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Backhoe recommendation needed

Linda Budzinski — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:18:18 -0600

I have had the following question from a member. If anyone has any good recommendations, please let me know and I will pass it on. Thank you!

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Number of monument dealers in the US

Linus Shackelford — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:36:24 -0600

Is anyone still on line that may know how many monument dealers are in the US that may also be members of the Monument Builders of North America Association. I need an answer tonight if at all possible. Thank you very much.

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Marketing Your Business With Promotional Products

Logoit4u — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:13:18 -0600

Promotional products should be utilized in every aspect of your business from sales to services. Give a pen, calendar, magnet or magnifier to every prospective client and provide comforts like tissues, mints and bottled water at your services. Having these items present reflects positively on you and your business. Supplying blankets and umbrellas at outdoor services demonstrates compassion and class. Providing gifts to clergy lets them know that you appreciate their referrals.

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Monument Repairing

Jim Koslovski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:32:35 -0600

Does anyone know where I can send maintenance personnel to learn monument repairing techniques. I have checked Rock of Ages as well as Elberton Granite as they both do not offer any type of class.

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cemetery numbers

Linus Shackelford — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:55:36 -0600

I am working on a project that requires knowing the number of cemeteries are in the US, Canada and Mexico. Can anyone help direct me in the right direction on finding out how many cemetereis are in these countries - and maybe other countries as well?

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Ducks Quack - Eagles Soar

Linus Shackelford — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:38:46 -0600

I put this as a Blog, but I am not sure how all

this works yet so I put it here - where I was going to put it in the first place. No matter it is worth reading.

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Commissions on Atneed/preneed

Christine.Hentges — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:14:46 -0600

This is an old argument, but consistent one:

What are other company's policies regarding multiple spaces sold in an at need case? For example, a family has a death and come in to buy property and end up purchase 6 grave spaces at the time of the arrangements. Are they all considered atneed? One atneed and the rest preneed?

Other input would be appreciated. I have very strong opinions on this, but would like to see what others think.

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forms

Linus Shackelford — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:41:40 -0500

Hello assoicates and friends. We are trying to improve a few things and forms is one of the areas we feel could be improved. It would be very helpful if we had some forms other operations are using so we can see what we may need and missing from what we have. Will some of you, at your convenience, please send us a copy of what you are using for a work order, maintenance form, first call form, and any other form you may be using for cemetery operations and cremation. Thank you very much. Your help is appreciated.

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insurance assignments - collecting fees for administrating?

Christine.Hentges — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:29:47 -0500

Recently, there was an article written in the ICCFA magazine which asked a question whether or not funeral homes or cemeteries were collecting fees for administrating insurance assignments. I did take the time to contact the author who mentioned that he was referring to charging the fee for third party administrators.

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obit web site

Linus Shackelford — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:31:17 -0500

There seems to be more and more obit web site offerings available today - with each one declaring to be better than another and offering more than the others. From the ones using one of these sites or may have used more than one - I am asking exactly what particular points you may suggest should be considered and decided on before choosing one of these obit web sites.

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sales leads

Linus Shackelford — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:29:05 -0500

What use to be an old faithful for generating leads has my interest but I do not have any info such as phone leads or the counselor script that was rather short and to the point. I am interrested in using this old faithful again. It has been called different names but the one I remember is Free Space Certificate to Head of Household that does not presently own cemetery plots. The appointment setting phone script goes something like "You have been randomly selected to receive one Free Cemetery Space Certificate , etc., etc., etc.

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Video Headstones?

joe-budzinski — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:47:51 -0500

A reporter from BBC just contacted ICCFA headquarters looking to speak to a cemeterian or funeral director with experience providing video memorials in headstones.

I know the company Vidstone was the first (perhaps only) doing this but have not been able to reach them today to ask about possible customers using it.

Do any of you provide this product, or know anything about anyone who does?

They are particularly interested in providers in California or Illinois but anyone who can chime in would be appreciated I am sure.

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Cemetery decorations: trash or treasure? National cemeteries are not exempt from the problem

judyfaaberg — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:56:51 -0500

Hello my many friends

Check this out. I offer no opinion, but am very interested to hear what y'all think. Evidentally National Cemeteries face the same dilemmas the rest of us face with regards to personal mementoes. In our current many-fronted conflicts, it's becoming a real issue. Please weigh in!

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/07/17/arlington_gravesites/

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Brache Therapy: radioactive materials in bodies

judyfaaberg — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:37:15 -0500

Hello everyone! I received this email from one of my WCFA members recently and want to know if any of you have encountered this situation, and if so, how you are handling it.

Hey Judy,

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Applying for non-profit mail rates through USPS

Jim Koslovski — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:13:00 -0500

Has anyone had success applying to the USPS as a nonprofit cemetery for non-profit rates? If so, what were you classified as.

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What type of system or software are you using?

christopher.isabella — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:33:36 -0500

What type of system or software do you use to manage your organization's activities, records, etc...?

With so many different ways to manage your day to day activities, I am curious to see what arrangements people are using (e.g. - MS Office, QuickBooks, etc... and what tasks you perform with what software).

Please feel free to contact me directly if you want to discuss this topic in private.

Thank you,

Christopher Isabella

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pre-need cemetery interment rights laws in your state

Linus Shackelford — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:04:19 -0500

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test

Linda Budzinski — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:00:09 -0500

test

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Cemeteries and Requests for Genealogical Research

Bob Fells — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:51:38 -0500

Does your cemetery have a policy to respond to requests for genealogical information? Some people consider the information private and suggest that the inquiry be directed to the family. Others feel the information is basically public and provide it. Any recommended practices in this area? Thanks.

Bob Fells

ICCFA

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Discontinued Urn

Ed Horn — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:45:06 -0500

Seeking a blue glass 5 1/2" Tiffany Keepsake urn by Milso/Matthews.

Ed Horn

St. Michael's

718 278 3240

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International transport of cremated remains and inurnment on U.S. soil of remains of a non-U.S. citizen

judyfaaberg — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 16:53:41 -0500

I've been contacted by a person with the question: can his girlfriend bring her mother's cremated remains from Ukraine to the U.S.? What stumbling blocks might she encounter? She was told by someone that "foreign" cremated remains could not be inurned/interred in the U.S. Her route will take her from Ukraine through Austria, to New York then to Seattle.

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Green Burial

Linda Budzinski — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:48:48 -0500

I received the following question from a member today. I let him know about our upcoming Convention session on this topic and the MKJ Marketing workshop being held prior to our Convention (www.mkjmarketing.com/green), and I pointed him to a couple of Web sites, but was wondering if any of you knows of any additional resources?

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WCCFA Spring Golf Tournament

judyfaaberg — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:14:45 -0500

Start: 03/26/2009 - 11:30

End: 03/26/2009 - 17:30

Timezone: America/Vancouver

The Washington Cemetery & Funeral Association will hold its 3rd annual Spring Golf Tournament the day before our 16th annual College of Cemetery & Funeral Studies. Open to any member of the death-care profession. Register using the attached form, which covers both the tournament and the conference. Call 360-668-2120 for information.

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Discontinued Urn

Keenan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:38:00 -0500

I am looking for a discontiued Matthews Keepsake Urn called "Ocean Waves". If you know where I can find one please let me know at 727 789 2000 or kknopke@curlewhills.com

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Benefits for Service Men and Women

Christine.Hentges — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 12:21:57 -0600

I hope this topic gets out to the new network as efficiently as previous subjects did!

I know this is around and also even see a related newspaper article on this service, but I am looking for samples of servicemen and women benefit programs that other cemeteries provide to the community. I have seen them in the past, but now that I need it, I can't find the information!

Can anyone help?

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Pet/Human cemeteries in your state?

judyfaaberg — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:57:38 -0600

Hello everyone...

Here's today's Forum question: what is the status of your state's laws regarding pet sections in human cemeteries? Has the issue arisen? Are you ready for it? - because it will arise, and probably sooner than you think!

If anyone's read my recent blog-posts, you'll know Washington is in an interesting legislative pickle regarding pets being buried with their humans in already-existing cemeteries that are formed under Washington law for the burial of human remains only.

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Cemeteries or funeral homes sponsoring online communities?

judyfaaberg — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:48:01 -0600

I was intrigued by an article in the ICCFA's December magazine by Dan Isard about the five stages of grief in the digital era and a question arose in my little mind…

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Email Forwarding and Digests

FraserD — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:48:29 -0600

Is it possible to have these postings forwarded to my email, either individually (my preference) or in the form of a compiled daily digest? I received the old postings as emails which were then automatically sorted into their own directory in my mail system. That is quite convenient for me. Is this possible with the new system?

My apologies if this is answered somewhere in the documentation but I couldn't find it.

Regards,

Fraser Drysdale

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The effect of the economy on cremations

Julie A. Burn — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:40:21 -0600

Will we see an increase in the number of cremations this year due to the present economy?

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What will the economy do to our associations?

judyfaaberg — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:08:24 -0600

Spending money to belong to a professional or trade association is of course discretionary. So is attending conventions and conferences, about which I posed an earlier forum topic. How do you decide to write that annual dues check? What can we association executives do to ensure continued membership participation? Do you prefer less service to keep dues lower?

Judy Faaberg, DP, CCP
Executive Director, Washington Cemetery & Funeral Association

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National Do-Not-Call Registry: How's it going?

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:57:23 -0600

Hello everyone, now that this regulation has been in place for several years, how's it working for you? Did it have the cataclysmic results some foretold? I would think it would be helpful in weeding out time-wasting calls to people who don't want to hear from you anyway. Has anyone run afoul of the regulation? What was the result?

Have you developed a newer better method of prospecting than cold-calling? If you wouldn't mind, please share!

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Document Imaging

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:49:05 -0600

Several document-imaging companies have sprung up in the last few years. I'm curious to know who's jumped on the bandwagon, and how the results have helped (or not helped) increase efficiency and accuracy. Do you feel it was cost-effective? Without naming names, I'd love to hear some comments about people's experiences with document-imaging. What did you do with your original documents once they were scanned? Did you, or do you intend, to move to as paperless an operation as possible or do you still keep paper documents? Do you find you are in fact generating less paper, about the same, more?

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Prearrangement funding self-study

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:31:37 -0600

Have you ever done a self-study on your prearrangement funding to determine whether there will actually BE enough money to cover the cost of delivery when it becomes at-need?

The Network

Cemetery endowment care

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:27:23 -0600

Does your state require cemeteries to have endowment or perpetual care funds? Does your state set a minimum (or maximum) amount required to be deposited into the fund? Does your state allow you to borrow from or use money from the corpus of the fund?

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Does your state require funeral directors and/or embalmers to be licensed?

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:21:55 -0600

There seems to be a vast disparity between states as to licensing requirements. For example, as far as I know Colorado still does not require any license to be a funeral director. Some licensing requirements are minimal, some seem to be overkill. What is the situation in your state? Do you think there should be some form of national license?

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How do you decide whether you will or will not attend an industry convention or conference?

judyfaaberg — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:18:09 -0600

Some people use conventions as vacations, some go just for the networking, some for the tradeshow, some for the overall experience. Most of us receive invitations to several different conventions every year. How do you decide which you will or will not attend?

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The Importance of Being Earnest

joe-budzinski — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:12:02 -0600

[From Judy - I am moving to new forum]

A discussion on the importance in business of being sincere without appearing smarmy. Any takers?

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What is Opening and Closing?

joe-budzinski — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:11:39 -0600

This has come up a few times: What exactly is entailed by the catch-all "Opening and Closing."

I think it needs to be a Wiki entry so the whole world will have a chance to weigh in, but let's start it off here at The Network.

The built-in cost of providing an interment space includes digging and filling the "grave," but it also includes other cemetery administration services. It will be useful to develop a document for use in cemeteries that explains this integral cost of doing business. Comments are welcome, and will be added to the Wiki document.

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