NFDA staff told me two things: 1. Reporters could not ask questions (telling me only members would be allowed questions, respectively, I chose to report on the meeting I never asked any questions ) 2. they did not want me taking pictures all over the place and this was a formal meeting, picture taking causes disruptions. I didn't use the flash or take pictures from the floor, and it shows. Thanks for understanding.
Thanks to everyone who came to this event, the most dedicated people in our profession come to these events, and we can truly learn from everyone.
International Cemetery and Funeral Association - ICFA's Bob Fells was 1st to speak they have worked and published sets of guidelines for our profession they brought copies for the asking, also invited to check out their website http://www.ICFA.org and since 1979 has served as a national coordinator called the Cemetery Consumers Service Council along with Cana other cemetery associations this volunteer group helps settle consumer disputes
Cremation Association of North America - CANA's Tom Snyder, he said they have many members who do not own crematory and in 1984 helped develop a model cremation law, and also have code of cremation practice and offer a certified crematory operator program many states require this training http://www.Cremation association.org Cremation counselor training program and will be offered soon. CANA is the only association totally focused on Cremation
Federal Trade Commission - FTC's Eileen Harrington, explained the FTC act gives them the authority to protect consumers, no stranger to this group with a, in 2 ways first by bringing regulatory or enforcement action designed to stop deceptive and unfair trade practices. and 2nd by enforcing federal laws that protect fair methods of competition.
NFDA Pres Vandenbergh told us that NFDA is the Worlds Largest Funeral Service 13,500 Funeral Directors Members. Recently he had visited the crematory site in Noble Georgia he met people who were asking how could they know that cremated remains were who they should be, and why this happened, the visit to Georgia is what sparked the idea to have this meeting, for us to come together as a unified body for improve consumer protection.
Jeff Kramer AARP federal affairs office, close to 50% of our 35 million members are not retired two years ago we dropped the American Association of Retired Persons and now they are just an acronym "AARP" they advocate on behalf of their members and to provide products and services. The want members to be treated honestly and fairly, for the most part he thinks members feel very good about this industry.
Steve Sklar, Director of the Maryland office of Cemetery Oversight, in Maryland his office regulates cemeteries, monument retailers vault retailers and casket retailers, he is the board and the decisions that are made are his, the office is self supporting through licensing fees and not taxpayers a $5. fee for every contract is their biggest resource. About 20 states have regulations for cemeteries and quite a few have cremation regulation, the great majority of our providers are genuinely motivated, highly professional, sensitive to consumers and their families and highly regarded by regulators.
The Panel told us we have lost the trust of the public, we will find a better way to protect the consumer better, a consumer cremation bill of rights, consumer educational forums and the information will be posted on websites, we will be checking better, developing check lists for cleanliness, identification of remains, addressing record keeping and immediately documenting any issues. Establishing of effective laws for criminal complaints. Most people want to know could this happen here and proof how it cannot happen in our local community. There are already very good and proven guidelines to build on, CANA and ICFA have very effective guidelines to prevent such a criminal action as we have seen in Georgia. Two hundred Consumers a day have been using the professions websites finding the guideline. However some consumers wonder if Georgia is the tip of the iceberg, giving as much information as possible to the public is very helpful. With respect to Florida, not one complaint was made against that cemetery, they way it was discovered by a law suit, this could have been prevented by more inspections, in Georgia the facility was not regulated, regulation of that facility would required inspections, with no inspections by regulators we can all see what happens. In February Maryland passed a bill that was over offered and rejected last year yet this same bill passed Maryland Congress, only after the tragic discovery hit in Georgia, we should not be tragic discovery driven! Almost the entire audience were Funeral Directors, Noble Georgia is the tragic discovery that can happen when no one is looking, what the FTC is doing a variety of things, one thing we do is test shopping and FTC challenges the Funeral Directors to welcome the test shopper idea.
The first question from the audience came from Sharon Seay the Executive Director of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association the largest and oldest African American Funeral Service in the World, she had visited Noble Georgia too, there will be a meeting in Chattanooga to help members deal with the issue, we have to do as we say we are going to do, we need to tell members we will not tolerate issues like this in our industry, we need to police our own members there are not enough inspectors right now, surprisingly the are no Federal Laws that really regulate cemeteries and crematories. Some answers is Federal Regulation is up to Congress, the problem is regulations often give unfair advantage to some to provide a service or product to the consumer, we have to be careful with legislation, there is no money for inspections to enforce current laws. There is the slim possibility that the FTC would be regulating crematories, if we need laws we better make sure these new rules and laws do what we want them to do, we are no afraid of new laws we are afraid of bad laws written hastily.
NFDA Pres Vandenbergh told of the biggest complaint from the FTC test shopping complaint and the timeliness of giving out the general price list, FTC's Ms Harrington tells us the general price list must be given to families before service. Test shopping, will continue, FROP program you guys are complaining against this test shopping this rule has been in place FROP is not working, some firms that have been through NFDA's FROP Program and when tested are still not in compliance, the association isn't doing what it was suppose to do running FROP
Joe Westlawn From Georgia Congressman Nathandale's Office representing Noble Georgia, cremation was not though about by the congressman back when the FTC law was passed, the test shopping sting operation it does not show a lot of good will between the industry and the federal government. If you want more inspectors or shoppers it will cost money and this money will come from you guys. The Georgia Congressman wants to do something about Crematory issue.
Wilson Beebee, executive director of the New Jersey Funeral Directors Association, spoke towards FTC's Eileen Harrington, about the Non Profit Organizations using their status to operate in the funeral industry. Ms. Harrington responds that this is a real difficult issue for us even when the FTC presents evidence to IRS that a non profit practice is questionable once the 501C status is issued it creates a defense to an enforcement action. There are lots of aspects of the statutory scheme here that are out dated that need to get cleaned up and get fixed. The NJFDA offered its assistance and FTC will take them up on it.
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C YA
John
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