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INDUSTRY NEWS IRS Publishes Updated Regs on Cemeteries, Crematories, Funeral Expenses Last week, the Internal Revenue Service published updates to its various regulations affecting the operations of cemeteries, crematories, burial and funeral insurance benefits and several related areas. The revisions are updated to November 10, 2005, and are located throughout Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The ICFA is offering a highlights edition to any member requesting a copy, free of charge. To obtain a copy of the highlights to the updated IRS regulations, contact Bob Fells at ICFA headquarters, e-mail: rfells@icfa.org or call the association's toll-free number at 1-800-645-7700. FTC 'Sweeps' Funeral Homes in OH And CA; Funeral Rule Compliance Is Mixed First, the good news. On November 1, the Federal Trade Commission announced the results of a "sweep" of 19 funeral homes in San Bernarndino County, California, to test compliance with key provisions of the Funeral Rule. The FTC's Western Region Office reported that all 19 funeral homes were in compliance with the Rule. Now the bad news. On November 15, the FTC announced the results of a sweep of 12 funeral homes in the Columbus, Ohio, area to test Funeral Rule compliance and found that half of the funeral homes were not in compliance. The FTC's East Central Region Office stated that the other six funeral homes were in full compliance. Though the number of mortuaries tested is not high, as a percentage, the 50 percent compliance rate in Columbus, Ohio, may be one of the lowest in the history of the Funeral Rule enforcement efforts. The FTC offers funeral homes that do not give test shoppers itemized price lists within the prescribed time and manner the option of entering the Funeral Rule Offenders Program (FROP), a joint effort between the FTC and the National Funeral Directors Association, rather than face possible legal action including large civil penalties beginning at $11,000. Established in 1996, FROP has been criticized by consumer advocates because the identity of the funeral homes involved are not made public, among other things. Additional information on the FTC California and Ohio sweeps can be accessed on the FTC Web page at www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/11/funeralsweep.htm. ICFA NEWS Deadline for the KIP Awards Is December 2! Do you have a unique program or product that adds character and meaning for your families? Does your staff go above and beyond to provide personalized service? Get recognized for it! ICFA's Keeping It Personal (KIP) Awards program was designed to recognize innovation and excellence in personalization in the cemetery and funeral service profession. All ICFA members are eligible for entry in any of the six categories: Most Personalized Service, Magic Moment, Product that Personalizes, Innovative Personalized Product (for suppliers), Special Event Under $1000 and Special Event Over $1000. See entry guidelines for further details. Winners will be recognized at the ICFA 2006 Convention and Exposition, in ICFM magazine and on the association's Web Site. This is a great way to get publicity for your company and contribute to the advancement of the cemetery, funeral service and memorialization profession. Don't forget...the entry deadline for the Kip Awards is December 2, 2005. For contest guidelines and to download an entry form, visit www.icfa.org/kip.htm Wide World of Sales Conference Early Registration Deadline: December 5 Time is running out to obtain your early registration discount for the 2006 Wide World of Sales Conference at Treasure Island in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 12-13, 2006. This year's "Reality-Based Selling" program will feature a variety of speakers and preneed sales management topics that will help your business survive and excel in today's competitive market. Highlights include:
For more information and to download a registration form, visit www.icfa.org/sales06.htm, or call 1-800-645-7700. Please note: The ICFA room block at Treasure Island is selling out quickly. Make your reservations today at www.icfa.org/pdf/sales06_hotel.pdf; or call Treasure Island at 888-503-8999. Be sure to refer to code "ICFA06" to receive the discounted room rate. ICFA 2006 Music License Just $220 The ICFA is offering Music Licensing for 2006 for just $220, with no additional fees. Funeral homes, cemeteries and related businesses can obtain their 2006 music license, covering all three licensing agencies, for just $220. The ICFA makes no profit on this program. The association's goal is simply to provide affordable licensing to the profession and thereby increase compliance. If you have not already signed up for your 2006 license, please do so today. Visit www.icfa.org/music or call 1.800.645.7700. Building on Our Past, Designing Our Future: Register Today for 2006 Convention In today's competitive market, it is important to take a proactive approach in developing your business. Take a major step in preparing your company for the future by attending the ICFA's 2006 Annual Convention, March 13-16, 2006, at the luxurious Venetian Hotel, Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Building on Our Past, Designing Our Future" promises to be the most diverse educational event in ICFA history. With more than 50 speakers, a wide range of educational sessions and several networking events, the Convention offers you the tools and techniques needed to help your business thrive. ICFA members should receive their printed Convention program in the mail this week. If you do not receive your copy or if you would like additional copies to share with colleagues, please contact us at 1.800.645.7700. Registration materials also can be found on the ICFA Web site at www.icfa.org/ac06.htm. CLASSIFIED ADS Preneed Sales Management Position If you are looking for a career opportunity at a great location, we are looking for an experienced sales manager for our preneed sales department. We are a 120-acre memorial park located on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California. Our recently updated Master Plan illustrates 25-50 years of additional development and sales. Experience in pre-developed mausoleum sales is desirable. The ability to immediately expand the sales team and its results through recruitment, training and motivation is essential. The successful candidate will work closely with senior management and be responsible for developing and implementing departmental budgets. Excellent compensation and benefits. Please fax or email your resume to Ray Frew, Green Hills Memorial Park, 310-521-1320 fax; drfrew@aol.com. See our Web site at www.greenhillsmemorial.com. Please do not call. Computer Software Do you know where all your information is? Are you tired of the same old options out there? Are you looking for more from your computer system? MACCSTM, from FPA Software, is the complete mortuary and cemetery solution, providing all the functionality and features needed to effectively manage and operate a memorial park and mortuary today. From pre-need sales prospecting all the way through interment (and everything in between!), MACCSTM provides an easy to use, flexible, and completely integrated system for a memorial park and mortuary providing funeral services. Consistent with our approach of providing a completely integrated solution, the MACCSTM Mapping module provides GIS mapping capabilities integrated in real-time with information in the MACCSTM cemetery property database. Mortuary case management, service tracking, cemetery property management, integrated mapping, accounts receivable, pre-need trusts, serialized casket inventory, complete reporting and forms management - MACCS has it all. Please feel free to contact us at 818-501-3390 or visit our website at www.fpasoftware.com/maccs to learn more about MACCSTM. Reach Thousands of Cemeteries and Funeral Homes With Your Classified Ad!
And more ... 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 107 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100 Sterling, VA 20164 1.800.645.7700 703.391.8400 Fax: 703.391.8416 www.icfa.org Copyright 2005 International Cemetery and Funeral Association. |
