Renewing Your NFDA Membership Saves Money, Builds Name Recognition
January 15 is Deadline for Membership Dues in Choice States
Allowing your NFDA membership to expire in 2004 can affect your business. After January 15, you’ll miss out on exciting new opportunities for 2004 such as:
- An enforceable Code of Professional Conduct, which distinguishes your firm as an NFDA member with consumers, promoting higher standards and ethics in funeral service
- Critical government relations news and support
- Free community relations materials for the May WWII dedication in Washington, D.C.
- Business Building programs
If you’re looking to save money this year, your NFDA membership automatically gives you member-only discounts on events, educational programs, credit card and collection services, a music license, member programs and select items from the Resource catalog. And don’t forget about the latest news and features in The Director, the NFDA Bulletin as well as services like the OSHA hotline and a free initial consultation with legal counsel.
As NFDA grows and the public awareness about what NFDA members stand for increases, we are beginning to receive calls from consumers looking for NFDA member funeral homes. So beat the January 15 deadline by renewing your membership in the leading funeral service organization. Just call 800-228-6332 to speak with a Member Service Representative.
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New Family Contact Survey Provides Significant Feedback for Funeral Directors
After funeral directors perform a service, your families will talk. As you know, word of mouth is what attracts or drives away business. That’s why it’s important to find out what you’re doing right – and what you could do better. A family might not have understood something and was surprised later on. There may be something that worked exceptionally well with one family, that you could provide for all of your families. The Family Contact Survey gives you information to make these adjustments. NFDA has retooled this survey using valuable input from member funeral directors.
Leandrew Jones, a funeral director in Kansas City, MO, uses the responses from the Family Contact Survey in staff meetings as a coaching tool. “We go over how any problems can be corrected and use that information to praise staff members who were complimented, and to help staff members who were criticized.” In addition, Barb Gamez, Marketing Manager at NFDA explains, “Providing a survey to families sends the message that you value their opinions. The benefits to you are evident once you use these responses to improve your products and services.”
The Family Contact Survey provides funeral directors with information about your staff’s performance, quality of the service and marketing efforts. The survey also requests personal comments directed toward improving your firm’s level of service. Your business can’t afford not to look into this enhanced service.
The redesigned Family Contact Survey set includes everything you need - from the survey to the envelopes. A comprehensive statistical analysis from NFDA is also available for an additional charge. For more detailed information, including pricing, call NFDA today at 800-228-6332 or visit the Resource Store at http://www.nfda.org/resourcestore/resourcestore.php?CategoryId=43. A free sample is also available.
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2004 NFDA Advocacy Summit: Year of Decision
With this critical election year upon us, this is an influential time to reach out and get our messages heard. The 2004 Advocacy Summit gives members the opportunity to meet face-to-face with members of Congress, March 15-16 in Washington, D.C. NFDA members must take this opportunity to be proactive on issues such as:
- The Funeral Rule, and how including all sellers of funeral goods and services to the public will be good for consumers and funeral service
- Skyrocketing health insurance premiums
- The federal estate tax that inhibits keeping funeral homes in the family
- Updated federal overtime rules, that help retain and recruit new professionals for funeral service
Also, dedicated NFDA members can call their colleagues and ask them to contribute to the NFDA PAC to support the profession. This is crucial for funeral service to have a voice in electing candidates in Congress. During this critical election year, we’re sure to be heard. With all members of the House of Representatives, the Senate and even the president being affected by this election, the voice of funeral directors is that much louder, with politicians depending on your vote.
With its Capital Hill office, NFDA is the only funeral service organization that actively, on a day-to-day basis, represents the interest of funeral service in front of Congress and the federal regulatory agencies. We are able to do this with help from our concerned and committed NFDA members who provide the grassroots muscle and political resources for NFDA’s advocacy efforts.
Register today, or request more information on the Advocacy Summit by calling NFDA at 800-228-6332 or visiting http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=551. If you have any questions, please contact John Fitch at (202) 547-0441.
[Back to Top] Nominate an Accomplished Woman for the 2004 Initiative Award
Nominations due February 15, 2003
Do you know of a woman in funeral service who displays energy in her work and makes noteworthy contributions to the profession? NFDA’s 2004 Initiative Award will be presented April 18, 2004 at NFDA’s Professional Women’s Conference in Clearwater Beach, FL. It recognizes any enterprising woman who takes initiative to improve funeral service.
If you’d like to download a nomination form or get more information about the Professional Women’s Conference, visit http://www.nfda.org/page.php?pID=290. You may also call NFDA at 800-228-6332 for any information or to receive the nomination form. Nominations must be postmarked no later than February 15, 2004.
[Back to Top] Re-design of World Trade Center Memorial Unveiled
A revised version of the World Trade Center memorial has been unveiled. The new drawings of the design "Reflecting Absence”, include trees and park plazas that will decorate reflecting pools, marking the area where the twin towers stood. The design was selected last week by a 13-member panel to remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 attack of the trade center. Among other things, the memorial includes a stone container at the bottom of one of the building foundations that will contain the remains of unidentified victims.
One of the architects of the project indicated that the victims' names will be arranged around the design’s reflecting pools. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg added, "This memorial is not for us - although we have been trusted with its creation. It is for our children and grandchildren."
[Back to Top] NFDA Board Member Interviewed on CNN
Bob Biggins, member of the NFDA Executive Board, was interviewed as part of a recent CNN story on the labor shortage. It was aired on January 2, 2004 in approximately 18 major U.S. markets. One memorable quote that stood out in Bob’s interview was, "We need to be able to create an environment and a workplace that's going to be attractive to today's new generation." The labor shortage topic has attracted a lot of media attention recently. Coming soon to the NFDA Bulletin, discover how you can fight the labor shortage with NFDA’s new Career Presentation Guide.
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NFDA Bulletin
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