FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AFTER - New York State Funeral Directors
Transcription
FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AFTER - New York State Funeral Directors
directions A MEMBERS-ONLY PUBLICATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. Member News FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AFTER PAGE 5 Death Page 9 A Changing of the Guard PAGE 6 EDRS Update May 2015 PAGE 10 May contents 6 9 NYSFDA Officers Robert C. Enos President West Seneca 716-674-3636 Douglas R. Brueggemann President-Elect East Northport 631-368-1235 Walter J. Kent Secretary / Treasurer Elmira 607-734-5368 Francis “Joe” Martin, Jr. Immediate Past President West Henrietta 585-424-3700 Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP Continuing Past President Poughkeepsie 845-452-0460 A Changing of the Guard NYSFDA member Jim Barnhart has officially retired, turning over the reins (and the keys), to his longtime employee, Jeff Bagley at C.H. Landers Funeral Home in Sidney, NY. COVER: Facebook After Death Facebook has updated their policies to be more sensitive and respectful to grieving family and friends. NYSFDA to offer CELEBRANT TRAINING June 23-25, 2015 in Albany This training has been designed for anyone interested in learning how to personalize and design meaningful funerals or tributes. The curriculum to be covered: articulating the value of the funeral; listening skills; family meetings; service planning; music and readings resources; eulogy writing; closing ceremonies; master of ceremonies; presentation skills; and developing the celebrant concept in the community. Register today online at www.nysfda.org or call Kelly at 800-291-2629. Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE Executive Director 800-291–2629 Randy L. McCullough, CAE Deputy Executive Director 800-291–2629 Bureau of Funeral Directing 518-402-0785 DIRECTIONS is published by the New York State Funeral Directors Association, Inc. © 2015. All rights reserved. 1 South Family Drive Albany, New York 12205 PHONE: 800-291-2629 FAX: 518-452–8667 WEB: www.nysfda.org EMAIL: [email protected] Editor: Rana Huber Please send all contributing articles, photos, and story ideas to [email protected]. DIRECTIONS Magazine Schedule: The July 2015 print publication deadline is June 15 th. If your copy is not received by that date it will be saved for an upcoming issue of DIRECTIONS. “LIKE” NYSFDA ON IN REMEMBRANCE HAROLD G. “BUCKY” BUCK JR., 91, passed away on April 16, 2015. Bucky attended Simmons School of Embalming, graduating in 1948. After his father passed, Harold took over the business in Norwood and later acquired the Hawley Funeral Home in Colton, the Clark and Foote Funeral Home in Potsdam, and the McGlaughin Funeral Home in Norfolk. Among his many accomplishments throughout the years was owning the Buck Funeral Homes, owning Healy’s Gift Shop in Norwood and operating the Colton Hardware Store. LOUISE FALVO passed away on April 14, 2015. Louise was the wife of Art Falvo of the Falvo Funeral Home in Rochester and Webster. JOANNA V. KASLER, passed away on April 1, 2015. Joanna was the former owner of the E.C. Waldeck Home For Funerals and Fred Herbst Sons Funeral Home of Brooklyn. She is survived by her four children: Drew, Brian, Janice, and Christopher Kasler. STEPHEN M. MACK, Senior Vice President of Operations of Service Corporation International (SCI), passed on March 19, 2015 after a battle with cancer. Prior to his role with SCI in Houston, Steve worked at Claude R. Boyd Funeral Home in Babylon and other SCI funeral homes in New York City. IAN P. MASON, 31, passed away on March 6, 2015. Ian was the husband of Jade Kellam Mason, owner of Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel in Hancock. EDNA M. KELLY SANVIDGE, 87, passed away on February 21, 2015. Edna married the love of her life, John J. “Bud” Sanvidge in 1950 and they were married for 56 years until his passing. Together they opened the John J. Sanvidge Funeral Home in Lansingburgh. presidential directions Dear Colleagues: S pring is in the air! Finally. If you’re reading this message you have renewed your membership dues this year. Thank you. Members, like you, are the foundation of NYSFDA and make it possible to keep doing the many GREAT things we do. NYSFDA strives to increase value for your membership and create new incentives for your commitment to us, including: • access to a growing collection of online member-only resources, handouts, presentations, and videos; and “ . . . Most importantly, we need funeral directors like YOU to step forward. Strong, professional associations utilize the input, expertise and talents of their members in a number of ways.” • offering many free and discounted programs, webinars, events, and top-notch business services like PrePlan and Directors Choice Credit Union. Using our weekly funeral-related news summary eCLIPS, monthly newsletters like this one, website, text alerts, and social media, we will continue to maintain communication with you about legislative updates, educational opportunities, job listings, volunteer opportunities and more. Membership is about our collective power as a community. By joining together — truly associating — we demonstrate to the wider world the vitality of our chosen profession. Most importantly, we need funeral directors like YOU to step forward. Strong, professional associations utilize the input, expertise and talents of their members in a number of ways. Service as a member of a key standing committee or ad-hoc task force is an important way that members create the future of NYSFDA through creation of policy, member and public services, or the governance of the organization. NYSFDA President-Elect DOUGLAS R. BRUEGGEMANN, will soon be appointing the 2015/2016 committee and special task force members. The charge for each committee is outlined at www.nysfda.org. If you’re interested in serving on one or more committees, please complete the online application by July 3, 2015. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 800-291-2629. NYSFDA MEMBER Benefits • PrePlan® • Directors Choice Credit Union • DIRECTIONS Magazine • THE CALLING eMagazine • Members-only eNews updates and text alerts • Weekly members-only news summary, eCLIPS • Continuing education I hope to see you at the table! Robert C. Enos • NYSFDA publications • Free 2015 NYSFDA Convention pre-registration NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 3 executive directions Dear Members: H ow many times have we heard that it’s not the things we do we regret most, but the things we didn’t do? Although we all undoubtedly have some previous actions we’d rather take off the table, in large part I think it’s true that omission is probably a bit more regrettable than commission, since very few of us are serial killers, bank robbers, or spouse beaters. Most of our mistakes are of the common human variety, sad but certainly not evil. But willingly leaving things out, undone or tried, staying safe in our offices or homes and enjoying the comforts of our own known worlds can lead to serious regrets. And I’m not just speaking of the big, bold leaps into the unknown. I’m not advocating bungee jumping, cave dwelling or safaris, but feel free, of course. This message is more about the seemingly ordinary opportunities that drop into our laps and whether we seize upon them or quietly forget, ignore and disregard them as too much trouble to take advantage of. I refer to this affliction as “the couch calls and the office beckons” syndrome. Because sometimes, those seemingly ordinary opportunities yield extraordinary experiences. Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE THE GOOD DEATH, GOOD GRIEF, GOOD FUNERALS With Tom Lynch and Tom Long HEMPSTEAD May 12, 2015, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hofstra University BUFFALO May 13, 2015, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Kleinhans Music Hall SYRACUSE May 14, 2015, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Oncenter This program is FREE for NYSFDA members. Earn 3 CEUs! Register at www.nysfda.org. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in the Clergy-Hospice caregiver seminars sponsored by the NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION and graced with the presence of speakers TOM LYNCH and TOM LONG last year, then I urge you to take advantage of this year’s extension of those programs to three new locations [see page 19 for more details]. Listening to the Toms and the thoughtful dialogue they have with caregivers of all kinds is close to a transcendent experience. Deep subjects . . . life, death, how we mark and celebrate and mourn. It’s the type of reflective immersion into these waters that can leave you better as a person and a funeral director in so many ways. Register today. Invite some of your care giving friends, clergy, hospice helpers, social workers. Nail it down, plan it and prepare for building relationships and expanding your spirit as well as your mind. What you’ll have in the end is not just a lack of regret but true joy that you took this opportunity. Sincerely, Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE 4 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 Do you have a photo, story, or event you would like to share with the readers of DIRECTIONS? Email your news item, including contact information to [email protected]. Member directions A BIT OF HISTORY . . . NYSFDA member, STEPHEN P. HANS of HANS FUNERAL HOME in Albany, shared this photograph that’s been at his funeral home for decades. His grandfather, WILLIAM C. HANS SR., is standing at sidewalk level fourth from the right. In attendance but not specifically identified is CHARLES A. RENOUARD, founder of the RENOUARD TRAINING SCHOOL OF EMBALMERS. Renouard is believed to be present during this photo - he was a speaker at the New York State Embalmers Convention held in April 1923 in Albany. Hans believes relatives of other New York State Funeral Directors Association members may be present in this photo. Do you recognize someone? Head to our Facebook page and let us know or email: [email protected]. FAREWELL PROGRAM DEBORAH ORECKI, the former Director of the BUREAU OF FUNERAL DIRECTING, retired on March 26, 2015 following many years of diligent, tireless and caring regulatory oversight of funeral service. Before her departure, Debbie presented her last NYS law program in her official capacity for the FINGER LAKES FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION‘S CONVENTION held at the HARBOR HOTEL in Watkins Glen on March 25th. The local association also presented her with a certificate of appreciation. CONGRATULATIONS Warm congratulations to NYSFDA member BEECHER FLOOKS FUNERAL HOME and NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION Board Chair, WILLIAM F. “BILL” FLOOKS, JR., who recently received a Chairman’s Recognition Award from the BUSINESS COUNCIL OF WESTCHESTER! NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 5 Member directions A CHANGING OF THE Guard NYSFDA member JIM BARNHART has officially retired, turning over the reins (and the keys), to his longtime employee, JEFFREY K. BAGLEY at C.H. LANDERS FUNERAL HOME in Sidney, NY. B y early May of 2015, JAMES BARNHART is preparing to leave his hometown in Upstate New York for two months. It would be the final step in his career as a funeral director. After working 51 years straight, exactly what a 60-day vacation might mean wasn’t yet defined. once he felt comfortable. “I’ve never been away that long,” said Barnhart, who expects to be playing golf when he gets to Myrtle Beach with his wife, Carol, who handled administrative work in the C.H. LANDERS FUNERAL HOME office for 39 years. “This has been a journey of love. I’ve loved every minute.” Barnhart said. Retirement could have come earlier for Barnhart, 70, but the survival of the funeral home he dedicated a half-century of his life to was more important than rest and relaxation. “It’s a ministry, it’s not just a job and that’s what I said to the young people that worked with me. You deal with people the way you would hope somebody would deal with your family. That has been my business philosophy my entire life.” He’s faced a half-century of heavy lifting – and two disastrous floods that shut down the business – but there’s one thing Barnhart said he won’t miss: “The telephone at 4 o’clock in the morning.” He said if he were 20 years old again, he’d jump at the chance to do it all over again “in a heartbeat.” He spent more than a decade on his own, helping 95 families a year say goodbye to their loved-ones. During Since earlier days of guiding 95 families annually, the that time, Barnhart held out to find the person he felt funeral home northeast of Binghamton has grown to comfortable handing his life’s work to. serving 175 families each year – in a community of about 6,000 people. “Good help in the profession today is getting very difficult to find. There aren’t many young people Over the past 20 years or so, funeral directors in entering the field that really want to make a difference,” neighboring communities retired or passed on, and Barhart said. the C.H. Landers Funeral Home picked up the slack. He finally found two local residents who fit – then spent about 18 months easing himself out of the business 6 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 “It’s just not money. You have a ministry to get them back from grieving to living. Hopefully, we’ve done a good job at it.” Despite all the years, leaving the job, Barnhart said, “never entered my mind.” But now, Barnhart said his mind is willing but his body has been through enough at this point – and people are “not getting any smaller.” “I can’t do the heavy lifting anymore,” he said. CAMEL’S BACK Barnhart’s tight-knit community of Sidney, NY – situated along the shores of the Susquehanna River – was among several Northeast municipalities to endure historic floods in 2006. Major flooding wasn’t a regular occurrence back then – the funeral home was among hundreds of others without flood insurance and the facility sustained about $400,000 in damages. Up to five feet of floodwater shut down operations – but only for three weeks. Small Business Administration’s help process is seen by some as a detailed, bureaucratic challenge. It was a bit worse for the Barnharts – the SBA lost their application paperwork. “They lost the documents three times. Three-hundred and thirty pages.” Hurricane Irene’s lashing caused about $100,000 in damage – this time the funeral home had flood insurance, a requirement to get flood damage assistance after the 2006 flood. Barnhart found a way to continue his work – he rented a nearby church building for calling hours and funerals – it helped the church too, which struggled to maintain adequate funding. Despite the toil that followed disasters – and phone calls at 4 o’clock in the morning – Barnhart wasn’t kidding when he said retiring hadn’t crossed his mind. Work to recover in a short amount of time led to the C.H. Landers Funeral Home being recognized as Barnhart recalled being in North Carolina at the time, the Sidney Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the celebrating a friend’s 40th anniversary, when he got Years award recipient in the summer of 2011 – just a word of the flood over the phone. He couldn’t make it couple months before the mighty Susquehanna River back to New York immediately – major transportation swallowed the village for a second time as Hurricane routes were shut down. Irene swept through the Northeast. Remarkable to Barnhart wasn’t he mess the returned to – it was the team of 20 friends and members of the community working in the muddied funeral home. He remembers dragging out 6,600 yards of carpeting and tearing out soggy wallpaper that adorned the funeral home’s walls for decades. A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY Barnhart wanted to find a person and/or new owner that would carry on his philosophy of care for family and community. He recalls his first discussion with funeral director JEFF BAGLEY, a Sidney native who joined the firm in 1997 and has since taken over the business. It explains a lot about Barnhart’s concern for maintaining what he’d developed during five decades of work with the community. As it turned out, the C.H. Landers Funeral Home – right on Main Street – was one of the luckier structures in Sidney, despite the fact that it was flooded again five years later during visits from Hurricane Irene and “I called him and I said I’m looking for an associate. I’m Tropical Storm Lee. not looking for a funeral director.” After two floods in less than 10 years, the neighborhood lost dozens of buildings – not the C.H. Landers Funeral Home. That was Barnhart’s way of ensuring the work done at the C.H. Landers Funeral Home didn’t change. “We’re losing probably 70 homes,” Barnhart said of his community. “I’m very confident that he will do fine. He will carry it on, the professionalism will be there, and people love him,” Barnhart said. The C.H. Landers Funeral Home was among several recipients of a post-flood financial assistance effort created by NYSFDA’s Board of Directors. When he ultimately turned over the keys to his life’s work, Barnhart planned his two-month vacation – that was a suggestion from a friend. Flood recovery is strenuous work – and so is the “I’m a believer that they need to run it their way and I administration involved in trying to get help – work need to be out so they can,” Barnhart said. Barnhart said took its toll on him and his wife. The U.S. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 7 FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AFTER Death A recent survey by the PEW RESEARCH CENTER found that 71% of all internet users are on FACEBOOK. As the most popular social media site, Facebook allows us to share our random thoughts, photos of the kids and grandkids (and the beach vacation!), and connect with classmates and long-distance relatives. O ver the last few years, Facebook has grown into a natural place that people go to to share an obituary of a friend or relative, post photos of someone who has died, and share their favorite memories of that person. Facebook has followed these trends and updated their policies to be more sensitive and respectful to grieving family and friends. When someone dies, a family member or 8 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 close friend can notify Facebook to report the death and ask that the account be memorialized. The name of the individual, date of death and a link to the obituary or a copy of the death certificate is required to make such a request. A memorialized account provides friends and family a place to share photos and memories after a person has passed away. Facebook will first add the word “remembering” next to the name of the deceased. THE BENEFITS OF A MEMORIALIZED ACCOUNT INCLUDE: • Provides a place for friends to share memories on the memorialized Timeline • The content the person shared - like photos and thoughts – stay on Facebook and remain visible to the audience it was shared with • Privacy is preserved; no one can log into a memorialized account, but can see what was previously there Alternatively, a Facebook user may choose to have their account permanently deleted when they pass away. Prior to death, the user can indicate such in their settings, and, once a family member or close friends “report” the death to Facebook, the account would be permanently deleted. GROUP PAGES If an individual’s page is deleted, friends and family members may choose to create a Facebook “group” instead to offer the opportunity to share memories of their loved one. Telling stories about someone who has died is a big piece of grieving, and can be done in a private or closed Facebook group. This is especially helpful for those who were unable to attend the funeral services, and for those who are feeling particularly emotional in the days and weeks leading up to the first anniversary of the death. Facebook has also fine-tuned their settings to remove deceased users from their “People You May Know” posts. The stories of the families and friends who have been negatively impacted by a “Wish Sammy a happy birthday” reminder months after “Sammy” died will never happen again. To learn more about these tools to share with the families you serve, visit bit.ly/fbMemorializedAccts. WELCOME! NYSFDA is pleased to welcome the following funeral homes to our family: • Bekkering-Ellis Funeral Home, Scotia • Freay Funeral Home, Mayville • Sieck & Mast Funeral Home, West Seneca • Maynard D. Baker Funeral Home, Queensbury • Sisskind Funeral Service, LLC, Syracuse • Simplicity Cremations, LLC, Endicott • Huntington Funeral Home, Huntington Station • Kloster & Northrop Memorial Chapel, Hamilton • Northridge Cremation Chapel, Philadelphia • Meaningful Memories Funeral Services, Inc., Rocky Point NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 9 EDRS UPDATE EDRS presentation at the NYSFDA Regional Meeting in Melville on April 20th. All NYS funeral directors should have recently received a letter from the NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) regarding the ELECTRONIC DEATH REGISTRATION SYSTEM (EDRS) Health Commerce System (HCS). It is imperative that each and every individual funeral director complete the corresponding form and return it to DOH - Vital Records. T he HEALTH COMMERCE SYSTEM (HCS) will be the secure online portal for each funeral director to electronically file a death certificate once NYS EDRS is implemented. NYSFDA staff has received a number of phone calls from members with questions on how to complete this form [copy pictured at right]. Here we hope to clarify some of the most common questions: • Each NYS licensed funeral director must complete this form. Your personal contact information must be included in both the top and bottom boxes of the form; complete both the Funeral Director Information and the HCS Director Information. • Be sure to use your own, personal, individual email address. This serves as a direct line of communication between you as an individual funeral director and DOH. Do not use a general email address for your funeral firm (ie: info@ abcfuneral.com). If you do not have an individual email address for yourself or your staff, you can easily create one for free at gmail.com. • DOH sent this letter and form to all funeral directors that they currently have an email 10 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 address for. If you and/or a colleague did not receive this letter from DOH, this form will provide your email to them and will ensure that you receive future correspondence from DOH on both EDRS and other important matters. • Each individual funeral director will have an HCS account. From there, each HCS funeral director account will be linked to an HCS funeral firm account. This is just the first step. Please be sure that you and each of your colleagues have completed this form and returned it to DOH. These forms were due May 1. If you have not yet done so, be sure to return the form to DOH as soon as possible. All completed form should be faxed to 518.408.0935. NOTE: A second letter will soon be sent by DOH (via postal mail) to each funeral firm to start the process of creating HCS funeral firm accounts. Firm owners and managers can expect that letter from DOH in the coming weeks. If you have any additional questions, you may contact the NYS EDRS staff at [email protected]. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 11 Business directions Understanding YOUR BALANCE SHEET A BALANCE SHEET is a list of the accumulated assets and liabilities incurred by the business. The difference between the two represents the net worth of the business. Because some deliveries are PRICELESS… Every body, every time… • • • • 12 Expert embalming with written embalming report Respectful covering of the body in a custom hospital gown Delivery in a custom shipping container Keeping you informed with our 4-Step Critical Updates Email Program NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 John E. Loyless, Owner Anywhere in Florida 800-327-7385 FloridaShipping.com From NYSFDA’s publication, Understanding Financial Statements. The BALANCE SHEET is based on the equation: Assets = Liabilities + Owners' Equity T he balance sheet is a “snapshot” of the financial position of the business at a specific point in time. It indicates everything the business owns (assets), everything the business owes to creditors (liabilities), and the value of the ownership stake in the company (shareholders' equity, or capital). ASSETS Assets are things that a business owns that have value. This typically means they can either be sold or used by the business to make products or provide services that can be sold. Assets include physical property, such as buildings, vehicles, equipment and inventory. It also includes things that can ‘t be touched but nevertheless exist and have value, such as trademarks and patents. In addition, cash and the investments a business makes are assets. Types of assets include: CURRENT ASSETS are those that mature in less than one year. • Cash - All checking, money market, and short term savings accounts. • Accounts Receivable - Money due from customers. Accounts receivable arise as a result of the process of selling inventory or services on terms that allow delivery prior to the collection of cash. • Inventory - Goods and materials a business purchases to resell at a profit. • Notes Receivable - A receivable due the business, in the form of a promissory note, arising because the business made a loan. • Other Current Assets - Prepaid expenses and other miscellaneous and current assets. FIXED ASSETS represent the use of cash to purchase physical assets whose life exceeds one year. • • • • • • Land Building Machinery and Equipment Furniture and Fixtures Leasehold Improvements Intangibles - Assets with an undetermined life, and may never mature into cash. Examples include patents, research and development, goodwill, and organization expense. OTHER ASSETS consist of miscellaneous accounts such as deposits and long-term notes receivable from third parties. They are turned into cash when the asset is sold or when the note is repaid. Total Assets represent the sum of all the assets owned by or due the business. LIABILITIES AND OWNERS’ EQUITY Liabilities are amounts of money that a business owes to others. This includes all kinds of obligations such as money borrowed from a bank, money owed to suppliers for materials, and payroll a business owes to its employees. They are generally either current (obligations a business expects to payoff within the year) or long-term (obligations due more than one year away). CURRENT LIABILITIES consist of the following obligation accounts: • Accounts Payable - obligations due to trade suppliers who have provided inventory or goods and services used in operating the business. • Accrued Expenses - obligations owed but not billed, such as wages and payroll taxes; or obligations accruing but not yet due, such as interest on a loan. • Notes Payable - obligations in the form of promissory notes with short-term maturity dates of less than 12 months. • Long-Term Liabilities are obligations that will not become due and payable in the coming year. OWNERS’ EQUITY is the money that would be left if a business sold all of its assets and paid off all of its liabilities. Sometimes businesses distribute these earnings instead of retaining them. These distributions are called dividends. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 13 One Convenient Source for Quality Funeral Products windshield sticker With pressure sensitive adhesive strips. Available in Purple, Yellow and Orange. No Imprint on Back With Imprint on Back 100 $ 43.25 $ 65.00 500 $ 89.75 $ 110.25 1000 $ 120.50 $ 142.25 Jewelry Bags Burgundy Velour Bag with tie string 51/ 2"x 4" hanging windshield card Die-cut to fit rearview mirror, available in Orange. 25 50 75 100 – – – – $110.50 $119.75 $129.00 $138.00 YOUR FUNERAL HOME 123 Main Street Anytown, USA 12345 (718) 641-5350 YOUR FUNERAL HOME VALUABLES OF: 1. 2. 3. 4. UNIVERSAL DONATION ENVELOPE Printed Two Colors • Actual size 6 5/16" x 2 7/8" 800-442-3060 718-641-5350 Fax: 800-531-7272 718-641-5743 • • [email protected] www.abigal.com • MASS CARD BAG 11” x 7” x 17” With or without your imprint THE UNDERTAKER’S I Wife ©2015, Zondervan, $15.99, 224 pages A BOOK REVIEW by Terri Schlichenmeyer t’s supposed to go like this: You are born, you grow up, graduate from high school, then college. You fall in love, get married, have two-point-five children and a mortgage with a two-car garage, you grow old, then you die. It’s supposed to be like that. But, as they say, if you want to see God laugh, make plans – and in the new book “THE UNDERTAKER’S WIFE” by DEE OLIVER with JODIE BERNDT, He surely saw plenty that was funny. Dee Oliver was destined to marry a wealthy doctor. That’s what she thought, growing up in Virginia Beach. Doctors had money, and who doesn’t appreciate money? Plus, they were good with that in-sicknessand-in-health stuff, and Oliver was not. A doctor, she decided, would be a perfect husband. And that was the plan – until Oliver met Johnnie. He was an older (35-year-old) man, handsome and charming. He was also a funeral director and on their first date, he was on-call – which meant that before they reached their destination, they had to retrieve a corpse which accompanied them on their evening. Still, Oliver fell in love and, though their early romance was on-again-off-again, she married Johnnie, birthed three children, and they lived happily ever after. Almost. When Johnnie suddenly had a stroke and died, Oliver wasn’t sure what to do. She’d only ever been an undertaker’s wife and a mother, so she prayed about her dilemma – and then she found an application for mortuary school in a pile of bills on Johnnie’s desk. God and Johnnie, she figured, were sending a message. She returned to school, got good grades, and eagerly anticipated her internship. And that, she thought, would naturally be done at Johnnie’s family’s funeral home. Why not? She loved the staff, understood procedures, and knew the clientele – but Johnnie’s brother, the business’s new CEO, inexplicably sent Oliver packing. None of his nearest competitors would hire her, either. And so, with temporary license in hand and three daughters to feed, Oliver became “a widowed [Southern] white socialite working in an all-black funeral home in a most definitely all-black neighborhood . . . ” Oh, how I loved this book. And oh, how I hated it. First of all, you can throw out every stereotype you’ve ever heard about funeral homes: there’s nothing at all morbid or stuffy inside “The Undertaker’s Wife.” Author Dee Oliver (with Jodie Berndt) made me laugh again and again, in fact, and I was completely captivated by her amazement at the turns her neatly-planned life took. There’s so much charm here, so much gratitude, and a much-needed change of heart and race-based attitude inside an unusual story. And yet, there’s the irritation. Oliver leaves readers hanging off the steepest of cliffs and with no apologies, which almost made me regret this book – almost, but not enough to say it’s not worth reading, because it definitely is. So look for it and hold the growls. Instead, do what I’m doing: wait for the sequel while you laugh with “The Undertaker’s Wife.” Just maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. Terri Schlichenmeyer, a regular contributor for NYSFDA’s blog, www.SympathyNotes.org, has been reading since she was three years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill with two dogs and 11,000 books. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 15 NEW YORK STATE AND THE “BIRTHPLACE” OF Memorial Day T hree years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans, the GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, established DECORATION DAY as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. as well as Richmond, VA. The village of Boalsburg, PA, claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, IL cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Maj. Gen. JOHN A. LOGAN declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY. In 1966, Congress and President LYNDON JOHNSON declared Waterloo, NY, the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. Springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, MS, April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, GA, claim the title, OFFICIAL BIRTHPLACE DECLARED The Waterloo ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not communitywide or one-time events. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities. It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays. (Souce: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) We are in the process of updating the hugely popular publication, When A Veteran Passes Away: A Planning Guide for the Surviving Family. More than 37,000 copies have been distributed since 2010! Produced by: Vietnam Veterans of America - NYS Council and the NYS Tribute Foundation, Inc., an affiliate of NYSFDA. Watch in the coming months for ordering information! A reputation for INTEGRITY… Working toward our clients’ best long-term interests isn’t always the easiest or quickest way to get a deal done. …But we believe that accurate appraisals supported by our experience and expertise, and careful negotiations that ensure the future success and satisfaction of both buyers and sellers, are more valuable than “putting another notch in our belts.” Our clients share our values, and know that the reputation of those on their team is a reflection on them. AFC AMERICAN FUNERAL CONSULTANTS Team up with INTEGRITY. Team up with AFC. Business Appraisals – Sales & Acquisitions – Minority Stock Assessments – Business Plans – and many more services to suit your unique business goals. Sign up for our enewsletter Follow us on: Kathy Williams & Melissa Drake (800) 832-6232 v www.TeamAFC.com v visit us on m 40+ Yrs Tomorrow’s Leaders We’re now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 NYSFDA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY! The NYSFDA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is a one-year program for current NYSFDA members who are interested in leadership roles in their state and local funeral directors associations. The program consists of a two-day leadership development workshop; monthly web-based training programs; a group capstone project; and a graduation ceremony at the NYSFDA Annual CONVENTION. Applicants who are not owners or managers will be required to provide written certification from their supervisor that they will be able to commit the time required for participation. All expenses (travel, accommodations, etc.) will be paid for by the Academy. There is no cost to the participant. Those interested in being part of the 2015-2016 NYSFDA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY should visit: www.nysfda.org for more information, or contact MARIANNE SCHROM at 800-291-2629. NEW • 55 New Urns & Jewelry Products • Competitive Pricing • Personalization Options • Easy to Shop Catalog CONTACT YOUR FUNERAL SALES CONSULTANT TO REQUEST A CATALOG OR CALL 800.548.9341 i’ll remember you by ® FHP-1697-2015 ©2015 Matthews Resources, Inc., all rights reserved. MATTHEWS® and MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL® are registered trademarks of Matthews Resources, Inc. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 FHP-1741-2015 NYSFDA Bronze Urn Ad.indd 1 17 4/15/15 3:24 PM CLASSIFIEDS If you have a listing, please e-mail [email protected], or call 800-291-2629 and an ad will be placed in DIRECTIONS and on www.nysfda.org. Please contact the office immediately when the posting is no longer needed. Ads will be listed as space permits or for a maximum of three months unless otherwise notified. • STAFF WANTED Funeral Director Wanted in Queens. Highly skilled licensed funeral director wanted for full time position in Queens funeral home. Full benefits; medical, paid vacation, 401K and profit sharing. Must be compassionate, hard working and committed to helping families. NYS license is required. Please e-mail resumes to [email protected]. NYS Licensed Funeral Director Wanted. New Comer Funeral Homes, a privately owned and operated funeral home, is looking for an experienced and motivated Licensed Funeral Director to join our Rochester team. In addition to excellent preparation and restorative art skills, candidates must have excellent communication/organizational skills and a desire to provide the highest quality service to families. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s licenses and the ability to meet the driving performance standards set by management. Attractive benefits package and work/life balance. EOE. Apply at: www.nfsgi.com. NYS Licensed Funeral Director Wanted. Frederick Bros. Funeral Home is seeking a full-time licensed funeral director for our two funeral homes and crematory. Housing opportunity available, full health insurance coverage. We are located in Theresa and Evans Mills, NY in Jefferson County. Interested parties please e-mail your resume to [email protected]. Licensed Funeral Director Wanted. We are currently looking for a licensed funeral director, or a resident. Looking for a compassionate, hard working, dedicated funeral director to work at 5 locations. Please send resumes to [email protected]. Central New York. Family owned funeral home is offering the right individual a position as a NYS Licensed Funeral Director. Personal and professional qualifications: possess a pleasant and friendly demeanor; a person of integrity, honesty, high energy, and creativity who believes in the value of funeral service; strong communication skills (written and oral); must be licensed in NYS or have the ability to reciprocate license from another state; and proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel. Salary and benefits will be based on experience. All resumes are confidential and may be e-mailed to [email protected]. EOE. Licensed Funeral Director Sought. Wanted - Licensed funeral director who is interested in taking over the operation of a rural funeral home. Lease to own or purchase with owner financing. 25 calls a year, good preneed portfolio. Building has a two-bedroom apartment. Contact: [email protected]. Funeral Director Wanted in Spring Valley. This position interacts directly with client families during their time of need and is responsible for creating and maintaining a premier level of client family satisfaction. Benefits include: medical, dental, vision, life insurance; 401K retirement savings plan with company match; vacation and sick time; tuition reimbursement; funeral discounts, and more. Requirements: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred; appropriate state funeral licensure; excellent communication skills; proficient with computers and technology with knowledge of MS Office; excellent driving skills and record; and the ability to lift 50 lbs or more. APPLY TO: https://corporate-sci.icims.com/jobs/12296/funeral-director/login. Experienced Funeral Director Wanted. Looking for a NYS Licensed funeral director with at least 5 years experience. Must be a motivated team player. Competitive salary and benefits (401K, Medical and Dental) offered plus paid vacation. Please submit resume to [email protected]. Resident Opportunity - Join Our Albany Team. New Comer Funeral Home is a privately owned and operated funeral home. Successful candidate must have excellent communication/organizational skills and a desire to provide the highest quality service to families. Candidates must meet the requirements in NYS and possess a valid driver’s license. Apply at www.nfsgi.com. Licensed Funeral Director Wanted in Albany. Are you looking for a great funeral career? New Comer Funeral Homes, a privately owned and operated funeral home, is looking for an experienced Licensed Funeral Director. Candidates must be well versed in all aspects of funeral service, have a desire to provide the highest quality service to families. Apply at www.nfsgi.com. Bronx Funeral Home Seeks F/T Funeral Director. Job opportunity: Bronx funeral home is seeking a NYS licensed funeral director/resident funeral director. Full-time position. Excellent salary and benefits. NYS driver license is required. Must be an effective communicator. E.O.E. Fax resume and references to 718-405-9877. Funeral Directors and Resident. Lombardo Funeral Home, a privately owned and operated funeral home is looking for two Licensed Funeral Directors and a Resident. Interested candidates please call 716-523-5363. 18 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 Licensed Funeral Director Sought in the City of Buffalo. The ideal candidate will be well versed in the funeral practices and customs embraced by the African-American and Latino families we serve in this historic city. Interested applicants please phone 716-523-5363. Resident Opportunity is Available in Rochester. Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels is looking for a recent or soon-to-be graduate of Mortuary Science who is professionally motivated and wants to gain direct experience with a top-tier organization. Please send cover letter, resume, and transcript to [email protected]. Licensed Funeral Director Wanted in Rochester. Anthony Funeral Chapel presents an excellent opportunity for a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in Rochester, NY. The position will be responsible for all aspects of professional funeral service practice with this progressive firm. Please forward resume and qualifications to [email protected]. Resident/Newly Licensed Funeral Director. Progressive, fast-paced, singlelocation, independently owned, Manhattan funeral home seeks a highly ambitious, hard-working, technologically knowledgeable resident or newly licensed funeral director. Candidate must have completed mortuary school (holding a bachelor’s degree will be an advantage). We are seeking an individual willing to learn and develop their knowledge of funeral service to the highest level. A strong candidate will earn a commensurate salary, receive two days off each week, hold set hours and serve alongside the best assembled team of funeral directors. Paid vacation, medical and dental benefits, profit-sharing and bonuses will be considered based on work ethic and performance. Send resume to Greenwich Village Funeral Home: [email protected]. Seeking Funeral Director. Michaels Funeral Home in Middle Village, NY is seeking a licensed funeral director. Please fax a resume to 718-894-4114. • SEEKING EMPLOYMENT Seeking P/T in Central NY Area. NYS Licensed Funeral Director with 20+ years experience seeks part-time employment in the Central NY area. Available also for trade work and vacation cover. Contact: [email protected]. Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer in the State of Oregon Looking to Become licensed in NYS. My wife and I are originally from the area and have returned to be closer to our families. I am coming from an independent, family-owned funeral home where we took care of 550-600 families a year. Working with a small, close-knit staff, I gained an array of experience in: pre and at-need arrangements, removals, embalmings, cremations, funeral/ memorial/graveside services, and office/paperwork management. Please call or e-mail me: 845-514-4041 or [email protected]. Seeking P/T in Brooklyn. NYS licensed funeral director with 25 years experience, seeking part-time work in Brooklyn. Available for directings and arrangements. Contact gerard at [email protected]. NYS Licensed Funeral Director Available in Binghamton and Surrounding Area. 25 years of experience looking for part-time work. Professional expertise in all aspects of funeral directing. Excellent embalming skills, trade services available and I am able to travel. Please contact Steve Sedlock at 607-725-8587 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Recent Graduate Seeks Residency in Metropolitan area. Resume available upon request. Contact: [email protected]. Seeking F/T in Syracuse Area. Licensed funeral director with experience in all aspects of the job. Strong embalming skills and I work very well with families. Please e-mail me at [email protected]. Seeking F/T Position. I am a soon-to-be licensed director seeking a full-time position. I am hard working in all areas of funeral directing, compassionate with families, and willing to relocate. Contact: [email protected] or phone at 315-771-2971. Thank you for your time. Seeking P/T in Long Island Area. Licensed 13 years, looking for a part-time Funeral Director position on Long Island. Available for Sign-ins at Calverton and other cemeteries. References furnished upon request. Contact Steve via e-mail at: [email protected] or by phone at 516-637-0549. Licensed Funeral Director Seeking Employment. I’m a licensed funeral director who has experience in the funeral industry. I’m looking for any part-time, fill-ins, full-time position in the Nassau/Suffolk area and even in the metro NYC. I am a hardworking and enthusiastic individual who wants to succeed in this field and would be a great asset to any firm. Please contact me at [email protected] or 631-572-7751 (cell) or 631-983-8302 (home). Cordially invites you to attend: THE GOOD DEATH, GOOD GRIEF, GOOD FUNERALS: FINDING OUR PLACE ON THE CONTINUUM OF CARE A program by TOM LYNCH and TOM LONG HEMPSTEAD May 12, 2015 Hofstra University, Mack Sports Complex 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. BUFFALO May 13, 2015 Kleinhans Music Hall 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. SYRACUSE May 14, 2015 Oncenter 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. DR. THOMAS G. LONG is the Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. THOMAS LYNCH is a writer and funeral director from Milford, Michigan. One of his books, The Undertaking, became an Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary. Through their different lenses, one as a preacher and one as a funeral director, THE TOMS alternately discuss several challenges facing “the good funeral,” including the commercial aspects that have led many to be suspicious of funeral directors, the sometimes tense relationship between pastors and funeral directors, the tendency of modern funerals to exclude the body from the service, and the rapid growth in cremation. Because of generous funding from the NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION, there is absolutely no charge for NYSFDA members or caregivers to attend. Earn 3 CEUs. Non-member funeral directors will be charged $199. • FOR SALE / RENT 17.44 Acres in Oneonta. Mostly wooded with several potential building sites and great hunting. The property is only steps away from Wilber Lake. Utilities available at the road. Perc test complete. See video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/i55eNsa4pIc. Call Joe at 518-470-2256 for more details. NYS Funeral Home. Well-established funeral home in prime location in Orange County, NY. Real estate is pristine and features funeral home and separate private residence, all attractively decorated and in turn-key condition, with large parking lot and beautifully landscaped yard. Average annual call volume is about 85 calls with average net revenues of about $400,000-$450,000. Consistent and stable firm with opportunity to increase market share. For more information contact: Melissa A. Drake at American Funeral Consultants at 800-832-6232 or E-mail: [email protected]. NYS Funeral Home. Long-established funeral home in Cayuga County. Real estate included. Funeral Home is recently renovated and includes an attractively decorated and spacious design, ample off-street parking, and three-bedroom living quarters on second floor. Average annual call volume is about 35 calls with average net revenues of about $210,000. Opportunities exist for increased market share and revenue. Two additional adjacent properties are available. For more information contact: Melissa A. Drake at American Funeral Consultants, 800-832-6232 or [email protected]. Hearse for Sale. Looking to sell a 1999 S & S Medalist Hearse. Black on Black, Blue Interior. 48K miles. Garaged, good looking car. Never used for removals. Well maintained. Asking $12,500. Have pictures, e-mail: [email protected] or call Laing Funeral Home at 716-992-9172. Funeral Items Priced to Sell. Several funeral-related items for sale: stretcher, reeves, sliding board, three types of flower stands, kneeler, gold church truck, ceiling speakers, music system, electric candlestick lamps, showroom truck drape attachment with burgundy drape, large crucifix and much more. Priced to sell. Please inquire for complete list via e-mail at [email protected] or call 518-625-2009. 2006 Black Federal Cadillac Limousine For Sale. North Star V8 engine. 6 doors, less than 10,000 miles, rich navy blue interior with leather seats, very well maintained and in EXCELLENT condition. Asking $29,000. Interested parties, please send inquiries to: [email protected]. Casket Storage Rack For Sale. Heavy duty steel storage for up to 4 caskets. Asking $150.00, call 845-338-1200 or e-mail: [email protected]. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 19 NEW YORK STATE TRIBUTE FOUNDATION Donations and Tributes Recap The contributors listed below are those who have made donations during the past year to the Tribute Foundation. The levels at which they are listed are the “cumulative levels” they have attained since the Foundation began. Gifts of Remembrance and Gifts in Honor and Celebration are also cumulative and count toward the levels of giving. TRIBUTE LEGACY SOCIETY • • • • • $10,000 OR MORE Wayne and Sally Baxter (Fox Funeral Home, Forest Hills) Douglas and Lillian Brueggemann (Brueggemann Funeral Home of E. Northport, Inc., East Northport) Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP (Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Poughkeepsie) Peter J. Nolan, Mark Nolan and James P. Nolan, Jr. (Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home, Inc., Northport) Ontario-Wayne-Yates County Funeral Directors Association CORNERSTONE BENEFACTOR $5,000 - $9,999 • • • • • • • • • • Scott B. Anthony, CFSP (Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels, Webster) James P. Dean (Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., Oneida) Dutchess Putnam Ulster Funeral Directors Association William F. Flooks, Jr. (Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasantville) Leatherstocking Funeral Directors Association Bonnie McCullough (NYSFDA) Scott and Eben Miller (Miller Printing & Litho, Inc., Amsterdam) Joseph B. Papavero (Papavero Funeral Home, Maspeth) Richard J. and JoAnne Sullivan (Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc., Highland Mills) Sal Stratis (Abigal Press) MEDALLION CIRCLE • • • • • • • • • • • • • KEYSTONE CONTRIBUTOR • • • • • • • • • • • • • 20 $1,000 - $2,499 Fred Bryant (Bryant Funeral Home, Inc., East Setauket) Sharon D’Ambrosio (Babcock Funeral Home, Inc., Ravena) Peter DeLuca (Greenwich Village Funeral Home, New York) Tracy and Bernard Dowd (Flower Hill) Eugene Guarino (Graham Funeral Home, Rye) Richard and Donna Hazzard (Patterson) Robert and Rita Hogan (Quinn-Fogarty Funeral Home, Flushing) John and Susan Kelly (Edward L. Kelly Funeral Home, Schroon Lake) Anthony and Lynne Martino (Hess-Miller Funeral Home, Middle Village) Bruce K. Mason (Mason Funeral Home, Fort Ann) Wesley A. and Wesley C. Powell (Powell Funeral Home, Inc., Amityville) William A. Wirene (Clinton) TRIBUTE PIONEER • • • $2,500 - $4,999 Joesph E. Dietrich (Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc., Amherst) Joseph Dispenza (Forest Lawn Cemetery Group, Buffalo) Robert C. and Mimi Enos (Hoy Funeral Home, Inc., West Seneca) Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors Association Rev. John Fraser (Holy Rosary Church, Hawthorne) S. Scott Mason, CFSP (Mason Funeral Home, Westfield) Leslie Morris (Otis, MA) Curtis D. Rostad (Indianapolis, IN) John Sommese (Simonson Funeral Home, Forest Hills) Gordon and Joan Terry (Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Inc., Edmeston) Carl W. Trainor (Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., Boonville) Unyts (Buffalo) Doug and Sharon Wilson (Wilson Funeral Home, Inc., Norwich) $500 - $999 Thomas E. Burger (Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton) David Crawford (Crawford Funeral Home, Inc., Rochester) Curtis A. Cunningham and Scott M. Zielonko (A.J. Cunningham Funeral Homes, Inc., Greenville) Jeff and Peggy Gaines (Glen Rock, NJ) NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 TRIBUTE PIONEER $500 - $999 (Continued) • Francis “Joe” Martin, Jr. (Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Rochester) • G. Robert Sweet (Sweet’s Funeral Home, Inc., Hyde Park) FOUNDATION FELLOW • • • • • • • $250 - $499 Brian A. Bush (B.L. Bush & Sons, Inc.) Robert and Anthony D’Angelo (Seneca Chapels, Ltd., Ridgewood) Michael Heredia (Conway Funeral Home, Jackson Heights) Christopher Milano (Beecher Funeral Home, Brewster) David Rogers (Metropolitan Funeral Chapels, Inc.) Jeffrey Smith, Jr. (H.P. Smith & Son Inc., Woodhull) Norman L. Waterman (Norman L. Waterman Funeral Home, Inc., Newark) FRIEND OF THE FOUNDATION $100 - $249 • • • • Donna DeMarse (Fitzgerald Funeral Home, LTD, Cohoes) David Perotto (Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home, Inc., Spencerport) Brian Roberts (Dolgeville) Bruce and Eleanor Troy (Burnett & White Funeral Homes, Red Hook) SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE NEARS The NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION has established a number of scholarships to increase the number of funeral service professionals by providing educational scholarships to current and future funeral directors: • TRIBUTE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Provides financial support to qualified mortuary science students who reside in the state of New York and are enrolled in accredited mortuary science programs. • SAMUEL Q. BAXTER SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Provides financial assistance to qualified students in their second year of a mortuary science program. • R. BARRY McPHILLIPS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Assists the continuing education efforts of recently licensed and early-career funeral directors. The application deadline is June 30th. For more information, visit: www.tributefoundation.org, or contact KELLY at 800-291-2629. Tributes In Honor/Memory Of: Please consider a contribution to the Tribute Foundation. IN HONOR In Honor of President Robert C. Enos Wayne Baxter • • Peter C. DeLuca Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP • • S. Scott Mason, CFSP In Honor of Thomas E. Burger • Norman L. Waterman In Honor of Colleen Connelly’s Service to NYSFDA • Joe and Cindy Martin In Honor of John J. Kaczor Erie-Niagara FDA • In Honor of Mel Thompson’s 80th Birthday Celebration John C. Sommese • IN MEMORY In Memory of John Betz • Carl W. Trainor In Memory of Lillian Brueggemann • The Estate of Lillian Brueggemann • Robert and Rita Hogan • S. Scott Mason, CFSP In Memory of Bill and Dottie Bush • Brian A. Bush In Memory of Frank D. Cieri • Peter C. DeLuca • Robert and Mimi Enos • Dick and Donna Hazzard • James, Mark and Peter Nolan In Memory of Rose Cusimano • Peter C. DeLuca • Anthony and Lynne Martino In Memory of Anthony and Eleanor D’Angelo • Robert and Anthony D’Angelo • Peter C. DeLuca • Robert and Rita Hogan • Anthony and Lynn Martino In Memory of Andy Fier • Peter C. DeLuca In Memory of Warren Fitzgerald, Sr. • Donna DeMarse In Memory of Courtland Fowler • Thomas E. Burger In Memory of Frank Heller • Curtis A. Cunningham and Scott M. Zielonko • Leatherstocking FDA • S. Scott Mason, CFSP • Douglas and Sharon Wilson In Memory of MaryAnn Hogan • Scott Anthony • Martha and Doug Brueggemann • Peter DeLuca and family • Tracy and Bernard Dowd • Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP • Dick and Donna Hazzard • Joe and Cindy Martin • S. Scott Mason, CFSP • Patricia Knight Scholl • Richard and JoAnne Sullivan • Gordon and Joan Terry Doug and Sharon Wilson • In Memory of Grant M. Kennedy Ontario-Wayne-Yates County FDA • In Memory of Russell B. Lawrence, Sr. • Carl W. Trainor In Memory of Ivan Mack • Peter C. DeLuca Robert and Rita Hogan • In Memory of Steve Mack Michael Heredia • In Memory of Jean F. McCullough Wayne and Sally Baxter • • Peter C. DeLuca Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP • • Robert and Mimi Enos Richard and Donna Hazzard • • Robert and Rita Hogan Francis “Joe” Martin, Jr. • • S. Scott Mason, CFSP Metropolitan FDA • • Nassau-Suffolk FDA Rochester Genesee Valley FDA • • Richard and JoAnne Sullivan • Gordon and Joan Terry • Tri-County FDA GARRITY AWARD NOMINEES SAUGHT The EDWARD J. GARRITY LEADERSHIP AWARD was established in 1996 to recognize funeral directors who embody the crucial characteristics of distinguished volunteer leaders, i.e., integrity, strength of conviction, and dedication. P resident ED GARRITY, who died while serving in office, exemplified every one of these essential qualities. The Award is presented during the NYSFDA Annual Convention Banquet. The criteria includes: • The nominee cannot be the current NYSFDA President, President-Elect or Immediate Past President. It's not necessary to have served as President to be nominated. • Can only be awarded to individuals affiliated with a current NYSFDA member funeral firm and the firm must be a member for a period of at least ten (10) consecutive years. • Can only be awarded to individuals who have served in offices, on the board or committee positions at the State level. • The individual must have shown leadership and commitment to NYSFDA's goals and objectives and to the enhancement of funeral service over an extended period of time. • The individual has consistently considered the merits of issues and the broad implications of them, not just as they may impact their own funeral service operation. • The person has exhibited the strongest ethical conduct throughout their leadership tenure. • The individual has played an integral part in the development and implementation of a project that has had a positive impact on the funeral service industry. In Memory of Peter Milano • Christopher Milano In Memory of Joel F. Morris • Robert and Rita Hogan • Tom and Mary Kearns • Leslie Morris • James P. Nolan, Jr. • Richard and JoAnne Sullivan In Memory of Al Orsi • Peter C. DeLuca • Michael Heredia • James, Mark, and Peter Nolan In Memory of Jane Pannell • Peter and Lisette DeLuca In Memory of Thomas Pavlot • Carl W. Trainor In Memory of Rose Iocovozzi Sepi • Doug and Martha Brueggemann • Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP In Memory of Herman “Hy” Sprung • Peter C. DeLuca In Memory of Raymond Sullivan • Richard and JoAnne Sullivan In Memory of Dean Talcott • Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP Carl W. Trainor • In Memory of Wesley A. Trainor Carl W. Trainor • 2015 CASH RAFFLE WINNERS GRAND PRIZE, $10,000: David Perotto 2nd PRIZE, $ 2,500: John Alexander 3rd PRIZE, $ 1,000: JoAnne Sullivan THANK YOU to everyone who purchased tickets! PREVIOUS AWARDEES: • • • • • • • • • Bill McVeigh, 1997 George Dalton, 1998 Wayne Baxter, 1999 Gene Guarino, 2002 Tom Shepardson, 2004 Anthony Amigone, Sr., 2005 Thomas L. Kearns, 2007 Douglas R. Brueggemann, 2009 John "Jack' Hogan, 2010 Do you know a worthy candidate for the EDWARD J. GARRITY AWARD? Please submit a letter of nomination no later than JUNE 30, 2015. If you have questions about eligibility, please contact Kelly at [email protected] or 800-291-2629. NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 21 BUSINESS SERVICES PrePlan® Corner PREPLAN RATE WATCH • Current Consumer Net Yield: 1.15% • Annual Net Consumer Yield: 1.27% friends such as jokes, funny videos, and links you want to visit. Immediately move these emails to your new folder when they come in. By cleaning out your inbox, you will be amazed at how quickly your productivity improves! w w w.preplan.org SPRING Cleaning! Most people do spring cleaning around the house and the yard, but have you ever thought of trying it with your daily business routine? It’s easy to get stuck in the daily grind. Spring cleaning can mean so much more than just “physically cleaning” your funeral home and office. Let us offer a few “cleaning” suggestions to incorporate into your business operations this spring: 1. ORGANIZE AND PRIORITIZE YOUR EMAIL INBOX. Many of our inboxes are likely cluttered with nonessential emails. As our inboxes grow in size, important emails can quickly get lost and are impossible to find when we need them. Consider creating folders to store important emails by category to ensure they are readily available when they are needed. The folders should be grouped in a way that makes sense to you. Create a “read later” folder for emails from 22 NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 2. UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE. It is easy for your funeral home website to become a “create and forget” project. It is imperative to evaluate the content and links that you have on your site at least once a year. It is important to note that as a best practice your website content should be evaluated and updated on a monthly basis. Consider a review to verify the information you’re sharing with families is still relevant. Example: if you post the Medicaid/SSI resource limits be sure that you are using the most recently published 2015 information. Are the logos displayed on your website up to date? Did you know that the NYSFDA and PrePlan logos changed in November 2012? Many of our PrePlan members are still using our old logo on their websites. Be sure that “someone” isn’t you! NYSFDA has a link to our updated logos on their website, www.nysfda.org. 3. PURGE OLD FILES. Use spring cleaning as the motivator to go through your file cabinets and shred unnecessary papers and documents. It is important to remember that funeral homes must retain all records relating to preneed accounts for four years from the date the funeral was performed or a refund was made to the purchaser. You may also consider storing your documents electronically to save on office space. 4. CONSIDER A CHANGE. Do you still receive paper checks from PrePlan by mail? Cut down on mail clutter by signing up for our ePAY PROGRAM! It is fast and easy, and your funds will be transferred directly to your business checking account the next business day rather than waiting to receive a check by mail. Instead of filling out your contracts by hand, PrePlan offers electronic copies on the resources page of our website. These contracts can be completed on the computer and printed for the consumer to sign. Traditional spring cleaning may be an annual event, but let these next few weeks serve as a reminder to look for ways to make your daily business operations more effective. Happy “cleaning”! BUSINESS SERVICES Directors Choice Credit Union, Kim Young GETTING READY FOR New Technology T What will EMV (chip) credit card and debit cards mean for you? he U.S. is poised to upgrade its debit and credit card (payment card) security systems in an effort to fight skyrocketing fraud costs. And while federal regulations already protect you, as a consumer, from liability for most fraudulent transactions a crook could make using your account, when payment industry participants are hit by fraud, everyone’s costs increase. That’s why the U.S. industry plans to implement EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) cards, which contain computer chips that authorize or validate payment-card transactions. We’re the last developed country in the world to do so. Here’s how the change will affect you: • You’ll receive an EMV card with information about how it’s different, its enhanced security, and how to use it. This will happen when your DCCU current card expires or you might get a special reissue from your other financial institutions. Card issuers have discretion about whether they’ll require you to use a signature when making payments or to use a PIN (personal identification number). • The transaction process will be slightly different. You’ll insert your EMV card in a POS (point-ofsale) terminal, wait for it to be authorized, and remove it. You’ll either sign a sales draft or key in your PIN to complete the transaction. • Other countries likely will stop accepting mag stripe cards after a certain date. You’ll need an EMV card when traveling abroad and international travelers in the U.S. will have the additional protection against counterfeit that EMV cards afford. w w w.Direc torsChoiceCU.com • It’s possible that some merchants and card issuers may choose not to convert and will continue to use mag stripe technology for a time. Your card still will work and consumers will continue to be protected from fraud liability. Stay tuned for updates as we approach the deadlines set for this EMV transition. In the meantime, if you have questions about EMV cards and how they will affect you, contact the professionals at DIRECTORS CHOICE CREDIT UNION. Stop by or call today at 800-593-5920. Business Solutions Great rates Free checking Business loans Contact Us Today NYSFDA Directions • May 2015 23 Upcoming Calendar Scan for the most current listings. MAY 2015 12 13 14 19 25 The Good Death, Good Grief, Good Funerals: Finding Our Place on the Continuum of Care, 3 CEUs Hofstra University, Mack Sports Complex, Headstead, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Presented by Dr. Thomas G. Long and Thomas Lynch, LFD Because of generous funding from the NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION, there is absolutely no charge for NYSFDA members or caregivers to attend. Non-member funeral directors will be charged $199. Register at www.TributeFoundation.org. The Good Death, Good Grief, Good Funerals: Finding Our Place on the Continuum of Care, 3 CEUs Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Presented by Dr. Thomas G. Long and Thomas Lynch, LFD Because of generous funding from the NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION, there is absolutely no charge for NYSFDA members or caregivers to attend. Non-member funeral directors will be charged $199. Register at www.TributeFoundation.org. The Good Death, Good Grief, Good Funerals: Finding Our Place on the Continuum of Care, 3 CEUs Oncenter, Syracuse, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Presented by Dr. Thomas G. Long and Thomas Lynch, LFD Because of generous funding from the NYS TRIBUTE FOUNDATION, there is absolutely no charge for NYSFDA members or caregivers to attend. Non-member funeral directors will be charged $199. Register at www.TributeFoundation.org. Directors Choice Credit Union Board Meeting Conference Call, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Offices Closed All NYSFDA offices, including PrePlan, Directors Choice Credit Union, and NYS Tribute Foundation will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. ! n o i t n e v Con 2015 NYSFDA Annual Convention August 16 – 19, 2015 • NYSFDA’s 2015 Annual Convention will be held in POUGHKEEPSIE, August 16 - 19, 2015 at the MID-HUDSON CIVIC CENTER and the POUGHKEEPSIE GRAND HOTEL. • Earn up to 12 CEUs, including 2 NYS Law! Watch for more information in the mail in the coming weeks.