ICCFA Wireless is a bi-weekly electronic newsletter bringing members of the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association the latest government and legal, industry and association news. It is available to all ICCFA members current on their dues. Comments, questions and "hot news tips" are welcome. Write to: hq@iccfa.com.
PAID ADVERTISEMENTS
INDUSTRY NEWS
17th Annual National Museum of Funeral History Golf Tournament
The National Museum of Funeral History is pleased to announce the 17th Annual Golf Classic will be held on Monday, May 16, 2011, at Kingwood Country Club in north Houston. Mark your calendar to ensure you don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the pride and passion of this age old game while supporting the history of our industry. Learn more about sponsorship here or sign up to participate in the tournament here.
ICCFA NEWS
ICCFA University: Challenge Yourself, Your Staff
 ICCFA University, July 22-27, at the Fogelman Executive Center at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, challenges cemetery and professional to grow and develop into true leaders.
Are you ready to take a leadership role within this profession and in your community? Do you want to take the next step in your career? Are you looking to develop someone on your staff?
Here's what our students have said about their experience at "The U":
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I am changed for the better... personally and professionally.
—Phil Zehms, Baue Funeral Home Co., St. Charles, MO
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This was an emotional, life-changing experience. I am looking forward to next year.
—Norman E. Connors, Bean Funeral Homes, Reading, PA |
This was the best way to get a knowledge of this field. It would take years to gain as much as I did in five days.
—Frank Nash, Roselawn Cemetery & Funeral Home, Pueblo, CO |
I feel as though I finally have the tools to get a handle on management of our funeral home. The amount of information given was overwhelming. Thank you so much for this experience.
—Ginger Caldwell, Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home |
ICCFAU combines five days of intensive classroom education with campus-style networking and recreation to provide a unique experience within the cemetery, cremation and funeral service profession. Choose from one of six colleges and two graduate programs:
NEW THIS YEAR!: The ICCFA is offering a one-day registration for those who wish to attend only the Crematory Operator Training/Certification on Saturday, July 23. This includes:
- Admission to the Friday night University Reception and Dinner
- The all-day crematory operator training and certification on Saturday
- Breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks on Saturday
Each year, the University is rated as the best educational and networking opportunity available. Students are welcome to come for one or two years, but most continue on through four years to become ICCFAU "graduates." From front-line maintenance workers, counselors and funeral directors through top executives and owners, the program offers something for everyone. Find out for yourself what draws our students back year after year. Funeral directors can earn up to 24.5 CE credits, pending state approvals.
The complete program, registration materials and online registration for the 2011 session of ICCFA University are now available at www.iccfa.com.
2011 Annual Convention Audio CDs Now Available
Recordings of 14 of the 2011 ICCFA Annual Convention educational sessions are now available for purchase in our online store. More titles will be made available in the coming weeks. Please note that these CDs are available only to members who attended the convention. Sale of the CDs will be made available to all ICCFA members this fall.
Want to listen to your favorite sessions again or catch up on the competing sessions you missed? Order your CDs. Each recording includes the taping of the presentation as well as a copy of the speaker's handouts (when applicable).
Orders may be placed online by clicking on the session title below or using the form at http://www.iccfa.com/files/2011conventioncdsalesform.pdf.
The following audio CDs are now available at a cost of $17 each for members and $37 each for non-members:
- The Cremation Case: A Step-By-Step Guide to Avoiding Liability, Poul Lemasters, Jim Starks
- Strategic Planning That Works: A Skeptic's Story, Gary Freytag
- Death Care: The Emergence of a New Normal, Alan Creedy
- Partnering With Hospice, Kim Medici Shelquist
- Accountability: The Ultimate GPS, Christopher Kuhnen
- Crematory Operator Tricks & Tips, Larry Stuart Jr.
- A Bright Future for Endowment Care Trusts, Marcia Williams
- Using Alternative Investments to Lower Risk and Increase Return, Pat Severo
- Managing Trusts in Today's Market, David Hay
- Waterless Embalming, Mark Fisher
- PLPA: Selling to Survive, Gary O'Sullivan
- PLPA: 50 Ways to Love Your Marketing Levers, Coleen Ellis
- PLPA: Marketing Channels That Work, Ron Zartman, Larry Omps, Kate Moore
- PLPA Cremation Liability, Poul Lemasters
2012 Wide World of Sales: Call For Presentations
The ICCFA Sales & Marketing Committee is preparing for the 2012 Wide World of Sales Conference, January 18-20, at Bally's/Paris Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and we invite you to share your expertise with your colleagues.
The Wide World of Sales is the largest sales and marketing conference in the cemetery, cremation and funeral service profession.
We are seeking the very best, most relevant and most thought-provoking sales and marketing programs, tools and techniques being used today. We want presentations with concrete, how-to information, with an emphasis on the "how" rather than the "why." If you have expertise to share, this is your opportunity to give back to the profession. The committee invites you to submit a session proposal, to include:
- your contact information
- a detailed description of your "how to" topic, including the specific tools, techniques and/or initiatives the attendee will be able to put to use immediately
- the primary target for your presentation (managers, counselors or both; cemeteries, funeral homes or both)
- a list of handouts you will provide for our attendee on-site binder supplementing your presentation (at least two handouts are required)
- a brief bio regarding your background and qualifications, including any previous speaking experience
The format for this conference calls for numerous brief (20- or 30-minute) sessions, so please narrow your topic to one or two key points that you can fully develop and communicate within that time period. Please submit your proposal by May 31, 2011, to Linda Budzinski at lindab@iccfa.com (preferred) or via fax at 703.391.8416.
Thank you for your willingness to share your time and talents!
Final Days For Online Store Special: Free Shipping on Nick Morgan Book & DVD Package; Other 2010 Sessions Available
 Discover the secrets of authentic communication: Nick Morgan's two-hour 2010 ICCFA Annual Convention presentation, "Authentic Communication," complemented by his book, "Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma," is a must-have for cemetery and funeral home owners, managers, counselors, funeral directors and anyone at your company who interacts with the public.
Learn how to break down the barriers to authentic and persuasive communication, whether you are engaged in one-on-one negotiations, assisting a family with an arrangement conference or presenting to your local Rotary Club.
Morgan's presentation at the 2010 ICCFA Convention was one of the most highly-rated sessions, and his book, "Trust Me: Four Steps to Authenticity and Charisma," shares research that points toward a new holistic way to communicate with authenticity and charisma. His honest and direct approach challenges even the most confident orators to rethink how they communicate.
Through April 30, purchase the DVD and book package for just $39 and receive FREE SHIPPING! Order online now or call 1.800.645.7700.
Five additional presentations from the 2010 ICCFA Annual Convention & Expo are also now available for purchase on audio CD for $17 for ICCFA members and $37 for non-members:
All sessions on CD include any handouts that accompanied the presentation. To receive the member price, you must be an ICCFA member and logged in as on the ICCFA website.* Members also can order by calling 1.800.645.7700.
*To register as a member on the site, go to the home page, click on "Create New Account" and fill out the form. If your company is a member in good standing, you will be granted membership privileges within 24 hours and will have access to all content throughout the site as well as to ICCFA member discount prices.
- TO BUY/SELL
- POSITIONS AVAILABLE
- Sales Management Professional (Michigan)
- Managing Partner and Sales Manager Opportunities (Florida)
- Sales Managers (California)
- Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer (Florida)
- Funeral Home Manager (San Antonio, TX)
- General Manager (San Antonio, TX)
- Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer or Intern (East Coast, FL)
- Funeral Home Management & Funeral Director Positions (TX, WY, KS, IA, IN, OH, VA, NY)
- Pre-Need Assistant Manager and At-Need Management Positions (NE Ohio)
- Unit Sales Manager, Bilingual (Corpus Christi, TX)
- Unit Sales Manager, Bilingual (Los Angeles, CA)
- Regional Sales Manager (east of the Mississippi)
- General Manager, Cemetery (Des Plaines, IL)
- General Manager, Cemetery (Chicago, IL)
- Cemetery Inventory & Operations Manager (Houston, TX)
- Preneed Sales Trainer (Florida)
- Funeral Home Manager, Bilingual (Tucson, AZ)
- Funeral Home Manager, Bilingual (Harlingen, TX)
- Funeral Home Manager, Bilingual (Texas)
- Funeral Home Manager, Bilingual (San Antonio, TX)
- Embalmer, San Diego Central Care Center (San Diego, CA)
- Family Service Director (Shreveport, LA)
- Sales Manager (central FL)
- Funeral Operations Regional Manager (central TX)
- Sales Management Opportunity (Tulsa, OK)
- Experienced Implementation Consultant
- Funeral Director, Rock Star Needed (Seattle, WA)
- Long-Term Regional Sales Management (Savannah, GA)
- Sales Opportunity of a Lifetime (western TX)
- Experienced Sales Manager (Mississippi)
- Sales Manager (in California between Los Angeles and Las Vegas)
- Sales Managers and Assistant Managers (Nationwide)
- Experienced Sales Manager (Mid-South)
- Sales Management Team Position
- Experienced Funeral Director (New Mexico)
- Regional Management Positions (IL, OH, LA, MS, WV, AR, MO, KY, TN, NJ, MD, DE, PA)
- Executive Director, Catholic Cemeteries (Miami, FL)
Place your classified advertisement with ICCFA today!
member benefits
Access to Abenity Employee Discount Program
Give your staff access to more than 100,000 discounts and more than $4,500 in savings per employee. Click here to read the Abenity brochure or visit www.abenity.com/pricing for pricing details. Corporate code: ICCFA.
ICCFA Supply Link Allows Easy Buyer's Guide Searching
The ICCFA Supply Link, an online buyer's guide members can use to easily search for products and services from the convenience of their computers, can be accessed directly from the ICCFA home page. The Supply Link offers a "Search" function whereby members can search according to product type or company name and can be limited to a state or to a certain radius distance from a specified city or ZIP code. Users also can narrow their search to include only ICCFA-member companies. Suppliers that are ICCFA members and exhibitors are identified as such in their listings.
Online Education
The ICCFA offers low-cost online training on a variety of OSHA topics through a partnership with Dignity University. To access the 23 OSHA courses, visit http://online.ecampustraining.com/Dignityu/.
ICCFA News Page
The ICCFA News Page takes you to sources throughout the world for industry news and updates. It brings you the most comprehensive selection of funeral service and cemetery news available anywhere, along with frequently updated general news items related to national and world events. The News Page reports the news before anyone else and is one of the most visited page on the ICCFA Web site. Stop in each day and you'll see why.
Music Licensing
The 2011 Music Licenses are available for just $248 per property, no additional fees. Covers ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Any U.S. funeral home, cemetery or related business is eligible for membership as a Music License Member. Licensing directly with the agencies this year would cost nearly $600 per location, so this price—which requires no additional membership fee—is still the lowest available to the industry. Purchase your license online now at .
Tax-Related Questions
ICCFA members now also have access to an attorney for tax-related questions regarding trust earnings, care fund allocations, capital gains, investments and more. The ICCFA has retained Leslie Schneider, CPA, a tax attorney with Ivins, Phillips & Barker in Washington, DC, for telephone consultations for up to 20 minutes with no obligation. To take advantage of this member benefit, call Schneider at 202.393.7600.
ICCFA Insurance Program
Administered by Alliant Insurance Services, this program allows members to purchase commercial property and casualty insurance—including general liability, commercial property, automobile liability and physical damage, umbrella liability, professional liability, workers compensation, employee benefits and more—at rates they probably would not be able to afford on
their own. For details, call 800.390.9099.
HR Law Benefit
Through an unprecedented new benefit program, ICCFA members can now access free legal consultations regarding labor relations, human resource management and employment law. Attorney Michael Pepperman of the Labor Relations and Employment Law department at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP (ORM&H), is available to address questions on topics ranging from hiring and firing, to employee privacy and workplace violence, to wages and hours, to equal employment opportunity and wrongful discharge issues. Michael Pepperman, Esq., has spoken on labor and employment issues at several ICCFA conferences and regional industry meetings. To take advantage of this benefit, please call 215.665.3032.
ICCFA Introduces New Sales Training Programs
ICCFA introduces new sales training programs by sales trainer and professional speaker Gary O'Sullivan, CCE. O'Sullivan's two latest products include a 10 DVD Series—The Power to Sell Preneed, and a training support system called the GoSell System. Both products provide sales managers with tools and training strategies that will help them to strengthen and motivate their teams. For more details or to place an order, call the ICCFA at 800.645.7700.
ICCFA Internet Expo
The ICCFA Internet Expo is the largest online exposition in the cemetery and funeral service industry. Cemetery and funeral home owners and operators will find 300+ providers in more than 100 product and service categories. Exhibit space is provided as a free, exclusive benefit to all ICCFA supplier and professional members. Check it out today!
Fraud Prevention & Detection Consultation Service
ICCFA has retained the services of veteran fraud investigator Robert A. Garvey Jr., CPA, CFE, CrFA, CVA, to serve as a consultative resource for members' employee theft and fraud concerns. The new member benefit, the "Fraud Investigation and Deterrence Consultation Service" or FIDCS, will allow members to discuss by telephone any issues or concerns related to suspected fraudulent activity or a desire to put systems and controls in place at their locations to deter such activity. There is no cost to ICCFA members in good standing to utilize this benefit. The number to call is 866.649.1902.
Legal Advice on Cremation Concerns
Courtesy of the ICCFA Government and Legal Fund, ICCFA members now have access to pre-paid legal advice on cremation-related issues. Through this exclusive member benefit, the association has retained Poul H. Lemasters, Esq., of Lemasters Consulting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Poul is an attorney and licensed funeral director, and members in good standing may call him at 513.407.8114 to discuss cremation concerns for up to 20 minutes at no charge.
GPL Compliance Check
Members whose businesses must follow the FTC Funeral Rule's General Price List (GPL) requirements can have their lists reviewed for compliance by attorney Poul H. Lemasters, Esq., without charge. Contact Lemasters at 513.407.8114.
CONTACT US
International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association
107 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100
Sterling, VA 20164
1.800.645.7700
703.391.8400
Fax: 703.391.8416
www.iccfa.com
Our mission: Providing exceptional education, networking and legislative guidance and support to progressive cemetery, funeral and cremation professionals worldwide.
Copyright 2011, International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association
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