Reserve Your Hotel Room TODAY to Avoid Rate Increase

If you have not made your hotel reservations for the 2009 session of ICCFA University, July 17-22 at the Mid-South Convention Center in Tunica, Mississippi, we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to do so NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. The special rate the ICCFA has secured at The Veranda Hotel is $89 per night. After tonight, the room rates for Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, will increase to $269 per night.

To make your reservations, call 800.427.7247 and mention group code s07icc9.

And if you haven't yet registered for ICCFA University, do so now.

Each year, this program is rated as the best educational and networking opportunity available. Students love the experience, and their supervisors are consistently impressed by the breadth of knowledge and level of achievement they demonstrate upon returning to the office. And this year, there are more reasons than ever to register and to send your staff:

• The College of Cremation Services offers three certifications in this growing market sector: Cremation Operator, Cremation Arranger and Cremation Administrator certification.
• The College of 21st Century Services offers celebrant certification from the In-Sight Institute.
• Funeral directors can earn up to 24.5 CE credits, pending state approvals.
• ICCFAU moves to its new state-of-the-art venue, with plenty of housing and classroom space to keep everyone together (but you'll fly into the same convenient Memphis airport).
• The rate at the luxury Veranda Hotel is just $89 per night.
• Alumni (or our four-year "graduates") receive $100 off their registration fee.
• There are more "take-aways" for students than ever before, including DVDs and manuals they can take back and use at their locations.
• Air fares are at the lowest rates ever. According to CheapTickets.com, there are roundtrip airfare deals to be had from Memphis to: Atlanta ($118); Boston ($168); Charlotte ($197); Chicago ($208); Cleveland ($193); Dallas ($157); Denver ($302); Detroit ($218); Ft. Lauderdale ($181); Houston ($218); Las Vegas ($290); Los Angeles ($248); Minneapolis-St. Paul ($237); New Orleans ($246); Oklahoma City ($263); Philadelphia ($188); Pittsburgh ($158); San Francisco ($224); Toronto ($258); and Washington, DC ($178). Above prices do not include tax and airline fees.

For complete details, to view student testimonial videos and to download registration materials, visit www.iccfa.com/education-events/iccfa-university/iccfa-university.

Complete the Financial Tactics Survey—
Results to Be Announced at Fall Management Conference

ICCFA is conducting an industry-wide survey to gauge today's business climate. Please take a moment to take the ICCFA Financial Tactics Survey. Results will be announced at the Fall Management Conference. Even if you cannot yet commit to attending the conference, please take less than a minute to complete the survey!

Alan Deutschman

Jon Shults

Senator Bill Nelson

The program for the ICCFA 2009 Fall Management Conference, October 7-10 at the Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC, is posted at www.iccfa.com.

This year's pool of speakers represent centuries of experience in high-level management, business leadership and human resource management, and represent some of the thought leaders from in and outside our industry. Some program highlights include:

• Business leadership analyst and author Alan Deutschman will offer research and insight on how to "Transform Your Corporate Culture" to help your organization reach its full potential.
• Batesville vice president of human resources Anthony Casablanca will share his expertise on how to become "union resistant" through effective employee management and development practices.
• Join moderator Irwin Shipper and his panel of legal and regulatory specialists for this year's government & legal session. Panelists will report on their meetings with members of Congress, provide the latest updates on changing regulations and recommend strategies to make compliance work for you. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has been invited as a guest speaker.
• The Buchanan Group's vice president of sales Jon Shults will provide insights into his company's overarching business management philosophy as well as specific projects and initiatives they have undertaken to move the company forward, including examples such as technology solutions, the creation of work teams, financial decisions and the company's community outreach.
• And our special two-part panel discussion on "Succeeding in Tough Economic Times." We'll hear from a cross-section of funeral service, cemetery and cremation executives on what they're doing, why they're doing it and how it's working.

Plus, you'll receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Arlington National Cemetery and a luncheon at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial will take place on Friday, October 9, made possible by Matthews International. The ICCFA will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before the tour.

At the Fall Management Conference, you will learn CEO-level best practices presented by executives from both inside and outside the industry. The educational sessions are packed with high-level programming and idea-sharing symposiums, and evening receptions provide excellent venues for continued networking.

Complete conference program, hotel reservation and registration materials are now available at www.iccfa.com.

Required Virginia Cremation Certification Training Sessions Scheduled

Attention all Virginia funeral
directors, cremationists and
cemeterians:
Effective July 8, 2009, all crematory managers and
retort operators are required to obtain certification
that is recognized by the state Board of Funeral
Directors and Embalmers. The Commonwealth of Virginia has recognized the ICCFA as an official provider
of crematory certification training.

Get the edge over your competition by obtaining your
certification training NOW from the ICCFA! Training sessions are scheduled for:

• Tyson's Corner, Monday, July 13: Embassy Suites Tyson's Corner, 8517 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 22182
• Richmond, Tuesday, July 14: Homewood Suites Richmond Airport, 5996 Audubon Drive, Sandston, VA, 23150
• Norfolk, Wednesday, July 15: Doubletree Hotel Norfolk Airport, 880 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, VA, 23502

Download a registration form here. COST: $349 for ICCFA members; $429 for non-members (includes breakfast, a box lunch, refreshments and a comprehensive opertaions manual covering all aspects of crematory operation and maintenance)

The ICCFA Cremation Operator Certification program, presented in concert
with Matthews Cremation Division, consists of extensive training including:

• professional terminology
• incinerator terminology
• principles of combustion
• cremation and the environment
• incinerator criteria and design
• basics of operating cremation equipment
• general maintenance and troubleshooting
• forms and record keeping
• handling and exposure control

HURRY AS SEATS ARE LIMITED!

CONTACT US