April 24, 2007, Edition - Volume 8 - No. 10
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ICCFA WIRELESS is a biweekly 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: wireless@icfa.org.
INDUSTRY NEWS
ICCFA Submits "Friend of Court" Brief in Maryland Federal Litigation on Funeral Home Ownership
ICCFA NEWS
Fulfill OSHA Requirements, Earn CE Credits at Home or Office
ICCFA University Offers Diverse Training
Fall Management Conference Set for Palm Springs, California
Call for Presentations—2008 Wide World of Sales Conference
Product of the Month: Lead Generation Innovations, Volumes I and II
CLASSIFIED ADS
INDUSTRY NEWS
ICCFA Submits "Friend of Court" Brief in Maryland Federal Litigation on Funeral Home Ownership
On April 24, 2007, the ICCFA submitted an Amicus Curiae, or "friend of the court," brief to the U.S. District Court for Maryland in the case of Brown v. Hovatter. This litigation challenges the constitutionality of the state Morticians Act that, among other things, prohibits the corporate ownership of funeral homes, with the exception of 58 corporate licenses that were "grandfathered" into the law back in 1945.
The Association's brief states, "Since at least 97 percent of ICCFA's members are corporations, the ICCFA is concerned by Maryland's unique statute banning corporations from entering the Maryland funeral home market... These ownership restrictions discriminate against interstate commerce and unduly burden interstate commerce in violation of the dormant Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8, Clause 3."
The Amicus brief draws the Court's attention to the fact that "87 percent of funeral homes that have employees are organized as corporations according to the 2002 census... The Morticians Act, which provides no discernible health or welfare benefits to the people of Maryland, discriminates against and burdens interstate commerce by preventing virtually any out-of-state ICCFA member from entering the Maryland funeral home market." The brief cites several federal court decisions involving similar restrictions in other states' laws governing other industries that have been found unconstitutional. For more information regarding the Amicus brief, please contact ICCFA general counsel Bob Fells at 1.800.645.7700. The complete text of the brief is posted at www.iccfa.com/pdf/amicus_brief.pdf.
ICCFA NEWS
Fulfill OSHA Requirements, Earn CE Credits at Home or Office
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.
The 12 Web-based courses cover topics related to safety training for cemeteries and funeral homes and 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:
- The courses promote increased workplace safety and help staff recognize and correct potential hazards before they become a problem.
- The courses provide testing and verification, allowing managers to confirm participation and maintain appropriate personnel records.
- Staff have 24-hour access, allowing them to complete the work on their own schedule and from the convenience of their home or office.
- The courses are self-paced, allowing staff to spend as much time as needed on each lesson.
- At just $19.95 per unit, with no travel expenses, the courses are the most affordable way to obtain the legally required training.
ICCFA University Offers Diverse Training
On July 20-25, cemetery, cremation and funeral service professionals will gather at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, for the 2007 session of ICCFA University. Their reasons for attending ICCFAU are as diverse as the program itself. Many are looking for ways to improve their business and increase their revenue. Some are new to the profession and want to meet other professionals and build a support network. Others wish to gain a well-rounded education in other areas of the profession. Ask yourself what you want to gain from ICCFAU. Whatever your purpose, ICCFAU will offer you the training and knowledge to reach your goals and excel in your career.
Choose from five colleges, including:
- College of Administration and Management
- College of Land Management & Grounds Operations
- College of Sales & Marketing
- College of Funeral Home Management
- Brand New! Cremation Certification Program in conjunction with the College of Cremation Services.
To view the complete ICCFAU schedule, visit www.iccfa.com/iccfau07.htm. For students interested in the College of Cremation Services, a brand new Certification Program is available. Visit www.iccfa.com/iccfau07_certification.htm to learn more.
Fall Management Conference Set for Palm Springs, California
Join the ICCFA for a fun-filled week of education, relaxation and networking at a place where the sun never stops shining. The luxurious Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino in Palm Springs, California, will be the site of the 2007 Fall Management Conference, October 3-6. Known for its four-star caliber, attentive staff and luxury amenities, Fantasy Springs is the newest Resort in Palm Springs and offers all its guests "star treatment."
As one of the first organizations to hold a full-scale conference at the resort, the ICCFA has secured a remarkably low room rate: Just $149 per night (plus a 10 percent resort fee.)
With an average of 350 sunny days per year, low humidity, and beautiful mountainous scenery, Palm Springs offers an ideal setting for a wide range of outdoor activities, including golfing, hiking and swimming. Conference sessions are scheduled in the morning, allowing you and your family plenty of opportunities to enjoy all the resort has to offer:
- Fantasy Springs Resort Casino—Try your luck at blackjack, poker or the slot machines in one of the most elegant casinos in the Palm Springs area. With thousands of slot machines, 40 tables and a dedicated Poker Room, you will quickly see why this casino is one of the premier gaming destinations in Southern California.
- An afternoon of golf—Known as the "Golf Capitol of the World," Palm Springs offers dozens of championship golf courses, including the resort's scenic Eagle Falls Golf Course, host to the ICCFA's Annual Golf Tournament.
- Soak up the sun—The resort's pool area features a 103-foot swimming pool, jacuzzi, tanning pool, outdoor bar and even a beach volleyball area.
- Bowling at Fantasy Lanes—The Palm Springs Bowling Center, open daily, features 24 state-of-the-art lanes, late-night laser bowling, an arcade lounge and a sports lounge.
- Fine Dining—Fantasy Springs offers a variety of fine and casual dining areas, including Player's Steakhouse, The Bistro, Pizza Kitchen, and the Terrace Bar.
- Nightlife—Fantasy Lounge and the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs offer nightly entertainment, including comedy shows, music, dance concerts and more.
- Shop 'til you drop—You will find hundreds of the country's top retailers just minutes away from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, including the world-famous El Paseo Shopping District, with its designer boutiques, award-winning restaurants, antique shops, art galleries and more.
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—Take in the breath-taking views of Chino Canyon aboard the world's largest rotating tramcar. Upon arrival at the top, enjoy the spectacular scenery of the desert below while eating at Peaks Restaurant or the more casual Lookout Lounge.
Call for Presentations—2008 Wide World of Sales Conference
As preparations begin for the ICCFA's 2008 Wide World of Sales Conference, January 9-11 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana, the ICCFA Sales & Marketing Committee invites ICCFA members and attendees who wish to speak at this event to submit proposals for presentations.
This year's conference theme will be "Recipes for Success." We are looking for presentations that offer step-by-step, how-to information on programs and techniques that sales managers and/or counselors can take back and use immediately at their locations.
Interested candidates should submit their proposed presentation to the ICCFA headquarters no later than June 22. Instructions for preparing your proposal are available by downloading them at http://www.iccfa.com/docs/presentations08.doc or by calling the ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700.
Product of the Month: Lead Generation Innovations, Volumes I and II
For the month of April, take advantage of huge savings on the Lead Generation Innovations DVDs, Volumes I and II. Purchase both DVDs at a discounted rate, and discover new ways to contact prospects, organize community events and generate leads. Orders must be placed by April 30 to receive the special rate.
Lead Generation Innovations: Volume I offers "tricks of the trade" for setting up and conducting effective group seminars, community events and consumer trade shows, attracting people to these events and following up on leads. Topics include:
- Establishing the desired tone and creating a sense of urgency during a group presentation
- Forming and leading an effective event-planning team
- The five steps to creating a successful event
- Researching and booking consumer expositions
- 14 keys to a successful booth
- Dos and don'ts for staffing your booth
- Five places your company name should appear at every show
- Effective giveaways
Regular price: $30 for ICCFA members; $40 for non-members.
Lead Generations Innovations: Volume II explains how to use networking, affinity and community programs to expand market share, including:
- Dos and don'ts of active networking
- Going beyond business cards
- Using the Internet as a networking resource
- 23 questions you need to answer before starting an affinity program
- Documentation needed to implement an affinity program
- Promoting your community program
- Approaching churches to promote your services
Regular price: $30 for ICCFA members; $40 for non-members.
For the month of April only, the price for both DVDs is $40 plus shipping. Call the ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700 to place an order.
CLASSIFIED ADS
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)
The Town of Christiansburg is soliciting proposals for cemetery management services to oversee operations including but not limited to: ownership or management or cemetery property including all aspects of business such as managing and growing investments in perpetual care fund; manage files of those interred on the property; and oversee maintenance of cemetery including selling cemetery plots; orchestrating burials with funeral homes; mowing/weed-eating, debris removal, etc.
Full copy of RFI may be obtained from the Office of the Town Manager, 100 East Main, Christiansburg, VA 24073, (540) 382-6128.
Proposals must be received NO LATER THAN 5 PM, Thursday, March 30, 2007.
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:
- Medical
- Dental
- Life
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- 401K.
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!
- ICCFA Wireless Classified Ads cost $50 and must be prepaid.
- Ads run in three consecutive issues, and include free placement on the ICCFA Web site for six weeks.
- Ads include a link to the company Web site and/or e-mail at no charge.
- Ads with a box number for confidential reply are available for an additional $5.
- Ads must be no longer than 250 words.
- The ICCFA limits the number of ads per issue to five, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- All advertising is subject to the publisher's approval; advertisers assume liability for all content of advertisements printed and for any claims arising therefrom against the publisher.
- For more information or to place an ad, contact Nichole Causey at ncausey@iccfa.com or call 1.800.645.7700.
And More ...
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. Click here to download a detailed description of each prodcut: www.iccfa.com/docs/osullivan.doc. To place an order, call the ICCFA at 1.800.645.7700.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2006 Keeping It Personal (KIP) Awards! The KIP Awards recognize outstanding examples of personalization of services or products in the cemetery and funeral service profession. Read about the winning entries at www.iccfa.com/kip.htm.
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.