This is a letter about grief from a millenial, to a millenial. Use this as a tool to help millennials in the journey of grief, or share it with them if they need it. We hope this is a useful resource for your client families, friends, family or anyone in between! ——- Dear millennial, I’m […] The post How to Grieve a Sudden Death [A Letter For Millennials] appeared first on funeralOne Blog. How to Grieve a Sudden Death [A Letter For Millennials] published first on YouTube via Tumblr How to Grieve a Sudden Death [A Letter For Millennials]
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The FTC is actively inspecting funeral homes in various parts of the country. Learn how funeral homes have performed and strategies to protect you from significant fines. Jeff “The Funeral Commander” Harbeson discusses the pitfalls of non-compliance and the preventative measures you can take to make your firm “FTC-Friendly” as well as to improve your standing in the community you serve. Think you are ready for a surprise FTC inspection? You might be surprised. The post Federal Trade Commission Conducts Surprise Inspections. What You Need To Know. appeared first on Connecting Directors. Federal Trade Commission Conducts Surprise Inspections. What You Need To Know. published first on YouTube via Tumblr Federal Trade Commission Conducts Surprise Inspections. What You Need To Know. The FTC has released its report detailing the results of its undercover Funeral Rule investigation for 2017. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission investigators reviewed 134 funeral homes over 11 states to determine the success or failure of the Funeral Rule. The results?… A few U.S. cities performed… less than spectacular. The FTC revealed specifically what they were looking for saying,
This periodic funeral rule investigation is intended to “monitor funeral homes’ compliance” has successfully weeded out a handful of offenders who now get to choose whether they want to accept fines as high as $40,654 per violation or enter the Funeral Rule Offender’s Program (FROP)… which sounds like the alcohol-is-bad class underage drinkers have to attend with their parents. Not surprisingly, all of this year’s offenders opted for the FROP (I love this acronym) over the fine. This is a win for the violators because they don’t need to reduce staff and a win for NFDA who just received 29 more paying members who they can teach to be better behaving funeral professionals.
Among the worst performing cities in the FTC funeral rule investigation were Tulsa, Oklahoma, where 4 of the 20 reviewed homes failed; Augusta, Georgia, where five of the 13 funeral homes failed; Lansing, where 7 of the 15 funeral homes failed; and Odessa and Midland, Texas, where seven of the 15 failed. The most compliant cities were Ft. Wayne, Indiana; Southern Fairfield County, Connecticut; Manhattan + Brooklyn, New York; and Southern New Jersey who all received zero Funeral Rule violations. Way to go! Since 1996, the FTC has inspected nearly 3,200 funeral homes of which 17.5% have been found in violation of the Funeral Rule. What do you think of the Funeral Rule investigation and FROP? Tell us in the comments! The post FTC Releases Results of Undercover Funeral Rule Investigation… 4 Regions Bombed appeared first on Connecting Directors. FTC Releases Results of Undercover Funeral Rule Investigation… 4 Regions Bombed published first on YouTube via Tumblr FTC Releases Results of Undercover Funeral Rule Investigation… 4 Regions Bombed Today FrontRunner Professional announced a significant expansion to their programming and development team with the addition of Greg Daye and Gaby Brillon, who bring over 20 years of combined experience to the industry-leading tech company. Daye, who himself has over a decade of development experience, joins the team from the data management space with a focus on developing the next generation of FrontRunner’s award-winning technology solutions. “I’m excited about working in this dynamic environment with so many amazing people. The products and solutions that FrontRunner develops are of the highest quality and I look forward to making my contribution to the future of the company. Death care is a unique industry and with the strength of this department, the future is certainly bright,” says Daye of his new position as Strategic Developer. Brillon has an extensive background working with the Canada’s Department Of National Defense, both globally and on home soil. With her unique skill-set and diverse experience, she hopes to help FrontRunner take their software solutions to a whole new level. “I am excited to join a company where they treat you like family and where I will see my work make a meaningful contribution. With lots of software as a service companies, that personal element can get lost in translation. However, at FrontRunner everything is about helping people and I can’t wait to be a part of a team like that,”says Brillon. Thus far, 2018 has been an active year for FrontRunner, with this latest news adding to a list of noteworthy progressions. “When we looked at our goals for this year, we decided that expanding our programming team was at the top of our priority list. Gaby and Greg represent a greater goal, for us, to go even further with the software that we offer. Expanding this department will enable us to not only focus on improving our current solutions but build new and exciting software that will help death care businesses move towards a brighter future,” says Jason Truesdell, President of FrontRunner Professional. “This is just the beginning of the next chapter for our company,”concluded Truesdell. FrontRunner is the leading full service Technology and Marketing company offering the only truly integrated solution on the market. To learn more about what FrontRunner can do for your firm visit them online at www.FrontRunner360.com, or contact them at 1-866-748-3625. The post FrontRunner Professional Announces Expansion of Development Team appeared first on Connecting Directors. FrontRunner Professional Announces Expansion of Development Team published first on YouTube via Tumblr FrontRunner Professional Announces Expansion of Development Team It’s a barn burner… The Commander is moving his Command Post!!! Besides the Commander on the move, the boys speak to Scott Mindrum of CRaKN, who provides software to help manage your funeral homes. Also, the FTC has secret shoppers out and they released their findings… FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS! The post RELEASE THE FN CRAKN! | FUNERAL nation 114 appeared first on Connecting Directors. RELEASE THE FN CRAKN! | FUNERAL nation 114 published first on YouTube via Tumblr RELEASE THE FN CRAKN! | FUNERAL nation 114
Guest post from Jonathan Taylor, independent funeral celebrant in Totnes. (That’s not his photo above, by the way.) We are always delighted to receive guest posts from long time readers of the GFG blog, and this one is very topical given the obsession with ‘whacky funerals’ from the media (most recently the Nigerian man who buried his father in a brand new car, see here) and the keenness of Co-operative Funeralcare to position itself as ‘a thought leader on funeral trends and to tackle the misconception that large funeral directors were impersonal’ in pumping out PR about bespoke funerals -see here. Over to you Jonathan. I’m often asked, regarding my work with funerals; “What is the whackiest funeral you’ve ever done?” It went like this. Well, as a matter of fact almost all of them have gone like this: A gaunt figure in faux-Victorian fancy dress, carrying a silver-capped cane and black leather gloves, slowly led a specially adapted, shiny black vehicle, followed by two extremely long motor cars carrying the family, up the crematorium drive. A lozenge-shaped veneered box with brass-effect plastic handles, topped by a floral wreath and containing the dead person’s body, was visible through the high glass sides of the leading vehicle as it pulled up by the door. Four pinstripe-clad gentlemen bowed to the box with an air of contrived solemnity resembling some obscure parody of grief, and carried it into a mock-ecclesiastical chapel and onto a roller-topped bench within a curtained area, before melting away mysteriously to allow Mister Macabre to usher his victims into parallel rows of benches a short distance from the corpse. Everyone listened to a tribute to the person whose funeral it was, spoken by me as I stood between the living and the dead. Someone read a poem for him, the curtains closed over the coffin to his favourite tune, and the attendant signalled the allotted time was up. Black Glove bowed to the curtains and lubricated everyone’s way outside round the back, where he put the coffin flowers on display and stood clasping his top hat with an air of restless patience before driving off to meet another wood-effect box for a similar procedure; and the chief mourners departed, tangibly relieved, in the expensive cars that passed an identical cortège of vehicles, led by another Dickensian character, on its way up the drive. Weird enough. But when I’ve asked bereaved families why they’d chosen this particular style of grieving ritual, they’ve mostly been at a loss to explain. Those whacky funerals…. published first on YouTube via Tumblr Those whacky funerals…. When you work in the funeral service industry, there are a few traits that make you really good at your job. Some say it’s a service-oriented mindset. Others are just born to be good funeral professionals. A select few are just trying something new, and their sheer curiosity is what drives them into a successful […] The post Why Good Funeral Directors Know How To Laugh At Themselves appeared first on funeralOne Blog. Why Good Funeral Directors Know How To Laugh At Themselves published first on YouTube via Tumblr Why Good Funeral Directors Know How To Laugh At Themselves WHEELING, IL— The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has just released its latest Annual Statistics Report featuring final 2016 cremation data, newly released 2017 data, and projections to 2022. Using figures primarily obtained through state and provincial governments in the United States and Canada, CANA has determined the annual percentage of cremations to deaths and forecasts future cremation percentages. CANA is committed to gathering accurate and comprehensive cremation statistics to serve the needs of the death care industry and consumers. Our statistics on cremation are regarded as the most reliable and current available today. CREMATION GROWTH RATE IN THE U.S. Last year, CANA introduced new demographic data exploring various aspects of the growth rate of cremation (The Cremationist, v. 53, no. 2). The research revealed that when the cremation growth rate over time is measured, an interesting pattern develops. It can take decades for the cremation rate to hit 5%. In the U.S. it took nearly 100 years from the legalization of cremation in 1876 for the rate to reach 5% in 1972. After that, the growth rate is more predictable. The statistical model suggests the following pattern in growth rate:
The 2017 U.S. cremation rate was 51.6%. The majority of states are currently in the Rapid Growth phase. The cremation growth rate is reaching its peak and will begin to slow within a decade—but cremation rates will continue to grow across the country. While Canadian rates followed a slightly different trajectory, both countries experienced a similar trend. More and more of the U.S. population have chosen to roam across the country and around the world. Many have loosened their connections to their geographic origins and increased their exposure to new traditions. Conversely, there are significant portions of the population who are rooted to their hometowns and remain deeply connected to the traditions they grew up with. Several demographic factors indicate a break from tradition in opposition to a more rooted environment, each side correlating with higher or lower cremation rates, respectively. It’s more important than ever for business owners to understand their community demographics and the segments of the community they currently reach. 2017 CREMATORY COUNTS In an effort to continually improve CANA research, particular attention was paid to updating and improving the methodology to determine crematory counts. For each state, three sources of data at the state and federal level were consulted. When two out of three sources agreed, that number was used. In the rare cases when multiple sources were unavailable, CANA members were consulted. ABOUT CANA RESEARCH The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has been tracking national cremation statistics in the U.S. and Canada since our founding in 1913. Based on this data, CANA creates annual statistics reports to document consumer preferences and measure the steady growth of cremation rates across North America. CANA Research is often used by the media to shape their articles and by CANA’s members to guide their future business plans. For more information on CANA’s statistics, visit http://www.cremationassociation.org/page/IndustryStatistics. Read the full report in the most recent edition of The Cremationist or log in to http://www.cremationassociation.org. About CANA Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. The post Understanding Cremation Growth appeared first on Connecting Directors. Understanding Cremation Growth published first on YouTube via Tumblr Understanding Cremation Growth Picking the right music for a funeral can be a daunting task for family or friends planning the service. People tend to play it safe by choosing the standard funeral songs, which can become quite repetitive. Funeral directors have to get sick of hearing the same songs at services day after day. I mean, how many times can one person hear Over the Rainbow? Here are 11 cringeworthy songs that probably won’t be played at any funeral, but it sure would be funny if they were. 1. Highway to Hell- AC/DC2. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper- Blue Oyster Cult
3. Ring of Fire- Johnny Cash4. You Can’t Always Get What You Want- The Rolling Stones
5. Here I Go Again On My Own- Whitesnake 6. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead- Wizard of Oz 7. Another One Bites the Dust- Queen 8.I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead- Bon Jovi 9. Stayin’ Alive- Bee Gees 10. I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor This is especially true if the deceased isn’t so young. What’s the most cringeworthy song ever played at your funeral home? Let us know in the comments below! The post 11 Cringeworthy Songs that Shouldn’t Be Played at Any Funeral appeared first on Connecting Directors. 11 Cringeworthy Songs that Shouldn’t Be Played at Any Funeral published first on YouTube via Tumblr 11 Cringeworthy Songs that Shouldn’t Be Played at Any Funeral Richmond, IN – Starmark® Cremation Products, the country’s leading manufacturer of ceremonial rental casket inserts, has announced the introduction of several new products to its ever evolving product line. The innovative new Transporter alternative cremation container system, the Bridgeview 27” raised flat top solid wood alternative container viewer and the Ovation Oversize 31” solid wood alternative container viewer are all now available for immediate sale. The one-of-a-kind Transporter system allows funeral directors to offer their families an economically-priced, stand-alone alternative container, which can easily be converted into a rental casket insert. Through the use of an interior kit, the Transporter alternative container can become an insert that fits the new Bridgeview alternative container viewer and all 27” ceremonial rental caskets in the Starmark product line. The Transporter system also offers an oversize version offering the same flexibility that fits the new Ovation Oversize alternative container viewer. With the Transporter system, there is no need for funeral directors to carry both alternative containers and rental casket inserts. And since the Transporter system offers both a standard model and oversize unit, this helps further reduce the need to carry additional inventory. “The new Transporter alternative cremation container system provides funeral director with an effective way to merchandise their services,” said Gerald Davis, President of Starmark Cremation Products. “The Transporter system allows funeral directors to show families the Transporter alternative cremation container and demonstrate how easily and cost-effectively it can be used with an alternative container viewer or ceremonial rental casket.” The new Bridgeview alternative container viewer gives funeral directors a solid wood casket at a much lower price point. The attractively-priced Bridgeview encourages informal (Direct, Immediate, Simple or Basic) cremation families to move up to semi-formal services with the body being present. With the new Ovation Oversize 31” solid wood alternative container viewer, families that wish to have a funeral service using an alternative container viewer, but require a larger size, can now do so. With the addition of an interior kit, the oversize Transporter alternative cremation container can be upgraded to pair with the Ovation oversize alternative container viewer. “The addition of the Bridgeview to our product lines provides funeral directors with an attractively-priced upgrade from an alternative container,” added Davis. “And the Ovation Oversize model now gives funeral directors a way to offer families that require an oversize container the opportunity to have a funeral they never thought they could afford.” To learn more about the Transporter system, the Bridgeview or Ovation Oversize products, contact Starmark at 888-366-7335 or visit www.starmarkcp.com About Starmark Cremation Products: Starmark® Cremation Products, a division of Vandor Corporation, was founded in 2004 and manufacturers in its 200,000 square foot space at 1620 Rich Road, Richmond, IN. The company manufactures cremation products sold directly to funeral homes and crematories nationwide and through a growing network of distributors. For more information, visit the website at www.starmarkcp.com. The post Starmark Introduces New Transporter Alternative Cremation Container System appeared first on Connecting Directors. Starmark Introduces New Transporter Alternative Cremation Container System published first on YouTube via Tumblr Starmark Introduces New Transporter Alternative Cremation Container System |
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April 2019
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