Mourning the Loss of an Exceptional Leader in Funeral Service
B. David Daly
B. David “Dave” Daly died on Saturday, July 31, 2004 and will be remembered as a leader and innovator in funeral service. He was the owner, president and CEO of Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Homes and Cemeteries for more than 40 years.
NFDA Past President, John Carmon states, “Dave and I were part of a study group of 14 diverse funeral directors who meet once a year for several days, and help each other with critical issues and business planning. Dave challenged me to think of the wildest scenario in funeral service and then apply my firms' ability to handle it. Just because we found a solution to a problem today doesn't mean that same solution will work tomorrow. Imagine your worst nightmare ... then double it!! Can you deal with that? He taught me to think, rethink, and not be afraid to make mistakes. A great friend and mentor who we will all miss terribly but remember with every challenge and a smile.”
Receiving countless honors and awards, Dave earned the highest honor of the International Cemetery and Funeral Association, the “Hall of Fame Award,” and was one of only 18 people in the country to have received the honor of Certified Cemetery and Funeral Executive. He was Past President of the American Cemetery Association and Washington Interment Association and was a past Director of International Order of the Golden Rule. Dave was also appointed to the State Cemetery Board by three different governors and was elevated to the position of Board Chair where he served for 12 years.
To view Dave's obituary online, visit http://www.evergreen-washelli.com/obit.dave.html.
[Back to Top] Authorities Investigate Celestial Burial Case in Failure to Deliver Caskets
Funeral homes from around the country continue to report that Celestial Burial Case, a third party casket seller in Pennsylvania, fails to deliver caskets to consumers who prepaid for them. Many of Celestial's sales came through endorsement programs with the Fraternal Order of Police, AMVETS, and the American Legion, all of which have since cancelled those endorsement programs. U.S. Postal authorities and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office are currently investigating.
Various funeral homes that have contacted Celestial Burial Case to obtain caskets for families have been promised reimbursement by Celestial if the funeral home will provide a casket to the family. In some cases, Celestial has failed to provide the reimbursement. Therefore, funeral homes should be extremely wary of entering into any type of reimbursement or other arrangements with Celestial. If any NFDA member becomes aware of a failure by Celestial Burial Case to provide caskets, vaults, or reimbursements to funeral homes, they should notify Kathy Ryan, General Counsel for the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, at (717) 545-7215. PFDA is compiling this information for submission to government agencies.
[Back to Top] Tips for the Survival of Your Business: A 2004 Convention Workshop Preview
By David Walkinshaw
Is your firm prepared to survive until 2020? As times change, so do the demands of our consumers and the demands on funeral directors. As professionals, our experience and guidance often helps those we serve create funeral services to meet their specific needs. Today, we are viewed as the experts in the field. Whether we remain experts, or are replaced by a NEW AND BETTER alternative, will very much depend on the choices we, as a profession, make over the next few years. Here are a few tips that I have for you, taken from my workshop, Strategies for Surviving Until 2020: Tools for Adapting to the New Realities, that I'll present with Laura Kronmann at the 2004 NFDA Convention & Expo.
Tip: When hiring new staff, hire an individual with a different set of talents than your existing staff. The future requires versatility.
Tip: Before you expand your facility, be sure the expansion and additional overhead is needed. The future will likely see more services outside the funeral home.
The survival of funeral service, and your business, will depend on our ability to adapt to what families are looking for. Survival strategies need to include ideas and concepts to help your funeral home change to better serve the consumer as well as remain profitable. Remember, innovation requires nothing more than an open mind, and a willingness to adapt. I look forward to seeing you in October!
Register for the 2004 NFDA Convention & Expo by the early-bird deadline and save! After Sept. 16, 2004 prices increase for you and your staff. Call 800-228-6332 or simply visit NFDA's Website to download a registration form at http://www.nfda.org/files/2004Expo/ConvReg2004.pdf. Want more information on this year's workshops and other events? Visit http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=525.
[Back to Top] Department of Defense Requests Notification of Veteran Deaths
NFDA has received a request to have funeral directors notify the Department of Defense, Finance and Accounting Service whenever a disposition involves a veteran of the armed services. The department needs the information so that benefits being paid may be terminated promptly, thereby saving the federal government approximately $2.5 million per month.
NFDA has expressed its interest in assisting the organization and is working on a notification form for funeral directors to fill out in these instances. NFDA has also suggested simplifying the process of returning the forms for funeral directors whether it's through email, mail or fax. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
[Back to Top] NFDA Victorious in Preserving Exemptions on New Prescription Drug Law
Burial and funeral trusts, burial plots, homes, real property and all other non-liquid assets will remain exempt from the eligibility asset test in the proposed CMS regulations implementing the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvements and Modernization Act of 2003. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made the announcement on July 27, 2004, and also stated that only liquid assets (those that can be “readily converted to cash within 20 days”) will be considered. Thanks to the efforts of NFDA, the current funeral and burial trust exemptions applicable to Medicaid and SSI were preserved in both the law and proposed regulations for these new benefits. This is a major victory for NFDA members and the families they serve.
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Are You in Compliance? New Reference and Teleconference Help You Find Out
Funeral directors will now have access to a new NFDA reference titled Wage and Hour Laws for the Funeral Industry, that provides information helpful to complying with wage and hour laws. Written by NFDA Counsel T. Scott Gilligan, this important resource includes a complete explanation of the new DOL Regulations for Professional Exemption (effective Aug. 23, 2004), and their impact on funeral service. Other topics include minimum wage, comp-time, on-call employees, fluctuating workweek arrangements and an FLSA overview. You will want this as part of a ready reference to be sure you are in compliance with the law.
Order Wage and Hour Laws for the Funeral Industry today through NFDA for only $35 (members) or $70 (nonmembers) by calling 800-228-6332 or visiting NFDA's Resource Store.
Deadline Extension
Don't delay! You can still register for the upcoming teleconference, New Overtime Rules, Federal Wage & Hour Laws, occurring Aug. 12, from 1-3 p.m. CST. Hear John Fitch, Sr. VP of Advocacy at NFDA and T. Scott Gilligan, NFDA Counsel lead a detailed discussion of the federal wage and hour laws. Particular emphasis will be on compliance and the changes to the overtime provisions as they apply to licensed funeral directors and embalmers, as well as administrative and executive funeral home employees. Call NFDA today at 800-228-6332 to register. For more information, visit http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=82.
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