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INDUSTRY NEWS House Democrats Introduce Bill to End Secret Ballot Union Voting Today, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are scheduled to introduce the "Employee Free Choice Act", a bill to facilitate the establishment of union shops in businesses with as few as three employees. As previously reported in the January 16 edition of ICCFA Wireless, the misnamed "Free Choice Act" would actually deprive employees of the secret ballot in voting on whether or not to unionize, and would mandate binding arbitration when the first collective bargaining negotiations don't produce a contract within 90 days. Ultimately, an arbitrator can mandate the terms of the contract over the objections of both the employer and the union. The senior ranking Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA), stated that the bill creates a double standard whereby employees no longer have the right to vote in private on whether to unionize but ironically preserves the secret ballot when workers seek to decertify a union. According to McKeon, unions insist on using the "card check" method of indicating workers' support for unionizing while claiming that the secret ballot must be preserved for decertifying a union as "imperative to preserving privacy and independence." McKeon concluded, "If a card check is good enough for workers to organize a union in a workplace, it should be good enough to allow them to break ties with that same union if they are not satisfied with the way it's representing them." The first public hearing on the Employee Free Choice Act will be held this Thursday, February 8, by the House Education and Labor Subcommittee in what is expected to be fast track approval of the legislation. The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace has invited the ICCFA to join in an effort to oppose the bill. Significant developments will be reported as they occur. ICCFA NEWS ICCFA Online Institute, Dignity University Team Up to Offer Web-Based Training Cemetery and funeral home owners, managers and staff can now participate in online safety training, thanks to a partnership between the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association's Online Institute and Dignity University™, an educational arm of Service Corporation International. On February 1, the ICCFA and Dignity University™ launched 12 Web-based courses on topics related to safety training for cemeteries and funeral homes. The courses can be accessed through the ICCFA Web site at www.iccfa.com/institute. Developed specifically for the cemetery and funeral service profession, the courses can be used to fulfill OSHA training requirements, and ICCFA-member funeral directors in most states can earn continuing education credits. Among the benefits:
ICCFA Announces 2006 KIP Award Winners The ICCFA has announced the winners for the 2006 KIP Awards, which recognize outstanding examples of personalization of services or products in the cemetery and funeral service profession. A panel of five independent judges reviewed 23 entries in four separate categories: Best Practices/Personal Touch, Events, Most Personalized Service or Memorial and Innovative Personalized Products. A complete list of winners and descriptions of their entries can be found at www.iccfa.com/kip_categories06.htm. Congratulations to the Grand Prize Winner (and first place in the Most Personalized Service or Memorial Category): Bringhurst Funeral Home/West Laurel Hill Cemetery Deborah Cassidy, director, family services Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania Grand prize winner Deborah Cassidy will receive a free registration to the ICCFA 2007 Convention & Exposition, March 20-23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. All first-place and honorable mention winners will be recognized at the Convention and in ICCFA Magazine and are being provided promotional news releases to submit to their local media. To read more about the 2006 KIP Awards winners, visit www.iccfa.com/kip.htm. ICCFA Introduces New Sales Training Programs The ICCFA has introduced two new products from sales trainer and professional speaker Gary O'Sullivan, CCE. O'Sullivan is known throughout the cemetery and funeral service profession for his success in sales and his ability to motivate and train employees to reach their selling potential. His two newest products are 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. "The Power to Sell Preneed" offers 10 DVD sessions covering the major principles for success in sales such as prospecting, effective presentation, overcoming objections, getting referrals and more. It is available for $649 for members, and $799 for non-members. The Go-Sell System serves as a monthly, quarterly and annual training reinforcement tool for sales managers and is designed to help stimulate conversation with their sales teams and engage them in the learning process. It is available to ICCFA members for only $159 and to non-members for $199. Click here to download a more detailed description of each of these products: www.iccfa.com/docs/osullivan.doc. To place an order, call the ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700. Quiz: What Can You Buy for $395? Nowadays, there's only so much you can get for $395. But there is one purchase you can make that will help you build your career and your business for many years to come. Can you pick out which of the following is your best $395 investment? (a) One pair of Bally men's dress shoes (b) Two truck tires (c) One stainless-steel, fire-resistant, odor-control trash can (d) Dinner for yourself and three business associates (e) One 5-inch-by-4-inch advertisement in your local newspaper (f) One full member registration to the ICCFA 2007 Convention & Exposition (g) One rotary-style fertilizer spreader If you picked (f), you're right! At the ICCFA Convention & Exposition, March 20-23 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, you'll learn new ideas, network with colleagues from throughout the cemetery and funeral service profession and return to your business energized and inspired. With more than 50 speakers on a full range of cemetery and funeral service management topics, as well as a trade show with 200+ booths, the ICCFA Convention offers something for everyone. It's your money. Choose wisely. Please note: The $395 early-registration member rate is available only until this Friday, February 9. Next week, the rate goes up to $445. Also note that after February 9, our room block at Mandalay Bay will be released. If you have not already made your reservation, please do so today by calling the hotel at 1.877.632.7000 and identifying yourself as an attendee at the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association Event. For a full Convention program and registration materials, visit www.iccfa.com/ac07.htm or call 1.800.645.7700. CLASSIFIED ADS Chief Executive Officer The Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Washington, Inc., seeks a Chief Executive Officer to manage the overall daily operations of the corporation. The authority, duties and responsibilities of the CEO extend to the five major cemeteries and 33 parish cemeteries of the Archdiocese, located in the District of Columbia and five counties of the State of Maryland. Candidates are required to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of five years management experience with three years executive level experience. Years of experience should be with an organization whose operation encompasses multiple locations and over 60 employees. Resumes may be sent to Attn: CEO Search Committee by fax 301-460-7025 or e-mail fjm@ccaw.org. Caring Cemetery Counselors Needed Our Catholic cemetery organization located in Baltimore, MD is looking for Family Service/Pre-need Sales Counselors. Successful candidates will enjoy direct selling; have a proven track record in sales and excellent communication skills, as well as be highly motivated, well organized, and detail oriented. 3-5 years sales experience required, preferably in cemetery sales, but we will train. These positions are commissioned with a draw and benefits are available. Send resume to Director of Operations, 7401 German Hill Road, Baltimore, MD 21222 or email tjdiciurcio@redemcem.org. Exciting Sales Opportunities! StoneMor, a leader in the industry, has exciting opportunities for Sales Professionals at many locations. We boast one of the highest commission rates in the industry and our Sales Managers enjoy triple override bonuses on all location sales after hitting performance goals. We have excellent benefits including:
EOE For more information, please call 877-857-8890 and refer to this ad or send your resume via fax at 215-826-2929 or email it to jobs@stonemor.com. www.stonemor.com Grow Your Business with FuneralHomes.com FuneralHomes.com—the Funeral Director's Resource for Effective Customer Acquisition. We connect At-need and Pre-planning consumers with Funeral Homes in their area, you are missing out on business! Position your Funeral Home at the top—Call us at 1.800.208.2580 to start receiving business today. www.FuneralHomes.com. New Opportunities Await You! People preplan for many reasons. Chief among them is peace of mind. Now you can offer your families additional peace of mind through the Omega Assured Return Plan, a service option offered through Inman Shipping Worldwide. Inman Shipping Worldwide has been the recognized leader in the deathcare industry for the repatriation of human remains, from anywhere in the world, for over 30 years. With society traveling more and more today for business, vacations and even health care in distant cities, death away from home is becoming more common. When death occurs 100 miles or more away from an individual's legal residence, all the necessary services for returning the deceased to their home are covered for those enrolled in the Omega Assured Return Plan. The Omega Assured Return Plan is the logical companion for cemetery, funeral and cremation prearrangements. An ideal supplemental product, the Omega Assured Return Plan provides another opportunity to maintain contact with your client families. A simple enrollment form and onetime payment will provide a lifetime of coverage for this valuable service. Expand your selling portfolio and earn generous commissions. No license is required. To find out how you or your company can offer the Omega Assured Return Plan, call our toll free number at 1-888-889-8508 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern time Monday through Friday or send an email to omegareturninfo@yahoo.com. Reach Thousands of Cemeteries and Funeral Homes With Your Classified Ad!
And more ... For a limited time, ICCFA members can purchase the McQuaig Job Survey, the McQuaig Word Survey and the McQuaig Self-Development Survey for just $100 per assessment, a savings of up to 50 percent off the regular price. The member discount offer expires June 30, 2007. Companies assessing more than 100 candidates per year are eligible for additional discounts. For additional information, visit http://www.icfa.org/pdf/mcquaig2.pdf and http://www.icfa.org/pdf/mcquaig.pdf. For questions and to sign up for the program, contact Michael Gravelle at The McQuaig Institute at 1.800.387.5455, ext. 361, or mgravelle@mcquaig.com. Join today! The 2007 Music Licenses are available for just $232, 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. Join today! The ICCFA Store allows members to purchase the latest ICCFA resources and training products online. Some products are available for immediate direct download, including the newly released Wirthlin Report on consumer attitudes and article packages on cremation, cemetery and funeral home valuations and trust funds. 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. The Network is an online e-mail service that offers ICCFA members an easy, free way to share questions and answers to everyday on-the-job challenges. Recent discussions have examined issues such as working with the Muslim community, distance between burial sites, direct mail marketing, the growing popularity of geocaching at cemeteries, recruiting staff and more. Ideal for smaller companies with smaller budgets. Join today! 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! Need a labor relations and employment law attorney? Check out ICCFA's HR Law Benefit program offering members no-cost telephone legal consultations, paid for by the ICCFA via an exclusive retainer agreement. 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, D.C., for telephone consultations for up to 20 minutes with no obligation. To take advantage of this member benefit, call Schneider at 202.393.7600. The ICCFA and Applied Merchant Systems of Chicago, Illinois, currently offer members a Credit Card Processing Program with a special low discount rate of 1.75 percent, with no per transaction processing fee. This new benefit makes it less expensive for cemeteries, funeral homes, memorial designers and related businesses to accommodate customers who wish to pay via credit card. For more information, call 1-800-675-6573. The ICCFA Insurance Program, administered by Alliant Insurance Services, 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. To advertise in the ICCFA Wireless: The ICCFA accepts limited advertising in the ICCFA Wireless newsletter, a bi-weekly newsletter e-mailed to all ICCFA members that are current on their dues and have provided a current e-mail address. For rates and to place your insertion, contact Nichole Causey at ncausey@iccfa.com or 1.800.645.7700. To unsubscribe from the ICCFA Wireless: Send an e-mail with "unsubscribe" in the subject line to: wireless@icfa.org. Please include your name and company name in the body of the e-mail. 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 Copyright 2007 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. |
