“A Memorial is not a Cemetery” – Observations by Steve Palmer

As written by Steve Palmer, AFCCA Board of Directors Treasurer, for Nomis Publications “It’s not a decision that [curators] Laura or Janet or the rangers on the ground should be making. It is a decision – the final resting place of a loved one – that should be made by the families.” –Mike Litterst, National Park Service Barbara Otterson had to decide what to do with her husband, James Gooderum’s, cremated remains. A Vietnam War …

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Department of Veterans Affairs Officially Supports the BRAVE Act Before the U.S. Senate

From the NFDA Website August 01, 2018 Today the United States Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a legislative hearing on pending legislation, during which the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) officially endorsed the BRAVE Act (S. 1596). Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D, Under Secretary for Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs testified that the “VA supports S. 1596 provided Congress finds corresponding funding offsets.” He went on to state, “The proposal will allow VA …

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Scam Reminder – Heritage Cremation Provider, LLC & Legacy Funeral Services, LLC

Crossing Fingers - Heritage Cremation Provider

The AFCCA as well as the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers has spoke/written on this topic in the past, but I feel that a reminder is necessary. This group has resurfaced recently and we want to make sure everyone is absolutely clear that it is NOT in your best interest to work with these people. Below is a statement from Judith Stapley, Executive Director of the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and …

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Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery & Funeral Home Groundbreaking Ceremony

Congratulations to Bunker Family Funerals & Cremation and the Town of Gilbert on the groundbreaking of Gilbert’s first cemetery! Finally the most populated municipality in the country without a cemetery will no longer be the Town of Gilbert.  In October 2015, Bunker Family responded to an RFP that Gilbert put out to partner on planning a combo location for the Town of Gilbert residents. Many citizens of the town loved their home and want it …

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Resource List – Helping Families With Grief Support After An Overdose

By: Jessica Farren Public Relations Specialist, ASD ASD shared a resource list they recently put together that will be helpful to you and your employees. Here is the URL: http://www.myasd.com/blog/overdose-grief-support-where-find-help The resource list compiles national as well as local grief support groups specifically for those who have been impacted by a loved one’s overdose. I was driven to create this after a blog I posted last year about my father’s overdose and complicated grief I …

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Cremation Innovations Summit in Las Vegas

Members of the AFCCA receive a special offer to SAVE $200 on the Cremation Innovations Summit, Sept. 28, in Las Vegas. You can learn all about the event here: https://summitvegas.planningpod.com/#home-panel At the summit, you’ll learn how to: • Leverage technology to reach more families that prefer cremation. • Become your community’s expert on alkaline hydrolysis. • Design meaningful and personalized services for cremation families. • Determine if it’s financially feasible to invest in a crematory project. …

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2018 AFCCA Annual Conference Recap

Another annual conference has come and gone, and now is the time to reflect on the event. The “FOCUS” this year was self-care in order to more effectively serve the families that come to us in their time of need. Everyone in this industry, from grounds crew to funeral directors to the office staff to suppliers has an important role when assisting with the funeral plans of a family’s loved one. We all have felt …

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Arizona Department of Health Services’ (ADHS) Bureau of Vital Records (BVR): DAVE Updates

During the ADHS presentation at the 2018 AFCCA Annual Conference, some suggestions for improvement were shared such as: Physicians are creating duplicate records in DAVE.  Can the BVR consider removing their ability to create death records in DAVE? BVR Response:   This suggestion will be researched further and discussed internally. Medical certifiers are forgetting to enter the medical certification date in the field in DAVE.  BVR Response:  The updates to the medical certification process that will …

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2018 AFCCA Of the Year Nominees

Each year, the AFCCA has an open call for nominations split into different categories: Funeral Director, Associate, Funeral Home, Cemetery, and Supplier of the Year. Winners are then selected based on four criteria based on the AFCCA Mission Statement: • Community Involvement • Demonstration of professional and ethical standards • Active participation in the betterment of the funeral industry in Arizona, through education and other advancements •  Leadership and advocacy for all aftercare professionals Congratulations …

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2018 CGCC Mortuary Science Graduation and Scholarship Presentations

May 10, 2018 – 31 new Mortuary Graduates from Chandler Gilbert Community College proudly took the Funeral Service Oath and officially entered into the field. Congratulations to each and every one of these students and for what they accomplished. AFCCA William Aaron Scholarship Presentation The AFCCA is dedicated to promoting the further development of professional, ethical, responsive death care providers that are a credit to the industry. This is why the  William Aaron Scholarship Program was created …

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