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President's Letter:
Reflections of a Frequent Flier
Patrick Downey
Patrick Downey, ICFA president for 2004-2005, who has 25 years of experience in the cemetery and funeral profession, works for Palm Cemeteries, Mortuaries and Crematories in Las Vegas Nevada. He can be reached at pdowney@palmmortuary.com.
It goes without saying that there are many viewpoints about our profession held by many different people. And on any given day, we who work within this business can have many different perspectives on what we do. Recently I have looked at our business landscape from a new vantage point and gained some new perspectives.
Looking down through the clouds from 30,000 feet as I travel to and from various state conventions and ICFA educational programs reminds me that the scope of issues facing us today can be as vast as our continent. But then, stepping off the plane in cities from coast to coast, I realize that a coach class center seat is not the only place where a little elbow rubbing and conversation can have a big impact. In fact, each time I travel to an event as ICFA president and visit with colleagues from all corners of our association, the easier it is to see that we may all come from different places, but we are all on the same flight.
From Washington state to Wisconsin, from Memphis to Minneapolis, from South Georgia to North Las Vegas, we all worry about the future of our businesses. We are all watching the hand of government and trying to see through the eyes of the consumer. We all desire to serve the living by celebrating lives and honoring the dead. And we all wish for a future where respect, remembering and ritual still resonate.
We trust that a world where paying tribute to those who came before us and have now gone on ahead won't get left behind.
So why exactly is it that an airplane navigating the jet stream at 500 miles per hour can seem a tranquil place compared to a state legislative session or public hearing where issues of industry competition are being argued? How is it that garnering a legal advantage over a competitor can seem more appealing than offering superior value to families?
The airline industry offers some instructive lessons: It is common in air travel today to find that you are being conveyed by a business mired in debt, cutting corners on service, in jeopardy of bankruptcy and knee-deep in government regulation. But frequent fliers still take the time to seek out value. They know how to spot the little shortcomings. And they will not fly "unfriendly" skies.
Sometimes it is better to be less concerned with differing connections and destinations and more concerned with landing safely first. In any case, I bid you all safe travels as you board your flight into the future.
Copyright ICFA 2004
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