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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.
IN THIS EDITION:
INDUSTRY NEWS
FCC to Use FTC 'Do Not Call' Registry for Intrastate Calls
Labor Dept Proposed Changes to Overtime Meet Congressional Opposition
ICFA Discusses Consumer Choices in NPR Program, 'Life on Earth'
ICFA NEWS
Call for Entries: ICFA 2003 Keeping It Personal Awards
Last Call for ICFAU! Register Now for Advanced Career Training
July Product of the Month: 'A Cemetery Should Be Forever'
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INDUSTRY NEWS
---------------------------
FCC TO USE FTC 'DO NOT CALL' REGISTRY FOR INTRASTATE CALLS
As previously reported in the February issues of the ICFA WIRELESS, the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been considering whether to
establish its own national Do Not Call registry to allow residential
telephone subscribers to opt out of receiving intrastate telemarketing calls.
In March, Congress approved the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act authorizing
funding for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish its own Do Not
Call registry, which would apply only to interstate calls. However, Congress
also directed the FCC to work with the FTC to apply the Do Not Call list to
intrastate calls as well. Effective October 1, 2003, telemarketers must
delete from their calling lists any phone number registered through the
FTC/FCC Do Not Call list or risk fines up to $11,000 per violation.
While the regulations from both agencies are similar, they are not identical
and contain some important differences. The new national Do Not Call registry
contains no "appointment call" exemption but does create a number of other
exemptions: 1) when the consumer has given prior express permission to be
called; 2) when there is an "established business relationship" between the
seller and the consumer; 3) when there is a personal relationship between the
caller and the consumer (e.g., a relative or friend); or 4) if the caller is
a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
According to FTC and FCC staff, sellers who place calls solely intrastate are
not covered by the FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule and would be required to
comply only with the FCC regulations, assuming that none of the exemptions
apply. For more information, visit the FTC Web page at http://www.ftc.gov and
the FCC Web page at http://www.fcc.gov. ICFA members with specific questions
can also call Association headquarters at 1-800-645-7700 for assistance.
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LABOR DEPT PROPOSED CHANGES TO OVERTIME MEET CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION
As previously reported, the U.S. Department of Labor announced in late March
that it is considering revisions to its 50 year-old standards governing
overtime compensation and may exempt certain classes of workers, among them
funeral directors, from the requirement to receive overtime pay.
Although no specific proposals have been published to date, trade unions and
trial lawyers are reacting against any efforts to eliminate existing overtime
compensation requirements. It is expected that Congressional legislation will
be introduced before week's end to prohibit the Labor Department from
continuing with the proposed rulemaking. Since the bill will be tied to
appropriations for Labor, the controversy could potentially affect funding
for the department. ICFA members will be informed of important developments.
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ICFA DISCUSSES CONSUMER CHOICES ON NPR PROGRAM, 'LIFE ON EARTH'
Last week, staff from National Public Radio taped a segment at ICFA
headquarters on the expanding range of consumer choices for funeral, burial
and memorialization planning. Responding to questions on behalf of the ICFA,
Bob Fells urged consumers to prearrange their wishes as part of a series of
end-of-life issues that include retirement plans, long-term care,
testamentary wills and living wills. The segment was taped for the popular
radio series, "Life on Earth," and the ICFA will be notified of the date of
the broadcast. Fans of NPR should check their local listings.
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ICFA NEWS
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CALL FOR ENTRIES: 2003 KEEPING IT PERSONAL AWARDS
Share your personalization ideas and win recognition from your peers! Entry
forms for the ICFA 2003 KIP (Keeping It Personal) Awards can now be
downloaded at http://www.icfa.org/kip.htm
This year's program will recognize winners in five categories:
Magic Moments
Product that Personalizes
Innovative Personalized Product (suppliers only)
Most Personalized Service
Special Events
The Grand Prize winner will receive a free registration to the ICFA 2004
Convention & Exposition, March 10-13 in Nashville, Tennessee. All winners
will be recognized in International Cemetery & Funeral Management magazine
and on the ICFA Web site. In addition, the ICFA will provide press releases
for each winner to provide to the local media.
Deadline for entries is December 5. For more information, call 1-800-645-7700.
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LAST CALL FOR ICFAU! REGISTER NOW FOR ADVANCED CAREER TRAINING
ICFA University, July 18-23 at the University of Memphis in Memphis,
Tennessee, offers you and your staff 4.5 days of advanced education in
specific areas including embalming, funeral service management, cemetery
management, sales and marketing, grounds operations and cremation. Company
executives can register for the CEO program and pick and choose the topics
from each discipline that most interest them.
Limited class sizes and on-campus housing and dining ensure a collegiate
atmosphere with many productive networking and idea-sharing opportunities.
To register or for more information, visit http://www.icfa.org/icfau03.htm or
call 1-800-645-7700.
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JULY PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: 'A CEMETERY SHOULD BE FOREVER'
"A Cemetery Should Be Forever: A Challenge to Managers and Directors" covers
the history, philosophy, management, development and challenges of American
cemeteries. For anyone who wants to become educated about cemetery operations
and the industry as a whole, this book is an invaluable and unique resource.
Third-generation cemeterian and author John Llewellyn, CCE, provides in this
unique work a combination of historical perspective, practical business
information and visionary ideas for cemetery owners and managers as well as
governing boards. Chapter topics include prearrangement, endowment care
funds, master plans, governing boards, management, trade associations,
regulation and more.
Non-member price: $19.95. ICFA member price: $16.95. Online ICFA Store member
price: $15.95. To order, call 1-800-645-7700 or visit
https://www.icfa.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
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AND MORE . . .
The ICFA Small Cemetery & Funeral Management Conference, September 18-20 at
the Four Points Sheraton in Santa Monica, California, will offer education on
topics of concern to small and mid-sized cemeteries and funeral homes,
including workshops, facility tours, equipment demonstrations, a supplier
Trade Fair, networking receptions and roundtable discussions. For more
information, visit http://www.icfa.org/small03.htm or call 1-800-645-7700.
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 .
In a message dated 7/5/2003 3:07:26 PM, Walter in Tennessee writes:
In a message dated 6/3/2003 7:08:30 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston Mass writes:
Sulton, Washington State - A 375-pound woman who found herself with one foot in the grave three years ago when she went to pay respects to her late great-grandfather, is now suing the city of Sulton in Washington state for neglecting its cemetery.
Dorothy VerValen of Kalilspell, Montana, says she was using her car keys to scrape moss off the lettering on the tombstone, when the decaying wood coffin collapsed beneath her. Her right foot sank 30 inches into the grave of Harry L. Smith, who died in 1943. VerValen, 51, said her left ankle remained on firm ground, but was severely fractured by the fall. Her adult daughter pulled her out and helped her limp back to her car. VerValen's lawsuit claims that by failing to adequately maintain graves, the city of Sultan, Washington caused her emotional distress and physical injury. However the city of Sultan, which is about 60 miles northeast of Seattle, argues that the cemetery is protected under Washington's Recreational Use Act, meaning that people must use it at their own risk. It further suggests that VerValen's excessive weight probably contributed to the accident. "For them to shift the burden of keeping a place safe only for skinny people is very unfair," said VerValen's attorney, Robert Butler. "That argument has no business at all in this case."
MORE
Judge waives suit in mishap at Sultan grave
Full story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/135019123_cemetery18m.html
By Jennifer Sullivan
Times Snohomish County bureau
Dorothy VerValen says she still has recurring nightmares about the day she stepped forward to clean moss from her great-grandfather's headstone and the grassy cemetery plot collapsed beneath her.
The 375-pound woman's right foot crashed through Harry Smith's casket at the Sultan Cemetery more than three years ago, an incident she later likened to "a Stephen King movie." Her left ankle, which remained above ground, was fractured.
Helped out of the sinkhole by her daughter, VerValen limped back to the car with a swollen left ankle and splinters in her right leg from the 53-year-old casket.
"One minute you are stepping forward and the next minute you're clutching grass," said VerValen, 51, who says she still suffers from the fracture.
Yesterday, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge added insult to injury when he dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Kalispell, Mont., woman against the city of Sultan after the March 2000 accident.
Judge Richard Thorpe ruled that the city isn't required to post warning signs advising people that they have to wear "snowshoes" to evenly disperse their weight while they visit the tiny public cemetery, said Robert Butler, a Bellingham attorney representing VerValen. "The judge has taken a position that the weight of Mrs. VerValen is the substantial factor," Butler said.
Thorpe declined to comment on his ruling.
VerValen, who didn't attend the hearing, was shocked by the dismissal. "Everybody says it's because of my weight, but my 2-year-old grandson could have fallen in there," VerValen said. "It was a horrific experience."
Diana Blakney, a Mercer Island attorney representing the city of Sultan, said if VerValen's lawsuit had prevailed, city officials may have had to change their access policies to guarantee safety in every inch of the cemetery. She said VerValen's suit could have forced local taxpayers to pay for the changes at the cemetery.
In her written response to VerValen's lawsuit, Blakney wrote that the city had no knowledge of a sinkhole on Smith's grave before VerValen's accident. She said the city "had no duty to warn or otherwise protect her."
In sworn depositions, two Sultan public-works employees said there have been other sinkholes at the cemetery. But these sinkholes were created by backhoes, riding mowers and other heavy equipment.
Blakney said that no one else has ever reported having a similar accident.
"Accidents happen. Nothing in life is truly safe," Blakney said yesterday. "It's scary, falling into her great-grandfather's grave. Good grief."
In her court filings, Blakney wrote that decades ago wooden coffins were not sealed in concrete liners. Because these coffins rot after years in damp soil, the older graves are more prone to collapsing.
Some graves at the Sultan Cemetery date to the 1800s.
Butler hoped that the suit, had it been successful, would have ensured that cemetery workers spend more time searching for, and repairing, sinkholes.
VerValen said seven of her relatives have been buried at the Sultan Cemetery, and she isn't sure if she will ever return. VerValen, a hospital receptionist, used to make annual pilgrimages to the cemetery.
"People pay to be buried there and have their relatives come and visit," said VerValen, who says she has lost weight since the incident. "The lawns should be able to sustain heavy equipment."
In a message dated 6/6/2003 2:50:40 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes:
Fall River, Massachusetts -- The owner of the L.O. Paradis Funeral Home, 1555 Pleasant St., must pay back more than $480,000 to 114 people who entrusted her with thousands of dollars in escrow payments for funerals that she spent or for which she could not otherwise account. The settlement with the state attorney general's office, filed yesterday in Bristol County Superior Court in Taunton, requires that Rachel Deschene-Costa, of Fall River, pay the money over a 90-day period, said Asst. Atty. Gen. Mary O'Neil.
"Customers who made these arrangements to ease their peace of mind were, instead, caused greater anguish and difficulty," Atty. Gen. Tom Reilly said in a statement announcing the settlement. "People should not need to wonder whether their money is safe when entering these contracts with funeral homes."
Last year, the attorney general's office in New Bedford, the state board that regulates funeral directing and embalming, and a local consumer protection group received complaints from people who paid for future funeral expenses at Deschene-Costa's funeral home, according to the Superior Court complaint. O'Neil said officials from the various agencies saw a trend and launched an investigation, which took about 10 months.
One customer, Ann Moorehead, paid $3,000 of a total $5,060 in pre-paid funeral expenses to Deschene-Costa on June 13, 1998, the court complaint says.
"Nowhere on the pre-need contract does it state in which trust account the monies are to be held," the complaint says, and Moorehead made several attempts to contact Deschene-Costa to get the money back.
"[Deschene-Costa] stated that the [money] would be returned, but it would take approximately two weeks to receive the [money]," the complaint says. "To date, Moorehead has not received a refund of her $3,000 deposit."
Several other complaints followed. O'Neil said many of the affected customers were Fall River residents. Several of the customers were elderly.
Under state law, at least 90 percent of the money a customer pays in advance for funeral expenses must be held in a beneficiary trust.
On March 27, 2003, Deschene-Costa and her attorney met with Todd Davis, an investigator with the attorney general's office. There, according to the complaint, Deschene-Costa said she had a chart dated March 21 on which she wrote "spent" next to individuals whose funeral money she spent.
"[Deschene-Costa] informed Investigator Davis that she spent some of the pre-needs funds, which had been paid to her and/or the funeral home," according to the complaint. "She further stated that she did not spend this money for any pre-needs funerals, or indeed on behalf of any individuals on this list. [Deschene-Costa] admitted that she used the money belonging to each individual, so noted on that list as 'spent,' for her own financial needs."
Also, some of the money Deschene-Costa accepted was not deposited, the complaint says.
O'Neil wouldn't say whether the state knows what Deschene-Costa did with the money.
If Deschene-Costa were to violate the terms of the settlement, O'Neil said, the state could pursue civil penalties of $5,000 per claim.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Robert M. Fells
1-800-645-7700
rfells@icfa.org
ICFA JOINS ELDER JUSTICE COALITION IN SUPPORT OF CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION
Reston, Virginia (June 12, 2003) -- The International Cemetery and
Funeral Association's Government and Legal Affairs Committee has
accepted an invitation extended by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on
Aging staff to join the Elder Justice Coalition in support of Senate
bill 333, the Elder Justice Act. Introduced in February by Senators John
Breaux (D-LA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the bill seeks to develop programs
to combat the growing problem of neglect, abuse and the exploitation of
senior citizens.
S. 333 currently has over 23 sponsors in the Senate, and a companion
bill is expected to be introduced in the House of Representatives in the
near future. In joining the Elder Justice Coalition, the ICFA made a
$2,500 contribution through its Government and Legal Fund to support the
coalition's efforts to enact the bill.
Among the proposals in S. 333 is a training program whereby "coroners
and funeral home operators," among others, would be targeted through
grants to help increase the detection and reporting of abuse to law
enforcement authorities. The coalition noted that although the elderly
population is growing and an estimated 500,000 to 5 million older
Americans are abused every year, a disproportionately low amount of
funding is spent on related programs. "Perhaps the greatest barrier to
addressing elder abuse is the relatively low profile of the issue among
the general public and the healthcare community. While both child abuse
and domestic violence are now discussed regularly in the media, elder
abuse has trailed in both public discussion and overall awareness." For
additional information, visit the "Laws and Legislation" section of the
National Center on Elder Abuse Web site at www.elderabusecenter.org.
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 6/15/2003 6:43:47 PM, Beacham McDougald in North Carolina writes:
According to today's regulators and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's or even the early 80's, probably shouldn't have survived.
Our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint.
We had no childproof lids or locks on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets.
Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors!
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. Aft! er running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers, or Internet chat rooms.
We had friends! We went outside and found them.
We played dodge ball, and sometimes, the ball would really hurt.
We fell out of trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents. No one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?
We had fights and punched each other and got black and blue and learned to get over it.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out any eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade.
Horrors!
Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.
The idea of parents bailing us out if we got in trouble in school or broke a law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the school or the law. Imagine that!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, and inventors, ever.
We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility --- and we learned how to deal with it.
And you're one of them!
Congratulations.
In a message dated 6/16/2003 1:08:25 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston writes:
Simple Tribute stakes out funeral business with test locations in strip malls
By Dave Raiford
Nashville Business Journal
Jun. 16 &emdash; From outside its storefront in the Paddock Place Shopping Center, Simple Tribute offers few clues about its business.
Inside, it's tastefully decorated, but not overdone, and fits the mold of any professional services office. Although the air isn't scented with lilies or carnations and staff members aren't wearing their Sunday best, this is a place where funerals are planned.
Simple Tribute fits the bill for a growing segment of society that doesn't feel the need to part with their loved ones through a traditional funeral home, says Tom Barnard, vice president of business development for Metairie, La.-based Stewart Enterprises Inc.
"We've heard from some of our customers - not all - that they wanted less tradition, less formality, something more simple and convenient for people who were in a hurry, who have no church affiliation or don't see themselves as being traditional," Barnard says. "Some go in for big fancy funeral homes, but some want something more simple."
Stewart, the third-largest funeral services company in the United States, opened Simple Tribute in Nashville about 18 months ago as part of a three-city venture that includes Jacksonville, Fla., and Rockville, Md.
"We wanted to try several different areas to justify the business. These three are a test," he says. "As expected, no three cities are the same. Nashville is kind of in the middle. It's taken longer to get established in the community, but we have had about 100 families or so who have chosen to use it."
For good or ill, the nature of the business in general has changed with the expectations of its customers, says Richard Lewis Jr., funeral director of Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors in North Nashville.
"Funerals have become more humanistic than traditional, even with it being a church-related service or religious-related service. Nowadays, I think religions have taken on a more humanistic point of view," Lewis says.
Work in progress The concept behind Simple Tribute is to take as much of the hassle out of funeral planning as possible. As the world has become increasingly fast-paced and more transient, the funeral business has remained a staid realm with its own list of protocols.
"Traditionally, you're moving more or less on (a funeral home's) time schedule," says Randy Short, manager of Simple Tribute in Nashville. "We try to do exactly what you want. It's up to you what you want to do."
Simple Tribute groups services and products commonly requested by customers into all-inclusive price packages prominently displayed on its wall, ranging from basic to premium. By law, the company has to list individual components of each service with its associated price and explain it to the customer, but the overall presentation is one of an inclusive price.
"What many of our customers are interested in is convenience and packaging," Barnard says.
Burial and cremation services are attended by one of Simple Tribute's licensed funeral directors. The company rents hearses and other equipment needed, and funerals can be conducted graveside or at another facility.
Stewart (Nasdaq: STEI) also owns Cole & Garrett Funeral Home and Mount Olivet Cemetery and Funeral Home in the Nashville area. Simple Tribute leverages their presence in the market by using the services of those facilities.
The prices charged by Simple Tribute tend to be less than traditional funeral homes, but that doesn't mean that its clientele is cheap or necessarily low income, says Kristin Jewell, a project manager for Simple Tribute who helped open the company's first location in Jacksonville.
"Generally, people who come to us are not people who are unable to pay for a traditional funeral. They are unwilling to," Jewell says.
The customer base tends to be unsettled or intimidated by traditional funeral homes and the goal of the company is to put those people to ease, even if it's something as simple as being dressed casually, Jewell says.
"I've been a funeral director and I remember having people come in straight from the hospital and there we would be wearing our suits. These are people who have lost someone and they would apologize for how they were dressed," she says.
Not everyone is thrilled with the concept, Barnard says. The funeral home business can be a closed circle where straying from the norm isn't welcome.
"When we went to the (Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers) for the final vote on our application, one of the board members said, 'I don't like this, this isn't dignified enough. This isn't right,'" Barnard says.
Competitors tend to fall into two schools of thought, he says. There are those who view Simple Tribute as no threat because it serves a different clientele and those who believe the company is a low-rent interloper.
For the majority of funeral home directors, Simple Tribute is simply competition and nothing more, says Robert Batson executive director of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association.
"Most just treat it like any other competition. They're members of our association and members in good standing," Batson says.
Detractors and all, Simple Tribute is a work in process, Barnard says. But if the concept takes hold, it's one that the company is interested in expanding nationwide.
"That's our long-term vision. We picked a name, got a Web site and got the name trademarked," he says. "The look and feel would be something standard. We could find a strip mall anywhere in the country and bring in a standard look. The brand itself would mean something in whatever city you are in."
In a message dated 6/17/2003 2:41:40 PM, jason.rogers@cherishedforever.com writes:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jason Rogers
Cherished Forever
Phone (866) 764-5518 Ext. 501
jason.rogers@cherishedforever.com
http://www.cherishedforever.com
CHERISHED FOREVER ANNOUNCES EXPANDING
SALES ORGANIZATION
Altamonte Springs, Florida, June 17,
2003 - Cherished Forever, Inc. today
announced the growth of its sales
organization to accommodate the
expanding needs of the business.
Yuti Joshi joins Cherished Forever as
Regional Account Manager. Yuti will be
responsible for outside sales and
account management for eastern
U.S.-based funeral homes. Yuti brings
to Cherished Forever her professional
real estate sales experience and
enthusiasm for customer service.
Dan McDonald joins Cherished Forever as
National Account Manager. As National
Account Manager, Dan will be responsible
for outside sales and account management
for funeral homes across the U.S. Dan
brings to Cherished Forever his years of
multimedia development experience and
consumer sales experience.
Adam Williams continues to serve as Vice
President of Sales and Marketing,
expanding his role to include Channel
Partners, such as VARs and consultants,
and into the international market.
ABOUT CHERISHED FOREVER
Cherished Forever, Inc. offers the
leading tribute video service dedicated
solely to the funeral service industry.
Cherished Forever Tribute Videos are
created by capturing treasured photo
moments and incorporating them with a
personalized music selection, the
client-family's memories are transformed
into a unique and heartfelt video that
can be shared by everyone.
Cherished Forever Tribute Videos provide
funeral directors and other industry
professionals an unparalleled keepsake
for their client-families and not only
provide added value to client-families,
ultimately resulting in repeat and
word-of-mouth business, but can also
provide a source of additional revenue
for funeral directors.
For more information visit our website
at www.cherishedforever.com, email us at
info@cherishedforever.com, or call us at
(866) 764-5518 and press 1.
- END -
In a message dated 6/18/2003 12:10:02 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston Massachusetts writes:
Group helps homeless veterans have funerals with dignity
No one at his funeral knew James Collins personally.But more than 40 people came to pay their respects, anyway.A program new to Chicago, called Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial, seeks to honor homeless and indigent veterans with a proper military burial service, even if there is no money or family available."At this time in our country's history, we are especially proud to be able to bury one of our distinguished veterans with the dignity and respect he deserves," said Al Lynch, the director of Chicago's Homeless Veteran's Burial Program. "We are very pleased to implement this program in Chicago with the support and cooperation of the local community."Little is known about Collins It's not even clear when he served. He was born Feb. 2, 1934, and died in Chicago on April 15, 2003--homeless.At his funeral, Collins was remembered as a dedicated servant of his country. Among the armed forces organizations represented at the service: the 3rd District VFW Ritual Team, Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220, Marine Corps League Burbank Detachment, a color guard and VFW Post 177.When asked why he came to the services for Collins, Rick Murray, a paratrooper from the Korean War, said he felt honored to be in attendance because usually the homeless are forgotten."Even though I didn't know James, James was a part of me because he was a vet," said Murray, a member of the Veteran Advisory Council for the City of Chicago Department of Human Services. Dignity Memorial Homeless Veterans Burial was first introduced nationwide by Service Corporation International, which provides funding for the funerals. SCI works in cooperation with several federal, state and local agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Cook County medical examiner, administrative officials, veteran service organizations and local funeral homes.Bill Branson, a former Army general and retired SCI employee, came up with the idea in St. Louis three years ago.Since the program started, 140 homeless veterans have received burials in cities such as San Francisco, Houston and San Diego."Dignity is providing an important service that was missing," said Richard C. Braley, assistant regional director of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In a message dated 6/18/2003 10:12:50 PM, Monica in California writes:
SEBASTOPOL, Calif.(Reuters) - Want to know how to keep a corpse fresh during a do-it-yourself funeral? Wondering how to build a coffin for a dearly departed loved one?
Jerri Lyons has answers to these and other questions for people looking to conduct home funerals. She dispenses to-die-for advice ranging from the legalities of getting a body home from the morgue to the basics of bathing a corpse.
In running seminars on how people can care for their own dead, Lyons, 55, and her nonprofit group Final Passages have become leaders in a small but burgeoning movement that seeks to provide a more compassionate and cheaper alternative to mainstream funeral practices.
''We prepare for other rites of passage like weddings and births,'' Lyons told a group of about a dozen people who gathered in her northern California home recently to learn more about home funerals. ''Not a lot of people prepare for death.''
On a recent sunny morning Lyons started the meeting of mostly women attendees by asking why they wanted to spend the day talking about death and dying. The courses cost $35 to $375 depending on length.
A self-described psychic said she talks with angels and simply wanted more information while another woman asked whether it is legal to build a funeral pyre on private property as she prepared for the eventual death of an older lover.
''I want to be buried in the land I've been taking care of,'' said another participant named Pam. ''There is more spirituality when I do it myself.''
Others said they wanted to make sure they don't burden surviving loved ones. A lawyer serving a rural community wanted to pick up information for an increasing number of clients who inquire about home funerals and burials.
A middle-aged woman named Cheryl said funeral homes are a big rip-off and that she wants to make sure people remember her life rather than her death. ''I want to plan the way I go out,'' she said. ''I just want my life to be celebrated.''
ICE OFTEN CRUCIAL
The day-long seminar covers everything from wading through the complexities of taking a body from the morgue or hospital to properly placing ice on a corpse to keep it fresh.
For less than 24 hours, ice may not be needed but families usually need to cool a body if it is exposed longer, Lyons told the group. Ice is also crucial for longer vigils to ensure liquids do not come out through the mouth, although she adds it is always possible to improvise.
''I've had a number of people use frozen vegetables,'' Lyons said and warned the group about other pitfalls. For example, she said one family put too much padding in a coffin and were unable to close it when they loaded the body inside.
There are also slide shows and videos showing families painting caskets, preparing bodies for memorials and eventually loading them into a car for the final trip to the crematorium.
Lyons turned to her current career after the 1994 death of a close friend whose will instructed that her body not be taken to a mortuary and instead be cared for at home.
This first experience with a home funeral showed Lyons that carrying out intimate acts such as bathing and dressing her deceased friend actually made it easier to deal with the loss.
''It helped us with our mourning and grieving,'' Lyons said. ''It made it more meaningful because we were the ones touching her body instead of turning her over to some strangers she didn't know.''
DO-IT-YOURSELF FOR LESS
With a mortuary funeral costing an estimated $5,000 compared to a do-it-yourself home version that can run as low as a few hundred dollars, Lyons' supporters say it is easy to see why more people are looking at home funerals.
Joshua Slocum, a director of Funeral Consumers Alliance, said he has no figures for how many Americans conduct home funerals each year but predicts the numbers are growing.
''We are getting more calls all the time,'' said Slocum, who noted it is is legal to bring a body home in 45 out of 50 U.S. states. ''Some people are growing disenchanted with the cost of funerals and the anonymity and sterility of releasing a loved one to a sterile, commercial environment.''
The home funeral movement, however, is not likely to drive a stake into the well-established death-care industry, according to analyst William Burns of Johnson Rice in New Orleans, who follows publicly traded funeral home companies.
Instead, the biggest problem facing the nation's 23,000 funeral homes is what he called a soft mortality rate due in part to a weak flu season the past few years.
ICFA OFFERS NEW WORKBOOK TO BOOST ADVANCED SELLING SKILLS
Reston, Virginia (June 18, 2003) - Cemetery and funeral service sales
counselors and managers now have an effective way to evaluate and
improve their selling techniques. Available from the International
Cemetery and Funeral Association, "Advanced Selling Skills for the
Professional: The Art of Psychological Selling" takes the counselor
through an eye-opening course on the attitudes, language and sales
approaches that lead to success vs. failure. This 150-page workbook,
written by award-winning preneed and insurance sales manager Neil
Carlson, uses 12 quizzes and numerous participatory exercises to
encourage the sales counselor to reflect on his or her own sales methods
and styles, evaluate them and correct areas that aren't working.
Both new and experienced preneed sales counselors will learn how to
improve their techniques for setting appointments, making presentations,
handling objections, obtaining referrals and more. Among the lessons
covered are:
o creating a sense of urgency;
o setting a positive tone;
o negative words to avoid;
o how to "door knock" successfully;
o asking questions to advance the sale;
o three words that virtually always result in a positive response;
o why customers buy ... and why they don't;
o and more.
"Advanced Selling Skills" is available to ICFA members for $18.95 and to
non-members for $22.95. To order, call 1-800-645-7700.
ICFA FALL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE TO COMBINE INDUSTRY EXPERTISE, EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION
Reston, Virginia (June 18, 2003) -- Owning and managing a cemetery or
funeral home has never been tougher. New competitors enter the
marketplace every day, consumers have more choices and are better
informed than ever before, and finding the time and resources to
cultivate a quality staff has become increasingly difficult.
The International Cemetery and Funeral Association's Fall Management
Conference, October 29-November 1 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in
Miami, Florida, will help industry executives address today's challenges
and master the essential elements of business leadership. The
CEO-focused conference will combine speakers from within this profession
and from the business management arena to address topics such as:
o Using individual assets to lead effectively - Sandra Shelton, founder
of consulting firm StrengthBank Inc., will offer a roadmap for
identifying one's top strengths and using those assets to become a
purposeful, passionate leader.
o Hiring top talent - Michael Gravelle, vice president of the McQuaig
Institute and seminar director for "Interviewing and Selecting
Exceptional People," will explain five steps for hiring quality
executives and upper management.
o Attracting and retaining staff - Industry consultant Gary O'Sullivan,
CCE, will take attendees through an ongoing, systematic "people
strategy" needed to attract, develop and retain an effective team.
o Handling union challenges - Attorney Michael Pepperman, a specialist
in labor law, will provide practical advice on dealing with employee
union organization efforts and how best to work with unions if they do
become involved.
o Alternative pay structures for sales managers and staff - Commission
programs have fallen out of favor in many industries. Stockton Colt,
managing director of stockcoltpartners LLC, will take a hard look at
potential alternatives for compensating sales managers and counselors.
o Succession planning: beyond financial considerations - "Putting one's
house in order" means more than just completing financial arrangements.
Funeral Director Dan Moloney will share lessons he and his brothers
learned after the death of their father and how they achieved a
transition that has led to continuing success for their funeral home.
In addition to the educational program, the conference will include
numerous networking receptions and the annual ICFA Fall Management Golf
Tournament. Known as "The Kingdom of Golf" and ranked by Golf Magazine
as one of the best resorts in the nation, the Doral Resort is home to
the famous Blue Monster, which hosts the PGA Ford Championship, as well
as four additional challenging courses.
For more information or to register for the Fall Management Conference,
call the ICFA at 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.
In a message dated 6/19/2003 2:39:23 PM, wisokait@nfda.org writes:
>http://capwiz.com/nfda/mailreader/?mid=2620181
Why are there no choices, there is only one sided statements here!
Members do have their own thoughts, and opinions, please forward this message to Christine Pepper, as I will look forward to her opinion on the matter
So she is not confused on the issue here is the ONLY prepared text members may send to god knows who in Washington
Your Message
Subject:
Comment on Overtime Exemptions
Required text: This text shall be included in your message.
I am a licensed funeral director and/or embalmer. I support the Department of Labor (DOL) proposal to update and revise the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) implementing regulations. Specifically, I support the proposed revision in the definition of professional employee and learned professional at 29 C.F.R. 541.300 and 541.301. I agree with the comments of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA).
Like the NFDA, I believe that licensed funeral directors and embalmers are professional employees under the proposed regulation and are exempt from the FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements. I recommend that DOL include licensed funeral directors and embalmers in the final rule with guidance that clarifies that they are professional employees exempt from FLSA minimum wage and overtime requirements.
In a message dated 6/19/2003 1:22:56 PM, Martin in Florida writes:
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A Brevard County man has filed a lawsuit against a funeral home after he says they lost the remains of his wife. He had her cremated at Florida Memorial in Rockledge. What may be worst about this story is how long it took for him to discover the mistake.
Gary Lewis' wife Donna died of brain cancer nearly two years ago. She was cremated and they thought half her ashes went to her parents. The rest, they thought, were placed in an urn that sits in their family room.
"It gave me somebody to look up to, to talk to, just to give me some guidance," says Lewis.
Three months after they received the urn, Lewis says he received a call from the manager at the funeral home asking Lewis to come pick up his wife's remains.
"[I asked], 'You have my wife's ashes down there?' And he said, 'Yes, I do.' And I said, 'Well, who do I have then?' There was a long pause," says Lewis.
Lewis says he received another call days later where the manager said the family had the wrong urn. "He wanted me to bring it back and just swap it out. Let me give you the right urn."
Then the funeral home wrote a letter indicating the ashes were accidentally divided into three urns instead of two. Lewis says he couldn't figure out what was the truth. So he hired attorney Doug Williams.
Williams says they wanted to do DNA testing. "We didn't have enough fragments to be able to do any DNA analysis to be able to tell who's ashes were whom," says Williams.
"I feel like they took her and never gave her back. I don't know where she is now," says
And Lewis figures he'll never know. He kept the urn, but he no longer feels it hold any connection to his wife.
A spokesman for the company that owns Florida Memorial contacted Channel 9 late Wednesday afternoon. He told us they are confident that all of Mrs. Lewis' ashes are accounted for. But because of the lawsuit, they wouldn't answer any questions.
In a message dated 6/21/2003 10:00:08 AM, Scott in Massachusetts writes:
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - Eight decomposing bodies, some of them mauled by
rodents, were found Friday in a funeral home, authorities said.
Two of the bodies were found in a garage at Sherrill-Harden Funeral Home and
six were in a back room. Officials said four were in cremation boxes. The
others were in containers.
All had been embalmed and apparently were left there over the past few
months, officials said. DNA tests were planned to determine their
identities.
The building was searched after authorities received at least two anonymous
tips, including one from someone who identified himself or herself as a
funeral home employee, according to Mayor Jack Ford.
``This is extremely rare and very serious,'' said Ann Cunningham, executive
director of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. ``I can't
imagine being in the families' position. We are going to try to get every
detail and get to the truth.''
Over the last year, state and county officials have raised concerns about
the funeral home's operations.
Last June, the state funeral board heard allegations against Sherrill-Harden
of embalming without a license and unprofessional conduct, according to the
board's minutes. It was not clear whether the board took action or if the
issue was resolved.
The Lucas County Health Department warned Sherrill-Harden in a letter dated
June 4 this year that it had failed to file timely death certificates.
The law requires the filing of the certifies within five days of a death,
and failure to file a completed death certificate is punishable by up to
five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Ohio Department of Health followed up with a June 12 warning to bring
the death certificates up to date and demanded a written explanation for the
delay.
Relatives of people who had been buried or cremated by Sherrill-Harden
gathered Friday outside the building.
Kimberly Lampkin said she has been trying to reach state officials for
months to complain about Sherrill-Harden.
Lampkin said the funeral home told her they didn't cremate and bury her
mother's ashes as planned until almost four months after she died in
September 2001.
Ronnette Munn, 48, said the funeral home handled her father's services after
he died April 20.
``I'm praying to God he wasn't one of them who was in there,'' she said.
Munn said funeral director Henry Harden was professional and handled the
services well.
Robert Barner, whose cousin was cremated in December, agreed.
``He did right by me,'' Barner said. ``I've had family members come through
here for years and we haven't had any problems.''
Last year 334 bodies were found at Georgia's Tri-State Crematory.
Brent Marsh, 29, who operated the crematory, faces 334 felony criminal
charges of theft by deception and also is charged with 64 counts of abuse of
a body.
MORE
In a message dated 6/23/2003 12:37:41 PM, Gary in Ohio writes:
Six of the eight decomposed bodies that were found at a central-Toledo funeral home Friday were identified by the facility's owner during police questioning, a lead investigator told The Blade yesterday. But none of those identifications are considered official by the Lucas County Coroner's Office.
Detective Tim Kaminski declined to specify why Henry Harden, owner of the Sherill Harden Funeral Home, was unable to identify two bodies.
The detective acknowledged that all the bodies were in various stages of decomposition. They were removed Friday from a back building and an adjacent garage at the funeral home, 639 Indiana Ave., and are being held at the coroner's office.
Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner, said decomposition had been occurring "for an extended period of time, possibly years" in some of the bodies.
The coroner said that he was aware Mr. Harden provided six names to police but that he considers the information to be only a starting point that could help lead to easier identifications next week.
Each of the eight bodies will undergo a series of medical tests before they are positively identified by his office, Dr. Patrick said.
Detective Kaminski, the lead city police investigator on the case, yesterday contacted some of the people who are believed to have been family members.
Two such families were notified.
Neither would grant police authorization to release names of their deceased loved ones, Detective Kaminski said.
"They're still pretty shook up over what happened," he said. "These families want some closure. They're upset."
Police remained cryptic about what they know. Sgt. Paul Hickey said information was being kept under wraps because the investigation is in its early stages.
Detective Kaminski said he plans to meet Tuesday with an investigator from the state Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.
Those two will then meet with Lucas County prosecutors to discuss the possibility of filing charges, Detective Kaminski said.
The investigation began after the state embalmers' board on Thursday received a call about the bodies on the funeral home's property.
When asked if money was being accepted for cremation or burial services not rendered, Detective Kaminski replied: "Arrangements were made, and [Mr. Harden] failed to abide by the arrangements. That's all I can say right now."
The bodies include at least six African-Americans. Three were women; all appear to be adults.
The funeral home has had problems with record-keeping in the past, a subject of scrutiny by the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department and the Ohio Department of Health since 1994, according to a spokesman for the state agency.
Earlier this month, the funeral home was notified by the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department that it was in violation of state law for failing to file five death certificates on time.
Mr. Harden did not return calls to his funeral home and was not available when a reporter stopped by yesterday.
LOOKING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS OF HEARSES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLES SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE REQUIRING REPAIR FOR
A MAGAZINE ARTICLE. EFFECTED FUNERAL HOME OR VEHICLE OWNER WILL NOT BE REVEALED IF REQUESTED.
CONTACT ERIC D. RUGGERI AT DEATHFIVE0@AOL.COM
For More Information, Please Contact:
Linda Budzinksi
1-800-645-7700
lacorn@icfa.org
Reston, Virginia (June 18, 2003) -- As traditional selling methods
become increasingly difficult, more and more cemeteries and funeral
homes are ensuring the future of their business through improved
"service after the service." The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association now offers a variety of family service and aftercare tools
designed to provide caring service and build customer loyalty and referrals.
Providing excellent family service does not require a sophisticated or
expensive program. For less than $20, cemeteries and funeral homes can
let their customers know their service doesn't end with the service.
Among the products now available:
o Family Memorial Guide -- This elegant folder offers documents to
assist families with living will instructions, handling grief, wills and
probate, claiming benefits, financial and credit obligations and life
insurance. One side of the folder can be used for customized brochures
and photos. The guide comes in sets of 25 and includes two booklets with
helpful ideas on Establishing an Effective Family Service Program and
Suggested Items for Your Customized Side of the Family Memorial Guide.
o "Will You Dance?" -- This new book by psychologist Dr. Annette
Childs-Oroz has already changed and saved the lives of people dealing
with grief or facing great difficulty. Presented as a simple story,
easily read and with enchanting artwork, it takes readers through the
Change, Fear and Loss that accompany grief and leads them toward Faith,
Hope and Joy.
o "Awakening from Grief: Finding the Road Back to Joy" -- Filled with
heartwarming, inspirational stories of growth and compassion, this book
by grief expert John Welshons provides a road map to life appreciation
for those who are working to understand the confusing and difficult
emotions surrounding a loss.
o Healing the Grief (of the loss of a loved one) -- This two-audiotape
set by John Welshons and author Mark Victor Hansen ("Chicken Soup for
the Soul") provides a variety of techniques for handling one's emotions
after a loss and moving toward wholeness.
o Helpful Guidelines for Working Through Grief and Questions & Answers
About Healing Grief -- These two booklets by John Welshons explore the
emotions that accompany grief and offer specific recommendations to
promote healing and growth.
o Caring Organizer -- This collection of 49 prewritten letters guides
survivors through the myriad of paperwork they face after a loss, from
correspondence with insurance companies, banks, stockbrokers and
creditors, to newspapers, utility companies and more. The accompanying
CD-ROM makes composing the letters even simpler. The Caring Organizer is
available in sets of 10 and can be customized.
o "Goodnight, Sweet Prince: You Can Give a Eulogy" -- As families
increasingly choose to personalize funeral and memorial services with
eulogies, this book provides a practical guide to this difficult task.
It breaks the eulogy into 10 manageable steps and uses a hands-on
approach that offers direction, provides examples and instills confidence.
For pricing information or to order, call 1-800-645-7700 or visit the
ICFA Store at www.icfa.org.
In a message dated 6/23/2003 12:40:50 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes:
LAKE ELSINORE, California - A former crematory operator pleaded guilty to mutilating human remains as part of a plea bargain that requires him to testify against his former boss.Jose Terrazas, 44, faces one year in Riverside County jail as part of the arrangement, Deputy District Attorney Karen Gorham said. If convicted, he faced 16 months to three years in state prison.Terrazas is expected to testify against Michael Francis Brown, who ran the Pacific Cremation Care in Lake Elsinore. Brown, 43, was indicted last year on charges of illegally selling body parts cut from dozens of corpses. He has pleaded not guilty to 275 charges.A trial date has been set for Sept. 8.Brown allegedly removed heads, knees and other parts from bodies he was supposed to cremate. Prosecutors allege he sold the body parts for research through another one of his businesses.He also is charged with two counts of soliciting a felony and one count of dissuading a witness for allegedly offering an employee $10,000 to steal heads and hands seized as evidence from the crematorium. The parts were being stored at the Riverside County coroner's office.Daniel Schonberger, a driver at the crematorium, faces one count each of conspiracy to commit perjury and unlawfully mutilating a body.
The Item's - News Last Rights ?
City rethinks using on-duty officers as free funeral escorts
On Thursday afternoon, little more than two hours after being called to an armed robbery on Broad Street, police officers had another task about a half a mile away. They had to provide a funeral escort to a procession leaving Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home.
As the city of Sumter struggles with tough budget times and a growing population, officials are reconsidering a long-standing policy of providing on-duty police officers for funeral escorts free of charge. The policy ties up the city's traffic unit and, on some occasions, other police officers and strains the city's manpower.
The city's solution would be to allow off-duty police officers who volunteer for the service to contract with funeral homes on a rotating basis. Police officers would be allowed to use their patrol cars when providing the service.
But some funeral directors have raised concerns about safety and equity, saying changing the city's policy could lead to dangerous situations, especially for families who might be unable to pay for the escorts.
PATTERSON
According to Police Chief Patty Patterson, the policy under consideration by the department would allow officers to contract with funeral homes for $50 per funeral per police officer. If officers put in four hours of work on planning and carrying out a funeral escort, the hourly rate would work out to less than officers might make in other off-duty jobs.
Patterson said the department realizes the city has traditionally provided the escorts free of charge.
"But to continue to do so would be at the expense of our being able to expeditiously and adequately respond to calls for service," she said.
On an average day, Patterson said, her department provides escorts from anywhere from two to 10 funerals. As of June 11, the city had already provided 244 escorts, for an average of 41 a month. The busiest month was February, when officers escorted 56 funeral processions.
Patterson said the idea of allowing the police officers to contract with funeral homes has been floated around for a few years. "Now it's to the point that we really don't have an option here," she said.
The issue is not a matter of money; it's a manpower problem, Patterson said.
City officials have said that, when combined with officers who have to fill in for school crossing guards, the entire traffic unit is sometimes tied up without being able to patrol the streets.
But city funeral directors fear the policy could lead to classes of haves and have-nots.
"When you're dealing with families that are bereaved, the last thing they need to focus on are safety issues," said Lorin Perri Palmer, funeral director for Palmer Memorial Chapel.
The funeral escorts help alert other drivers to the long procession of cars that, trying to stick together, sometimes passes through red lights. It also helps drivers know to stop in respect of the deceased, Palmer said.
"The funeral escorts are not a luxury," she said. "They are a preventive measure."
Palmer said she was aware that some large cities have stopped providing the free funeral escorts. "But I did not feel that Sumter had reached that point yet," she said.
Harvin Bullock, owner of Bullock Funeral Home and Crematorium, said the funeral escorts are critical enough that he will not pass the costs through to families if the city starts charging.
"We need the escorts," Bullock said. "I'll pay for them."
Bullock said he wished the city would abandon what he said were "somewhat frivolous projects" and instead focus on finding the funds necessary to allow the police department to continue providing free escorts.
"In light of that not happening, we'll support the police department in whatever they feel like they need to do," he said.
Meanwhile, Palmer said she's afraid of what might occur if families aren't able to provide for the escorts. "I think it's like waiting for an accident to happen," she said.
City Manager Talmadge Tobias has said the city will be putting together the new policy and approaching funeral homes within the next few weeks.
In a message dated 6/23/2003 7:41:57 PM, Dave in Washington State writes:
Check this out... http://www.bizbash.com/content/editorial/e3048.asp
This above link has been sent to you from the BiZBash.com Idea Center
<http://BiZBash.com/> by Dave Daly
with the following message:
John, thought you might be interested in this one.
In a message dated 6/24/2003 10:23:26 AM, westernrivers65@aol.com writes:
6/10/2003 8:35:00 AM
METAIRIE, La., Jun 10, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq
NMS: STEI) announced today that Brian J. Marlowe, Chief Operating Officer, has
stepped down to pursue personal interests.
The Company also announced that William E. Rowe, the Company's President and Chief
Executive Officer, will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations. Over the
past three and a half years, Rowe has been focused on improving the Company's credit
profile, reducing the debt outstanding, increasing cash flow and selling the
Company's foreign assets. With that accomplished, he now has time to again involve
himself in the business operations where he has spent most of his career. Further, he
has been in the death care business for more than 38 years and held the COO position
for five years prior to becoming CEO in 1999.
In making this announcement, Rowe said, "We fully appreciate Brian's years of
commitment and dedication to our company and wish him the best in his personal
pursuits."
Founded in 1910, Stewart Enterprises, Inc., is the third largest provider of
products and services in the death care industry in the United States, currently
owning and operating 301 funeral homes and 149 cemeteries.
SOURCE: Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Fay Spano
800/228-6332
NFDA #19-03
Study Concludes Funeral Home Wastewater is Safe
NFDA Updates Environmental Best Management Practices
Brookfield, Wis. &endash; A definitive two-year study on funeral home
discharge into septic systems has found that funeral home septic systems
are capable of treating the key ingredients in the wastewater to levels
that will not jeopardize the safety of drinking water sources or public
health. The study was part of an intensive research project conducted
by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) on the effect of
funeral home wastewater discharges to both septic systems and public
treatment works. NFDA retained Dr. Judy LaKind, a leading health and
environmental scientist, and Dr. Edward Bouwer, a professor of
Environmental Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University, to design and
conduct the septic study.
"Funeral directors are dedicated to being responsible neighbors and
good citizens in the communities they serve," said NFDA Chief Executive
Officer Christine Pepper. "That includes making sure that wastewater
from their facilities is disposed of without risk to human health or to
the environment. Therefore, NFDA has devoted significant resources to
this paramount issue."
In conjunction with the results of this most recent study, NFDA has
revised and updated its Environmental Best Management Practices. These
practices are designed to assist funeral directors in making informed
decisions about practices that ensure environmental safety.
With the study and Best Management Practices, funeral homes can be sure
that they have the tools they need to meet environmental standards. The
information also will help funeral directors better address any
questions the public might have on the safety of the funeral home's
wastewater.
The complete septic study &endash; "Investigation of the Removal of
Formaldehyde and Phenol by Funeral Home Septic Systems" &endash; is available
through NFDA at a cost of $125 for members and $350 for non-members.
Each state association will receive one complimentary copy upon request.
To order a copy, visit the Surveys and Reports section of the NFDA
Resource Store, http://www.nfda.org/resourcestore/resourcestore.php, or
contact an NFDA Member Services Representative at 800/228-6332.
The Environmental Best Management Practices is included with the septic
study or is available online at http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=138.
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.
In a message dated 6/25/2003 2:38:45 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston Massachusetts writes:
Audits: Databases bought by city are still inoperative
Comptroller cites electronic death-certificate system and database for tracing disease
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
By JILL GARDINER
ADVANCE STAFF WRITER
Two audits released yesterday show that the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene spent $9.5 million in the last nine years to create two electronic databases -- which are still not operational.
The audits, made public by city Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr., found that an electronic death certificate system -- which Staten Island funeral home directors have long lobbied for -- and a database for tracking disease in the five boroughs are not up and running.
It also found that the Health Department did not follow procedure when it hired the IBM Corporation and another company to create both programs.
Rather than issuing a request for proposal (RFP), the department signed agreements with the two companies and failed to seek approval from the comptroller's office, the audit says.
"The bottom line here is that these things should have been implemented years ago and $9.5 million later, they still don't exist," said Scott Taffet, a spokesman for the comptroller's office.
Staten Island funeral directors have described the current death certificate system, which requires trekking to Manhattan or Brooklyn to file paperwork, as antiquated.
Ben Posner, manager of Menorah Chapels, a funeral home in New Springville, said yesterday he sends someone into Manhattan at least once a day and that the parking alone is enough to justify an electronic system. But Posner is not optimistic about living to see a computerized system or confident in the agency's ability to pull it off, he said.
"I would love to see this system, but it's a fairy tale," said Posner. He noted that Menorah Chapels is a Jewish funeral home, and must have death certificates the day someone dies for a next-day burial.
The raised notarization and the signatures required for a death certificate make an electronic system difficult to create, he said.
Taking issue with the comptroller's report, the Health Department yesterday issued a statement that the agency had implemented all of the recommended changes prior to the audit, which took place between August and December 2002.
The statement acknowledges problems prior to the audit, but says they were corrected. It contends that both the death certificate and disease-tracking systems are cutting-edge programs being pioneered by the city.
"A fully functioning [electronic death certificate system] does not exist in any state or jurisdiction," the statement says, explaining that New York was chosen to develop a national model and is now receiving federal funding to complete the project.
The Health Department also contends that the disease tracking program, or Patient Information System, was a pioneering attempt that could not be implemented because existing technology was not powerful enough. The system, agency officials say, is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, with the use of new technology.
Councilman James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) said the systems are more complex than they seem at first blush, but that the Health Department should have been more forthcoming.
The audit "breathes life back into" the City Council's efforts to get the programs on track, Oddo said.
"This process has been plagued with troubles and obstacles since day one," he said. "There are a lot of positive things this system can offer, but the question is, why are we $9 million and [several] years into this?"
Councilman Michael McMahon (D-North Shore) said both electronic systems seemed like good ideas, but should not be implemented while the city is cutting services.
"This is money that could be used to put nurses back in the schools," he said.
Jill Gardiner covers health issues for the Advance. She may be reached at gardiner@siadvance.com
In a message dated 6/25/2003 12:10:51 PM, Mike in North Carolina writes:
POSTED: 8:11 a.m. EDT June 25, 2003
UPDATED: 9:25 a.m. EDT June 25, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The state Senate has approved a measure that would allow North Carolina to more closely regulate people who perform cremations.
The bill now goes to the House. It is designed to revise the state cremation laws to better ensure that cases don't occur in North Carolina like the one involving a Georgia crematory operator last year. The operator was accused of taking money for more than 300 cremations he allegedly never performed. The measure sets minimum training and permit requirements for crematory operators and crematory technicians. A cremation couldn't be performed unless a family member or authorizing agent named in a will of the deceased agrees to the process in writing. The crematorium would have to provide receipts to the family when it receives the body and returns the remains following the cremation.
ICFA WIRELESS - June 24, 2003 Edition Vol. 4 No. 13
In a message dated 6/25/2003 6:05:48 PM, wireless@icfa.org writes:
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.
IN THIS EDITION:
INDUSTRY NEWS
In Congress, Georgia Cremation Scandal Is Not Forgotten
Elder Justice Companion Bill Introduced in the House
FTC Strategic Plan for 2003-2008 Shows No Funeral Rule Action
ICFA NEWS
Santa Monica Conference Roundtables Will Address Top Concerns
June Product of the Month: Selling Skills Workbook
---------------------------
INDUSTRY NEWS
---------------------------
IN CONGRESS, GEORGIA CREMATION SCANDAL IS NOT FORGOTTEN
Although the state of Georgia moved quickly to revise its cremation law last
year in the wake of the Tri-State Crematory scandal and the case is moving
through the court system, some members of Congress have not forgotten the
event. On June 12, during a floor debate in the U.S. House of Representatives
on H.R. 1115, a bill to reform interstate class action lawsuits, Congressman
Max Sandlin (D-TX) addressed critics of the bill stating, "They forgot to
mention the case in Georgia at Tri-State Crematory, where they had been
foregoing cremations for bodies received from funeral homes. Instead, they
passed off wood chips and other substances as ashes."
The House subsequently passed H.R. 1115 and referred the bill to the Senate,
where it is currently pending. Congressional attention is expected to turn to
funeral service issues later this summer when the results of the General
Accounting Office investigation of the industry are published. The report
will review the effectiveness of state law enforcement to protect consumers
and whether federal intervention is recommended. ICFA members will be
informed of developments.
---------------------------------------------------
ELDER JUSTICE COMPANION BILL INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
Following the report on the Elder Justice Act (S. 333) in the last issue of
the WIRELESS, a companion bill, H.R. 2490, has been introduced into the House
of Representatives through a bipartisan group of 46 representatives. The ICFA
announced its support of the proposed legislation, which seeks to develop
programs to detect abuse, neglect and exploitation of senior citizens.
Joining the Elder Justice Coalition, the ICFA contributed $2,500 on behalf of
its members to support efforts to enact the bills.
---------------------------------------------------
FTC STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2003-2008 SHOWS NO FUNERAL RULE ACTION
Earlier this month, the FTC published its "Preliminary Strategic Plan for
Fiscal Years 2003-2008," a report highlighting the Commission's goals and
objectives for the next five years. Throughout the document, there is no
reference to the Funeral Rule. According to the report, the FTC "will take
action to target fraud more effectively through analysis of the consumer
complaint data we gather. . . . In addition to targeting the most serious
problems for law enforcement action, we also encourage non-regulatory
solutions that are effective but do not impede legitimate business activity."
Some of the areas targeted for increased consumer protection activity include
online fraud, identity theft, loss of privacy and cross-border fraud such as
foreign lottery scams. The FTC will review its programs on an annual basis to
determine whether emerging consumer issues require the strategic plan to be
revised. The 46-page report can be viewed in its entirety at
http://www.ftc.gov/opp/gpra/index.htm.
-------------------
ICFA NEWS
-------------------
SANTA MONICA CONFERENCE ROUNDTABLES WILL ADDRESS TOP CONCERNS
The ICFA Small Cemetery & Funeral Management Conference, September 18-20 at
the Four Points Sheraton in Santa Monica, California, will feature a series
of roundtables to address topics chosen by attendees.
Each year, attendees at "The Small" name networking and idea sharing as the
greatest benefits of the conference. So this year, the Small Cemetery and
Funeral Operations Committee has created a one hour and 45 minute session in
which attendees can move from table to table to discuss a variety of issues.
The topics will be chosen based on suggestions made on the conference
registration forms.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.icfa.org/small03.htm
or call 1-800-645-7700.
---------------------------------------------------
JUNE PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: SELLING SKILLS WORKBOOK
"Advanced Selling Skills for the Professional: The Art of Psychological
Selling" by Neil Carlson takes the cemetery or funeral home sales counselor
through an eye-opening course on the attitudes, language and sales approaches
that can lead to success vs. failure. With 12 quizzes and numerous
participatory exercises, Carlson uses a homespun, informal teaching style to
train the sales counselor to reflect on his or her own sales methods,
evaluate them and correct areas that aren't working.
Preneed sales counselors will learn how to improve their techniques for
setting appointments, making presentations, handling objections, obtaining
referrals and more. Among the lessons covered are: creating a sense of
urgency; setting a positive tone; negative words to avoid; how to "door
knock" successfully; asking questions to advance the sale; three words that
virtually always result in a positive response; and more.
ICFA non-member price: $22.95; ICFA member price: $18.95. To order, call
1-800-645-7700.
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
AND MORE . . .
ICFA University, July 18-23 at the University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee,
offers you and your staff 4.5 days of advanced learning in specific areas
including embalming, funeral service management, cemetery management, sales
and marketing, grounds operations and cremation. Class sizes and on-campus
housing are limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information and to register, visit http://www.icfa.org/icfau03.htm
or call 1-800-645-7700.
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 .
International Cemetery and Funeral Association
1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191
1-800-645-7700
(703) 391-8400
fax (703) 391-8416
http://www.icfa.org
Copyright 2003 International Cemetery and Funeral Association
In a message dated 6/26/2003 5:48:08 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes:
http://www.townonline.com/wakefield/news/local_regional/wak_covwkcrematorium06252003.htm
Lakeside neighborhood still cool to cemetery's crematorium bid
By Dinah Cardin / DCARDIN@CNC.COM
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
The battle cry "Not in My Back Yard" is usually shouted against those who want to put up low-income housing or new supermarkets. But with residents pitched against a plan to build a crematorium in Wakefield, it seems that "NIMBY" can follow you to your grave.
Nearly a year since Zoning Board of Appeals approval, it looks as if the Lakeside Cemetery is pressing forward with plans to overturn an appeal from North Avenue residents and begin building a crematorium in the cemetery by Lake Quannapowitt.
The Lakeside Cemetery Board of Trustees argue the crematorium would pay for an expensive restoration to the beloved chapel, whose basement it will occupy. They argue it will also raise money for the non-profit organization that owns the cemetery, long after plot space is gone.
There is still some land yet to be developed, said Lakeside Cemetery Superintendent Bill Burnham. A new area just opened this past year with 200 new lots. But those will be gone in only a couple of years, he said.
The cost of repairs to the chapel are estimated at $500,000, with some bids as high as $800,000, he said. Built in the 1930s for funeral services, the chapel prospered until funeral homes started holding services in their own chapels.
The Lakeside Chapel, surrounded by greenery in the cemetery's park-like setting, is picturesque. Once the building is restored, there are countless possibilities for its use, said Burnham. But at this point, the Lakeside Cemetery Board, which oversees the non-profit organization, says weddings and funerals could not raise enough revenue to repair the chapel.
But the neighbors who live across the street from the Lakeside Cemetery appealed to the ZBA to stop the process, claiming they worry about increased traffic, harmful emissions, mainly mercury, which has been proven to cause health problems. They aren't too happy about the prospect of looking out their windows and seeing the proposed 47-foot smokestack included in the project. And they worry about the overall "ick" factor of it.
The residents say they shudder at the thought of seeing the ashes of dead people floating in the air between their homes and the lake.
"That's all the old days," Burnham said. "The equipment today is so high tech. They burn so clean. The most you would see is heat waves."
"If you did find ashes in your yard, the state would be allowing something that is improperly designed," said Robert Gottberg, the project's designer, who owns an engineering firm in Sudbury. The state requires recorders. Every time the crematorium is used, he said, they record the temperatures and emissions.
Wakefield attorney Joseph Harrington, representing the cemetery, filed for a motion June 9, to have the appeal dismissed. The residents will then have seven days prior to the hearing to respond, Harrington said. As of publication deadline, no hearing date had been set, he said.
The goings on at the facility would be impossible to see from the street, said Harrington, since the cremation equipment is located in the basement of the chapel, and hearses can pull up behind the building.
There is a degree of pollution, but the state considers it insignificant, said Gottberg. A dry cleaning operation has far more serious pollutants, he said. As for the smokestack, the state likes to see it as high as possible for the dispersion of the pollutants, while the town and the cemetery like it shorter.
To keep the stack from being aesthetically unattractive, Gottberg's plans include making it look like a bell tower, perhaps complete with an electric bell system.
Gottberg, who said he has been involved with the design of 60 to 75 percent of New England's crematories, said he's seen a tightening of state regulations in the last 30 years. It takes far longer to get environmental approval in Massachusetts than in surrounding states, he said. He could fairly easily name all the crematoriums in New England off the top of his head and said the proposed one in Wakefield is pretty standard.
But neighbors have not found much comfort in the cemetery administration's reassurances. Not in their insistence that there will be no smell or harmful emissions, and no additional traffic in the neighborhood. In fact, nothing short of scrapping the crematorium plan would please those who live nearby.
"I asked the plaintiff's attorney if there were accommodations that can be made. But he never responded to our offer to make accommodations," said Harrington.
If anything, Meg Michaels says her concerns have only multiplied and been strengthened with time. Michaels lives on Shore Drive off of North Avenue. Although she can't see the chapel from her house, she doesn't like the idea of an industrial smokestack in a residential neighborhood.
"Over 20,000 people walk the lake each week who will be exposed to the pollution. They will be a few hundred feet to the smokestack," she said.
Burnham points out the stack will go 10 feet higher than the existing structure.
According to the residents' attorney, Kenneth L. Kimmell of Boston, there is a simple and direct message.
"We don't think the crematorium is a use that is allowed under the zoning bylaws. We don't think the Zoning Board had the legal authority to give them permission for that use."
When the ZBA issued its decision last June, the board found the existing chapel and cemetery is a pre-existing, non-conforming use and the crematorium isn't substantially more detrimental than the existing structure.
The neighbors claim that the area of the cemetery in question is currently zoned as semi-public property, which is regulated as a single-residence district. Under current zoning law, the filed complaint states, crematoria are not allowed in single-residence districts.
As if the potential emissions aren't bad enough, it does make it worse knowing what's being burned there, said Michaels.
"People don't want to be visiting relatives in the cemetery and see bodies being burned," she said.
Another concern, she said, is that the crematorium will strike a destructive blow to the neighborhood: A decrease in property value.
Of the state's 15 crematoriums, many are in the Boston area and on the North Shore. All of them are on cemetery grounds, per a state statute. The Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody has received the necessary approvals to put in two cremation units on Lake Street that should be up and running in about a year.
There are more options for the Lakeside Cemetery committee to raise revenue other than a crematorium, said Michaels, who is a real estate agent.
"Why not sell space in the chapel for urns and use it as a mausoleum. People could buy a piece of it like buying a condominium. They would have a yearly fee to maintain it. It's a much better and higher use."
But Burnham has been doing research on the crematorium and helping move the project forward. The emissions, he said, are too few to worry about, no more than an extra car on the road and less than a diesel engine truck driving past on North Avenue. The mercury is almost undetectable, he said. "It doesn't even come close to the limitations that are allowable by law."
The project also has its state approval from the Department of Environmental Protection in January.
As the sole employee of the crematorium, Burnham would undergo a rigorous training program to learn to run the equipment.
"We do burials now. We're in tune with the death-care industry," he said.
The process of installation and training would mean it could be up and running in about a year, he said.
"They are certainly entitled to their opinion," he responded to the idea of parents who might be concerned about their children playing in the yard across from a crematorium.
"Hearses go in and out of here as it is. The most they will see is the hearse come in here. We have an underground garage for hearses to pull into it. We have met with as many people as we can to accommodate as many questions as we can."
The committee has even met with people from the Jewish cemetery, owned by Temple Israel in Boston, which abuts Lakeside Cemetery. Though the Jewish faith does not cremate as a rule and many are haunted by the idea, following cremations during World War II, Burnham says Temple Israel members have offered their support.
Temple Israel did not return calls to comment by press time.
But the prospect of a crematorium coming to the area makes some uncomfortable.
"It's not the right thing being near the Jewish Cemetery," said Michaels, adding she had relatives who were Holocaust victims.
The cemetery has agreed, said Burnham, not to put a sign out front that says "Lakeside Crematorium."
"We did everything we could at the meeting to address their questions," said Burnham, who still wishes the dispute could be settled without lawyers.
A more common choice
In 2000, 23 percent of those who died in Massachusetts were cremated, according to the Cremation Association of North America. The association predicts that number will increase to 40 percent by 2025. The national rate of cremation is expected to increase to 40 percent by 2010.
The primary reasons one chooses cremation, according to the association, is to save money and to conserve land. According to the association, cremation is becoming more common due to the public's weakening ties to tradition, and diminishing religious restrictions.
In a message dated 6/30/03 10:42:33 AM, Bob in Georgia writes:
GEORGIA: Investigators who discovered decomposing bodies at Tri-State Crematory found a much more unsettling scene than they publicly stated at the time.
Bodies were spilling out of one of the storage sheds, one body was found in the crematorium chamber, and five others were scattered around a small building, according to a deposition in a class-action civil suit against Tri-State operator Ray Brent Marsh.
"Just looking at this, it was, it still is very difficult to find words to describe it," said Dr. Kris Sperry, state chief medical examiner, in sworn testimony taken May 20 in preparation for the civil trial. "I'd say it was beyond the life experience of even fairly seasoned professionals like myself."
The gruesome finds that began Feb. 15, 2002, at the North Georgia crematory chilled the nation, upset families and sparked tougher laws for crematories, including the 42 in Georgia. A half-dozen states without laws regulating crematories responded quickly.
By the time investigators at the Walker County business finished their work, they had found 334 uncremated bodies.
The 30-year-old Marsh spent six months in jail before being released on bond. He is under house arrest awaiting trial on 338 counts of theft by deception and 64 counts of corpse abuse; he has not been indicted.
A federal judge has given class-action status to civil suits filed by families whose relatives' bodies were sent to Tri-State between 1997 and early 2002. Named as defendants are the crematory, Marsh and 56 funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
Because judges in the civil and criminal proceedings have barred those involved from talking about the cases, Sperry's deposition provides rare insight into developments. It was filed in federal court on June 9 and sealed from public view by U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy shortly after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained a copy.
Sperry was one of the first investigators to visit the crematory. In his deposition, he said:
¥ Up to two-thirds of the approximately 950 bodies sent to the crematory between 1997 and 2002 were cremated.
¥ The number not cremated increased each of those years.
¥ Many unidentified remains were African-American.
¥ Authorities chose not to prosecute the few attempts at fraud.
¥ African-American funeral directors quickly sought assurances that a persistent rumor that black bodies were cremated while white ones were not was untrue.
¥ The cremation equipment was working, but a timer was bad.
Sperry is one of the government's key witnesses in the criminal trial, and his testimony is expected to play a large role in the civil case. Defense attorneys are challenging his credibility by claiming that he did not do a good job of supervising the recovery and identification of the uncremated bodies. Based on a deposition from a coworker taken in the civil case, the defense lawyers claim Sperry was having an extramarital affair that kept him from being at the Tri-State site at all the times he said he was.
Because Sperry, upon advice of his lawyer, has refused to answer defense questions about how he spent his time when he was not at the Tri-State site, the lawyers have asked a federal judge to force him to answer the questions. He declined requests to be interviewed for this story. Sperry's deposition about the Tri-State site was released because it was attached to a petition to force him to testify.
According to the deposition:
When Sperry arrived at the crematory about 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15, the first body he saw was that of an elderly lady, who was in the back of a van backed up to the crematory entrance.
Bodies 'spilling out'
Accompanied by GBI agent Greg Ramey, Sperry was shown the inside of one of the storage buildings. "It was a little difficult to get in because we actually had to walk over bodies that were piled and spilling out over into the area inside. We just walked around with flashlights and looked but didn't move any of the bodies."
Then they went into the crematorium.
"You could see through the small window of the crematorium machine that there was a cardboard box on the side that held the body of a young man. We looked at the back room of the crematorium and looked at the bodies that were there." Saturday morning, the recovery and identification process began. Authorities counted 26 bodies inside the storage shed, six in the crematorium building and two on pallets in front of another storage shed.
The investigation then turned to nearby woods and bushes, described as chest-high. "If you separated the brush, you could see skeletal remains or degenerating body bags, things like this. In some of the piles of trash, you could see bodies. . . . I remember against a tree there was a vault that was upside down. Later on, we found the vault was filled with human remains. We found piles of degenerating cardboard and plywood burn pallets with skeletal remains layered on them. . . . There was a fairly large hole with a casket end sticking up and some body bag pieces."
When investigators cleared a cluster of trash piles, including an upside-down pool table, they found holes and pits containing bodies.
Sperry was questioned extensively about some bodies that supposedly were misidentified.
'A horrendous mess'
He explained that because of the extreme decomposition and the mixing of human remains in a pit where 23 bodies were recovered, identifications were difficult. "The bodies that went in that particular pit may well have been put in one of the vaults for a period of time, where they decomposed down to a horrendous mess, and then the vault was upended or poured into the pit."
Authorities estimate Tri-State handled 900 to 1,000 bodies from 1997 to early 2002.
Sperry said he agreed with estimates that two-thirds were cremated.
The breakdown of identified bodies showed that as the years went by, starting in 1997, the uncremated body count increased. Sperry said there were five in 1997, 27 in 1998, 43 in 1999, 49 in 2000, 81 in 2001 and 19 in 2002. (One other body was identified after Sperry's deposition).
There is a good chance that the remaining 109 bodies may never be identified.
"First, some died without living relatives," Sperry said. "Second, some families declined participation in the identification process." He estimated 15 percent to 20 percent of those contacted declined to participate, apparently worried that they would become part of a federal DNA database.
"There were very, very few African-American families that came to the family meetings and came and gave their DNA," Sperry said. "I have no explanation for why that is. The unidentified percentage is skewed to a significant percentage of African-Americans. And there were some who asked very pointedly if their DNA could ever be used to prove paternity."
Sperry said there was no evidence that Marsh cremated African-American bodies but not white bodies.
"I'm guessing here, but it's about maybe 55 percent Caucasian [recovered bodies], 45 percent African-American," he said.
When news of the crematory scandal broke, a group of African-American funeral directors asked to meet with Sperry. "They showed up on Thursday, Feb. 21. They had driven in from several places in Georgia. I met with them and they implored me to show them what the site looked like. And they expressed to me great concern that because Mr. Marsh and his family were African-American, that they were just concerned about potential racial aspects of this whole event that was going on."
Sperry said he was questioned time and again during family meetings and news conferences about allegations or suspicions that all of the bodies that were dumped in holes were white and that none of them was black. "The rumor and innuendo that existed was incredible," he said.
Sperry testified that on several occasions, family members brought in what they reported to be human cremains. "I recall being presented with a plastic bag that was purported to be someone's cremains and inside it was a Ziploc bag and inside there was maybe two handfuls worth of decorative gravel, like you get at any garden store. I was highly suspicious that this was an attempt to commit fraud."
"Ultimately, [District Attorney Herbert "Buzz"] Franklin made the determination not to prosecute for suspicious cremains."
In a message dated 7/2/2003 11:20:42 PM, f4sight@f4sight.com writes:
January 18-24, 2004
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Kona, Hawaii
(dolphin encounter, oodles of pools, world-class golf,
incredible spa, unbelievably delicious food!)
February 23-25, 2004
Bellagio Resort and Casino, Las Vegas NV
(need we explain?)
Feb 29 - March 5, 2004
Embassy Suites Stonecreek, Scottsdale, AZ
(Spring Training for the Seattle Mariners, Anaheim Angels, Oakland
Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs! and golf, shopping,
world-class spas)
Dan Isard and Curt Rostad have refined and expanded topics based on current
trends as well as requests from previous years' seminar groups. This series
is designed to benefit the first-time attendee as well as veteran
participants. Presentation style offers plenty of opportunity for
discussion.
~Expansion by Acquisition or Development
~Human Resource Matters
(Employment agreements, employee handbooks and procedures manuals)
~Employee Benefits That Work
(Retirement planning, health insurance plans, bonus plans,
and time-off / over-time policies)
~Merchandise Techniques That Increase Your Profit
(Show-rooms, consumer spending step plan, CPL's, how to chose merchandise
that will sell, vendor deals, inventory turns, consignment vs. purchase)
The Methods to Make Your Preneed Program Profitable
(Preneed paradigms, how to get more sales, insurance vs. trusts,
creating your own insurance company, managing your own trust,
how many preneed sales-people to hire)
Call now or respond to this email to receive priority discounts and
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(800) 426-0165 f4sight@f4sight.com www.f4sight.com
In a message dated 6/3/2003 8:08:39 PM, Maureen in Iowa writes:
A guy goes on vacation to the Holy Land with his wife
and mother-in-law. The mother-in-law dies.
They go to an undertaker who explains that they can
ship the body home but that it'll cost over $5000,
whereas they can bury her in the Holy Land for only
$150.
The guy says, "We'll ship her home.."
The undertaker asks, "Are you sure? That's an
awfully big expense and we can do a very nice burial
here."
The guy says, "Look, 2000 years ago they buried a guy
here and three days later he rose from the dead. I
just can't take that chance."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 6/16/2003 7:04:26 PM, Howard Beckham in Florida writes:John,
In Duval County (Jacksonville), Florida DC's are $9.00 for the first copy and $4.00 for all additional copies. The ME charges $10.00 to pick up an autopsy case from their office in some adjoining counties. There is no Burial Permit charge at this time in Duval County. There is a cremation permit charge of $10.00 also.
Hope this is useful information.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 6/19/2003 11:54:20 AM, MIKE Flynn Boston, Massachusetts writes:
Boston Burial Permits
Effective Saturday June 21, 2003 The Burial Permits Office - Weekend and Holiday Operations will move from the Mattapan Campus to:
NEW LOCATION:
South Block Building
35 Northampton Street
Boston, MA 02118
4th Floor
Piano Lounge
PHONES: Phones will remain the same:
(617) 534-9129 Phone
(617) 534-9338 Fax
DIRECTIONS:
Take Massachusetts Ave. to Albany St., take a right onto Northampton St , proceed to 35 Northampton St.
PARKING:
Free parking will be available to Funeral Directors at the left side of the entrance of the building. The parking space is labeled "No Parking, Parking for BPHC Employees only" however Funeral Directors are authorized to park there on weekends and holidays. Please do not block the driveway entrance to the parking garage sign-in at the security desk, take the elevators to the 4th floor, and walk through the lobby and hallway, following the signs that will direct you to the Piano Lounge.
For more information please call the Burial Permit desk at (617) 534-2842. Thank you.
Boston Public Health Commission
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 6/22/2003 2:01:21 PM, Mike Flynn in Boston, Massachusetts writes:
Dear Colleague,
I am a funeral director specializing in the trade with a funeral firm in Brooklyn, NY.
I have in my possession 2 Champion Embalming tables from the 60's. Allthough they've been stored for sometime the tables are in excellant shape - very good to near mint condition.
Just to let you know these things are very heavy - they have the handle/base underneath to be lower and raise.
If you do not have any need, kindly forward this onto someone whom you think may need them.
I apologize to anyone if they feel that this should have not reached them and was done so by mistake.
All offers will be considered....if you decide to email back - it is preferable that you call me 718-471-2475 as I am not online all the time.
Terms: Cash only. The sale is an "as is- where is" basis and any sale whether purchase one or both will be final. Furthermore, the Buyer will be responsible for any and all costs associated with the transportation of the tables.
Current location is in New York.
Matt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 7/2/2003 11:55:08 PM, Tim in Massachusetts writes:
UPDATED EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK - 2003 (This has been UPDATED????).....
DRESS CODE: It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your Salary. If we see you wearing $350 Prada sneakers, and carrying a $600 Gucci Bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress in-between, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.
SICK DAYS: We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
PERSONAL DAYS: Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year.They are called Saturday &Sunday.
RESTROOM USE: Entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. There is now a strict 3 minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open and a picture will be taken. After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the "Chronic Offenders" category.
LUNCH BREAK: Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast.
Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation, and input should be directed elsewhere.
Have a nice week!
THE MANAGEMENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 6/24/2003 3:11:35 PM, Kathy in Massachusetts writes:
John I see your picture in the Boston Globe, now I know your weakness Krispy Kreme
http://ae.boston.com/photo_gallery/krispy_kremes/1a.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
artwork, memorial pottery etc made from human cremains:
http://www.antiquesatoz.com/artatoz/krafft/funerary.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 6/26/03 6:43:00 PM, anonymous writes:
This Story has been sent to you by : kweaverumc@yahoo.comFuneral director is found deadPolice are searching for the Rev. Gregory W. Spencer's 1999 Mercedes, which they think he drove to an Arlington motel Tuesday night.
The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time:
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/6174491.htm
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In a message dated 7/2/2003 4:22:35 PM, anonymous writes
Panel withholds Menorah Gardens censure
http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=607153546&pt=Y
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http://www.time.com/time/magazine
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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
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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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