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.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
NLRB Proposals Seek to Rush Union Elections
With the controversial Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) stalled in Congress, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is attempting to do through its regulations what a majority in Congress have refused to do through the EFCA. The proposed rule changes, if enacted, would dramatically expedite union elections. Among other things, the NLRB would make the following changes to the existing election process:
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Accelerate the initial hearing date following the filing of a representation petition;
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Mandate expansive pre-hearing discovery of issues;
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Significantly curtail the ability to litigate issues before an election;
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Eliminate the right to file post-hearing briefs;
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Bar pre-election requests to review regional decisions;
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Require lists of eligible voters be filed within only two days; and
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Provide the union with voters' phone numbers, e-mail addresses.
Since approximately 95 percent of all representation elections are held in 56 days, the new procedures, if adopted, could reduce the time frame by 30 or more days. Under these changes, it appears elections could be held in slightly over three weeks (or possibly less) from the filing of a petition. Earlier this month, the House Education and Workforce Committee convened a hearing titled, "Rushing Union Elections: Protecting Big Labor at the Expense of Workers' Free Choice." Testimony was presented by the Jackson Lewis law firm, which has represented many employer associations including the ICCFA, before federal agencies. A copy of the testimony can be accessed at www.iccfa.com/files/EFCATestimonyJuly2011.pdf. ICCFA members will be kept informed of important developments.
Mortuary Science Students Beware: Facing the Consequences of Facebook
A student enrolled in a university's Mortuary Science program learned that freedom of speech does not apply to Facebook when it conflicts with University regulations. In Tatro v. University of Minnesota, the plaintiff Tatro participated in an orientation program on appropriate behavior in regard to the anatomy-bequest program donors and signed a related agreement. Subsequently, Tatro posted statements on her Facebook account making derogatory remarks and threatening to "stab someone in the throat with a trocar." Her Facebook settings allowed her "friends" and "friends of friends" to view these postings, which she admitted included hundreds of people.
Another mortuary science student alerted the school concerning the posts and a formal complaint was filed against Tatro alleging violations of the university's student conduct code. After a hearing at which Tatro's attorney challenged the university's authority, Tatro was found in violation of the code of conduct, given a failing grade in her anatomy laboratory class, requiring her to enroll in a clinical ethics course, write a letter to the mortuary science faculty addressing the issue of respect within the department and profession, and to complete a psychiatric evaluation. Tatro was also placed on academic probation for the remainder of her undergraduate career.
Tatro appealed the university's sanctions with the state court, claiming that her Facebook postings, "when read in context, were obviously literary expression, intended to be satirical, vent emotion, and incorporate popular culture references." The court disagreed, noting testimony that established several faculty members interpreted Tatro's postings as directed towards them. The court held that the university acted within its authority and its determinations did not violate Tatro's right to free speech. The sanctions imposed were not arbitrary, oppressive, or unreasonable.
CCSC Serving the Public For More Than 30 Years
The Cemetery Consumer Service Council (CCSC) is celebrating its 32nd year of operation in 2011 and through its network of industry volunteers continues to assist consumers. An increasing number of contacts originate from Internet searches and traditional referrals from other organizations. The CCSC periodically contacts members of Congress to advise them of the assistance and information the Council can offer to their constituents.
The CCSC is a non-profit organization created in 1979 and is funded by the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, the Cremation Association of North America, the Southern Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Home Association, and the Cemetery & Mortuary Association of California. The sole purpose of CCSC is to assist consumers, without charge, in resolving complaints or answering inquiries regarding cemetery services or policies. Participation in the complaint resolution process is voluntary for both the consumer and the cemetery.
Industry members volunteer their time and experience to serve as CCSC representatives in their respective states. The Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, various state consumer protection agencies, and offices of attorneys general are notified of CCSC activities and are among the major sources for consumer referrals. CCSC is listed in the Consumer's Resource Handbook, a U.S. government publication that is circulated to public libraries and consumer assistance agencies throughout the nation.
Complaints are handled by the state and regional committees with the national CCSC office in the Washington, DC area being the overall coordinator of the project and the central contact point. Complaints received by the national office are logged in and each is given a file number for tracking purposes. A copy of the complaint is then forwarded to the appropriate state representative for investigation and action. At that point, many complaints are resolved by telephone and the consumer is notified of the results. It is rare for a cemetery to refuse to participate in the CCSC dispute resolution process. Where no committee exists, CCSC works with the state cemetery board or similar government agency to assist the consumer.
The Federal Trade Commission has published an annual survey of consumer complaints culled from dozens of consumer protection agencies and private organizations including the Better Business Bureau. For the calendar year 2010, the FTC tallied 1.3 million complaints nationally, of which 339 or 0.03%, were funeral-related. Consumers wanting to contact CCSC for assistance should visit https://www.iccfa.com/tag/consumer/complaint-resolution-services.
ICCFA NEWS
Executives: Strengthen Your Leadership Skills in Two Days
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Pawliw-Fry |
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Merington |
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Burn |
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Faccinto |
The ICCFA Fall Management Conference, September 21-23 in Naples, Florida, will bring together hundreds of our profession's most influential executives—powerbrokers whose everyday decisions affect the future not only of their own businesses but of our entire profession—for an interactive program that will help you become a more effective, informed leader.
Set at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort in beautiful Naples, Florida, the Fall Management Conference offers you a mini-retreat, allowing you to step away from the pressures of your daily responsibilities and enjoy a rare opportunity to focus on yourself and your ability to successfully lead your organization. This year's streamlined format offers nine hours of educational programming as well as several excellent opportunities to network (including our annual Fall Management Golf Tournament), yet it requires less than three full days away from your home and office. Best of all, our reduced room rate for this event is an incredible $179 per night.
Make the time. Take the time. You owe it to your company, to your staff and to the families you serve. Most of all, you owe it to yourself.
This year's program includes:
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Keynote speaker, J.P. Pawliw-Fry, is an instructor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and is at the forefront of the field of executive emotional intelligence, an essential quality for successful leadership within our profession. In a one-hour keynote followed by a two-hour interactive workshop, he will share ways to raise your emotional intelligence quotient and thus your abilities to engage staff and serve families.
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Three breakout Café Collectives. For one afternoon, we will break into smaller groups to examine the three most challenging issues facing us as cemetery and funeral home owners and managers as identified in a recent survey:
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Marketing to Baby Boomers: Moderator Larry Merington, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Stewart Enterprises. What is the best way to reach and engage the baby boomer generation? What are you doing to attract them, meet their needs and desires and encourage loyalty among them.
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The Cremation Value Proposition: Moderator Julie Burn, CCrE, CSE, ICCFA director of cremation services. How do you convey the value proposition of cremation both to staff and families as it relates to memorial services, personalization, alternative disposition, permanent placement and memorialization?
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Leadership in Times of Change: Moderator Vinnie Faccinto, CCFE, owner, Oak Lawn Funeral Home, Cremation Center and Memorial Cemetery, Cookeville, Tennessee. How do you leverage your leadership style, communicate with staff, develop your organizational culture, ensure accountability?
Full program and registration information is now available at www.iccfa.com.
Call For Presentations: 2012 Annual Convention
In preparation for the ICCFA 2012 Convention & Exposition, March 19-22 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Convention Planning Committee Chairmen Hamilton Jones, CFSP, and C. John Linge, CCFE, have issued a call for presentations.
If you have expertise in a particular area of cemetery, cremation and funeral service, this is your opportunity to give back to your profession. Proposals are due to ICCFA by August 23. Guidelines are as follows:
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Include your name, title, company name, address, phone, fax and e-mail.
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Include a description of your session (approximately 100 words). Session descriptions should name at least two or three specific skills, techniques or ideas the attendee will take away from the session. We are most interested in sessions that share concrete, proven techniques and programs, as opposed to theory or opinion.
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Include a brief bio regarding your experience and qualifications within the industry as well as any speaking experience you may have.
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Include information on which areas of our profession are the intended audience, e.g., cemetery owners and managers, funeral home owners, funeral directors, sales managers, etc.
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Let us know how long you anticipate your presentation will take. Most presentation time slots are 50 minutes; however, there are a limited number of 110-minute slots. In addition to full-length sessions and workshops, we are interested in shorter presentations that can be combined to form panel sessions.
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Indicate what types of audio/visual aids you will use, if any.
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Include a list of anticipated handouts.
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Note that we ask that speakers refrain from speaking about prices or other issues subject to antitrust legislation. In addition, we ask that speakers refrain from overt promotion of their own products/services.
We typically receive many more proposals than we can fit into the program. The committee has to choose among many excellent proposals, so please be sure to follow these guidelines and to clearly explain the value proposition for attendees (#2 above). Please submit your proposal by August 23 to Linda Budzinski at lindab@iccfa.com (preferred) or via fax to 703.391.8416. Questions? Call 1.800.645.7700.
Certified Pet Loss Professionals Training Program
The Pet Loss Professionals Alliance will offer its inaugural session of the Certified Pet Loss Professional (CPLP) certification program October 2-4, 2011, in Forth Worth, Texas.
The training is geared toward those who wish to increase their companies' professionalism and expand their pet loss businesses and is a requirement for achieving the Pet Loss Professional Alliance's newly created CPLP designation. Applications for the CPLP designation will be available later this summer. Sessions include:
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Becoming the Best at What You Do, Joe Dwyer
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Achieving Personal and Professional Success, Rena Tarbet
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Grief Management: Helping Families Deal with the Loss of a Pet, Claire Chew
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Operating a Pet Loss Business: Best Practices, Dewayne Cain and Marty Dumas
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Best Practices for Pet Cemeteries, Bill Remkus
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Providing Pet Funeral Services: The First Call and Beyond, Kate Moore, CFSP, and Terry Branson, CFSP
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The Devil is in the Details: Customer Loyalty is Not Built from 30,000 Feet, Doug Gober
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Increase Your Sales Using Social Media, Zachary Garbow
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Unraveling the Mysteries of Marketing, Coleen Ellis
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Improving the Efficiency of Your Pet Crematory, Jon Remkus and Ron Salvatore
Your registration fee for this course includes:
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Two full days of training
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Numerous opportunities to network and share ideas with colleagues and suppliers
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Bus transportation, admission, dinner, line dancing and a photo opportunity at Monday night's Kickoff Party at Billy Bob's, the world's largest honky tonk
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Two morning coffee breaks
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Two lunches
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Afternoon refreshment breaks
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Happy hour
A full schedule and registration information is available at www.myplpa.com. Cost is $389. Registration will be limited to the first 60 applicants, so register early. The PLPA has secured a discount room rate of $139 per night at the Embassy Suites Fort Worth—Downtown. To reserve your room, call 817.332.6900 and indicate that you are with the ICCFA conference.
Thank you to our Corporate Partners: A Keepsake Company, Let Your Love Grow, Memory Vessels, Monarch Resources, Paradise Pictures and Terrybear Urns & Memorials. Suppliers interested in sponsorship should contact ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700 or via e-mail at hq@iccfa.com.
ALSO BEING OFFERED:
Pet Loss & Grief Companioning Certification Program
October 6-8 • Presented by Coleen Ellis, Two Hearts Pet Loss Center
Understand the basics of the grief process through the companioning skills needed for a mourning heart, and of self-care needed for this emotionally charged role. Attendees will hear firsthand this informative material, complete with stories of pet loss experiences to aid in the learning process.
Registration for this program is separate and can be made through Two Hearts Pet Loss Center. For more information and to register, visit www.twoheartspetlosscenter.com.
Crematory Operator Certification Programs
The ICCFA is offering its one-day Crematory Operator Certification programs on Saturday, July 23, in Memphis, TN, and Wednesday, October 5, in Fort Worth, TX.
July 23 in Memphis, TN, held in conjunction with ICCFA University
Registration for those who wish to attend only the Crematory Operator Training/Certification includes:
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Admission to the Friday night University Reception and Dinner
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The all-day crematory operator training and certification on Saturday
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Breakfast, lunch and refreshment breaks on Saturday
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Cost is $429. You may register online or download and complete the One-Day Crematory Operator registration form.
LODGING
If you require housing, please contact the Memphis Doubletree (approx. 1 mile from campus) at 901.767.6666 or call ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700 for on-campus dormitory options.
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October 5 in Fort Worth, TX, held after CPLP Training Program
Presented by ICCFA cremation coaches Julie Burn, CCrE, CSE; Poul Lemasters, Esq.; and Larry Stuart Jr. in concert with Crematory Manufacturing & Service Inc.
The extensive training curriculum includes:
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professional terminology
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incinerator terminology
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principles of combustion
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cremation and the environment
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incinerator criteria and design
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basics of operating cremation equipment
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general maintenance and troubleshooting
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forms and record keeping
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handling and exposure control
All attendees will receive a comprehensive Operations Manual covering all aspects of crematory operation and maintenance.
Attendees are invited to join CPLP participants for the 40 on 40 event on Tuesday evening (a ticket must be purchased).
REGISTRATION
Cost is $369. You may register online by choosing to attend just the Crematory Operator Training on October 5 or by attending both the CPLP and Crematory Operator Certification programs (save $50 by attending both!). You may also download a registration form.
LODGING
For those attending the PLPA and Crematory Operator Program, they can extend their stay at the Embassy Suites for Tuesday night, October 4, for a rate of $169 (Tuesday night rate).
For those attending the COCP only, a discounted rate of $129 is being offered for the night of Tuesday, October 4, at The Holiday Inn Express* (a sister property). There is a complimentary shuttle between the two hotels. The Holiday Inn is approximately one mile from the Embassy Suites.
*Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Forth Worth Downtown
1111 W. Lancaster Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 1-817-698-9595
www.holidayinnexpressfw.com
Please contact Julie Burn if you have any questions at julieb@iccfa.com.
PLPA Offers Monthly Pet Loss & Grief Webinars
As a pet care professional, being comfortable with the grief process and knowing how to walk with a pet parent after the loss of a pet and in their grief journey requires special skills. Together, the Pet Loss Professionals Alliance and Two Hearts Pet Loss Center answer your need for this learning. Enhance your skills in helping a family through the loss of their beloved pet by participating in monthly pet loss and grief webinars.
Upcoming dates:
Each session will be conducted via webinar from 5 to 6 p.m. Eastern time on the dates listed above. You will be contacted closer to the date of each event with instructions on how to participate in the webinar. COST: $39 per session/$30 per session for PLPA Members. For more information, visit www.Pet-Loss-Grief.com.
 ICCFA University: Still Time to Register; Walk-ins Welcome
A record crowd will meet at ICCFA University later this week (July 22-27) at the Fogelman Executive Center at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The College of 21st Century Funeral Services has sold out, but the other five colleges still have a few seats available. Lodging is still available on campus and at several nearby hotels:
For lodging on campus in one of the University of Memphis dormitories, please contact Karen Gray directly at 1.800.645.7700.
Embassy Suites Memphis
1022 S. Shady Grove Rd. (approximately 5 miles from campus)
901.684.1777
Holiday Inn Express
1180 Union Ave. (approximately 5 miles from campus)
901.276.1175
Note: If a sufficient number of attendees stay at this Holiday Inn, the hotel will run a complimentary shuttle to and from the Fogelman Conference Center in the morning and evening.
Hampton Inn Memphis
I-240 at Thousand Oaks (approximately 5 miles from campus)
2700 Perkins Rd. South
901.367.1234
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 many 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.
Again, the College of 21st Century Funeral Services has sold out. Several other colleges are near capacity. Please register today to reserve your spot. The complete program, registration materials and online registration can be found at www.iccfa.com.
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TO BUY/SELL
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POSITIONS AVAILABLE
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Top Sales Director Needed (New York)
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Sales Management Professional (Michigan)
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Managing Partner and Sales Manager Opportunities (Florida)
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Sales Manager (West Palm Beach, FL)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (Brattleboro, VT)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (northern Los Angeles)
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Sales Manager (central TX)
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Sales Manager (Florida)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Meridian, MS)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Baytown, TX)
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General Manager, LifeMark Center at Skylawn Memorial Park (San Mateo, CA)
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Director of Sales, The Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, NY)
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Excellent Sales Opportunity (Houston, TX)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Wichita Falls, TX)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Tyler, TX)
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Sales Manager/Family Service Manager (St. Francois County, MO)
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Funeral Director (San Angelo, TX)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Lubbock, TX)
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Regional Management Positions (IL, OH, LA, MS, WV, AR, MO, KY, TN, NJ, MD, DE, PA)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Longview, TX)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Kileen, TX)
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Director of North American Sales (Novi, MI)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Conroe, TX)
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Funeral Director/Embalmer (Booneville, MS)
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Sales Management Opportunity (Midwest)
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Funeral Director (Amarillo, TX)
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Funeral Director (Abilene, TX)
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General Manager (Brownwood, TX)
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General Manager (Baytown, TX)
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Sales Managers (California)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (Midland, TX)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (Denison, TX)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (Amarillo, TX)
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Area General Manager (San Diego)
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Funeral Home Location Manager (El Paso, TX)
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Embalmer (Tucson, AZ)
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Bilingual Licensed Funeral Home Manager (Houston, TX)
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Bilingual Funeral Home Manager (Harlingen, TX)
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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