input! Your answers go all over the place, E-mail is so easy to forward. We are happy to learn from your problems and issues, there is no need to identify yourself if you don't want to, South Western United States if just fine.
If the article you want is from a commercial publisher YOU MUST get permission from the person or company who created the story.
Because e-mail can be altered electronically, the integrity of this communication cannot be guaranteed. Any of the items you read here, you are free to reuse, understand, the postings are just that, the items are for the most part cut and pasted from E-mail, others FAXed and of course from funeral publications and other media. What you see here is never checked, if you do decide to republish or quote any thing FSPA puts out, check it out, please do not name the individual who sent the article without their permission. If you see fit to use any information from FSPA please give us credit. Ages ago a state association news letter posted a quote using the senders name, she was not a happy camper nor was her company, please use caution in the future. We appreciate your understanding and we need your support.
Consider these steps for your life.
1. Work like you don't need the money.
2. Love like you've never been hurt.
3. Dance like you do when nobody's watching.
C YA
John
BOTTOM LINE: WE ALL WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF FUNERAL SERVICE PROFESSION AND THE DEATH CARE INDUSTRY THE CONSUMERS WE SERVE AND THE PROFESSIONALS WE WORK WITH. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING WRONG, IF SOMETHING HERE REALLY OFFENDS YOU, LET'S WORK TOGETHER. PLEASE NOTIFY FSPA IMMEDIATELY, YOU CAN E-MAIL TO lowellma@aol.com Or call FSPA in the United States Voice 978-458-6816 Fax 978-459-0115 or the old fashioned way through the mail at FSPA c/o 14 Highland Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01852-3399 USA
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