May 22, 2007, Edition - Volume 8 - No. 12
Welcome to the ICCFA Wireless newsletter! If you experience any problems with this html version, please let us know by calling 1.800.645.7700.
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: hq@iccfa.com.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Beware: Email Funeral Scam
Capitol Hill Roundup: Congressional Bills That Can Impact Your Business
ICCFA NEWS
ICCFA University Housing Deadline: May 26
Fulfill OSHA Requirements, Earn CE Credits at Home or Office
Strive for Success at ICCFA's 2007 Fall Management Conference
Product of the Month: DVD—Setting Priorities
Deadline for Submitting Presentation Proposals: June 22
Scott Love to Host Audio Teleconference
CLASSIFIED ADS
INDUSTRY NEWS
Beware: Email Funeral Scam
Recently, a few of our members have reported receiving email requests for funeral prices and instructions to charge the amounts to a forthcoming credit card. The sender then requests that an additional amount, ranging from $1200 to $1650, be charged to the credit card and sent to a "burial agent" in another country via Western Union Money Transfer. The apparent scam seems similar to the well-known "Nigerian money transfer" scam.
Two such emails forwarded by members to ICCFA are worded nearly identically with similar typos. Part of the first paragraph reads: "...and pis I will like to book a burial plot of my late mum. Pis I will like you to email me with the costs for the single burial plots which u have available at this time..."
Members receiving similar emails are encouraged to report them to the Federal Trade Commission's "Consumer Sentinel" complaint forum on the FTC web site at https://www.econsumer.gov/pls/econsumer/wimsnery2$com.main?p_lang_seq=1. Complaints entered into this FTC law enforcement database will be made available to certified government law enforcement agencies in participating countries. The information is used by government agencies to spot new trends, uncover new scams, and target suspect companies and individuals for law enforcement actions. Submitting your complaint will help law enforcement agencies worldwide in their efforts to keep the Internet safe for the public.
Capitol Hill Roundup: Congressional Bills That Can Impact Your Business
As May draws to a close, the first session of the 110th Congress has reached its half-way mark. The following bills are pending in the House of Representatives or the Senate and are relevant to funeral homes, cemeteries and related businesses. All these bills will remain in play until the end of 2008 when the second session of this Congress adjourns.
S. 989—Introduced by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), this bill seeks to amend Title XVI of the Social Security Act to clarify that the value of certain funeral and burial arrangements are not to be considered resources for purposes of qualifying for the supplemental security income program. Specifically, the bill would codify into federal law the current policy of the Social Security Administration that excludes funds paid by individuals under an irrevocable preneed contract, when the funds are placed into an irrevocable trust with the funeral provider as the named beneficiary of the trust. This legislation has been introduced into previous Congresses and has been referred to the Finance Committee. There are currently no co-sponsors. A companion bill, H.R. 1629, has been introduced in the House.
S. 1334—Known as "the other Dodd bill," this legislation has been introduced by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and seeks to make permanent the VA's "second marker" pilot program. This recent burial benefit authorizes the VA to furnish a government marker for a veteran's grave in a private cemetery where the burial site has already been memorialized. Previously, the VA would not provide a marker if the gravesite were already marked. Applicants must confirm that the second marker will be placed on or near the grave or as close as practicable. The pilot program is due to expire by December 31 of this year, but the legislation would extend the program indefinitely. The bill has six co-sponsors including Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Robert Byrd (D-WV), and has been referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
S. 1326—The Comprehensive Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 2007 would, among other things, increase the veterans funeral and burial allowance from $300 to $1270, and increase funeral and burial expenses from $2,000 to $4100. The plot allowance would also be increased from $300 to $745 and generally apply to veterans buried in private cemeteries. The bill is sponsored by freshman Senator Bernard Sanders (Independent-VT) and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs. There are currently no co-sponsors.
H.R. 1264—This bill would repeal the dollar limitation on funeral trusts organized as "qualified funeral trusts" or QFTs under section 645 of the Internal Revenue Code. In these types of preneed trusts, the trustee elects to pay the federal income tax on trust earnings in lieu of the purchaser. However, the dollar limit of such trusts is capped to a maximum of $8000 (indexed annually for inflation) per contract. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), has seventeen co-sponsors and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. Something of a perennial piece of legislation, this bill has been introduced in the last few Congresses.
H.R. 1273—Introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) at the request of the ICCFA, this bill would restore the plot and marker cash allowances for veterans who opt for burial in private or religious cemeteries. The original benefits were eliminated by Congress in 1990. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Veterans and has no co-sponsors to date. The ICCFA anticipates a multiple year effort to secure passage of this legislation.
H.R. 800—The so-called "Employee Free Choice Act" has been extensively reported in previous editions of ICCFA WIRELESS. The misnamed bill would eliminate employees' right to vote by secret ballot for union representation, require binding arbitration for a first contract, and impose substantial new fines on employers. The actual purpose of the bill is to increase union membership. The bill was approved in the House on March 1 by a vote of 241-185, divided mainly along party lines. A Senate companion bill was introduced on March 29 by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) with 46 co-sponsors. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which is chaired by Sen. Kennedy.
The ICCFA will continue to follow these bills and also monitor any additional legislation that may be introduced in the future months.
ICCFA NEWS
ICCFA University Housing Deadline: May 26
Reminder: The deadline to register for housing at the 2007 ICCFA University, July 20-25 at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee is this Saturday, May 26. If you have not returned your registration form, please do so by the end of this week to ensure the housing placement of your choice. After May 26, students will be assigned to rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.
ICCFAU is a five-day intensive academic program providing cemetery and funeral service professionals with quality education and exceptional networking opportunities through on-campus housing and dining. ICCFAU offers students a comprehensive program and the selection of five schools covering every area of the cemetery and funeral service profession: Administration & Management, Cremation Services, Funeral Home Management, Land Management & Grounds Operations and Sales & Marketing.
A brand new Cremation Certification program is available through the College of Cremation services. For more information on this program, visit www.iccfa.com/iccfau07_certification.htm.
Complete programs and registration forms are available on the ICCFA Web site at http://www.iccfa.com/iccfau07.htm or by calling 1.800.645.7700.
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, through 12 Web-based courses covering topics specific to our profession and available through the ICCFA Web site at www.iccfa.com/institute.
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.
Visit www.iccfa.com/institute for more information, or call 1.800.645.7700.
Strive for Success at ICCFA's 2007 Fall Management Conference
ICCFA's Fall Management Conference will be held October 3-6, 2007, at the luxurious Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino in Palm Springs, California. The conference will offer a diverse selection of topics geared toward top managers and executives. Sessions will cover:
- Strategic planning
- Diversifying through new revenue sources
- Techniques for differentiation
- Providing exceptional customer service
- Today's top government and legal issues
For information on Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, visit http://www.fantasyspringsresort.com, or call 1.800.827.2946 to make reservations. Programs will mailed out to all ICCFA members in early-summer. Check back at www.iccfa.com for updates.
Product of the Month: DVD—Setting Priorities
For the month of May, save on ICCFA's "I Am Third" DVD, a presentation by Todd Van Beck in which he addresses the importance of establishing proper priorities in our daily lives.
- First is our customers, the people who come to us when death enters their lives. How can we help them with this once-in-a-lifetime experience?
- Second is our profession and the time and talents we devote to it. What do we need to do to advance cemetery, cremation and funeral service?
- Third is "I." How do our actions and perspectives affect our ability to serve, and how will we be remembered?
Deadline for Submitting Presentation Proposals: June 22
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.
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.
Scott Love to Host Audio Teleconference
On Thursday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m. EST, 2007 ICCFA Wide World of Sales speaker Scott Love will conduct a one-hour audio teleconference designed exclusively for managers and executives. The program will cover a step-by-step program for building employee loyalty, leading and communicating effectively and strengthening bonds between co-workers. To register for this program, visit this link, and follow the instructions. Contact Scott Love at scott@scottlove.com; 828.225.7700 with questions.
CLASSIFIED ADS
Exciting Sales Opportunities!
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We have excellent benefits including:
- Medical
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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
Business Opportunity
CEMETERY FOR SALE
Location: Jefferson County Texas
Court appointed Receiver is seeking bids for a potential sale of a cemetery.
(Not a Trustee Sale)
Persons not familiar with laws concerning cemetery should seek appropriate counsel before replying to this request for bid.
Interested parties call 409.722.4684, and ask for the Receiver
DO YOU HAVE A BURIAL AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY?
Call Montgomery Vault. We are installing vaults in Arlington National Cemetery every day and can provide the best possible service. We offer a complete line of Eagle, Trigard and Clark vaults. Please call Montgomery Vault at 1.800.346.2069.
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 $75 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.