Louisiana Funeral Directors Association 3 RD QUARTER NEWSLETTER Special Points of Interest: LFDA Southeast District Highlights LFDA Southwest District Highlights LFDA South District News LFDA North District News & Highlights I’m 24 and Work in the Funeral Industry—Here’s What I’ve Learned 2015 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Awards Table of Contents Fall Edition Featured Articles 7-11 LFDA News 7 LFDA President Appoints Committee Chairpersons 8 LFDA Southeast District Meeting Highlights Louisiana Board 8 LFDA Southwest District Meeting Highlights License Renewal 8 LFDA South District News Deadline Approaching 8 LFDA North District News Information on page 10 9 LFDA North District Meeting Highlights 10 Industry News 10 Louisiana Board License Renewal Deadline Approaching 10 I’m 24 and Work in the Funeral Industry—Here’s What I’ve Learned 11-14 NFDA News 2015 NFDA Pursuit of 11 Bob Arrington Installed as President of the NFDA Excellence Awards 11 NFDA Announces New Xerox Office Sales & Leasing Partnership Story on page 12 with XMC, Inc. 12 2015 NFDA Pursuit of Excellence Awards 13 NFDA Cremation and Burial Report Released 14 Are You Taking Advantage of Your NFDA Membership? Departments 3 A Message From the President NFDA Cremation and 5 Policy Board in Review Burial Report 6 Tune In - Executive Director Update Released Story on page 14 15 Benefit Spotlight :: Social Media Copilot 17 In Memory of… 19 Classifieds 19 Advertisers Index 20 Upcoming Events Page 2 A Message From the President Greetings LFDA members! I am excited to have finally made it into the President’s position, however, a bit nervous as there is much to do. I would like to first start by thanking everyone for their generous support and participation with what seemed to be a fantastic LFDA and MFDA convention. Teaming up with Mississippi proved to be successful, and I cannot wait to tell you what’s in store for our members in the upcoming 2016 Annual Convention being held in Biloxi. Please mark your calendar for June 12-14, 2016! I am pleased to say that all committee chairs have been selected, and we are off to a great start. As your President, I am looking forward to making William “Bill” Wimberly LFDA President a positive impact in several areas of our association. As we are all aware, our death care industry has been around for a long time, and we have all seen many changes as the industry has evolved with modern times. Looking back, our association along with its past leaders, have done a wonderful job building and maintaining the association to accommodate the many changes that have come along. With the help of the committees, as well as dedicated members & Past Presidents, I am hoping to continue that trend but also do more and become proactive in areas that are of major importance. “Our industry is changing every For many people, the word “change” can be scary and uncomfortable. However, we would not be where we are today if change had not day, and I occurred. Our industry is changing every day, and I intend to ensure that intend to ensure our great association adapts to those changes in a positive and effective way. More importantly, I hope to strengthen and build relationships with that our great funeral professionals in our great state. As I walked and looked around association the convention and some district get-togethers, I couldn’t help but notice and meet a lot of new faces. Some with familiar last names and some just adapts to these totally new! It is exciting to watch another generation come into their changes in a family business as well as first timers getting their opportunity to make a difference and build a legacy. positive and I enjoyed visiting with everyone at our Fall Meeting & Seminar in the newly effective way.” built Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel on October 1 & 2 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Thank you to everyone who attended! In closing, I want to again thank you all for your support as we embark on an exciting yet challenging upcoming year. Take very good care, and I hope to see you all real soon. Sincerely, William “Bill” Wimberly Page 3 LFDA Leadership 2015-2016 LFDA Board of Directors Executive Director & Staff President Immediate Past President LFDA William Wimberly Joel Swisher P.O. Box 82531 Ardoin Funeral Home Hixson Brothers Funeral Home Baton Rouge, LA 70884 [email protected] [email protected] Telephone: (225) 767-7640 (337) 457-3371 (318) 442-3363 Fax: (225) 767-7648 Email: [email protected] Vice-President South Governor Joel Swisher Boyd Mothe, Jr. Executive Director Hixson Brothers Funeral Home Mothe Funeral Homes David Tatman [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (318) 442-3363 (504) 366-4343 Senior Account Manager Treasurer Southeast Governor Kathleen O’Regan Timothy I. Dulany Chad Saia, CFSP [email protected] Osborn Funeral Home Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home [email protected] [email protected] Intern (318) 865-8426 (225) 567-1884 Jamee Blink [email protected] Secretary Southwest Governor Isabel Espinosa Pat Menard Ourso Funeral Home Pellerin Funeral Home [email protected] [email protected] (225) 473-8122 (337) 332-2111 Sergeant-at-Arms North Governor Jimmy Bordelon Brad Austin Martin & Castille Funeral Home Hixson Brothers Funeral Home [email protected] [email protected] (337) 234-2311 (318) 449-8867 LFDA Mission Statement The Louisiana Funeral Directors Association (LFDA) promotes integrity in the funeral service industry through education, legislation, networking and communications. Have an interesting article to include in the LFDA Newsletter? Send suggested articles to the LFDA office. Your article could appear in the next quarterly issue! Office: (225) 767-7640 Fax: (225) 767-7648 Email: [email protected] Page 4 Policy Board In Review Hello members of LFDA, I am getting ready to go to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2015 International Convention & Expo. The last several weeks have been extremely busy with NFDA. At the NFDA meeting in Orlando, Florida, the executive board introduced a new plan to change the structure of NFDA, how the voting process takes place, and the election of officers to the board. NFDA hired a consulting firm to come in and give recommendations for restructure and new procedures. These recommendations were met with strong opposition from a high percentage of policy board members. After all of the discussions that ensued following the changes that the NFDA Executive Board wanted to make, the board revised its position. The last notification I received has no changes being made as of August 19, 2015. Peter “Butch” Mulhearn In reading the new structuring plan in Orlando, FL, I saw numerous issues with the Policy Board recommendations that were presented to the Policy Board. I am very thankful Representative these changes were not set into motion. It would have not been in the best interest of LFDA on the national level. In the new proposal, LFDA and all other states would have no voting rights of any kind for NFDA. All the states would have been able to make recommendations only, but ultimately the vote would be made by the Executive Board for NFDA. There were several other items I was firmly against and had conferred with LFDA President and the Executive Board Members to verify our position on the new proposal. NFDA is a very strong leader for our funeral industry. Granted there are a few items that need to be addressed, but that is expected with any organization. I hope other members of LFDA will be able to attend the convention in Indianapolis, IN. There will be numerous quality speakers for continuing education, round table discussions, and new products being introduced at the convention. See you there!!! Sincerely, Butch Mulhearn Louisiana Policy Board Member for NFDA Register TODAY at www.LFDAweb.org/lastchance! Page 5 Tune In David Tatman, Executive Director & Legislative Lobbyist Fall is always a special time in beautiful South goals and objectives as outlined in last year’s Louisiana. Our weekends are filled with football: strategic plan. We also made recommendations for from high school on Friday nights, to our favorite new and refined goals for the years to come. college teams on Saturday and our beloved Saints We are encouraging all of our members to review on Sunday. We can also look forward to fairs and the plan and help us accomplish our goals by festivals, a break from the summer heat, and – most becoming active in committees and in your districts. importantly – the first gumbo of the season. You may download the plan on the LFDA website This fall is even more exciting because we’re in the under the “Minutes” field in the Members Only middle of a big election cycle. The primary section. We would like to thank Joel Swisher and statewide election was held October 24, 2015, the Hixson Family for hosting the retreat at the resulting in a runoff between gubernatorial beautiful Hixson camp in Jonesville, Louisiana again candidates David Vitter, Republican, and John Bel this year. Productive work is accomplished each Edwards, Democrat. They, along with other state year during the retreat. More importantly, your David Tatman Legislature and state-wide elected officials, will leadership had a chance to bond and get to know LFDA Executive Director return to the ballot for the general election on each other better during this time. November 21, 2015. This has been one of the most and Our joint convention with the Mississippi Funeral competitive election cycles in a long time! The Legislative Lobbyist Directors Association over the summer was a campaigns have and will continue provide a lot of smashing success! We are partnering again in entertainment and create a lot of work for our 2016 to host our joint convention in Mississippi.