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INDUSTRY NEWS ICFA Supports New York State 'Funeral Package' Bills The ICFA has contacted key members of the New York State Assembly to express the Association's support for companion bills A 7151 and S 4209, which would permit funeral homes to give consumers the option of selecting funeral service packages in addition to the current practice of selecting itemized funeral goods and services. The ICFA states: "In particular, consumers wishing to purchase the components of a traditional funeral will find that a packaged arrangement can result in discounts and cost savings that would not be available through itemized purchases." New York is apparently the only state that does not permit funeral homes to offer funeral packages to the public. The ICFA also commented on the recently published Wirthlin Study of American Attitudes Toward Ritualization and Memorialization (January 2005), which consistently indicates that consumers want as many options as possible in selecting their funeral, burial and memorialization services. "The enactment of A 7151 and S 4209 will provide consumers in New York State with the same wide array of funeral planning options that consumers experience in all the other states with the potential for cost savings on their purchasing decisions." The 2005 Wirthlin Study of American Attitudes Toward Ritualization and Memorialization is available online at the ICFA Store at www.icfa.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc. Preliminary Findings on Consumer Complaints Filed with FTC ICFA staff has reviewed approximately 375 funeral-related consumer complaints filed with the FTC between January 2003 through December 2004. This number represents about two-thirds of the total number of complaints received by the ICFA as a result of the association's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to FTC earlier this year. A final tally will be made when the analysis of all complaints has been completed, but at this point certain trends can be identified. For example, similar to earlier FOIA document requests by ICFA, the majority of consumer complaints in the latest group involve funeral homes. The most common complaints focus on funeral homes' failing to provide a general price list, objecting over third-party caskets and introducing additional charges when a casket is not purchased through the funeral home. A unique complaint alleged that the funeral director threatened to disinter the deceased and return the remains to the mortuary unless the family signed certain papers. Other complaints involve cemeteries, third-party casket retailers and monument stores. Subject to the final tally, there appears to be an increase in the number of complaints filed by businesses against competitors, primarily casket retailers against funeral homes. There also appears to be an uptick in the number of consumer complaints being filed against third-party casket retailers and cremation services. The results of the final analysis will be published in late summer. For more information, contact Bob Fells at rfells@icfa.org ICFA NEWS ICFA to Move Headquarters Offices August 8 The ICFA will relocate its headquarters offices this summer. The move to a 7,520-square-foot space in Sterling, Virginia, will provide substantial room for future growth. Also, it will allow the association to consolidate its operational space and its product inventory and will result in a net savings on overhead expenses for the association. The new offices are located directly adjacent to Washington Dulles International Airport, due west of our nation's capitol. Please note the new address, to take effect August 8: Suite 100 107 Carpenter Drive Sterling, VA 20164 The association's telephone, fax, Web and e-mail addresses will remain the same: 1.800.645.7700 703.391.8416 www.icfa.org gen4@icfa.org Directory Updates: Keep Your Listing Current! The ICFA has sent out update forms for the 2005-2006 Buyer's Guide & Membership Directory to all regular members, and will be sending out forms soon to all supplier and professional members. The deadline to return your form to ensure your listing is correct in the directory is July 16. Please review your form and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or via fax to 703.391.8416. This Fall ... Make It Maui E komo mai! The ICFA welcomes you to Kapalua Bay Hotel on the lovely island of Maui, Hawaii, host of the ICFA Fall Management Conference, October 19-22, 2005. Prepare to be pampered at a luxurious resort set on a quiet, unspoiled edge of the island. Named in January by Travel & Leisure as one of the 500 Best Hotels in the world, Kapalua Bay is renowned for its attentive service, culinary excellence and serene atmosphere. Every guest room features a private entry vestibule, separate sitting area with loveseat and large private lanai. The resort's long list of amenities includes a 24-hour fitness center with classes, outdoor heated pool, three world-class golf courses, tennis, shopping, a Beach Activity Center, restaurants and lounges and more. For a glimpse of what the Kapalua Resort has to offer, and for ideas on activities throughout Maui, visit www.icfa.org/fall05_recreation.htm. For information on the Fall Management Conference Program and to register, visit www.icfa.org/fall05.htm. ICFA Moving Sale: We Reduce Inventory, You Save! In preparation for its move, the ICFA is offering substantially reduced prices on several products in an effort to reduce inventory. Until July 22, the following products are on sale:
Call for Presentations: ICFA 2006 Annual Convention The ICFA will host its 2006 Convention & Exposition, March 15-18 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana. Individuals who are interested in presenting workshops are invited to contact the ICFA with their proposed session title and description by July 22. Please submit proposals to Linda Budzinski via email at lacorn@icfa.org or via fax at 703.391.8416. Questions? Call Linda at 1.800.645.7700. And more ... The ICFA's Wide World of Sales presents "Reality-Based Selling," the largest and most idea-packed cemetery and funeral service sales and marketing conference in the profession. "Survivor" star Rupert Boneham, author Barry Maher and more than a dozen preneed experts will share secrets to success, including tools and techniques you and your team can put to use immediately. Mark your calendar for January 12-13, 2006, at Treasure Island in Las Vegas. The ICFA has secured music performance rights from the three music licensing agencies: ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. ICFA Music License members can now become fully licensed for the annual price of $238 per location, with no additional fees. Membership is open to any company in the cemetery and funeral service profession in the United States. Companies that are already members of the ICFA in another category must acquire the additional membership category (a Music License Membership) to be eligible for the Music License benefit. The ICFA Store allows members to purchase the latest ICFA 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 ICFA 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 ICFA Web site. Stop in each day and you'll see why. The Network is an online e-mail service that offers ICFA 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 ICFA 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 ICFA supplier and professional members. Check it out today! Need a labor relations and employment law attorney? Check out ICFA's HR Law Benefit program offering members no-cost telephone legal consultations, paid for by the ICFA via an exclusive retainer agreement. ICFA members now also have access to an attorney for tax-related questions regarding trust earnings, care fund allocations, capital gains, investments and more. The ICFA 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 ICFA 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 ICFA Insurance Program, administered by Driver Alliant, 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 ICFA Wireless: The ICFA accepts limited advertising in the ICFA Wireless newsletter, a bi-weekly newsletter e-mailed to all ICFA members that are current on their dues and have provided a current e-mail address. For rates and to place your insertion, contact Quan Phan at qphan@icfa.org or 1.800.645.7700. To unsubscribe from the ICFA 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 and Funeral Association 1895 Preston White Drive, Suite 220 Reston, VA 20191 1.800.645.7700 703.391.8400 Fax: 703.391.8416 www.icfa.org Copyright 2005 International Cemetery and Funeral Association. |
