an

Idaho Funeral

Service Association

Quarterly Publication

Published

June 19, 2012

by the IFSA offices

Kenneth L. Mallea

Executive Secretary

Ph (208) 888-2730

Fax (208) 888-2789

P.O. Box 820

Meridian, Idaho

83680-0820

email: ifsa@ifsa.us

web: www.ifsa.us

Newsletter Editor:

Leisa Hiatt-Faler

In This Issue

Refusing Service 3

Convention Schedule 5

NFDA Spotlight 6-7

FTC Inspection Data 9

Stress Management 10

Classifieds 11

President’s Message

I would like to take this opportunity to once again invite

everyone to our IFSA Annual Convention, June 24-26 at

the Shore Lodge in McCall. These meetings are educational

and informative. Please try to set aside time for this

event and plan to bring your family. There will be for time

for relaxing, as well as fun family activities. Remember

that there are eight hours of Continuing Education re-

quired each year. This is a great way to get needed cred-

its.

I would like to thank the Lewis & Clark and Coeur

d’Alene Districts of our Association for their hospitality

and friendship during the District Meetins. I am grateful

to have been able to attend your district meetings.

I would also like to thank the Association Members for

the opportunity to serve as President for the past year. I

count it an honor to have represented our membership at

the State and National level.

Lastly, I would like to thank the IFSA Board and Offic-

ers for the effort that they put forth on behalf of our

Membership. It is because of the efforts of those willing

to serve as volunteers in this organization that our Associ-

ation is successful.

Sincerely,

Craig Geary

President, IFSA Nalder Funeral Home

110 West Oak Street Shelley, ID 83274

Information contained in this newsletter is obtained from various sources and may not represent all available data or be complete statements. An attorney or accountant should be consulted on any legal or tax matters. Content and advertisements

do not necessarily reflect the opinion or endorsement of the Idaho Funeral Service Association.

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

Page 2

The 2011-2011 officers were elected and sworn in by Mark Mortimore, NFDA Representative at the 2011 IFSA Annual Convention

in McCall, Idaho on June 28, 2011.

2011-2012 IFSA Officers

President

Craig Geary

(208) 357-3231

First Vice President

John Buck

(208) 365-4491

Second Vice President

Dorn Rademacher

(208) 344-4441

Past President

Steve Gordon

(208) 376-5400

Coeur d’Alene District

Eli Yates (‘09-’14)

(208) 664-3151

Eastern District

Kevin Bodily (‘10-’15)

(208) 357-3231

Lewis & Clark District

Bill Malcom (‘11-’16)

(208) 743-4578

South Central District

Kerry Morrison (‘08-’13)

(208) 436-1800

Treasure Valley District

David Dembowski (‘09-’12)

(208) 322-3999

Trustee At Large

John Yraguen

(208) 442-8171

Officers

Trustees

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter Page 2

Page 3 IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

When Mr. Smith died, his two adult children, as next of kin, came into the funeral home to make arrangements. From the start they were rude, abusive and argumentative with the staff, and insisted on doing things their way, regardless of the funeral home’s policies. They also threatened to sue the funeral home if everything wasn’t done to their satisfaction. Before a contract was signed, the counselor meeting with them went to the funeral home manager, explained the situation and asked if the funeral home could refuse to serve them. If you were the manager, what would your answer be? Legally, funeral homes are places of public accommodation, and as such they cannot discriminate against people protected under various federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws. These laws prohibit discrimination based on certain characteristics, such as race or religion. You can generally refuse service to someone without violating these laws, so long as you don’t refuse to serve all members of a protected class, and you don’t refuse to serve someone because of the characteristic. For example, you cannot refuse to serve all Baptists, nor can you refuse to serve someone because they are of the Baptist faith. Note, however, that only certain groups or classes are protected under the law. You can refuse to serve all people with beards if you so choose, because people with beards are not a protected class. The decision not to serve a family shouldn’t be made lightly. Turning away business will obviously affect your revenue, and in these days of lower margins and increased competition, every family is important to your bottom line. In addition, there’s the chance that someone you refuse to serve will complain to a regulatory agency, and you will be put to the trouble (and possibly expense, if a lawyer is required) of responding to an investigation. On the other hand, many times an abusive or very difficult family is much more trouble and requires much more time than they are worth. In addition to economics, you should consider the safety and well-being of your staff. You should not expect them to accept severe, unwarranted abuse, and their safety should certainly never be put at risk. Bear in mind that you cannot refuse to serve someone simply because you disapprove of or are unhappy with their choices for service and/or merchandise. Under the FTC Funeral Rule, consumers have the right to choose only the services and merchandise they want (subject to any state legal requirements). Therefore, you cannot refuse to serve a family simply because they want only direct cremation and a cremation container, for example, nor can you condition the sale of minimal services and/or merchandise on the purchase of additional items. However, under the Rule you can refuse requests for goods or services which are “impossible, impractical or excessively burdensome” to provide. Thus, if a family wants to set up grills and cook on your premises, or otherwise wants to use your facilities in a manner that would make it extremely difficult for you to serve other families, you can refuse their request. Note that once a contract is signed, it is much more difficult to refuse to serve the family without facing legal consequences. Therefore, you should train your counselors to consult with their manager about a difficult family before they present a contract to them.

"reprinted with permission from Mortuary Management".

Please note: this column is necessarily brief and doesn’t purport to be a complete explanation of the law discussed. The information presented is not intended to be, and should not be taken as, legal advice. For advice concerning your particular situation, please

consult an attorney.

Refusing Service

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter Page 4

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend the

Idaho Funeral Service Association

2012 Annual Convention

June 24—26, 2012

Shore Lodge—McCall, Idaho 1- 800-657-6464

www.shorelodgemccall.com

www.mccallchamber.org

Speakers for this year include:

Dr. Kirby Orme, MD

Suicide Prevention Action Network

Sherry L White, RN, BA, GMS, GRS

New Leaf Resources

Grief Management Services

For more information, registration, sponsorship, donations, or questions, please contact

IFSA at 208-888-2730, ifsa@ifsa.us. Please see registration form insert. Rooms blocks

have been released and are now on a first come first serve basis. Call to reserve your

room today!!

Total 7 CEU Hours!

Page 5 IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

IFSA 2012 Annual Convention

Schedule

Sunday, June 24

3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Registration Table ........................................ Shore Lodge East Gallery

3:00 – 6:00 pm Board of Trustees Meeting ........................... Shore Lodge Mill Room

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Vendor Meet and Greet Social Hour ............. Payette Pavilion, Upper

Monday, June 25

7:30 – 8:00 am Breakfast ...................................................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

8:00 – 8:15 am Welcome & Honoring of Past Presidents ...... Payette Pavilion, Upper

8:15 – 10:15 am Speaker –Sherry L. White............................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

10:15 – 10:45 am Break – Sponsor Display Open ..................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

10:45 – 11:45 am Speaker – Sherry L. White ............................. Payette Pavilion, Upper

12:30 pm Ladies Luncheon ............................................ Payette Pavilion, Lower

1:00 – 6:00 pm Golf Tournament ................................................. Whitetail Golf Club

7:00 pm BBQ Dinner ................................................. Payette Pavilion, Upper

7:45 pm Minute to Win It! .......................................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

Tuesday, June 26

7:30 – 8:00 am Breakfast ...................................................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

8:00 – 8:15 am Service of Remembrance .............................. Payette Pavilion, Upper

8:15 – 8:45 am Business Meeting .......................................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

8:45 – 9: 15 am Pat Patton, NFDA Rep .................................. Payette Pavilion, Upper

9: 15 – 9:30 am Don Williams, Master Trust .......................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

9:30 – 10:00am Break – Sponsor Display Open ..................... Payette Pavilion, Upper

10:00 am – Noon Speaker — Dr. S. Kirby Orme, SPAN Idaho ... Payette Pavilion, Upper

Noon Suppliers Luncheon ....................................... Payette Pavilion, Lower

FREE AFTERNOON

7:00 pm President’s Banquet & Officer Installation ...... Payette Pavilion, Upper

7:00 – 9:00 pm Kids Pizza Dinner and Movie ......................... Payette Pavilion, Lower

NFDA and Federated Insurance Offer Community Education Kits on Distracted Driving Every year, more than 450,000 people are injured or killed in automobile accidents caused by distracted driving. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) has partnered with Federat-ed Insurance to offer Association members an exclusive communi-ty outreach kit to educate the public about the dangers of distract-ed driving. The kit is available to NFDA members at no cost. Feder-ated Insurance is NFDA's endorsed provider of business insurance. "NFDA is pleased to partner with Federated Insurance to help bring attention to the growing problem of distracted driving," said NFDA CEO Christine Pepper. "The 'In the Blink of an Eye' DVD has the power to save many lives and we hope our members will take advantage of this important benefit by requesting a free copy to share in their communities." Any activity that disrupts a driver from the task at hand – such as using a mobile device to make phone calls, send text messages or search the Internet; adjusting the controls of a radio; eating or drinking beverages; reading maps or other printed materials; or programming GPS navigation systems – can be classified as a dis-traction. The materials in the "Distracted Driving – In the Blink of an Eye" kit show the serious, and sometimes deadly, consequences of behaviors that distract drivers' attention from the road. Drivers are encouraged to make a commitment to themselves and their family to avoid distractions while driving so they can arrive safely at their destination without incident or accident. The presentation and video are appropriate for anyone of driving age. A funeral director could present the information to organizations such as colleges and high schools, community cen-ters, senior living communities, churches, and community service organizations. NFDA members can order the free "Distracted Driving – In the Blink of an Eye" community outreach kit by visiting www.nfda.org/DistractedDriving (member login required); the kit will arrive in four to six weeks. NFDA Legislative Update Legislation Issues Indigent Funeral Expense Reimbursement Act of 2011 (H.R. 1033) – Again this year, Rep. Broun (R-GA) has introduced legislation, at NFDA’s request, to provide an above the line tax credit to funeral homes for unreimbursed expenses for providing funeral and/or burial services and merchandise for indigents. The term indigent is defined by state law and the credit is capped at $3,000 per year. With state and local funding for these services being reduced or eliminated, NFDA is seeking legislative tax relief for funeral homes who voluntarily provide these services to their communities gener-ally at the request of state or local officials. In addition, NFDA is working with several Senate offices to have a Senate version of H.R. 1033 introduced as well. Estate Tax (H.R. 1259 and H.R. 1757) – NFDA and other members of the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition have begun efforts to advocate that Congress make permanent the current estate tax law that expires at the end of 2012. At that time, the estate tax will revert back to the 2001 levels of a $1million ($2million per couple) exclusion and a 55% rate. The exclusion is not indexed for infla-tion. The current law sets the exclusion at $5 million ($10 million for a couple) and a tax rate for amounts above that of 35%. This exclusion is indexed for inflation and a stepped-up basis is includ-ed as well.

Codification of SSI Irrevocable Funeral/Burial Trust Exclusion. (H.R. 1476/S.2150) NFDA is working closely with our House and Senate sponsors to implement a strategy to get this bill passed into law this year. This year, we are trying a new strategy. Instead of seek-ing to attach our bills to a larger SSA or SSI bill, we are seeking to move it directly to the House and Senate floor under a Unanimous Consent process. Veterans Missing in America Act of 2011 (H.R. 2051/S. 2244) – Introduced by Representatives Tiberi (R-OH) and Stivers (R-OH) in the House and Senators Portman (R-OH) and Begich (D-AK) in the Senate, the bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with veteran’s service organizations and other groups in assisting funeral homes in possession of unidentified or aban-doned remains in determining if the remains are that of a veteran eligible for burial at a National Cemetery. If remains are deter-mined to be that of an eligible veteran, there is no next of kin, and there are no available resources to cover burial and funeral ex-penses, then the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall cover the cost of burial. In addition, the bill would call on the Secretary of Veter-ans Affairs to establish a public database of the veterans identified in this project. Regulatory Issues OSHA – New Hazard Communication Standard - On March 26, 2012 OSHA released its Final Rule revising the OSHA Hazard Com-munication Standard, 1910.1200. It includes portions of the Glob-ally Harmonized System (GHS) that are appropriate to OSHA's regulatory sector, which is workplace safety and health, and re-tains portions of the existing OSHA Hazard Communication Stand-ard regulating employee exposure to hazardous and toxic chemi-cals. This revision also includes revisions to substance specific OSHA standards, such as the Formaldehyde Standard, 1910.1048. By its terms, the Final Rule goes into effect 60 days after this publi-cation date and will specifically pre-empt state laws and regula-tions covered by its contents. OSHA state plan states can still adopt their own version of this revised standard, if the state stand-ard is as effective as the Federal standard or more stringent. The Final Rule, including an extremely lengthy Preamble and attached Appendices, encompasses 858 pages, with the actual revision to the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and related sub-stance specific standards, such as the Formaldehyde Standard, contained in 97 pages. The rationale stated by OSHA for the first required effective completion date of December 1, 2013, whereby employers, such as funeral establishments, would be required to train employees on the new label elements and the Safety Data Sheet format of the revised Standard is that, while full compliance with the Final Rule will begin in 2015, it is possible that American workplaces will begin to receive labels and SDS's that are consistent with the GHS shortly after the publication of the revised Hazard Communi-cation Standard. OSHA feels that it is therefore important to en-sure that when employees begin to see the new labels and SDSs in their workplace, they will be familiar with them, understand how to use them, and access the information effectively. NFDA members must complete all training in the new SDS and labeling requirements before the required Completion Date of December 1, 2013. This is essential since OSHA will, without any doubt, begin making inspections after December 1, 2013 to confirm compliance with the first required completion date.

NFDA SpotlightNFDA SpotlightNFDA Spotlight

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter Page 6

NFDA SpotlightNFDA SpotlightNFDA Spotlight

Page 7 IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

NFDA Leadership Conference: Build Leadership Skills, Network and Get Inspired Registration is now open for the 2012 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Leadership Conference. This annual confer-ence, which will take place July 22-25 at the Hyatt Regency Tama-ya Resort & Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., is the only event of its kind to offer current and aspiring state and national funeral ser-vice leaders the opportunity to explore issues related to leadership in funeral service and network with colleagues from around the country. After spending time with peers who have similar roles and responsibilities, attendees are sure to walk away with new, ready-to-implement ideas to help them lead the profession to a bright future. On Monday, July 23, Dr. Jacquelyn Taylor, executive director of the New England Institute at Mt. Ida College, will present "Funeral Director vs. Professional." This presentation, which encompasses the findings of research she conducted for her doctoral disserta-tion, asks whether funeral directors can be considered "professionals" in the same way the public considers physicians or attorneys to be professionals. A discussion forum on Taylor's presentation will take place the morning of Tuesday, July 24. Also on Tuesday, Mike Staver of The Staver Group will present "Leadership isn't for Cowards." In an age when it is more and more challenging to manage all of the information and demands peo-ple face, it takes a courageous leader to stand firm in what they believe, help their followers understand what matters and to exe-cute plans effectively. Conference attendees will hear a report from NFDA's State/National Relations Task Force, which is charged with finding ways that NFDA and the state associations can better work together to advance the profession. NFDA will also host the popular Breakout by Office discussions during which association officers – president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and executive director – can talk about issues specific to their role and share ideas on associa-tion success. More information about the speakers and breakout sessions can be found at www.nfda.org/leadership. Conference guests won't want to miss reconnecting with old friends and making new ones during the Welcome Reception on Sunday, July 22 (no charge; registration is required). On Tuesday evening, July 24, attendees can relax and enjoy A Cultural Even-ing at Tamaya. During this celebration of local culture, guests will enjoy a buffet of favorite local dishes, Aztec dancers, a Native American flutist, learning about arts and crafts from local artisans, and gazing at celestial objects with an astronomer (tickets re-quired). 2012 NFDA Election Information In July, the NFDA Policy Board will elect two new at-large rep-resentatives to the Executive Board, each of whom will serve two-year terms beginning at the conclusion of the 2012 NFDA Interna-tional Convention & Expo. Elections for officer positions will take place during the House of Delegates meeting during the 2012 Convention. Each elected officer will serve a one-year term that commences following the 2012 Convention. The individual elect-ed to serve as president-elect will automatically become NFDA President following the 2013 NFDA Convention. Candidate profiles are available on the NFDA website. Individual members interested in seeking positions should send a dated, signed letter of intent to: NFDA President, NFDA, 13625 Bishop's Dr, Brookfield, WI 53005-6607. Interested mem-bers may also call NFDA at 800-228-6332 for more information.

National Funeral Directors Association Board Member Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs A member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Executive Board testified before the House Committee on Veter-ans' Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs this week. NFDA At-large Representative W. Ashley Cozine, CFSP, CPC, of Broadway Mortuary in Wichita, Kan., will gave testimony along-side Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of Veterans Af-fairs Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of the Interior Kenneth L. Salazar, former Senator Max Cleland, and representatives from the Trage-dy Assistance Program for Survivors and the VFW. NFDA is the only funeral service association giving testimony at this hearing. Cozine discussed the results of a survey NFDA recently conducted to learn more about members' experiences with veterans' ceme-teries and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA). According to Cozine's written testimony, which was submitted to the subcom-mittee in advance of the hearing, "Overall, our members were highly complementary of the state of our veterans cemeteries. We received an almost unanimous response that our nation's national cemeteries operate efficiently, effectively, and with much compas-sion for those being buried there as well as their families." The survey, while not scientific, also yielded important information about the need for the VA to improve its process for reimbursing funeral homes for the services they provide to veterans and their families. Approximately half of the respondents wait 10 or more months to receive reimbursement from the VA for veteran funer-als. Among the nearly 61 percent of respondents who have been waiting six months or longer for reimbursement, the average amount owed is $5,951. One funeral director reported that the VA owes his funeral home $128,355. Cozine expressed NFDA's strong support for the "Veterans Missing in America Act of 2011" (H.R. 2051). Many funeral homes across the country are holding the cremated remains of veterans that have not been claimed by relatives. H.R. 2051 would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with veteran service organi-zations and other groups to assist funeral homes in determining whether any unclaimed cremated remains are that of a veteran eligible for burial at a national cemetery. If remains are those of an eligible veteran, there is no next of kin and there are no available resources, the VA would cover burial and funeral expenses. In addition, the VA would establish a public database of the veterans identified in this project.

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter Page 8

-Air Pyre

Batesville Company (812) 943-7500

Lloyd Fledderman

Community Tissue Services (208) 389-2194

Erin Madsen

Deaton Kennedy (877) 434-9034

Roberta Bridges

Federated Insurance Co. (800) 527-5999

FSN Funeral Homes (807) 215-5444

Loranne Atwill

Great Western Insurance Co. (800) 621-5688

Chad Iverson (801) 557-4094

Kelco Supply Company (800) 328-7720

Cheryl Saunders

LifeCenter Northwest (425) 201-6656

Jan Hendrix

Matthews Cremation Division (800) 327-2831

Guy Esposito x 142

Matthews NorthWest (800) 426-6555

Terry & Linda Porter

Memorial Monuments & Vaults (801) 328-9849

Robert L. Chandler

Midwest Casket Company (801) 328-9849

Mick Skola

Precoa (208) 629-6754

Dennis Beverlin

Ric’s Capital City Florist (208) 377-0120

Ric Martindale

SinoSource, International (801) 589-0222

Jess Hunsaker

The Dodge Company (866) 646-5428

Larry Whitaker Bill Martin (425) 432-6438

United Heritage Life Ins. Co. (208) 475-0970

Patty Blaine

Wells Fargo Master Trust (208) 393-5449

IFSA Thanks Our Allied Members Who Support IFSA & Idaho’s Finest Funeral Directors!

Page 9 IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

Less than a month after releasing data about its 2011 undercover inspections, the FTC announced that it was

charging a funeral home with violating the Funeral Rule and seeking $80,000 in civil penalties.

According information released by the FTC, on two occasions, the defendant, Harrison Funeral Home Inc.

in Harrison, N.Y. (not an NFDA member), allegedly failed to provide an itemized price list at the start of an in-

person discussion of funeral arrangements, and a casket price list before showing caskets, as the Funeral Rule

requires. According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants also violated the Rule by failing to provide an outer

burial container price list before showing any outer burial containers.

This was the second FTC enforcement action against Harrison Funeral Home; allegedly, the firm committed

these latest Funeral Rule violations after being given an opportunity to take compliance training to resolve pri-

or price disclosure citations.

The FTC conducts undercover inspections across the country every year to ensure that funeral homes are

complying with the Funeral Rule. In 2011, the FTC detected significant violations of Federal Trade Commis-

sion consumer protection requirements in 23 of 102 funeral homes they visited; additionally, 33 funeral homes

were found to have minor compliance deficiencies. Since the FROP program began in 1996, the FTC has in-

spected more than 2,500 funeral homes and found fewer than 400 engaged in significant Rule violations.

FTC Sues Funeral Home for Continuing Failure to Disclose

Investigators working undercover in nine states detected significant violations of Federal Trade Commis-

sion consumer protection requirements in 23 of 102 funeral homes they visited during 2011. The FTC conducts

undercover inspections every year to make sure that funeral homes are complying with the agency's Rule.

FTC inspections during 2011 encountered varying levels of compliance:

In Northwest Indiana, one of 12 funeral homes inspected had significant violations;

In Maui, Hawaii, none of the four funeral homes inspected had significant violations;

In the New York City area, as well as parts of Connecticut and New Jersey, one of 22 funeral homes in-

spected had significant violations;

In Cleveland, Ohio, four of 16 funeral homes inspected had significant violations;

In Columbia, South Carolina, five significant violations were found in 10 funeral homes inspected;

In Austin, Texas, four of 19 funeral homes inspected had significant violations; and In Richmond and Fredericksburg, Virginia, eight of 19 funeral homes inspected had significant violations.

In addition, the FTC identified 33 funeral homes, within the nine states, with only minor compliance deficien-

cies. In such cases, the FTC contacts the funeral home and requires it to provide evidence that it has corrected

the problems.

Funeral homes with significant violations can enter a training program designed to increase compliance

with the Funeral Rule. The three-year program is known as the Funeral Rule Offenders Program (FROP), and

is an alternative to an FTC lawsuit that could lead to a federal court order and civil penalties of up to $16,000

per violation. It is run by NFDA and provides participants with a legal review of the price disclosures required

by the Funeral Rule, and on-going training, testing and monitoring for compliance with the Rule. In addition,

funeral homes that participate in the program make a voluntary payment to the U.S. Treasury in place of a civil

penalty, and pay annual administrative fees to the Association.

Since the FROP program began in 1996, the FTC has inspected more than 2,500 funeral homes and found

fewer than 400 engaged in significant Rule violations. In conducting its annual enforcement sweeps, the agen-

cy has received assistance from several state attorneys general.

FTC Releases 2011 Inspection Data

IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter Page 10

Tips from the Stress Management World

A bereaved person cannot “undo” his or her devastating loss, but the same techniques used to cope with chronic ill-

ness, divorce, job loss and other difficult life situations can also help people journeying through the physical and emo-

tional stages of grief. Here are some common stress management strategies from the Mayo clinic that translate well to

grief situations:

1. Scale Back—Cut back on your obligations. Take a close look at your daily, weekly and monthly schedule and find

meetings, activities, dinners or chores that you can cut back on or delegate to someone else.

2. Prepare—If you must take a trip or attend a meeting or do a task, try to prepare ahead of time and allow extra time

beyond what it normally takes you. Difficulty concentrating is normal, as is becoming “lost in your thought.” set gen-

tle, realistic goals for tasks both big and small.

3. Reach out—If you feel up to it, make or renew connections with others. Surrounding yourself with supportive family,

friends, co-workers, clergy or spiritual leaders can have a positive effect on your mental well-being. As you stat to feel

stronger and have more energy, consider volunteering in your community.

4. Play—When you engage in something enjoyable, it can soothe and calm your restless mind. Consider reading, gar-

dening, crafts, tinkering with electronics, fishing, carpentry or listening to music.

5. Relax—It doesn’t matter what approach you choose. Physical activity, meditation, yoga, massage and other relaxa-

tion techniques all can help reduce stress and soothe your body. What matters is refocusing your attention to some-

thing calming and increasing awareness of your body.

6. Sleep—Lack of sufficient sleep affects your immune system and your judgment and makes it much harder to deal

with grief. Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep a day.

7. Get help—If you find yourself unable to cope with your grief of fee “stuck,” consult your doctor. You may benefit

from professional help in coping with your grief.

These stress management tips can help the funeral service profession and can help the families you serve. Remember:

It is important to care for the caregivers, as well as the bereaved, so you can continue service your families with grace

and patience.

Why is it that we rejoice at a birth and grieve at a funeral? It is because we are not the per-

son involved.

Mark Twain

Page 11 IFSA 2012 2nd Qtr. Newsletter

Classifieds

Montana Funeral Business For Sale - One location, serving 120+ families per year, very profitable, limited competition,

impeccable facilities and equipment. Owners retiring. Please contact David Ring at dring@putnamring.com or 317-465-

0068 to request a confidentiality agreement.

Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston Idaho has an opening for an experienced licensed mortician. The funeral home provides services to about 170 families per year in the beautiful Lewiston- Clarkston region Idaho's only seaport and the gateway to the Snake RIver's Hell's Canyon.. The individual will be involved in all aspects of the funeral home operation. It is preferred the applicant have experience with Microsoft Office software, and other computer appli-cations useful in the modern funeral business. Salary depends on experience. Please send a resume with references to Bill

Malcom, c/o Malcom’s Brower-Wann Funeral Home, P.O. Box 797, Lewiston, Idaho 83501 or e-mail to

bill@malcomsfuneralhome.com.

Hanson Mortuary in Rupert , Idaho is current looking for a licensed Funeral Director. Interested persons can contact

Larry Hanson at hansenfh@pmt.org . or 208 436-5636.

Schmitt Funeral Home is a privately owned and operated funeral home looking for an experienced and motivated Managing Funeral Director/Embalmer. Must have excellent communication, organizational, and management skills and a desire to provide the highest quality service to families by directing the day to day operations of the business, the com-mitted staff, and funerals.. Attractive benefits package and work/life balance! Must be a Licensed Funeral Director/

Embalmer.

Please send a resume to: Joel Fitzgerald II, PO Box 96, Ness City, Kansas , 67560, jfitz@gbta.net , 785-798-0161.

Anderson's Tribute Center is a small family owned & operated funeral home and crematory in Hood River, Oregon that is looking for someone that encompasses necessary Oregon licensure or that fits within Oregon's reciprocation of licensure but more importantly someone that has a TEAM attitude, ability to learn and can serve a family from the initial transfer, through all aspects of arrangements and all methods of disposition. We are looking for someone with a great attitude, social skills and a functional funeral service IQ and administrative ability (i.e. computer skills). We believe in hir-

ing for attitude and training for success. This is a full-time position and if you are interested please send your resume and cover letter to AndersonsTributeCenter@gorge.net or FAX (503) 386-7380. Please direct any questions to; OFFICE (541) 386-1000 or my cell (541) 399-2554. For more information about our funer-al home please visit our website: www.andersonstributecenter.com or more information about Hood River visit our Hood River Chamber of Commerce website www.hoodriver.org

2012

June 24-26 ..........................................Idaho Funeral Service Association Annual Convention ..................................................................... McCall, ID

July 4................................................. Independence Day

July 22-25 ............................................NFDA Leadership Conference ........................................................................................... Santa Ana Pueblo, NM

( Please let IFSA know of events you’d like to see added to the calendar )

Idaho Funeral Service Association

P.O. Box 820

Meridian, ID 83680-0820

208.888.2730