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INDUSTRY NEWS IRS Updates Audit Manual for Tax-Exempt Cemeteries Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service updated its manual for use in examining tax-exempt cemeteries under section 501(c)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code. The manual contains useful information that summarizes amendments to regulations and determinations affecting such entities over the years. For example, the manual notes that "Before the regulations were amended, there was confusion about whether all 501(c)(13) cemeteries had to be nonprofit in order to qualify for exemption.... This argument was answered in Regs. 1.501(c)(13)-1(a) and (b) which clarify that there are only two categories of...exempt cemeteries, nonprofit mutual cemetery companies and other nonprofit cemetery companies and crematoria." The manual also points out, among other things, that "a mortuary business cannot be operated directly by a cemetery. The cemetery can, however, hold stock for investment purposes only in a mortuary, provided that the mortuary is separately incorporated, and run as a separate business with no overlap between the cemetery's and the mortuary's Board of Directors." The complete manual can be viewed and printed out on the IRS web page at http://www.irs.gov/irm/part4/ch52s20.html. Federal Government Offers 2006 Consumer Action Handbook: "An Owner's Manual For Your Money" The U.S. General Services Administration has published its 2006 edition of the Consumer Action Handbook that offers advice for avoiding scams and resources for "becoming a more savvy consumer." The 166-page volume is described as "an owner's manual for your money" and provides guidance on a variety of products and services including extended warranties, credit insurance, tax refund loans, unauthorized use of debit/ATM cards, home improvements and auto repairs, online auctions and sales, telemarketing, spam, and work-at-home offers, among other things. Although many industries and professions are discussed in terms of fraud prevention, no funeral-related activities are highlighted or mentioned. The resources section of the book list the ICFA, the Cemetery Consumer Service Council, and other funeral industry-sponsored consumer assistance groups. Contact information for state, county, and city consumer protection offices are also listed. Typically, the ICFA is contacted by government agencies and Congressional offices through referrals provided in the Handbook. The book is available by regular mail without charge or can viewed and printed out online at www.ConsumerAction.gov. Copies can also be ordered by calling toll-free 1-888-8-PUEBLO. ICFA NEWS Fall Conference Early Registration Deadline: September 1! Only a few days remain to purchase tour tickets and take advantage of the early registration rate for the 2006 Fall Management Conference, October 4-7, at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Download a registration form at http://www.icfa.org/pdf/fall06_registration.pdf, and fax it to the ICFA by September 1. Note that Friday, September 1 is the final deadline to purchase tickets for the following activities:
Expand Your Horizons at ICFA's 2007 Convention and Exposition The ICFA 2007 Convention and Exposition, March 20-23 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, will offer a comprehensive mix of educational sessions on topics pertaining to cemetery and funeral service management, cremation, preneed sales, international funeral and burial customs, technology and more. New this year, the ICFA will provide simultaneous English to Spanish translation services for all general sessions and a select number of breakout sessions. The call for presentations issued earlier this summer generated a strong response of over 50 proposed presentations. The ICFA staff and the Annual Convention Committee have reviewed the proposals and will be making decisions on the sessions within the next two weeks. Check the ICFA Web site for updates at www.icfa.org. Become More Approachable, and Increase Your Sales! Author and speaker Scott Ginsberg believes that approachability is essential to your success as an effective communicator and seller. He will share his unique approach to building trust and rapport at ICFA's Wide World of Sales Conference, January 17-19, 2007, at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, Nevada. Known as "that nametag guy," Scott Ginsberg wears a nametag 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to encourage people to approach him. He believes that taking an active instead of a passive role in conversations develops your social skills, makes you more approachable and decreases your chance for rejection. Based on his book, "The Power of Approachability: How to Become an Effective, Engaging Communicator-One Conversation at a Time," Scott Ginsberg will show you:
To view the complete Wide World of Sales Conference program schedule and to register, visit www.icfa.org/sales07.htm; or call 1.800.645.7700. Last Chance to Apply for ICFA's Board of Directors The deadline to apply for the ICFA Board of Directors is this Friday, September 1. Service on the ICFA Board of Directors offers members a chance to learn about and participate in the leadership of the association and is a meaningful way to give back to the organization and to the cemetery and funeral service profession as a whole. The ICFA's Nominating and Elections Committee is currently inviting members to apply to run for the ICFA Board of Directors. The committee will narrow all applications received to 12 nominees, which will be reviewed and approved by the board at the ICFA Fall Management Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on October 4. Information on the 12 candidates will then be distributed to the membership, which will vote during the ICFA Annual Convention & Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 21. The top eight vote recipients will serve three-year terms. To apply, you must be a designated representative of a Regular (Cemetery, Funeral Home or Allied) Member in good standing or you must be an Individual Regular Member in good standing. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2006. Applications can be obtained by calling 1.800.645.7700 or by downloading the file at www.icfa.org/pdf/2007_icfa_board_application.doc. Funeral Care Seminar Coming to Washington, D.C., Albuquerque There are two more opportunities to attend Todd Van Beck's Advanced Seminars in Quality Funeral Care, where he will inspire you achieve new levels of quality service at your funeral home, resulting in better service to clients, strengthened relationships with families and higher visibility in your community. See for yourself why funeral service professionals from across the country have been raving about the value of the conference and how it has helped improve their businesses. Comments from previous conferences include:
CLASSIFIED ADS Sales Manager/Family Service Manager Opening Premier Cemetery location in Northern Virginia seeks energetic leader for its cemetery sales manager / family service manager. We offer excellent training, full benefit package, great 401k plan, and performance based compensation package. To join our growing team email confidential resumes to donna.meier@sci-us.com or mail to Donna Meier, Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 S. Kings Highway, Alexandria, Virginia 22306. Mausoleum Sales Representative Wanted: Mausoleum Sales Representative. Cemetery in Southeast Tennessee, 100 interments per year, 90% traditional ground burial. Located in small town located within 25 miles of major metropolitan area. If interested send resume to: Mausoleum Sales, P O Box 8888, Chattanooga, TN. 37414 or email to: boydinv@bigplanet.com Come to Florida Wanted: Funeral Director/Embalmer Family-owned. Multiple locations in FL. Great work environment and schedule. Will keep confidential. Contact Michael Szymczak Call or fax 386-441-1144 Multiple Combination Locations in Florida Looking for energetic leaders to run sales force. Sales Managers and Family Service Counselors needed. Leads furnished. Highest compensation in the industry. Growth opportunity. For confidential interview call Mr. Green at 386-235-8045. Mortuary Manager Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary located in the Los Angeles, California area is searching for a Mortuary Manager. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of five years experience as a Manager/Assistant Manager including a minimum of three years of staff management. Must be computer literate and be a licensed Funeral Director. Licensed Embalmer preferred. We offer competitive salary and benefits. Please email your resume to hr@hillsidememorial.org or fax your resume to (310)342-0467. Reach Thousands of Cemeteries and Funeral Homes With Your Classified Ad!
And more ... For a limited time, ICFA 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 December 31, 2006. 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 2006 Music Licenses are available for just $220, 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 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 Kim Ferguson at kferguson@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 107 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100 Sterling, VA 20164 1.800.645.7700 703.391.8400 Fax: 703.391.8416 www.icfa.org Copyright 2006 International Cemetery and Funeral Association. |
