Members: Post your comment Click here write and send
Credibility, all posts on this subject are from registered members
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.
JOIN Funeral Service Professional Association
Today May 4, 2004 NFDA lost it's battle in Washington. The NFDA lost it's fight to cheat Licensed Funeral Directors and Embalmers out of overtime pay. A very long story, I really don't know how Washington works but the Senate did pass a law taking away fair wage and hour protectection for 66 professions including Funeral Directors and I think embalmers too, the very next bill the Senate passed elimated any changes to fair wage and hour protection, I called Senator Harkin's office a Mr McAllister handles Labor questions for the Senator I left him voice mail on Wednesday 05MAY04 when he calls back we will have more details as to where fair wage and hour protection is.
You can look forward to a more detailed report on the issue in the upcoming issue. In the meantime Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa got his bill passed, saving the day for thousands of employees. Thanks to all of you who took time to write your Senator and save your overtime.
Check it out click here ------------> http://harkin.senate.gov/overtime/index.cfm
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) boasts that they are the leading funeral service association, claiming they serve 21,400 individual members who may work in or own the 12,486 funeral homes in the United States and other countries. From their beautiful headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and their Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., NFDA has taken advantage of their position, claiming they protect consumers and are a true advocate for funeral directors and embalmers. Truth be told, NFDA advocates, first, for their own survival and when they are forced to, the association exclusively works for the funeral home owners and not for the protection of consumers nor for the benefit of any employee, non-owner funeral director or embalmer. NFDA also hosts an annual convention where the number of exhibitors is close to the number of attendees.
The preceding paragraph is just the opinion of John McDonough, NFDA member, after studying the organization closely since 1993.
ICFA CONVENTION: CEMETERY, FUNERAL SERVICE OWNERS & MANAGERS GATHER FOR PROFESSION'S TOP-RATED EVENT
ICFA ELECTS NEW OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
DOWNEY TAKES OFFICE AS ICFA PRESIDENT
FREW ELECTED ICFA PRESIDENT-ELECT
ICFA PRESENTS CERTIFICATION AWARDS
ICFA 50-YEAR MEMBERS
ICFA 25-YEAR MEMBERS
ICFA WOMEN'S FORUM AWARDS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
ICFA CONVENTION: CEMETERY, FUNERAL SERVICE OWNERS & MANAGERS GATHER FOR PROFESSION'S TOP-RATED EVENT
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004) - The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) 2004 Convention & Exposition, March 10-13 in
Nashville, Tennessee, brought together hundreds of cemetery and funeral
service professionals, as well as suppliers and related companies, to
explore innovative ways to better serve client families and build their
businesses.
Attendance figures for the 2004 Convention & Exposition were as follows:
* Total cemetery, funeral home and allied business representatives: 396
- Full registrations: 288
- One-day registrations: 69
- Exhibit hall only attendees: 39
* Spouse/guest registrations: 90
* Press passes/other complimentary attendance: 8
* Exhibitor and supplier registrations: 380
While these figures represent a decrease from the 2003 Convention in Las
Vegas, Nevada, which is historically the association's most popular
Convention site, they are comparable with the ICFA 2002 Convention in
Orlando, which drew 241 full registrations, 110 one-day registrations
and 41 exhibit hall only attendees.
Among the highlights of this year's event:
* 93 percent of the industry representatives in attendance were from
independently owned cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, memorial
design companies and other related non-supplier businesses.
* The Exposition sold out, with a total of 138 companies exhibiting at
184 booths and 16 table tops.
* 13 states participated in the ICFA's first annual State Association
Roundtable. This two-hour meeting allowed representatives from state and
regional cemetery and funeral service associations an opportunity to
share challenges and solutions and develop plans for future cooperation.
Attendees rated the 2004 Convention & Exposition highly, with 94 percent
of attendees surveyed indicating they felt the overall Convention was
"excellent" or "very good" and 89 percent indicating they are "extremely
likely" or "very likely" to attend the ICFA 2005 Convention in Las
Vegas, Nevada. Of the exhibitor surveys received to date, exhibiting
companies rated the overall Exposition an average of 7 on a scale of 1
to 10, and 80 percent have indicated they "definitely" or "probably"
will attend the 2004 Exposition.
The next three ICFA Annual Conventions will be held in Las Vegas (March
30- April 2, 2005), New Orleans (March 15-18, 2006) and again in Las
Vegas (2007 dates to be confirmed).
INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS, DIRECTORS
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004) -- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) elected new leadership during its Annual Convention &
Exposition, March 10-13.
ICFA officers for 2004-2005 are:
* President-- Patrick Downey, CCE, Palm Mortuaries and Memorial Parks,
Las Vegas, Nevada
* President-elect-- Ray Frew, CCFE, Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho
Palos Verdes, California
* Vice President, Industry Relations Steering Committee-- Thomas
Roberts, CCE, Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Vice President, Products and Services Steering Committee--Mark Krause,
Krause Funeral Homes & Cremation Centers, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Vice President, Education Steering Committee--Gregg Williamson, CCE,
Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, Whittier, California
* Vice President, Membership Steering Committee-- Paul Elvig,
Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Seattle, Washington
* Treasurer--Kenneth E. Varner, Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Colma, California
* Secretary--Cynthia A. Thompson, CCFE, Mountain View Funeral Home and
Memorial Park, Tacoma, Washington
Members elected to serve three-year terms on the ICFA Board of Directors
are:
* Caressa Hughes, Service Corporation International, Houston, Texas
* Hamilton P. Jones, Miller-Jones Mortuary and Menifee Valley Memorial
Park, Hemet, California
* Jeff Kidwiler, CCE, United Memorial Products, Whittier, California
* F. Daniel Moloney Jr., Moloney Family Funeral Homes, Long Island, New York
* Mark J. Revitz, Vista Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home, Miami Lakes,
Florida
* Cynthia A. Thompson, CCFE, Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial
Park, Tacoma, Washington
* Kenneth E. Varner, Cypress Lawn Cemetery, Colma, California
* David B. Wharmby, Inglewood Park Cemetery and Park Lawn Memorial Park,
Inglewood, California
Past presidents elected to serve a one-year term on the Board are:
* John F. Llewellyn, CCE, Forest Lawn Memorial Parks and Mortuaries,
Glendale, California
* Frederick W. Miller, CCE, Memorial Business Systems Inc., Brentwood,
Tennessee
* Robert T. "Ted" Nuckolls, CCE, Druid Ridge Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland
The International Memorialization Supply Association appointment to
serve a one-year term on the Board is Robert DeBeltrand, McCleskey
Mausoleums, Norcross, Georgia.
DOWNEY TAKES OFFICE AS INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004)-- Patrick R. Downey, CCE, vice president of
sales and marketing at Palm Mortuaries, Cemeteries and Crematories in
Las Vegas, Nevada, became president of the International Cemetery and
Funeral Association (ICFA) during the ICFA's 2004 Convention &
Exposition, March 10-13 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Downey is a 25-year member of the ICFA and served as co-chair of the
2004 Sales Management and Marketing Conference. He has been active in
leadership roles in the association for many years, serving as vice
president, board member, co-chair of the 1998 ICFA Annual Convention,
member of many committees and speaker at numerous educational programs.
From 1995 to 2000, Downey was chancellor of the ICFA University.
Before joining Palm Mortuary and Memorial Parks in 2001, Downey served
as president of Genesis SMS--a full-service sales and marketing
consulting firm specializing in the cemetery and funeral industry.
Previously, he was vice president of marketing and a regional vice
president of sales for Carriage Services in Houston, Texas, and vice
president of sales and marketing for Memorial Park Inc. of Memphis,
Tennessee.
In recognition of his extensive management experience and skills, Downey
holds a certified cemetery executive (CCE) designation.
FREW ELECTED INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT-ELECT
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004) -- Ray Frew, CCFE, president of Green Hills
Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, was elected
president-elect of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association
(ICFA) at the ICFA's 2004 Annual Convention and Exposition, March 10-13
in Nashville, Tennessee.
Frew served for six years as ICFA treasurer and chair of the Finance
Committee, helping guide the association through a period of
right-sizing and economic adjustment beginning in 2000. He has played an
active role in the association, serving as program chair of the 2004
Annual Convention, co-chair of the 2002 Sales and Marketing Conference,
a board member and a member of the Strategic Planning and Sales and
Marketing Committees.
Frew has been active in the California Interment Association for many
years. He served three years on the board of directors of Cremation
Association of North America (CANA) and chaired its 2001 annual
convention. Frew holds a Certified Cemetery Funeral Executive (CCFE)
designation in recognition of his extensive cemetery and funeral
management experience and skills. He is an established industry speaker
on both state and national levels.
Frew is a certified public accountant. In 2000, the Torrance business
community recognized him as one of the 60 most influential people in the
community (population 150,000) over the last 60 years. In that same
year, he received the George Whittlesey Memorial Award for business
advocacy. Frew received the J. Walker Owens Volunteer Award in 2002 in
recognition of "Service of Outstanding Quality to Torrance."
Frew firmly believes in community involvement and has served on numerous
committees, including the American Red Cross, the Heart Walk
Association, Spinal Cord Organization for Regaining Excellence, the
South Bay Classic and the South Bay Family Concert. He is a past
president of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club
of Del Amo. Frew served as chairman of the Board of Managers of the
Torrance-South Bay YMCA and was recently elected chair for the Little
Company of Mary Community Health Foundation.
INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION PRESENTS CERTIFICATION AWARDS
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004) - The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) presented its executive certification awards during
its Annual Convention & Exposition, March 10-13, in Nashville, Tennessee.
A Certified Cemetery Executive (CCE) designation was awarded to John
Bolton, CCE, Heritage Family Cemetery Inc., Johnson City, Tennessee. In
addition, a lifetime CCE designation was awarded to Anthony Ciulla, CCE,
CM, Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains, New York.
The ICFA Certification Program recognizes individuals who have
demonstrated a high degree of competence and a high level of management
experience and skills in the cemetery and funeral industry. To date,
only 18 persons have been awarded the Certified Cemetery Funeral
Executive (CCFE) designation, 202 persons have been awarded the CCE
designation, and one person has been awarded the Certified Funeral
Executive (CFuE) designation.
All three certifications are intended to raise the standards of those
engaged in cemetery and funeral management, to encourage individuals to
participate in a program of continuing education and development and to
encourage self-assessment through guidelines for achievement. The
International Cemetery and Funeral Association designation program also
assists in identifying people with expansive knowledge of the principles
and practices of cemetery and funeral management, of related disciplines
and of laws governing the industry.
INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION HONORS 50-YEAR MEMBERS
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004) -- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) presented its Half Century Club awards honoring those
who have belonged to the association for 50 years, during its Annual
Convention & Exposition, March 10-13, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Half Century award recipients are:
* William J. Schinderle, Schinderle Funeral Home, Algoma, Wisconsin
* Brewer B. Thompson, CCE, Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park,
Tacoma, Washington
* H. R. "Ray" Townley, Memorial Park Cemetery, Enid, Oklahoma
INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION HONORS 25-YEAR MEMBERS
RESTON, VA (March 26, 2004)-- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) presented its Quarter Century Club awards honoring
those who have belonged to the association for 25 years, during its
Annual Convention & Exposition, March 10-13, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Quarter Century award recipients are:
* Sadie L. Barran, Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island
* David J. Broel, Arlington Memorial Park, Atlanta, Georgia
* Merle A. Christopher, Mount Royal Commemorative Services, Montreal, Quebec
* Brett Coates, Matthews International Corporation, Milton, Ontario
* Patrick R. Downey, CCE, Palm Mortuaries, Cemeteries and Crematories,
Las Vegas, Nevada
* Edward Dvorak, Matthews International Corporation, San Jacinto, California
* Betty G. Finley, Pinecrest Memorial Park, Alexander, Arkansas
* Thomas J. Gratny, Lone Tree Cemetery Association, Hayward, California
* Lynn Illig, Matthews International Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Harvey I. Lapin, Harvey Lapin and Associates, Northbrook, Illinois
* Frank J. Markowski, CCCE, Catholic Cemeteries -- Archdiocese of
Washington, Silver Spring, Maryland
* Paul Marshall, Matthews International Corporation, Chelsea, Michigan
* Thomas G. McDowell, Matthews International Corporation, Lexington,
Kentucky
* James H. Noel, Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Tacoma,
Washington
* Jonathan E. Parham, Matthews International Corporation, Salisbury,
North Carolina
* Richard M. Pennington Jr., Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile, Alabama
* Greg Roberts, Sherwood Memorial Gardens, Wooster, Ohio
* James R. "Jimmy" Rogers, Rogers Memorial Management Company,
Birmingham, Alabama
* Barre Shlaes, International Marble Imports, Beverly Hills, California
* Thurston Smith, Matthews International Corporation, West Columbia, Texas
* Michael O. Sutherland, Hillcrest Memorial Park Inc., Centralia, Illinois
* William P. Tate, CCE, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Saco, Maine
* Theodore A. Tingesdahl, Matthews International Corporation,
Janesville, Wisconsin
* Robert Weyers, Matthews International Corporation, Naples, Florida
* Joel Winston, Chelten Hills Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
INTERNATIONAL CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION WOMEN'S FORUM AWARDS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
RESTON, VA (March 29, 2004) -- The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) Women's Forum awarded two $1,500 scholarships to the
ICFA University during the ICFA Annual Convention & Exposition, March
10-13, in Nashville, Tennessee. The 2004 scholarship recipients are:
* Sandra A. Colleton, sales manager advance planning and family
services, Evergreen-Washelli Cemeteries and Funeral Homes, Seattle,
Washington
* Cindy Foree, operations manager, Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens and
Funeral Home, Nashville, Tennessee
The ICFA University will be held July 16-21 at the University of
Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee. It is the only school of its kind for
cemetery and funeral service professionals, bringing together
practitioners from throughout the nation for four and a half days of
intensive instruction by top experts in each discipline of the industry.
The ICFA University scholarships cover the recipients' full costs for
registration, housing and meals.
The International Cemetery and Funeral Association's Women's Forum is
able to provide these scholarships through the generous support of ten
sponsors:
* American Cemetery Supplies
* BLP Bronze International
* Christy Vault
* Cold Spring Memorial Group -- Granit-Bronz -- Private Estates
* Crematory Manufacturing & Service
* Doric Products
* Ferno-Washington
* Matthews Bronze and York
* Trigard Vaults/ Trigard Engraved Bronze
* Wilbert Funeral Services Inc.
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/chapter1.html
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/chapter6.html
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Bonney-Watson, one of Seattle's oldest businesses, is in the business of death, but the funeral home says it is now fighting to prevent its own demise.
Going out of business is what the Capitol Hill funeral home says it faces if a proposed Sound Transit light rail line is routed along Nagle Place, an alleylike street one block east of Broadway between East Denny Way and East Pine Street.
Under the Nagle option, Sound Transit would need to take Bonney-Watson's parking near East Howell Street for construction staging and for a light rail station entrance.
But rather than fight the Nagle Place route, Bonney-Watson has a proposal for Sound Transit: Before construction starts, build us a two-story parking garage on its our property to replace our 65 parking spaces.
The garage would cost $3 million to $4 million, said Bonney-Watson lobbyist Bob Gillespie, adding, "The cost of condemnation would be many, many times that."
The Sound Transit board is scheduled to decide by early May on the route for an eight-mile light rail line from the Westlake station downtown to the University District and then to Northgate. The earliest construction could start is late 2006. Sound Transit says it has designed only about 5 percent of the project and thus cannot give firm cost estimates nor details about impacts. Also unknown is how much money is available to pay for the line.
Officially, the Nagle Place route is just one of several options Sound Transit could choose, but Robert Anderson, president of Bonney-Watson's parent corporation, B-W Memorial Corp., and Gillespie say Nagle is the likely route.
Ann Donovan, president of the Capitol Hill Community Council, takes issue with the assumption. The other Capitol Hill route that Sound Transit is considering runs along Broadway. Donovan said that while a Broadway route would disrupt businesses, the Nagle route would disturb residents in their apartments.
She said that some want Sound Transit to look at locating the station farther south, but Don Billen, Sound Transit project manager, said it would attract "significantly lower ridership" there.
Neither the community council nor the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce has taken an official position on the route. Donovan said Sound Transit hasn't provided enough information. She added that community opinion is all over the map.
Chamber President Charles Hamilton agrees with Donovan that the community needs more details from Sound Transit.
Hamilton said Broadway business owners have told him informally that they would prefer the Nagle option rather than having to endure the construction of a cut-and-cover tunnel down Broadway for four to five years.
Another idea, known as the Eastlake option, would bypass Capitol Hill altogether and instead run through the South Lake Union area.
But an Eastlake route would attract fewer riders and a higher cost per rider than either the Capitol Hill or First Hill routes. A First Hill route would put a stop at Capitol Hill on its way to the U District, while the Capitol Hill route would bypass First Hill. Most Seattle officials who have discussed the issue have indicated a preference for the First Hill route.
The First Hill option has a slightly higher cost per rider than going directly to Capitol Hill, but First Hill is a major employment center.
City Councilman Richard McIver, a member of Sound Transit's board, said many people who live near the part of the light rail line now beginning construction in Rainier Valley would take light rail to jobs at Seattle University and the Swedish, Virginia Mason and Harborview medical centers on First Hill.
"Yes, it's more expensive, but that's really why you're putting it in," he said. "You could make it really efficient and have no ridership."
As for Bonney-Watson's parking, Gillespie and Anderson say it is crucial to the funeral home, which processes 2,000 sets of human remains a year, holds services and performs support services for other Bonney-Watson homes.
Many who attend funeral services are elderly and would have difficulty walking from a more distant replacement lot. Besides, people do not want to display their grief on public streets, Gillespie said.
McIver is sympathetic. "I don't know the extent of what can or can't be done, but they are due great consideration," he said.
"Bonney-Watson has been there a long time and is a stable member of that community. Besides, they've buried about everybody in my family."
Sound Transit spokesman Geoff Patrick said agency staff members have met several times with Bonney-Watson.
"Our commitment to them is if the board selects this route, during the design process, we will work with them on mitigation measures, and we're open to any and all ideas they have," Patrick said. "We're supportive of light rail," Anderson said. "We just want to stay in business."
They say you can't take your money with you when you die, but in China you can have it sent to you in the afterlife, along with a new car, a luxury villa and, if needed, a box of Viagra.
With the Qingming Festival, or tomb sweeping day," arriving on Sunday, many local residents are stocking up on sacrificial gifts to send to their dead relatives in the afterlife.
For thousands of years, Chinese have burned fake money for their relatives to spend in the nether world, but with the country's economic development the dead have been receiving a large number of curious gifts in recent years.
In the late 1990s, funeral homes began selling paper cars and villas to those who wanted to ensure their ancestors rest in luxury.
New gifts this year open the promise of enjoying a busy sex life long after shuffling off this mortal coil. Paper call girls, condoms and Viagra are being sold at funeral homes around Shanghai.
For ancestors who preferred to be physically active outside the bedroom, markets in Tianjin are selling paper golf clubs.
Tianjin in northern China is also a good place to buy gifts for those paranoid ancestors in the great beyond, with paper bodyguards and mercenary armies on sale beside gift credit cards and international passports.
Staff with the Shanghai Baoxing Funeral Home on Xibaoxing Road say the variety of superstitious products sold locally has been increasing quickly over the past five years.
In the past, they say, Chinese people set out offerings of food and spirit money at the tombs of their ancestors during the festival, hoping that these sacrifices could keep the deceased happy. The deceased then were expected to give their blessing to the gift giver, ensuring future prosperity.
While the paper gifts have traditionally been very cheap to buy in the city, some of the new offerings will set you back more than a few yuan. For instance, a three-storied villa costs some 80 yuan, while a human figure goes for about 100 yuan.
Various currencies, both the Chinese renminbi and foreign denominations, sell for about 0.5 yuan for a small stack. All the currencies are issued by the central bank" of Mingjie, or the nether world, and feature a portrait of the King of Mingjie.
People burn paper luxuries because they hope their deceased beloved ones will enjoy a comfortable life in a world they know nothing about," said Zhao Xiaohu, vice director of Baoxing Funeral Home. They are superstitious, but that is still understandable."
Understandable, but not legal.
Selling paper-made funeral products or burning them at the tomb is illegal," said Song Shouqin, director of the Shanghai Funeral Federation. But since burning Jinyuanbao (an ancient form of gold currency) to the dead is a custom followed by Chinese for thousands of years, it's really impossible for us to ban it.
As for the emergence of some disgusting things like condoms and Viagra, I regard it as corruption of public morals. These offerings show no respects to the dead, but only insults." the director said.
Monday April 19, 2004 9:00-9:30pm
Family Plots
Blood Is Thicker Than Water
Welcome to Poway Bernardo Mortuary, where a real-life death experience awaits you. In our reality series chronicling the intense, peculiar, and often hilarious days and nights at a busy California funeral home, we meet three beautiful sisters, their hot-blooded father, exacting boss, and quirky funeral director. The first episode finds head embalmer Shonna with only 30 minutes to get a body into its casket and to the funeral. After one last embalming, the three sisters head for a girls' night out.
Monday April 19, 2004 9:30-10pm
Family Plots
Smoke and Mirrors
The staff of Poway Bernardo Mortuary in Southern California picks the wrong day to try to quit smoking when head embalmer Shonna gets one of the most challenging reconstruction cases of her career--a woman who died in a horrific car crash. With the family desperate to view their mother one last time, Shonna and the gang are under enormous pressure to make the shattered body presentable--and the stress fuels their desire to start puffing again.
SIX FEET UNDER IS BACK SUNDAY JUNE 13, 9pm ET
The Fishers are back - and they seem...happy? http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/
Don't miss the premiere of an all-new season of the acclaimed SIX FEET UNDER Sunday, June 13 at 9pm ET.
In a message dated 4/7/04 12:38:09 PM, fspano@nfda.org writes:
Hi, John -
Attached please find a link to the latest issue of the NFDA Bulletin.
http://www.nfda.org/files/bulletin/issues/7April2004_web.htm
Fay Spano
Public Relations Director
National Funeral Directors Association
13625 Bishop's Drive
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-814-1549
262-789-6977 Fax
fspano@nfda.org
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) boasts that they are the leading funeral service association, claiming they serve 21,400 individual members who may work in or own the 12,486 funeral homes in the United States and other countries. From their beautiful headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and their Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., NFDA has taken advantage of their position, claiming they protect consumers and are a true advocate for funeral directors and embalmers. Truth be told, NFDA advocates, first, for their own survival and when they are forced to, the association exclusively works for the funeral home owners and not for the protection of consumers nor for the benefit of any employee, non-owner funeral director or embalmer. NFDA also hosts an annual convention where the number of exhibitors is close to the number of attendees.
The preceding paragraph is just the opinion of John McDonough, NFDA member, after studying the organization closely since 1993.
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) boasts that they are the leading funeral service association, claiming they serve 21,400 individual members who may work in or own the 12,486 funeral homes in the United States and other countries. From their beautiful headquarters in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and their Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C., NFDA has taken advantage of their position, claiming they protect consumers and are a true advocate for funeral directors and embalmers. Truth be told, NFDA advocates, first, for their own survival and when they are forced to, the association exclusively works for the funeral home owners and not for the protection of consumers nor for the benefit of any employee, non-owner funeral director or embalmer. NFDA also hosts an annual convention where the number of exhibitors is close to the number of attendees.
The preceding paragraph is just the opinion of John McDonough, NFDA member, after studying the organization closely since 1993.
**************************************************************
ICFA WIRELESS SPECIAL EDITION April 7, 2004 Vol. 5 No. 8
**************************************************************
ICFA WIRELESS is a biweekly electronic newsletter bringing members of the
International Cemetery and Funeral Association the latest government and
legal, industry and association news. It is available to all ICFA members
current on their dues. Comments, questions and "hot news tips" are welcome.
Write to: wireless@icfa.org.
INDUSTRY NEW
BREAKING NEWS: Rep. Foley Introduces Funeral Service Bill in House
Congress Authorizes FTC to Restrict Commercial E-mail in CAN SPAM ACT
BREAKING NEWS: REP. FOLEY INTRODUCES FUNERAL SERVICE BILL IN HOUSE
U.S. Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) has introduced H.R. 4112, a bill "to establish
consumer protections, including disclosure requirements, relating to funeral
service contracts, and for other purposes." The bill will be referred to the
House Energy and Commerce Committee for possible action. At this time, the
text of the bill is not available and Foley has apparently made no statement
concerning his proposed legislation.
For the time being, the ICFA is assuming that H.R. 4112 contains a number of
provisions similar to the bill that Foley had introduced in the closing days
of Congress in November 2002. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) introduced a
companion bill at that time in the Senate. However, to date, Dodd has not
reintroduced his bill or a revised version of it. More information on the
Foley bill will be featured in the next regular edition of ICFA WIRELESS to
be published on Tuesday, April 13.
---------------------------------------------------
CONGRESS AUTHORIZES FTC TO RESTRICT COMMERCIAL E-MAIL IN CAN SPAM ACT
The Federal Trade Commission has announced a "fast track" rulemaking to
restrict commercial e-mail, including the feasibility of a "National Do Not
Email" registry similar to the Do Not Call list that the FTC enacted against
telemarketers last year.
Recently, Congress enacted a new law, "Controlling the Assault on
Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act," or the CAN SPAM Act for short,
that requires the FTC to implement and enforce e-mail regulations. In
particular, the FTC is seeking comments to define whether "the primary
purpose" of an e-mail involves "a commercial advertisement or promotion of a
commercial product or service." Such types of e-mail would be subject to the
requirements and restrictions of the Act. However, the FTC is also seeking
comments for e-mails that are "transactional or relationship messages" that
would be exempt from most of the provisions of the Act.
The ICFA plans to file comments to protect e-mail communications between
industry members and their customers and families. Additional information on
the CAN SPAM rulemaking will be featured in the April 13 edition of ICFA
WIRELESS.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
ICFA NEWS . . .
The ICFA Cemetery Operations & Maintenance Conference, July 16-19 at the
University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, offers classroom training by
some of the cemetery industry's top experts, a memorial park tour focusing on
idea sharing and problem solving, and numerous opportunities for networking
with colleagues from throughout North America. The cost is just $275 for
members who register early. Included in that low price are numerous meals as
well as a networking reception and networking breaks. Visit
http://www.icfa.org/cem_op_2004_pr1.htm or call 1-800-645-7700.
ICFA University, July 16-21 at the University of Memphis in Memphis,
Tennessee, offers working professionals training in their selected area of
study: Cemetery Administration & Management, Funeral Home Management,
Cremation Services, Land Management & Grounds Operations, and Sales &
Marketing. Students stay on campus at the University of Memphis and
participate in all meals and classes at the university's state-of-the-art
Fogelman Executive Center. For more information, visit
http://www.icfa.org/icfau04.htm or call 1-800-645-7700.
The Network is the ICFA's online e-mail listserv, allowing members to pose
questions and discuss topics with colleagues from throughout the cemetery and
funeral service profession without having to leave their home or office.
Since its launch on March 14, 60 ICFA members have joined The Network and
have begun sharing ideas, problems and solutions. Membership in The Network
is currently free of charge for ICFA members. To sign up, visit
http://www.icfa.org/network
The ICFA Store allows members to purchase the latest ICFA resources and
training products online. Among the products currently for sale are several
new DVDs offering cemetery and funeral service education and training:
"Better Check Your Compass: The Route to Prosperity Is Shifting," "Family
Service & Aftercare" and "The Great Discussion: The Dodd Bill." In addition,
the store offers two new preneed sales training CDs by Gary O'Sullivan, CCE.
To check out these items and more, visit
http://www.icfa.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
The ICFA has created a set of four brochures offering "Straight Answers to
Real Questions" for consumers. Cemeteries and funeral homes will find the
brochures an effective way to reach out to potential customers and educate
them about the importance of ceremony, memorialization and prearrangement.
The brochures cover "Cremation," "Cemeteries & Burial," "Funerals" and
"Advance Planning." The brochures are adapted from the Consumer Resources
section of the ICFA Web site at http://www.icfa.org/consumer.html . For
pricing information and to order, call 1-800-645-7700.
The ICFA and The Transaction Group of Chicago, Illinois, currently offer
members a credit card processing program with a special low discount rate of
just 1.57 percent. This new benefit makes it less expensive for cemeteries,
funeral homes, memorial designers and related businesses to accommodate
customers who wish to pay via credit card. For more information, visit
http://www.thetransactiongroup.com/partners/icfa/ or call The Transaction
Group at 1-800-622-7705.
The ICFA insurance program, administered by Driver Alliant, allows members to
purchase commercial property and casualty insurance -- including general
liability, commercial property, automobile liability and physical damage,
umbrella liability, professional liability, workers compensation, employee
benefits and more -- at rates they probably would not be able to afford on
their own. Information on applying for the program is available on the ICFA
Web site at http://www.icfainsurance.com/
The ICFA News Page at http://www.icfa.org/newspage.htm takes you to sources
throughout the world for industry news and updates. It brings you the most
comprehensive selection of funeral service and cemetery news available
anywhere, along with frequently updated general news items related to
national and world events. The News Page reports the news before anyone else
and is the second most visited page on the ICFA Web site. Stop in each day
and you'll see why.
The ICFA Internet Expo at http://www.icfa.org/expo/index.html is the largest
online exposition in the cemetery and funeral service industry. Cemetery and
funeral home owners and operators will find more than 300 providers in over
100 product and service categories at the Expo. Exhibit space is provided as
a free, exclusive benefit to all ICFA supplier and professional members.
Check it out today!
Need a labor relations and employment law attorney? Check out ICFA's benefit
program offering free telephone legal consultations at
http://www.icfa.org/pepperman.htm .
Please share the following release with all concerned funeral professionals. Contact Person: Mr. Shun Newbern @562-591-6703. Thank you.
Melissa Johnson Williams lectures on Embalming and Restorative Art in LA
Los Angeles, CA &endash; The Western Region of Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary Fraternity, Inc. will host Series II of a professional development-embalming workshop May 14, 2004 in Los Angeles. This exciting series of "Rediscovering the Art of Embalming: A Commitment to Excellence" will be facilitated by Melissa Johnson Williams, CFSP, Johnson Mortuary, Chicago, Illinois. Everyone is invited to come share in the sun and invest in additional postgraduate embalming training from one of our professions finest. Nu Chapter (Los Angeles) and Alpha Pi Chapter (Seattle) continue to promote innovative seminars and workshops to develop skilled embalmers to better serve families with excellent preparation; therefore, the licensed or apprentice embalmers techniques will be taken to a higher level.
Melissa Johnson Williams, CFSP is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 30 years practical experience. Her love for the profession emanates from growing up in funeral service as a child. She has over 75 published articles in The Director, the American Funeral Director, as well as many medical journals. She is the Editor of the International Shipping Section of the Blue Book, contributed several new chapters to the 3rd revised edition of the textbook; Embalming: History, Theory and Practice, and was a chapter contributor to the new Textbook of Thanatology.
Melissa serves on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, member of the Cook County Medical Examiners Disaster Response Team, Acting Secretary of the new Funeral Ethics Organization and Autopsy Committee member of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Midwest Forensic & Mortuary Support Foundation and is a co-founder of the American Society of Embalmers. This outstanding workshop will cover the following subjects: "The Basics for Everyone", "Treating Pre & Post Mortem Decomposition Cases", "Embalming in the age of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare", "Restoration for Head Trauma" and "Infectious Diseases and the Embalmer".
Registration will cover workshop materials, certificate, continental breakfast and lunch. During the luncheon the Western Region will honor the END founders, the late Thomas and Frieda C. Whibby. The Founders Luncheon speaker is Charles Jones, Jones Mortuary of East Palo Alto, California. He will share his love for the profession and his overcoming experience with community redeveloping and eminent domain issues that many mortuaries have faced nation wide.
The workshop will be held May 14, 2004 at The Hilton &endash; Carson Civic Plaza, 2 Civic Plaza, Carson, California (15 minutes south of the Los Angeles Intl' Airport). Limited seated will require registration for this workshop. Special hotel rates are also available for attendees. For additional information concerning registration you may contact the host by email at ENDWesternRegion@aol.com or call Shun Newbern, CFSP at 562-591-7603, Anthony "Ted" Felder, CFSP at 323-934-1181, or James A. Thomason, CFSP (253) 584-0252.
HAWAII CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR FUNERAL SERVICE AND CEMETERY PROFESSIONALS
In a message dated 3/31/04 8:25:23 PM, f4sight@f4sight.com writes:
HAWAII CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR FUNERAL SERVICE AND CEMETERY PROFESSIONALS
DAN ISARD and CURT ROSTAD
New Topics for 2005 Seminar Series:
Global Thoughts, Regional Decisions, and Step-by-Step Actions
Presented by
DAN ISARD and CURT ROSTAD
Foresight Communications, Inc.
HAWAII
SHERATON RESORT
POIPU, KAUAI
SUNDAY JANUARY 9, 2005
through FRIDAY JANUARY 14, 2005
RESPOND NOW TO THIS EMAIL TO RECEIVE
PRIORITY RATES AND DISCOUNTS
f4sight@f4sight.com (800) 426-0165 www.f4sight.com
GENERAL INDUSTRY PROMOTION WILL BEGIN SOON.
Limited Space Available.
Internet link to hotel for group rates will be provided at a later date.
Today, go to www.sheraton-kauai.com for general resort info
ALOHA!
FYI.....
Please forward to all KY Funeral Directors / Embalmers:
LEGISLATION ACTION ALERT FOR KENTUCKY FUNERAL DIRECTORS & EMBALMERS.
Please contact Kentucky Representatives and Senators in your area to let them know that Kentucky Funeral Directors and Embalmers are requesting a House Bill that will provide for an independent inspector to inspect funeral homes for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA is the act that requires employers to compensate Funeral Directors and Embalmers an hourly rate of pay plus time and a half compensation for hours worked in excess of forty per week. Without passing this measure, FLSA Compliance Officers will only be available to inspect individual complaints rather than routine inspections. This inspection authority will be separate from the FTC Funeral Rule and OSHA compliance inspection programs. The House Bill Resolution seeks enforcement in the following areas:
1. Kentucky Funeral Directors and Embalmers are requesting a House Bill Resolution that will provide for an independent inspector to inspect funeral homes for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The FLSA is the act that requires employers to compensate Funeral Directors and Embalmers an hourly rate of pay plus time and a half compensation for hours worked in excess of forty per week. Funeral Directors and Embalmers are non-exempt positions according to FLSA compliance guidelines.
2. The bill will establish a program under which FLSA compliance officers will work with Kentucky Funeral Homes to establish a compliance manual for FLSA compliance with regard to funeral home employee compensation. Compliance manuals will include a program for the integration of time clocks and timesheets in the funeral home to verify compliance with the FLSA. The compliance manual will also monitor FLSA compliance for removals and embalming procedures performed during non-traditional business hours. The scope of the compliance manual will seek to provide compensation recommendations for activities specifically related to funeral service such as removals & embalming procedures during non-traditional business hours, how compensation is impacted by an employee residing in employer sponsored housing, and routine inspection procedures for FLSA compliance.
3. The bill will bring clarification to the "Fluctuating Workweek Agreement." If an employee is engaged in a fluctuating workweek agreement but consistently works upwards of 40 hours per week, is a fluctuating workweek covenant legal, or are employers required to compensate overtime at the full time and a half scale according to FLSA guidelines?
Please E-Mail or contact the following individuals below and let them know you support this legislation. It is possible that this action may not be reviewed by the House or Senate until later in 2004 or early 2005 so please continue to talk up this proposal and contact Representatives and Senators in your area in support of this legislation.
CONTACTS:
Gov. Ernie Fletcher
700 Capitol Ave
Suite 100
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: 502-564-2611
FAX: 502-564-2849
E-Mail Link: http://governor.ky.gov
Senator David Boswell
#1 Executive Blvd.
Suite L11
Owensboro, KY 42301
E-Mail - david.boswell@lrc.state.ky.us
Phone: 270-926-8000
FAX 270-926-9047
Representative Brian Crall
E-Mail - brian.crall@lrc.state.ky.us
3336 Bryant Court
Owensboro, Kentucky 42303
Phone: 270-684-2324
Representative Jim Gooch
125 C- East Main Street
Providence, Kentucky 42450
E-Mail - jim.gooch@lrc.state.ky.us
Phone: 270-667-9900
In a message dated 3/18/04 9:15:41 PM, Ryan in Chicago writes:
John,
The new "warning" on your website regarding carjacking is a hoax. These type of needless scare inventions seem to be less circulated than a few years ago, and I'd hate to see them make a resurgence. See the link for the authority on all things phony: Hoaxbusters.org
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBScareChains.shtml#carjack
Bill Bates, President
Life Appreciation Training It is with great pride that we introduce the
first monthly Issue of The Tribute. The Life Appreciation Training Seminar
News Letter.
It is a news letter devoted entirely to the exploration and potential of
funeral personalization methods and procedures.
It is not an advertising piece to sell services or merchandise.
Each month The Tribute will present timely articles about funeral
personalization. It's purpose is to provide a forum for progressive funeral
directors to discuss ideas, procedures and methods of personalization and
actual case histories in the hope that we might all help each other continue
to learn improved ways to serve out families.
I invite your comments and contributions for publication and especially
actually case histories of how your efforts improved upon the value of the
funeral for your clients.
(click here to read The Tribute)
Bill Bates
Editor
SINGING THE BLUES
Bill Bates
If you've got a woman with the meanest face in town, bad teeth and she
weighs 500 pounds, you may have blues rights. But if your daddy left you a
business and your cremation rate keeps going up you don't qualify for the
blues because there is nothing wrong with cremation if you know how to make
the ceremony right. You may have the right to sing the blues if you still
truly believe that selling boxes is the answer to all your problems. But, no
one will believe you if you wear a suit, less you happen to be an old person
like me, and you slept in it. (Click Here to Read More)
Life Appreciation Training Seminars
www.lifeappreciation.com | www.funeralceremony.com
PH: (800) 877-8905 | Fax: (800) 892-9909
Copyright ©2004 Life Appreciation Training Seminars All rights reserved
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 3/17/04 10:20:21 PM, Walter and Barbara in Tennessee send us:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
* * * * END * * * * 00004 GO TO TOP