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In a message dated 3/5/02 1:10:56 PM, cgordon@f4sight.com writes: John, Thank you for your help. Here is the article that was published in our Jan-Feb issue of Preneed if you would like to use it on your website.
Cate Gordon
Assistant to Daniel Isard
This industry has always had trouble communicating. Funeral home owners wouldn't tell the truth about prices or calls if their competitor might find out. There used to have three methods of communicating in and around this industry: telephone telefax and tell a casket salesman! While we are still using the telephone effectively, and even the dumbest funeral director has learned to use the fax, about 25 percent of funeral home owners and others in the industry have gone E. Electronic. Transmitting and receiving information through ethernet communication.
E-mail. As such organizations are trying to capture this method of communicating with their members and friends. Organizations can be for profit (such as The Foresight Companies ™ using it as a regular form of advertising). But what is so the surprising are the nonprofit organizations in funeral service and cemetery business using it to communicate with "their people". While there are some for profit companies attempting to effectuate a newsletter through the Internet world, more surprising is the contributions regularly distributed from international cemetery and funeral association as well as the national funeral directors association.
The forerunner of this communication and technology was a Boston funeral home owner, John McDonough. John has come from the nether regions of his funeral home, where he would idle away on his computer, to being a full-fledged highly recognized member of the funeral industry press corps.
While the latter group is not as illustrious as the Washington White House press corps, the funeral home press corps is a body of journalists and other underpaid slaving away to right reproducible information. All of whom represent a challenge to the main function of a casket salesman. John state's his foray with the electronic media began in 1994. The accident became a reality because his school teacher wife wanted to get her masters in teaching and need to get an E-mail account so he got one too. Soon after he got a letter (with 12 e-mail addresses on the list) from a student inquiring about studies for funeral service. He wrote the kid back and soon was asked if he was interested in a chat, to meet Sunday night in a chat room called Funeral Service. Six cyber personalities showed up on that night and with in a month Mortuary Management's Steve Nimz was online chatting with them and spreading the word! that was the humble beginning of the Funeral Service Professionals Association.
John had his 15 minutes of fame. He told us, "Inc Magazine called asking about how we use technology. After a few interviews the writer tells me of a feature in an upcoming new magazine of theirs called 'Inc Technology'. They were going to send in a photographer and sure enough I had a centerfold picture of me in my casket selection room with my laptop on top of a Solid Mahogany casket. On a flight from Boston to Chicago, a woman seated next to me selected the magazine to read. While she is reading the article she had a childish excitement that I had the seat next to her!" Celebrity strikes when you least expect it. From that he was featured on an American Airlines interview which was used globally on their in-flight audio programming.
He has since been featured in Time, interviewed by radio stations in Florida and Washington DC, and other public recognition all through this humble beginning. The FSPA is open for anyone in this industry; owners and employees alike. Some of the articles that are sent out in the every other week distribution are written by John, and others are reprinted from other magazines, press releases and contributed by their members.
John was the first of his breed. His list is now over 4200 distributed parties. Who knows how many of those 4200 forward his biweekly newsletter to others. Based upon his letters, his distribution covers much of the
English-speaking funeral world. By tracking his website readership he has had as few as 5000 readers in recent months, and as many as 12,000. John is a regular and every major funeral and cemetery press event. He's the originator of the concept! F. S. P. A. can be found at www.funeralserviceprofessional.com/.
The second entrant to the electronic distribution of information was the ICFA. For over the last 2 1/2 years the ICFA has been sending out the newsletter but got serious in September of 2000. It now comes every two weeks promoting items that are affecting funeral homes cemeteries, the owners of which, regardless of whether their members are not. It includes two sections, Industry News and ICFA News. The Industry News is written primarily by ICFA External Chief Operating Officer Bob Fells, and the ICFA News is written primarily by ICFA Communications Director Linda Budzinski.
The ICFA has been using this media for both industry information, self-promotion, and industry awareness. Nothing wrong with that! About two-thirds of the ICFA's newsletter promotes their upcoming events. They have also used this to get out very timely information to about 2,300 subscribers in recent issues on changes in the tax law, FTC, and other matters that are critical to the industry. They have been extremely proactive in their writings. If you want to get on their distribution list send an e-mail to Linda Budzinski [lacorn@icfa.org].
The latest entry into electronic news distribution has come from NFDA. It's a monthly publication written by Renee Gryzkewicz, the NFDA Communications Manager. It's been around in its present form about a year, and evolved from another publication. NFDA says, "it is simply another vehicle for us to impart information to are members". The piece is well written. As with the ICFA it communicates the needs of the organization for upcoming events, has some self-promotion, and has some topical news. This e-mail does a good job of outlining all of the issues and FDA is addressing as a trade association. Whether they have been effective on their members behalf is another story, but this site clearly demonstrates that the people in Wisconsin are working diligently. NFDA estimates that about 30 percent of their members receive this e-mail publication. The last time we surveyed and FDA e-mail use, about two years ago, only about 12 percent of members had an e-mail address. That represents a 250 percent increase in a short period of time. In addition to being e-mailed to people the NFDA e-mail bulletins available on their website, NFDA.org. DO NOT MAKE THE MISTAKE AND GO TO NFDA.COM unless you are looking for something other than the trade association, as the site features in Spanish "prostitutas", and offers pictures for your selection.
So, if you are "e-worthy", which of these should you get? Get all of them. But understand the only one with no personal agenda other than extending his 15 minutes of fame is FSPA, and I am all in favor of someone extending that 15 minutes! John gets no fees, advertising, or any compensation. He enjoys the weekly chat room which will draw between 30 and 100 people depending upon the subject. He has broken some important stories. Go to the chat room from time to time, Sunday nights. It is informative and cathartic. Don't listen to the clock, John! You keep going like the Energizer Bunny.
In an effort to unify the voice of funeral service professionals and demonstrate the profession's support of the nation, the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) will introduce its Advocacy Summit at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., March 18-20, 2002. This event was formerly known as the NFDA Legislative Conference.
"The Advocacy Summit is an important opportunity for funeral service to speak as one voice to educate lawmakers about the issues that impact our profession, and to show our appreciation for those who are working so diligently in Washington, D.C.," said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper.
NFDA extended a special invitation to many of its allied organizations in hopes of truly addressing the issues facing funeral service under one solid voice. Among the invitees are International Cemetery & Funeral Association, International Order of the Golden Rule, Jewish Funeral Directors of America, National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, and Selected Independent Funeral Homes.
"Significant legislative issues:
The top five legislative issues
1) Repeal the limitation on funeral trusts qualifying for Section 685 treatment under the Internal Revenue Code
2) Exempt licensed funeral directors and embalmers from federal wage and hour laws
3) Permanently repeal the federal estate tax
4) Enact legislation to reduce health insurance costs for small businesses
5) Codify the SSI exclusion for irrevocable funeral and burial trusts.
The committee also identified the top five regulatory issues for 2002:
1) Amend the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Rule to include all third-party sellers of funeral goods or services
2) Classify licensed funeral directors and embalmers under the professional exemption in the federal wage and hour laws
3) Occupational Safety and Health Administration reform
4) Establish a national electronic death certificate registration system
5) Environmental regulations
NFDA has invited several notable guests and speakers including Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, and Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Health & Safety Administration John Henshaw. In addition, the Advocacy Summit will host a pros-and-cons discussion of the issues and policy concerns currently facing Congress and America by Senators Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., which will be moderated by Vickie Walton James, Washington bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2002, NFDA will host a special reception and dinner, titled "United We Stand," to benefit the NFDA 9-11 Relief Fund, which is supporting the work of volunteer funeral directors in New York. NFDA has invited Director of the Office of Homeland Security Tom Ridge to speak at the event.
In a message dated 2/19/02 12:44:39 PM, joeb@icfa.org writes:
John,
This is in response to the message from Dan in California about our Music License Coalition press release. First, I agree 100% in theory with the "simple concept" that a family who rents a room for a service should have the right "to play any music they want if the funeral director is neither providing or charging for music." But while the point seems fair, unfortunately it is wrong. Unless the service is taking place in a place of worship, or no money is exchanged for the service, the proprietor must have a music license for music the family brings and plays there. It surprised me to learn that this is the case, and I'd be interested in knowing the arguments that justified this provision being incorporated into U.S. Copyright Law back in the 1980s or1990s (not interested enough to look it up though).
However, if Dan "believes" he has found a loophole, that's his prerogative.
Regarding his suggestion that "association executives" in the past may have negotiated away the FD's money and rights to the music organizations, I'd agree that would be pretty fishy. But in the past year, since ICFA has been involved in this issue, our negotiations with the licensing agencies have revolved around trying to find exemptions, and trying to get the cost down. And I can say that the only association execs. I've dealt with on this would be very interested in finding ANY exemptions from music copyright law, for funeral homes. Sharon Seay of NFDMA, George Clarke of SIFH and I have explored possible loopholes that have been suggested and thus far have found them all to be closed. All three of us have full-time jobs already, so we would like nothing better than to announce that licensing is unnecessary, claim victory and disband the Music License Coalition. But it would cost something like a few hundred thousand dollars just to take this into a courtroom, and for our groups that ain't chump change, so until a bona fide loophole presents itself a non-profit Coalition seems like the best alternative.
And while none of the agencies would budge on the price, a representative at BMI did suggest exploring "public domain" music as an alternative to licensing, which I thought was pretty big of him. If a song or arrangement is from the public domain, and the performance is not copyrighted, you don't need a license to play it. This would require building a library of such music and making your families choose from that selection. I don't know how practical that would be but it is an option. This fellow from New Jersey e-mailed me and seems to know something about this. I can't tell if he is selling something or not, but if anyone is interested they could drop him a line: Bill Jelley, Summit Sounds, 28 Ridge Road, West Long Branch, NJ 07764 (SummitSoun@aol.com).
And if anyone out there thinks they've found a real loophole, by all means let us know! (music@icfa.org)
Joseph W. Budzinski (joeb@icfa.org)
ICFA
1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220
Reston, VA 20191
703-391-8400
800-645-7700
fax 703-391-8416
The image is a panoramic view of the world from the new space station.
It is a night photo with the lights clearly indicating the populated areas. You can scroll East-West and North-South.
Note that Canada's population is almost exclusively along the US border.
Moving east to Europe, there is a high population concentration along the Mediterranean Coast. It's easy to spot London, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna.
Note the Nile River and the rest of the "Dark Continent."
After the Nile, the lights don't come on again until Johannesburg.
Look at the Australian Outback and the Trans-Siberian Rail Route.
Moving east, the most striking observation is the difference between
North and South Korea. Note the density of Japan.
What a piece of photography. It is an absolutely awesome picture of the Earth taken from the Boeing built Space Station last
November on a perfect night with no obscuring atmospheric conditions.
In a message dated Susan in North Carolina sends us:
Greetings All!
A guy from Norway's grandfather died and was cryogenically frozen several years ago. When the grandson moved to Nederland, Colorado, he moved his grandfather with him. Later he was deported back to Norway, but a one way ticket was not offered to grandpa's frozen remains.
Nederland, Colorado's Chamber of Commerce is having Frozen Dead Guy Days this past weekend.
Check out their website:
There is also a link from the National Public Radio website:
This weekend's festivities have been complete with a pancake breakfast, a "polar plunge", coffin races, tours to the shed where grandpa is kept, and a film festival. And who could have a festival without arts & crafts? T-shirts are available from the website.
This is just one community's creative way of turning an embarrassment into a fundraiser for non-profits.
Have a good weekend!
Susan
I apoligize for the many items not included in this update, I took a week off in mid February and came home to over 400 e-mail messages and a mountain of US mail Your participation has been and is necessary in order to continue to provide information free to our profession. Thank you very much for sending in your news and information, again I apoligize for not getting your message in and I hope you understand, all mail before March 12, 2002 has been deleted. You are welcome to resend your message.
In a message dated 3/8/02 9:14:03 PM, Judy from Massachusetts writes:
The George Carlin Paradox
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
In a message dated 2/19/02 1:02:00 PM, Anonymous writes: A. Subscriber has sent you a story: "thepittsburghchannel.com - News"
The link:
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/1239509/index.html
Police: Man Drove Dead Wife 300 Miles To Pittsburgh Husband Apparently Wanted To Donate Organs
POSTED: 7:42 a.m. EST February 18, 2002 UPDATED: 7:02 p.m. EST February 18, 2002
PITTSBURGH -- Workers at UPMC Presbyterian were stunned when a man drove up in a rented cargo van and told them he wanted to donate his wife's body to science.
Police were investigating events leading up to Saturday night's incident in which Andrii Malyc-kyi, 70, of Indiana, Pa., allegedly arrived in Pittsburgh with the body of his estranged wife, W. Delight Malitsky, 78.
Malitsky, a concertmaster with symphony orchestras in Johnstown and at Indiana University, died of natural causes Wednesday at Abington Memorial Hospital in suburban Philadelphia, according to Abington officials.
"He told a guard he was so pleased with the service when his wife was treated earlier at UPMC that he wanted to donate her body to science here," UPMC spokeswoman Jocelyn Uhl said Monday. "We didn't know this man -- or what would happen when the truck was opened -- so police were called."
Malitsky's body was taken by the Allegheny County coroner's office. County Coroner Cyril Wecht said she will be cremated in accordance with her daughter's wishes.
The body was being housed at John R. Reed Funeral Home in Glenside, just outside Philadelphia. At Malyc-kyi's request, the body was packed in ice and placed in a container for shipping, according to Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Maurita Bryant.
Malyc-kyi and Malitsky had been separated. Their daughter, Phyllis Kennedy of Philadelphia, was the only person authorized to make decisions regarding
Malitsky's body, police said. It is unclear why the funeral home allowed Malyc-kyi to leave with the body in a rented van.
In a message dated 2/17/02 6:15:46 PM, drlynprendergast@mediaone.net writes:
DIPLOMA In FUNERAL SERVICE TO AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE At FINE
FINE Mortuary College in Westwood, MA will begin a program in September, '02 for persons holding a Diploma in Funeral Service to earn a college degree. Each person's transcript will be reviewed and the courses needed to complete the degree will be decided on an individual basis. The number of courses to complete will depend upon how many credits a student completed to earn the Diploma. The expectations of students in the program will be the same as all other students earning their Associate Degree. That is, the students seeking the degree will attend class regularly and participate fully . They also will be held to the same rules and regulations as all the other students attending FINE. Each class is held in the morning or in the evening one day per week, over the ten week term. Therefore, to finish a course, the student only has to travel to FINE a maximum of 10 times during the term. Terms begin in Sept., Nov., Feb., & May. Classes begin at 9:00 am or at 5:30 pm. All text and course materials are included in the course cost. After applying and registering for courses, there are no fees unless the student takes DE courses. That is, there are no text book or course material fees, no parking fees, no lab fees and no other fees. Financial aid will be worked out on an individual basis. For more information, email lynlou@tiac.net or call FINE at 781-461-9080.
In a message dated 3/5/02 12:19:29 PM, Mike in Massachusetts
Hope all is well, do you have a site for your donation addresses?
I'd like to include it in the update if there is a site address?
Thanks
John
F. J. Higgins Funeral Home, Roslindale, MA - Charities List <------------ Click here
FYI, I spoke to quite a few Funeral Homes in Georgia and few were willing to speak about the process to attain a permit for cremation in Georgia. I was astounded by some Funeral Home's handling of questions, most are ultra tight lipped, a few were quick to tell me, "It's none of your business", and a few just hung up on me. But I just kept calling around until one Female Funeral Director, after getting permission from her publicity office, called me back and filled me in.
Thanks very much to the members in Georgia who helped me with straight answers.
I was surprised to find out.
No Death Certificate is needed for cremation, a 3 part permit ( issued by the county in stacks ) to funeral homes is all that is required, the white copy stays at the funeral home, the pink copy goes to the family (with the cremated remains) and the yellow copy is turned into the County.
Theoretically a person can die at 5 am, a family can arrange for cremation at 9 am and cremation can take place at 11 am. Not even a doctor ( most fd's do get verbal permission from Doctors ) has to be informed of the cremation.
This is a big issue, with all the issues lately we need to stop letting others screw up, YOU NEED TO GET INVOLVED. Professional funeral service must police itself, the government is not going to do it, unless we do nothing. Worst of all: We have lost many family's trust in us.
=======================================
MORE
In a message dated 2/16/02 11:56:41 AM, Fred in Tennessee writes: This is from a TV station in Chattanooga, TN which is near Noble, Ga.
http://www.newschannel9.com/vnews/topstories/1013840894/
Click here: News Channel 9: Walker county crematorium under investigation
Fred also sends us:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/
MORE
In a message dated 2/16/02 9:13:07 PM,Tom in New Orleans writes:
This article from NYTimes.com
John, here's a horrible story from North Georgia.
Decomposing Bodies Found at Crematory
February 17, 2002
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
NOBLE, Ga., Feb. 16 - Every funeral director for 100 miles
did business with the Tri-State Crematory on the assumption
that the owners were doing their job of transforming dead
bodies into ashes. But today, horrified authorities
discovered decomposing evidence that the furnace at the
crematory had not worked for years.
After a dog walker stumbled over a skull on Friday, law
enforcement officers discovered at least 120 rotting
corpses in sheds and on the ground near the crematory, and
state officials said that that figure could double by the
time the area is fully excavated. Some of the bodies had
been there for years and were nearly skeletal, while
others, fresh from the funeral home, still bore toe tags.
Human bones, weathered white, were scattered through the
woods like leaves, skulls mixed with leg bones in a
ghoulish jumble that one state trooper compared to a scene
from a Stephen King novel. An infant's body was found in a
box in the back of a rusting hearse.
Some bodies had become mummified and may have been at the
site more than 20 years, said Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's
chief medical examiner. Nearly two dozen coffins that had
once been buried were also found on the ground, Dr. Sperry
said, and in some cases their embalmed contents had been
dragged out and left exposed to the elements for years. It
was unclear why those bodies were at the site.
Officials said there was no foul play involved. But even
hardened law enforcement officers were left shaken and
nauseated by the sight that greeted them in the sheds.
"There were bodies stacked like cordwood, just discarded
and thrown in a pile," said Vernon Keenan, assistant
director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. "After 30
years in law enforcement, you think you've seen everything.
And then you see something you can't even imagine."
Dr. Sperry, who deals with corpses every day, said nothing
in his experience prepared him for what he saw today.
"I have to say, the utter lack of respect in which they
were piled on top of one another was very disturbing," he
said.
State officials, who declared Walker County a disaster area
to enable state funds to be spent on the cleanup, said that
apparently the furnace had broken down several years ago
and the owners could not afford repairs. The crematory's
manager, Ray Brent Marsh, 28, was charged with five counts
of theft by deception and was in the county jail tonight.
His parents, Ray and Clara Marsh, who own the business,
were not charged.
Mr. Keenan said the fraud charges were necessary because
the state does not have any laws barring such treatment of
corpses.
"We have laws against desecrating graves, but we can't find
one against desecration of bodies," he said. "I guess
nobody in the Legislature ever thought something like this
could happen."
In many cases, families who thought their relatives had
been cremated received urns containing what they believed
were ashes, were in fact a mixture of burned wood chips and
dirt, officials said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation
urged any families who had received urns through Tri-State
to bring them in for examination.
By nightfall, officials had tagged and numbered 80 bodies,
and planned to continue their task throughout the week.
Earth-moving equipment was ordered, and there was talk of
draining a lake on the crematory's property to see what
might be on the bottom.
Thirteen bodies were fresh enough to be identified, and
some of the families who were notified gathered at a nearby
church to exchange tales of shock.
Neva and Tim Mason, accountants who live in nearby La
Fayette, were told on Friday night that the body of Mr.
Mason's father, Luther P. Mason, had been found. Luther
Mason died on Dec. 19, Neva Mason said, and the family
believed he had been cremated and his ashes buried at La
Fayette Memory Gardens, just down Highway 27 from Noble.
They had had a ceremony at the cemetery, she said, and were
shocked to hear that his body had been found bearing a toe
tag.
"He was stacked in a barn," Mrs. Mason said. "We don't know
if he was stacked on top of people or with people stacked
on top of him. We don't know if he was wearing clothes. I
don't know what's worse, him dying, or this."
The Masons, like almost everyone else in this small town in
northwest Georgia, 17 miles south of Chattanooga, knew the
Marsh family and never had any reason to suspect that
anything was awry at the crematory.
"I've known the Marshes all my life," Mrs. Mason said. "My
brother graduated college with Brent. They're wonderful
people. Mrs. Marsh helped hundreds of kids in this area."
Clara Marsh, a local schoolteacher, was president of the
Walker County Association of Educators and chairwoman of
the Walker County Democratic Committee. Ray Brent Marsh was
active in local civic affairs, and Sheriff Steve Wilson
said he served with Mr. Marsh on several boards and
commissions.
The authorities set up a makeshift morgue on the site
today, and began removing the newer bodies to a nearby site
where families can come and identify them.
At least 20 funeral homes that may have sent bodies to the
Tri-State Crematory over the last six years were contacted
and asked to review their records in hopes of identifying
many of the corpses, but Mr. Keenan said he believed many
of the remains would never be identified.
Although all crematoriums and funeral homes are supposed to
be inspected regularly, state officials said Georgia has
only two inspectors, and could not provide records today of
the last inspection of Tri-State.
W. E. McGill, who was the elected Walker County coroner for
23 years until his retirement in 2000, said that Tri-State
Crematory had operated illegally for a decade by not having
a licensed funeral director on its premises during business
hours, as required by a state law passed in 1992. He said
the crematory also failed to meet various state sanitation
requirements.
"I filed complaints, but nothing was ever done about it,"
Mr. McGill said.
Mr. McGill said that Mr. and Mrs. Marsh had started out in
the businesses of grave digging and burial vault supply,
and that Tri-State had been the only crematory in the
county when they founded it three decades ago. (The family
lives next to the crematorium.) In those days, he said, a
decision to cremate a body was rare.
"This is the Bible Belt South, and everybody had their own
community or church cemetery," he said. In recent years,
however, cremation has become more common, and several more
crematories have begun operating in the area, he said.
"Cremation was not popular down here until six or seven
years ago," Mr. McGill said, adding that the change " has
to do with the economy - it's so much cheaper."
But Sheila Horton, the niece of the elder Ray Marsh, said
greed was to blame for the ghoulish scene.
"His wife and son just didn't want to spend the money to
fix it up," said Mrs. Horton, who grew up in Noble and now
lives in Atlanta. "Lord Jesus, I don't know how they could
go to bed at night with all that outside their window."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/17/national/17CREM.html?ex=1014911858&ei=1&en=f7b175b901c22bf8
MORE
In a message dated 2/16/02 9:29:33 PM, Anonymous writes: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0202/0217bodies.html
Wow!
MORE
In a message dated 2/17/02 12:25:16 AM, Loni in Texas writes:
Ga. Investigators Recover Corpses
By BILL POOVEY
.c The Associated Press
NOBLE, Ga. (AP) - Stacks of decomposing corpses were recovered Tuesday from vaults and sheds near the Tri-State Crematory, including one body that had been dumped aboveground in a casket behind the operator's home.
Forensics teams have so far counted 191 bodies left to rot outside the northwest Georgia crematory, said Buddy Nix head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officials said 29 bodies have been positively identified.
Some corpses were found in body bags, while others were dressed in clothing or hospital gowns or wrapped in sheets, said Kris Sperry, the state's chief medical examiner. Five bodies were pulled from under a mound of dirt.
Human remains were found in at least six caskets that had been buried, dug up and then left on the property. Sperry said he had no idea why the caskets had been exhumed.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said his deputies were using a helicopter to survey other properties owned by the crematorium operator, Ray Marsh, and his family. Divers planned to search a nearby lake.
As the grisly rescue operation entered its fourth day Tuesday, residents in three states faced the heartbreak of planning funerals for loved ones they had long believed were resting in peace.
``I feel like I'm in a horror movie,'' said Leatha Shropshire, whose mother died Jan. 30 and was found dumped in the 16-acre area behind the crematory.
Tuesday night, about 120 people attended an hour-long candlelight memorial at Oakwood Baptist Church in nearby Chickamauga. Pastor Darrell Henry encouraged the families to remain hopeful.
``We wish it hadn't happened, this horrible person who would show such disrespect for a dead body,'' Henry said. ``But remember, those are just bodies. The spirit is already gone. Hopefully, you can take some comfort in that.''
Relatives of Doris Mae Tierney of Cleveland, Tenn., whose body was to be cremated at Tri-State after her 2000 death, sued the crematory Tuesday and the funeral home that handled her body.
Marsh, operator of the crematory in this rural town 20 miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been charged with 16 counts of theft-by-deception. His bond hearing has been delayed while he tries to hire an attorney.
Marsh, 28, refused a request for a jailhouse interview.
Magistrate Jerry Day said Marsh was ``calm'' when he talked to him Monday in his jail cell.
Investigators have said Marsh told them the bodies were not cremated because the incinerator was broken. Authorities said they were unsure how long it was not working, but evidence shows some dumped bodies have been there for 15 years or more.
Gas records have been subpoenaed to determine when the crematory was last used, Nix said.
Sperry declined to speculate about how high the body count might go.
The Walker County coroner said a survey of some funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama showed Tri State likely handled at least 350 bodies from 1996 until Feb. 15.
Officials also said Tuesday they had examined 79 sets of cremated remains returned by families; one container was filled with dirt, seven with concrete dust and others contained potting soil. Some urns contained human remains, but it was not clear whose.
At least one family received remains that did not belong to their relative, authorities said. The relative's remains were identified among those recovered from the grounds.
A federal disaster team arrived late Monday and set up a mass morgue to sort the bodies.
Agents said they were examining the records of Marsh and his parents, Ray and Clara Marsh, who turned the business over to their son in 1996. The elder Marshes have not been charged.
Wilson, the sheriff, described the family as ``good folks. I don't know what went wrong.''
In almost all cases, Tri-State Crematory picked up the bodies from up to 30 funeral homes in the three states and delivered the ashes later, authorities said.
John Hargis, owner of Wann Funeral Home in Chattanooga, Tenn., said he has used Tri-State about 75 times since 1996, describing it as convenient and reputable.
Tri-State was never inspected because it worked only with funeral homes and not the public.
At the state Capitol in Atlanta, a House committee approved a bill Tuesday tightening rules for crematories and treatment of the dead.
``This is an absolute abomination,'' said Rep. Mike Snow, who sponsored the bill, which could come to a floor vote early next week.
On the Net:
Walker County sheriff: http://www.co.walker.ga.us/cd-14.htm
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In a message dated 2/17/02 8:12:37 PM, Mike in Massachusetts sends us:
Ga. Town Struggles to ID Corpses
Sun Feb 17, 6:19 PM ET By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press Writer NOBLE, Ga. (AP) - Distraught families began the wrenching task of trying to identify loved ones Sunday in this rural community where dozens of decomposing corpses were being removed from a crematory.
Authorities said they had recovered 97 bodies &emdash; including one infant &emdash; from storage sheds and scattered in woods behind Tri-State Crematory in this hamlet about 25 miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The final toll is expected to be at least 200, said Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's chief medical examiner. Sixteen people have been identified so far. The discoveries began Friday when a woman walking her dog found a skull.
"We're just barely skimming the surface," Sperry said. "Some of the remains are mummified."
Gov. Roy Barnes declared a state of emergency Saturday so local officials could receive state assistance. He visited Noble Sunday afternoon and had a private meeting with about a hundred people who believed their loved ones were at the crematory.
"They are mad," Barnes said. "They are angry. I would be upset too. "They thought they had closure on the death of a loved one and they do not."
There are 729 crematories and only two inspectors in Georgia, said Gary McConnell, director of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. He said only crematories that deal directly with the public have to be inspected, and that Tri-State was never inspected because it worked only with funeral homes.
Officials were requesting federal assistance and equipment to help process the remains, a task which has overwhelmed local resources, Sperry said. Investigators believe the crematory had stacked the corpses for up to 15 years.
"They just piled them on top and then piled more on top. And then they just left them," Sperry said. "I wish we had a good explanation for this, but we don't."
The crematory's operator, Ray Brent Marsh, 28, was charged with five counts of theft by deception, a felony, for taking payment for cremations he didn't perform. Walker County and state authorities said other charges are likely against Marsh.
A magistrate released Marsh on Sunday after he posted a $25,000 bond.
Officials, who have set up a morgue on the site, said they will also search Marsh's entire 16-acre property and a small adjoining lake.
When asked why the bodies had not been cremated, Marsh said the crematory incinerator was not working, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said late Saturday.
Families on Sunday completed Red Cross paperwork to help identify the bodies and several dentists opened their offices to make dental records available.
Pat Higdon of Chattanooga, Tenn., made the drive to fill out paperwork for her husband, Tommy Higdon, who died of lung cancer last fall. She said she chose to cremate his body because she couldn't afford a burial.
"He looked like a corpse for two months before he died. He just laid there with his mouth open and his eyes open," Higdon said. "I can't bear to think he still looks like that, only he's lying in a shed or a creek somewhere."
Stanley Payne of Chattanooga said he had believed the Marshs' crematory would properly handle the remains of his mother, who died two years ago.
"We were childhood friends growing up together," Payne said of the Marsh family. "We trusted them. Everybody trusts everybody here, and everybody believes everybody."
Rusty Cash, of East Ridge, Tenn., said he considers himself one of the lucky ones &emdash; authorities told him Sunday they had identified the body of his mother, Norma Hutton. After the call, Cash opened the urn he had received from the crematory.
"It looked like burnt wood chips as far as I could tell," Cash said.
Sperry said authorities suspect Marsh may have provided ashes from wood chips to clients as the remains of loved ones. Authorities have asked families to return ashes for examination and have established an information center.
The crematory owners, Ray and Clara Marsh, turned the business over to their son in 1996. The couple has turned over company records to authorities and were cooperating, Walker County chief deputy Hill Morrison said.
Between 25 and 30 funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama routinely sent bodies to Tri-State for cremation, Bankhead said.
Some of the bodies had been delivered to the Tri-State Crematory within the last few days, and some bore hospital toe tags, Bankhead said.
Some bodies were found in rusty coffins, some as much as 10 years old, that had evidently been buried and then later disinterred, Bankhead said.
"At one time they apparently were buried in the ground in some other cemetery and were dug up and taken to the crematory," he said. "We don't know why that is."
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division began testing well water from the area for contaminants on Saturday but results were not yet available.
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In a message dated 2/17/02 9:29:11 PM, Mike in Massachusetts sends us:
Scores of rotting bodies found at U.S. crematory
NOBLE, Ga. (Reuters) - Authorities in Georgia said Sunday they had discovered scores of unburied, decomposing bodies stacked in storage sheds and dumped in the woods of a rural crematory.
The grisly discovery occurred during an intense police search of the sprawling grounds of the privately run Tri-State Crematory in Noble, a small town about 85 miles (137 km) northwest of Atlanta.
Investigators said they had found about 100 bodies in varying states of decomposition, but expected that a search of a number of vaults at the crematory would raise that number closer to 200.
"Dozens of bodies have been (laying) on top of each other for years," Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's chief medical examiner, told a news conference on Sunday. He added that some of the bodies might date back as far as two decades.
A makeshift morgue has been set up on the grounds of the crematory to help identify the bodies, some of which were found in a mummified or partially skeletal state. Only 16 bodies had been positively identified as of Sunday afternoon.
Police said that Ray Brent Marsh, the operator of the crematory, had been arrested and charged with theft by deception for charging for cremations that were never performed.
Marsh, 28, had been running the business since taking over from his father in the 1990s. A spokesman for the Walker County Sheriff's Department quoted Marsh as saying the crematory's incinerator had not been working for some time.
The crematory has been in business for about 30 years and routinely received bodies for cremation from funeral homes in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee.
Shocked residents, some of whom had paid to have family members cremated at Tri-State, gathered at a nearby civic center Sunday to learn more about the ongoing search.
Some carried urns that they once thought held the ashes of their loved ones. "They're extremely upset," said Lisa Ray, a spokeswoman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, which is providing grief counselors to the family members.
"They wanted closure when their loved ones died and now they have to go through the process of identifying them," Ray said. Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, who declared a state of emergency in the county, enabling it to receive state funding for the cleanup, later met with the relatives.
Police started investigating the crematory, which is located on 16 acres of land surrounding a residential neighborhood, after a local resident reported on Friday finding a human skull in the woods.
Police said divers would scour a nearby lake to check for more bodies this week. Health officials also plan to take further water samples near the crematory to check for possible contamination from the unburied bodies.
The discovery of the corpses came just months after a funeral company was accused in a Florida lawsuit of digging up bodies and dumping them in the woods to make room for new burials.
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In a message dated 2/17/02 10:24:35 PM, Susan in North Carolina writes: John, Here's what the NYTimes had to say about what's going on in Noble, GA.
Susan
More Corpses Are Discovered Near Crematory
February 18, 2002
By DAVID FIRESTONE and MICHAEL MOSS
Investigators discovered a large cache of additional unburied bodies behind a crematory in Walker County, Ga. on Sunday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/18/national/18CREM.html?ex=1015002567&ei=1&en=46ccaed095458824
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In a message dated 2/17/02 11:08:05 PM, Mike in Massachusetts writes:
Horror scene shocks Georgia town
http://www.msnbc.com/news/709182.asp#BODY
'I wish we had a good explanation for this, but we don't.'
&emdash; KRIS SPERRY
Chief medical examiner AUTHORITIES SAID they had recovered 97 bodies &emdash; including one infant &emdash; from storage sheds and scattered in woods behind Tri-State Crematory in this hamlet about 25 miles south of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The final toll is expected to be at least 200, said Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's chief medical examiner. Sixteen people have been identified so far. The discoveries began Friday when a woman walking her dog found a skull.
"We're just barely skimming the surface," Sperry said. "Some of the remains are mummified."
Officials were requesting federal assistance and equipment to help process the remains, a task which has overwhelmed local resources, Sperry said. Investigators believe the crematory had stacked the corpses for up to 15 years.
"They just piled them on top and then piled more on top. And then they just left them," Sperry said. "I wish we had a good explanation for this, but we don't."
OPERATOR RELEASED
The crematory's operator, Ray Brent Marsh, 28, was charged with five counts of theft by deception, a felony, for taking payment for cremations he didn't perform. Walker County and state authorities said other charges are likely against Marsh.
A magistrate released Marsh on Sunday after he posted a $25,000 bond.
Officials, who have set up a morgue on the site, said they will also search Marsh's entire 16-acre property and a small adjoining lake.
When asked why the bodies had not been cremated, Marsh said the crematory incinerator was not working, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said late Saturday.
Families on Sunday completed Red Cross paperwork to help identify the bodies and several dentists opened their offices to make dental records available.
RELATIVES IN ANGUISH
'It looked like burnt wood chips as far as I could tell.'
&emdash; RUSTY CASH
after inspecting the contents of an urn believed to hold his mother's cremains Pat Higdon of Chattanooga, Tenn., made the drive to fill out paperwork for her husband, Tommy Higdon, who died of lung cancer last fall. She said she chose to cremate his body because she couldn't afford a burial.
"He looked like a corpse for two months before he died. He just laid there with his mouth open and his eyes open," Higdon said. "I can't bear to think he still looks like that, only he's lying in a shed or a creek somewhere."
Stanley Payne of Chattanooga said he had believed the Marshs' crematory would properly handle the remains of his mother, who died two years ago.
"We were childhood friends growing up together," Payne said of the Marsh family. "We trusted them. Everybody trusts everybody here, and everybody believes everybody."
Rusty Cash, of East Ridge, Tenn., said he considers himself one of the lucky ones &emdash; authorities told him Sunday they had identified the body of his mother, Norma Hutton. After the call, Cash opened the urn he had received from the crematory.
"It looked like burnt wood chips as far as I could tell," Cash said.
Sperry said authorities suspect Marsh may have provided ashes from wood chips to clients as the remains of loved ones. Authorities have asked families to return ashes for examination and have established an information center.
OWNERS COOPERATING
The crematory owners, Ray and Clara Marsh, turned the business over to their son, Ray Brent Marsh, in 1996. The couple has turned over company records to authorities and were cooperating, Walker County chief deputy Hill Morrison said.
Between 25 and 30 funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama routinely sent bodies to Tri-State for cremation, Bankhead said.
Some of the bodies had been delivered to the Tri-State Crematory within the last few days, and some bore hospital toe tags, Bankhead said. Others had apparently been there for three years or more, authorities said.
Some bodies were found in rusty coffins, some as much as 10 years old, that had evidently been buried and then later disinterred, Bankhead said.
"At one time they apparently were buried in the ground in some other cemetery, and were dug up and taken to the crematory," he said. "We don't know why that is."
'THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN'
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division began testing well water from the area for contaminants on Saturday, but results were not yet available.
Gov. Roy Barnes declared a state of emergency in Walker County. The declaration makes state assistance available to local authorities for the cost of the operation.
At a Sunday afternoon press conference, Barnes pledged a full accounting. "We intend to first try to identify the remains and at the same time keep the investigation going on, and then to fully investigate what went wrong, who's responsible and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
"It is something we have to deal with, and we will," the governor said. "This should not happen."
MORE
In a message dated 2/18/02 9:11:54 AM, Chandu in the United Kingdom writes: Mr Chandu Tailor, This was invisgied by Hindu ancestors at the begining of time. All Hindu Families Cremate and witness the the coffin going in the cremator and open pyre cremation!! Ashes are generally scatered in the River Ganges (Remember George Harrison) Funeral Director pocketing the cremation fee It can only happen in Detroit. Some food for thought for the webmaster visit us www.indianfuneral.co.uk Mr Chandu Tailor chandu@indianfuneral.co.uk
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In a message dated 2/18/02 5:13:53 PM, Mike in Massachusetts writes:
Scores of Bodies Found at Ga. Crematory
Crematory Operator Arrested; Corpses May Have Been Stored For Up to 15 Years
By BILL POOVEY.c The Associated Press
NOBLE, Ga. (Feb. 18) - The operator of a north Georgia crematory where dozens of corpses were found was arrested for a second time and charged with 11 more counts of theft by deception, authorities said Monday.
Ray Brent Marsh, 28, had been arrested Saturday and released from jail Sunday after posting $25,000 bond on five original charges of theft by deception. He was arrested again Sunday night.
Calls to Marsh and the crematory went unanswered Monday; voicemail boxes at both numbers were full.
Walker County chief magistrate Jerry Day said a bond hearing for Marsh would likely take place Tuesday. It had been scheduled for Monday until court officials learned Marsh did not yet have an attorney, Day said.
Authorities returned on Monday to grounds near the Tri-State Crematory, where they had recovered 97 bodies stacked in storage sheds and discarded in woods.
Officials have said they expect to find as many as 200 bodies at the crematory, including some that had likely been decomposing for up to 15 years.
Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said authorities were asking relatives of people whose bodies had been sent to the crematory for any information that might help identify their loved ones, including surgical scars and dental records.
He said investigators were continuing the search, ``bagging and tagging'' the bodies as they find them.
Like hundreds of residents in this hamlet, Lisa Cash can't understand how anyone could leave her mother's body to rot alongside piles of other human remains.
Cash's mother, Norma Hutton, 55, died Dec. 31 of kidney failure. Based on her deceased mother's wishes, Cash asked for the remains to be cremated. They weren't.
Now Cash must try to reconcile for her kids the newly uncovered body of their grandmother with the urn that they were told contained her remains.
``They don't understand. How can granny be there and here too?'' Cash said of her four children, ages 13, 12, 11 and 8. ``I explained: `Somebody lied.'''
Investigators said Marsh told them the bodies were not cremated because the incinerator was broken.
``They just piled them on top and then piled more on top. And then they just left them,'' said Dr. Kris Sperry, Georgia's chief medical examiner. ``I wish we had a good explanation for this, but we don't.''
Authorities said they recovered 97 bodies - including one infant - from storage sheds and in the woods behind the crematory. Sixteen have been identified.
``We're just barely skimming the surface,'' Sperry said. ``Some of the remains are mummified.''
Between 25 and 30 funeral homes in Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama routinely sent bodies to Tri-State for cremation.
One day after declaring a state of emergency to provide financial assistance to help identify remains, Gov. Roy Barnes visited Noble and met privately Sunday with about a hundred people who believed their loved ones were at the crematory.
``They are mad,'' Barnes said. ``They are angry. I would be upset too. ``They thought they had closure on the death of a loved one and they do not.''
Georgia Emergency Management director Gary McConnell said the state would pay the cost of identifying the bodies.
There are two crematory inspectors in Georgia, said McConnell. He said only crematories that deal directly with the public have to be inspected, and that Tri-State was never inspected because it worked only with funeral homes.
Officials denied reporters access to the 16-acre tract but photographers who flew over the area about 25 miles south of Chattanooga said they could see lines of white body bags.
``I have no idea how this happened,'' Samuel Marsh, who is Marsh's brother, said in a telephone interview Sunday. ``It's just crazy to me.''
The crematory owners, Ray and Clara Marsh, turned the business over to their son Ray Brent Marsh in 1996. The couple has turned over company records to authorities and were cooperating, Walker County chief deputy Hill Morrison said.
Families on Sunday completed Red Cross paperwork to help identify the bodies and several dentists opened their offices to make dental records available. Counselors also were on hand.
Authorities are asking families to return ashes for testing. Officials suspect ashes from wood chips were provided to funeral home customers instead of the remains of loved ones.
Gwendolyn Walton, of Chattanooga, Tenn., carried a silver-colored plastic urn as she walked to the Walker County Civic Center with her two adult sons Sunday. The urn is supposed to contain the cremated remains of her husband, the Rev. Robert G. Walton, who died Nov. 2 from heart failure.
``In my heart after hearing about this situation, I really didn't want to pass judgment,'' said one of the sons, Terrance Walton. ``I just need to find out if this is my father's remains.'
MORE
In a message dated 3/5/02 10:28:12 PM, Susan in North Carolina writes:
John,
I've also been keeping up with the Noble, GA story via the Atlanta Constitution- Journal newspaper website:
http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/crematory/0305noble.html
Once you get to the site, they have links to all the stories, photographs, timelines, etc. about the continuially unfolding story at Tri-State Crematory. I've copied/pasted/printed each story and put them into a folder for reference when away from the computer. Thanks for all you do, John, to keep us 'up to date' with others in our profession across the land. Susan
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In a message dated 3/11/02 9:21:22 PM, Mike in Massachusetts writes:
Charges filed in Tennessee against operator of Georgia crematorium By Associated Press, 3/11/2002 13:08 CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) The operator of a Georgia crematory where hundreds of bodies were found discarded last month was charged Monday in Tennessee with six felony counts of abuse of a corpse. Ray Brent Marsh, operator of the Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Ga., was already in custody in Walker County, Ga., charged with 174 counts of theft by deception. Investigators have recovered 339 bodies since Feb. 15 on the Marsh family's 16 acres behind the crematory. So far, 109 bodies have been identified. County records show that at least 250 bodies sent to the crematory since 1998 were from Tennessee. Bradley County Sheriff Dan Gilley said Marsh traveled the 50 miles from Noble to Cleveland to pick up bodies for cremation under contract from Bradley County funeral homes. Gilley said once Marsh took the bodies back to Georgia he mistreated and disposed of the bodies in violation of Tennessee law, ''and in a manner which is offensive to the sensibilities of ordinary people.'' Gilley said more charges are expected. He said he will go before the grand jury on Wednesday. The charges filed Monday are the first brought against Marsh outside Georgia. Each count, which carries up to two years in prison, was for a Bradley County corpse taken to Marsh's crematory. Authorities did not release the names of the dead.
In a message dated 3/12/02 10:21:39 AM, Joe.Weigel@batesville.com writes:
John - Hope all is well in beautiful Lowell, MA.
I wanted to pass some news on to you and your readers. We work hard at Batesville Casket to not only be a supplier of quality products and services to funeral directors, but also an avid promoter of what is good about this profession we are honored to serve.
Over the past several years, we have taken every opportunity to tell the positive story of personalized funerals to the consumer press. And while recent events in Georgia have caused a dent in the reputation of the funeral service profession, we're delighted that USA Weekend featured a positive story on personalized funerals this past weekend ? March 8-10 that we helped to place.
By the way, USA Weekend magazine is found in over 590 newspapers throughout the US each weekend, with a readership of 47.5 million, making it the nation's second largest weekly publication in terms of circulation and readership. The story can be viewed on line at:
http://www.usaweekend.com/02_issues/020310/020310life_goodbye.html
We also believe that funeral directors can leverage this story in their local communities. As a result, we have created a media kit for just that purpose. The kit provides customers with all of the pieces they need to generate positive media attention and localize this story in their communities as well as communicate the value of funerals to consumers. This kit is now available from Batesville representatives.
In a message dated 2/15/02 11:19:56 AM, Anth2479 writes:
John:
Has anyone contact you regarding the change in the Boston Globe's death notice typeface, resulting in an approximate 30% increase in charges? Families are paying an averge of $240. per a dayThis large jump in cost is very upsetting to us. I've been trying to get answers, and you'll see my correspondence with the globe below.
Kristen and Anthony Cota
cotafuneralhomes.com
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Design comment (mistake)
Date: 2/5/02 8:04:53 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Anth2479
To: atamura@boston.com, letter@globe.com, desisto@boston.com, hdonovan@globe.com, moore@globe.com, shore@boston.c
The new font used in the Globe's Death Notices page seems to be an error. Who was consulted about this before it actually ran? My husband is a funeral director, and I am a designer. So, I know both sides relating to this. Coincidentally, a notice we placed yesterday seemed to increase in cost by about 30%. And, coincidentally, the type face used (Arial-?) was certainly expanded (width) by about 30%.
Does the Globe really need to stretch its typefaces to increase fees? It's difficult to read, of course. I'm sure you know that typefaces should never be expanded (width) unless they are used as headline text, 18 point or larger. The line spacing is too tight with this method as well.
Bottom-line: The Globe broke the basic rules of typography in order to increase their fee. The stretched type width is an obvious stretch to increase fees. If you're going to increase fees, please do it the right way. You're not fooling us.
Kristen Cota
(781) 944-3309
cotafuneralhomes.com
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Design comment (mistake)
Date: 2/5/02 11:25:29 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: HDonovan@globe.com
To: Anth2479@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
i'm forwarding your note to lucy bartholomay, our deputy managing editor
for design and photo. i hope she'll have time to give you a more
authoritative response, but in meantime: we are still wrestling with the
typography and expect to have a better solution shortly. you are right that
we launched the new configuration before we had worked out all the
problems.
yours sincerely,
helen donovan
executive editor
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Death notice type
Date: 2/5/02 12:10:05 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: bartholomay@globe.com
To: anth2479@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Ms. Cota,
Helen Donovan forwarded your email to me concerning the new type that is
being used for the death notices. I agree that the type could look much
better and want you to know that the Globe is still working on improving
thigs by trying different fonts and various set sizes of those fonts. The
death notices are handled by the advertising design department and they are
working on this. I am going to forward your email to them so that they may
hear your feedback which is extremely constructive and articulate. Thank
you for taking the time to let us know what you think.
Sincerely,
Lucy Bartholomay
Deputy Managing Editor/Design and Photo
______________________________________________________________
Subj: Your Recent Email to The Boston Globe
Date: 2/7/02 5:38:47 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: p_roca@globe.com
To: Anth2479@aol.com
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Dear Ms. Cota:
I wanted to take this opportunity to respond to your recent email in which
you raised concerns about the design of our revised death notices, which we
launched on Tuesday, February 5. I appreciate you taking the time to write
to us, and I assure you that your feedback has been taken seriously.
Our primary goal in changing the font of the death notices was to make them
easier to read. Your knowledge of typography is better than mine, but I do
feel that we accomplished that goal. During the past few days, I have
received a number of calls from readers who are pleased with the new look.
As I stated in my letter of December 26, although the increase in font size
also results in a cost increase, ultimately the content of the death notice
is determined by the funeral director and the families they serve. Working
together, they can help to ensure that the cost of the death notice is
reasonable. Another important point is that The Boston Globe continues to
charge one of the lowest death notice line rates of any major metropolitan
newspaper. We are also maintaining our commitment to managing costs for
our customers by freezing our current line rate for 2002.
Again, I thank you for your comments.
Sincerely,
Peter D. Roca
Senior Division Manager
Classified Telephone Sales
The Boston Globe
617-929-2378
*************************************************************************
ICFA WIRELESS &endash; February 5, 2002 Edition Vol. 3 No. 3
*************************************************************************
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: mailto:wireless@icfa.org .
IN THIS EDITION:
INDUSTRY NEWS
President Bush's 2003 Budget Proposes More National Cemeteries
FTC Holds Off on Trade Rule Reviews Scheduled for 2001 Until Backlog
Cleared
IRS: Nonprofit Cemetery May Own For-Profit Pet Cemetery
ICFA NEWS
ICFA Seeks Board of Directors Nominations: Deadline February 15
'KIP' Personalization Contest Generates 50 Entries
February Product of the Month: ICFA Group Presentation Slide Show
---------------------------
INDUSTRY NEWS
---------------------------
PRESIDENT BUSH'S 2003 BUDGET PROPOSES MORE NATIONAL CEMETERIES
The proposed fiscal year 2003 budget unveiled by President Bush
following last week's State of the Union Address includes $88 million
for new national cemeteries under the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs' National Cemetery Administration (VA). According to VA
statistics, approximately 100,000 veterans and their eligible
independents are interred each year in 120 national cemeteries and the
40 VA-funded state cemeteries, or approximately 3 to 4 percent of the
annual deaths in the United States. The VA states that it has not
decided where new cemeteries should be built or how many will be
required, but the proposed budget seeks funding for construction in the
vicinity of Miami, Florida, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The VA projects that veterans' deaths will peak in three years during
2005, then decline thereafter. Historically, a new national cemetery
requires between four to five years to open after funding has been
proposed; therefore, cemeteries currently proposed would not become
operational until the number of veterans' deaths are in decline.
However, virtually all military and veterans programs are receiving
increased funding by Congress in the wake of the September 11 attacks
and the war on terrorism. For fiscal year 2002, the VA is projected to
spend $51.5 billion, of which the National Cemetery Administration
budget accounts for approximately $120 million, or less than one-quarter
of 1 percent of the VA budget.
---------------------------------------------------
FTC HOLDS OFF ON TRADE RULE REVIEWS SCHEDULED FOR 2001 UNTIL BACKLOG
CLEARED
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that its 10-year trade rule
review program has deferred the various regulations scheduled for review
beginning in 2001. This action was taken due to the fact that rules
under review proceedings that began in 1999, including the Funeral Rule,
have not been completed to date. Therefore, no additional regulation
reviews will begin until the backlog has been cleared.
Historically, the Funeral Rule review proceedings have taken much longer
than anticipated. The first review of the regulation began in 1988 with
a projected completion time frame of 18 months. The actual review did
not conclude until 1994. The second Funeral Rule review, begun in April
1999, likewise was anticipated to conclude in 18 to 24 months. However,
no official action on the Rule has occurred since a public forum was
held on November 18, 1999. FTC staff now anticipate that its
recommendations will be forwarded to the Commissioners early this year
and that a published report of proposals will be issued in the Spring.
---------------------------------------------------
IRS: NONPROFIT CEMETERY MAY OWN FOR-PROFIT PET CEMETERY
In late December, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published a private
letter ruling (PLR 200152048) holding that, under the fact pattern
described, a nonprofit association organized to operate a cemetery could
own the stock of a for-profit subsidiary operated as a pet cemetery and
mortuary without jeopardizing its tax-exempt status. Each organization
would have separate boards of directors and a majority of the pet
cemetery's board would be neither officers, directors nor employees of
the nonprofit cemetery.
It was proposed that the parent cemetery would transfer a small piece of
land (less than an acre) and $10,000 in return for all of the
subsidiary's stock. Portions of the parent's building will also be
leased to the subsidiary at fair market value. The IRS states that a
private letter ruling may be cited only by the taxpayer requesting it
and may not be cited as precedent by others. However, these letter
rulings are useful for determining the thinking of IRS on a given issue.
ICFA members who would like a copy of this ruling should call
1-800-645-7700 or e-mail the ICFA at mailto:wireless@icfa.org.
-------------------
ICFA NEWS
-------------------
ICFA SEEKS BOARD OF DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS: DEADLINE FEBRUARY 15
The ICFA Nominating Committee invites all regular members in good
standing to consider submitting an application to run for election to
the ICFA Board of Directors. Each year, the membership elects eight
members to serve three-year terms on the board. Candidate applications
are reviewed by the Nominating Committee to ensure a wide range of
representation from various industry segments. Voting takes place at the
annual meeting of the members, which will be held April 25, 2002, in
conjunction with the ICFA Annual Convention & Exposition in Orlando,
Florida.
The deadline for applications is February 15. Applications are available
at http://www.icfa.org/pdf/BOD_application.pdf or by calling
1-800-645-7700.
---------------------------------------------------
'KIP' PERSONALIZATION CONTEST GENERATES 50 ENTRIES
The ICFA KIP (Keeping It Personal) Awards program has generated 50
entries from member cemeteries, funeral homes and suppliers, showcasing
many of the best personalized products and services in the industry.
Judging and winner notifications will take place later this month.
The ICFA plans to highlight some of the top entries at its Annual
Convention & Exposition, April 24-27 in Orlando, Florida, as well as in
upcoming magazine articles and/or conference presentations.
Information and applications for the 2003 KIP Awards will be available
in May.
---------------------------------------------------
FEBRUARY PRODUCT OF THE MONTH: ICFA GROUP PRESENTATION SLIDE SHOW
For the month of February, the ICFA is offering substantial savings on
the ICFA Group Presentation Slide Show, which includes most of the
ICFA's presentation kit pages, as well as each page of the Emergency
Record Guide and inserts. Regular Member Price for the slide show: $65;
February Price: $25!
The slide show is an ideal way to present the benefits of prearrangement
to local groups, as well as a simple tool for training your staff on
their in-home presentation. Preneed presentations to groups are one of
the most inexpensive and effective methods of lead procurement. With
this slide show, you and your staff are ready to start setting
appointments! For additional information, visit
http://www.icfa.org/feb.htm or call the ICFA at 1-800-645-7700.
---------------------------------------------------
AND MORE É
The ICFA 2002 Convention & Exposition, April 24-27 in Orlando, Florida,
will feature three days of "no fluff" educational programming as well as
an extensive exhibit hall featuring more than 180 supplier booths. A
complete program and registration forms are available at
http://www.icfa.org/AC02.htm or by calling 1-800-645-7700.
The ICFA and preneed sales and marketing expert Gary O'Sullivan, CCE,
are teaming up in 2002 to offer a highly economical one-day seminar for
sales counselors in cities throughout the United States. "Selling Skills
to Increase Your Selling Power" will be held in Nashville, Tennessee;
Oakland, California; Del Mar, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; and
McLean, Virginia. For a description of the seminar and the exact
locations and dates, visit http://www.icfa.org/osullivan02.htm or call
1-800-645-7700.
The ICFA has spearheaded the Music License Coalition to obtain
discounted music licensing for industry members. The goal of the
Coalition is to offer a discount price of $185 annually for licensing
from BMI, ASCAP and SESAC beginning January 1, 2003. Membership in the
Coalition is free and is not tied to membership in any other industry
organization. For more information or to join the Coalition, visit
http://www.icfa.org/music/ or call 1-800-645-7700.
The ICFA Idea Network on the association's Web site provides a forum for
cemeterians, funeral directors, suppliers and others to share ideas and
discussion on all areas of operations. Currently, the page includes
messages regarding preneed marketing, perpetual care policies and the
industry's response to the September 11 attack on America. To access the
page, visit http://www.icfa.org/ideanetwork.htm .
The ICFA News Page offers a timely collection of interesting and useful
news items related to the cemetery and funeral industry, small business
and current events. Located at http://www.icfa.org/newspage.htm, the
News Page compiles articles from around the world and is updated
regularly.
The ICFA uses a national media placement agency to distribute an ongoing
series of newspaper articles and radio announcements with positive
preneed and memorialization messages. Placements to date have been
highly successful, reaching hundreds of markets throughout the country.
For more information and to view copies of the actual releases, visit
http://www.icfa.org/media.htm .
The ICFA has published its 2001-2002 Buyer's Guide and Membership
Directory, an invaluable industry resource offering complete listings of
ICFA member cemeteries, funeral homes and allied members; industry
suppliers; international, national, regional and state associations;
state funeral boards and cemetery regulators; individuals working in the
industry; and more. A must for all key staff, copies are available for
purchase at a member price of just $25. For information or to order,
call the ICFA at 1-800-645-7700.
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 .
ICFA members can establish their own Web sites for just $14.95 per
month, with no up-front fees. FuneralAssistant.com provides complete Web
site design, up to six pages; monthly site hosting; assignment of a
Keyword that directs Internet customers to the site; and Web site
updates. For more information, visit http://www.icfa.org/WebBenefit.htm
In a message dated 2/13/02 6:33:06 AM, AGRAVEgal@aol.com writes:
The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success. -- Vauvenargues
***********************************************************
Once again I am asking your participation in the next survey topic for The Viewpoint.
Do you find value in the "memorial tubes" on caskets and vaults that provide identification of the remains protected within?
Do you actively "market" this feature to the families you serve?
Do you even utilize the feature provided?
Thank you for your time, and feel free to forward this questioning to anyone you feel would be interested.
--Betty Lynn AGRAVEgal@aol.com
In a message dated 2/8/02 5:13:20 PM, Lynn in Massachusetts writes:
Source: http://www.startribune.com/stories/568/1606839.html
Nothing missing or stolen from funeral home where two workers gunned
downStatewire Published Feb 7, 2002 HUDSON, Wis.
Nothing appears to be missing or stolen from a funeral home where its director and a college intern were fatally shot in their office, an investigator said Thursday. But police are still investigating whether the shootings may have occurred because the suspect or suspects wanted to steal some embalming chemicals from O' Connell Family Funeral Home, said Sgt. Marty Jensen of the Hudson Police Department. " We haven' t ruled out anything, " he said. Investigators spent Wednesday doing an inventory of the funeral home, Jensen said. " We have turned the building back over to the O' Connells." There has been an increase in break-ins at mortuaries across the region, apparently in search of formaldehyde, which can be used to make marijuana more potent, Jensen said. But no violent acts had been reported.
Lt. Dan Votel of the Ramsey County Sheriff' s Department in St. Paul, Minn., said his department has investigated two or three thefts of embalming fluid at funeral homes during the last month.
Hudson is a bedroom community located about 20 miles east of the Twin Cities. Investigators recovered several shells fired from a handgun in the office where the bodies of funeral home director Daniel O' Connell, 39, and his assistant, James Ellison, 22, were discovered about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday by the county coroner who had come to get a death certificate signed. There is no evidence the victims struggled with an assailant, Jensen said. Jensen repeated Thursday that authorities were asking anyone who had driven by the funeral home between noon and 2 p.m. or had contact with the two victims during that time to call police.
" We are interested in any vehicles people might have seen in front of the funeral home, " he said. " We are getting some information there were some vehicles there and we are just trying to get a better sense of what kind they were." Police have some leads that " sound pretty promising" based on calls from the public, Jensen said. Some leads suggest the killer might have known the victims and others suggest it was " random type activity possibly looking for something, " Jensen said. " We are starting to get with the families now to get a better background understanding of the two gentlemen, " Jensen said.
MORE
In a message dated 2/15/02 7:52:41 AM, Walter in Tennessee sends us:
AUGUSTA, Wisconsin -- A woman who calls herself a prophet and opposes embalming the dead is a suspect in the slayings of two funeral home workers found shot to death last week, police say.
But the woman -- a grandmother of 10 who leads a small ministry with a handful of followers from her rural home -- has denied the charges, saying she is "not an assassin for the devil."
In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Kathryn Padilla paced back and forth in her living room, softly talking to herself -- and to God, she said -- in an unfamiliar language. Padilla said she and her tiny religious group, The Rest of Jesus Ministry, had nothing to do with the killings.
"I am a mailman for God and I am not an assassin for the devil," she said. "I don't have guns. I hate them."
No one has been charged in the February 5 shooting deaths of funeral director Daniel O'Connell and intern James Ellison in Hudson, Wisconsin, about 90 miles from Augusta. The men's bodies were found in an office at O'Connell Family Funeral Home by the coroner when he arrived to get a death certificate signed.
Police call Padilla a suspect, citing her group's opposition to embalming and a threatening one-paragraph letter she wrote to other funeral homes.
Investigators questioned Padilla and some of her followers last week, Hudson police Sgt. Marty Jensen said.
The Eau Claire County District Attorney's office charged Padilla on Tuesday with disorderly conduct and stalking, both misdemeanors, in connection with letters sent to funeral homes shortly after the killings. According to a criminal complaint, the letters said, "Thus saith the Lord, Because you have heard not the words of the Lord, I take from you your sons and daughters into early graves. Prepare for burial yourself."
Padilla told the AP her group had sent about a dozen letters to funeral homes last week and another 400 last year. Police said the O'Connell funeral home received one of the letters last year.
Padilla believes embalming desecrates the body and that the dead should only be wrapped in a simple white sheet. Only blood should be in a human body, she said.
"Putting something else in there is bad," she said.
Padilla said her ministry has about 20 members, and opposing embalming is only a small part of what they believe.
"This is so silly. We are all about the word of the Lord," she said.
Padilla said that during a search of her home last week, a police officer pointed a gun at her 18-month-old granddaughter.
A message the AP left with the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department was not immediately returned.
Tom Bilski, Padilla's attorney, said she and her family were wrongly brought into the murder investigation because of their religious beliefs. He said the family's constitutional rights were violated and the "trumped up" charges were "ridiculous."
"She is not a criminal. She is just a Christian," Bilski said.
The Rev. Dale Hazard, pastor at Assembly of God Church in Augusta, said Padilla joined his church in 1993 and was asked to leave in 1999. Although she was never violent, Hazard said, her beliefs about being a prophet became disruptive.
"She didn't think the church should have a Christmas tree because it was an idol," the reverend said. "It was right during a service that she started cursing the tree, saying it would lose its needles and was an idol."
Padilla remembered her ouster differently.
"They didn't like to be corrected by the Lord," she said.
MORE
In a message dated 3/11/02 10:53:47 AM, Kelly Baltzell writes:
John-
Thank you for having me be a guest speaker last night! Here are some links. ~ Kel
Main page of Beyond Indigo
Message Boards for Beyond Indigo
http://www.beyondindigo.com/beyondtalk/beyondtalk.php
Send A Message Of Love & Hope
http://www.beyondindigo.com/hearts/
Light A Candle
http://www.beyondindigo.com/holidays/lightcandles.php
Example of Online Memorials
http://www.beyondindigo.com/memorials/memorials.php/dID/288
http://www.beyondindigo.com/memorials/memorials.php/dID/213
http://www.beyondindigo.com/memorials/memorials.php/dID/472
If people want their own example of an AfterCare product or Online Memorial to take for a test drive I need there first and last name and email address.
Kelly
ICFA PRESENTS HALL OF FAME AWARD TO B. DAVID DALY, CCFE
RESTON, VA (February 8, 2002) &endash; The International Cemetery and Funeral
Association (ICFA) will bestow its highest honor, the Hall of Fame
award, upon B. David Daly, CCFE, during its 2002 Convention &
Exposition, April 24-27 in Orlando, Florida.
Daly is president of Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park and Funeral Home
in Seattle, Washington, and Abbey View Memorial Park in Brier,
Washington.
He served as president of the ICFA's predecessor, the American Cemetery
Association, in 1986-87; he had served as an officer and board member of
the association for the preceding 20 years. In 1999, Daly was named a
certified cemetery and funeral executive (CCFE) in recognition of his
achievements in the industry.
Daly has contributed numerous articles to International Cemetery &
Funeral Management magazine and other industry trade publications. He
has offered presentations at a number of ICFA conferences and
Conventions, as well as other industry association meetings. In 1972, he
spoke at a National Association of Cemeteries conference on "The
Cemetery of the Year 2000," in which he predicted, among other things,
notable increases in cremation rates and the rise of local chain
operations.
Daly is a past president of the Washington Interment Association and a
past chairman of the Washington State Cemetery Board. He also has served
on the Board of Directors of the Washington State Funeral Directors
Association, the Order of the Golden Rule, the Cremation Association of
North America and other professional associations.
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.
Linda Budzinski
Communications Director
International Cemetery and Funeral Association
Reston, Virginia
For Immediate Release
For More Information, Please Contact:
Linda Budzinski
1-800-645-7700
lacorn@icfa.org
ICFA'S NAKED SALES DRAWS HIGH ATTENDANCE, GREAT REVIEWS
RESTON, VA (February 8, 2002) &endash; More than 290 registrants attended the
International Cemetery and Funeral Association's 2002 Sales Management &
Marketing Conference, "Naked Sales IV," in January, the second largest
in the meeting's history. Nearly half of the participants were
first-time attendees.
"This was an extraordinary turnout, especially for this year," said ICFA
Marketing Committee Chairman Barry Bamford. "We nearly set an attendance
record, and we had more new faces than I've ever seen at this
conference. While many conferences in our industry and in other
industries have seen declines in attendance over the past year, Naked
Sales continues to pack them in. And each year, the Marketing Committee
learns more about how to craft this program to make it increasingly
useful and valuable."
Audience evaluations were overwhelmingly positive: 95 percent rated the
conference as a worthwhile expenditure, and 79 percent indicated they
plan to attend the 2003 conference, to be held January 16-17 in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
The Program Chairs for Naked Sales IV were Chris Burke, vice president
of the Forethought Group in Batesville, Indiana, and Ray Frew, CCFE,
president of Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes,
California. Following the conference, Bamford, who is director of sales
at Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Richmond, California, handed over the
committee chairmanship to Gregg Williamson, CCE, executive vice
president, marketing and sales, at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier,
California.
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 5,800 cemeteries,
funeral homes, memorial designers, crematories and related businesses
worldwide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/16/02 8:16:10 AM, Robert from Ohio writes: John: I think a good public service to those reading about the wage/hour would be to print the names of the NFDA members of the governance or whichever committee this came out of--will shed the light on which officers are against the employees, and how many committee members are owners of LARGE volume businesses. Thanks, Robert from Ohio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/16/02 11:55:13 AM, Anonymous in Virgina writes: Two Batesville reps were laid off here in Virginia. They are Paul Reukauf and Val Oullette.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/17/02 7:38:43 PM, Anonymous writes: What is going to happen to the job market if we don't get people to replace the people that are retiring? We have people today think they got it hard . but they don't realize what the people in the fiftys or sixtys had to put up with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/18/02 6:27:41 PM, Mike in Wyoming writes: Well John, it has happened here in the West also. The letter arrived from Batesville announcing our salesman was no longer our salesman, and that the Company was "helping" him in his career transition. Now, I haven't talked to him but I'm not sure if he is still in the company or not. He was not of retirement age but close. Is this just another corporate buyout of employees to save on all the perq's they would gain as they reached retirement?
I have met the new salesman and he is a former funeral director, and is product knowledgable.
I must support him as no other national casket company even travels this corner of the state or calls on me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 2/25/02 8:18:09 AM, Rick in Ohio writes:
Hey, John,
I am almost embarrassed to be here in the "great state of Ohio" where we enacted laws to licensee crematories effective August 8, 1998 and to date the rules to make it take effect have yet to be enforced. We installed our own crematory and started use March 6, 1999 and have yearly called the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers to find out how to get licensed. I truly don't understand what the delay has been. Wouldn't we look much better in the public eye if the licenses and inspections were happening now rather than as a knee jerk reaction to the scandal in Georgia? Oh well... at least there are rules!! That is several steps ahead of other states.
My heart goes out to all the families touched by the horrors in Georgia as well as all that now have a concern about the identity of the cremated remains they received back from the crematory. They could be anywhere in the world and their concern couuld be real! (if not even warrented).
I guess the other thing I am wondering... Has this issue spurred FD's to pull random visits to the crematory they use?? HHHmmmm...????
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 3/9/02 11:03:56 PM, Annomouse in California writes:
Dear John,
It appears that NFDA is suffering from FTCS or "Failure To Communicate Syndrome". Information and issues, as expected, are typically filtered but "The Director" is underused as a forum for policy debate. Meanwhile, the "industry" or "profession" is, by default, being redesigned in the image and likeness of marketing over service. NFDA has a duty to honestly and properly inform members of plans that affect out future, and the information they provide should be timely, thorough, balanced and pertinent, to say the least. The Wage hour Issue, preneed, third party casket sales all point to the issue of continued erosion of revenue. If we cannot expect information to trickle down to membership in any normal course of events in any timely manner, how is it known if NFDA is turning over the right stones? There are simple answers, so simple in fact that NFDA might find it easier as a coordinator than as the front man in identifying or designing policies. In fact, not only can innovation can be stifled when "we"get in "bed" with regulators, we find ourselves hostage to details such as dollar limits on trust values when inflation clearly devalues purchasing power and FD's pay the eventual price in lower returns. Hello? Can we stand up for ourselves without letting our trousers drop? (from California)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 3/11/02 11:40:50 AM, M in Illinois writes: somebody sent this to me and I could not resist sharing it with others who might appreciate it. M
Dear Liberal: Thank you for your recent whiney-ass letter criticizing the treatment of the Taliban and Al Queda detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
As part of the Administration's Liberal Re-training Program, you'll be pleased to learn that the Administration has decided to place one detainee under your exclusive care. Your detainee is scheduled to be delivered to your personal residence on Monday.
The detainee is to be cared for pursuant to the standards you strongly recommended in your letter of admonishment. It will be necessary that you hire your own caretakers. We will also conduct weekly inspections, of course, to assure that your detainee is actually being cared for in the manner you personally prescribed.
His meal requirements are simple, but we strongly suggest using menus that do not require utensils. While he does bite, the rabies test was negative. And, he has a bad case of body lice that we haven't completely remedied.
Although he is sociopathic and very psychotic, we do welcome your promised efforts to overcome that "attitudinal problem" with counseling and home schooling.
He's extremely proficient in hand-to-hand combat and can extinguish human life with such simple items as a pencil or light bulb. He also has the ability to make a variety of lethal bombs from common household products, so you may wish to keep those items locked up, notwithstanding that it may conflict with your moral values or disrupt your maid's daily routine.
Please heed the large orange notice attached to your detainee's cage, "Does not play well with others".
Your detainee generally bathes quarterly with the change of seasons, assuming that it rains and washes his clothes simultaneously. That should help with your water bill.
Be assured your detainee absolutely loves pets of all kinds, but is especially fond of cats and dogs. He prefers them roasted. Take good care of our detainee.
George W.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 3/3/02 9:31:25 PM, nelsen@bellatlantic.net writes:
Funeral Service Licensee: growing, family-owned funeral firm (4 locations)
seeks Virginia licensee for funeral director position. Benefit package
includes paid vacation, health and dental insurance, 401k, group life and
disability, medical and child-care flexible spending accounts.
Thanks.
--
Blair Nelsen
Nelsen Funeral Home
4650 S Laburnum Ave
Richmond, VA 23231
804-222-8601
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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