2016 AFCCA Crematory Operator’s Training – Summer Session

Presented by Dr. Thomas Taggart, MCC Mortuary Science College, assisted by Donna Backhaus and features presentations in all areas of Continuing Education recommended and approved by the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. A total of 6 CEU hours: Mortuary Science,  Technical –  or Legal 3 CEU’s (A – B or C)  (Any credits from Categories A or B may be applied toward Category C – Personal Development).THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL FUNERAL INDUSTRY PERSONNEL.   …

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New Application for Interment Arizona State Veterans Cemeteries

Please find the new Application of Interment (PDF fillable) 4/1/2016 revision.  Please discard older version of this application since they will no longer be accepted.  The new updates are; Camp Navajo’s contact information, revised Marker Inscription worksheet (PDF fillable).

Interment Application 4 1 2016 FILLABLE

The Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo (near Flagstaff) and Marana is now accepting Applications for Interment for decedents.  The cemetery staff will acknowledge each application upon receipt.

The new Interment Application is a PDF fillable with drop down boxes in certain categories.  Included is the Marker Inscription format sheet which needs to be completed prior to the date of interment.  We appreciate your patience as sort out the fundamentals and staff are learning their new jobs.

Cemetery contact information is on the Application of Interment.

Additional Funeral Director Resources can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/funeraldirector.asp

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact those respective cemeteries.

 

Dodge Establishes Exclusive Partnership with Glass Remembrance

Dodge and Glass Remembrance are pleased to announce a strategic partnership; one which will benefit not only funeral service practitioners, but their client families through glass keepsakes. Glass Remembrance is an independently-owned company which was borne as a result of the events of 9-11 when its founder, Lee Guttentag, was rescued from amid the rubble of Tower 2 following its collapse. Rather than returning to her career in computer technology, she left New York and …

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MCOVR has a New Phone Number

MCOVR has a new phone number – 602-372-0535! That’s it – just one number for all death registration related inquires. Starting immediately, toss out the old contact sheets and just call ONE number. What happens when you call 602-372-0535? You will be greeted by a message; Select 1 for funeral home. Next you will select one of six prompts to get you quickly to a Registrar: Press “1” for Funeral Home partners and then select: …

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Four Steps Towards Refueling

Guest Blog Post by Matt Soderstrum – Matt is a LifePlan Facilitator, Coach, Speaker and Writer. You can find out more at his website and blog – www.mattsoderstrum.com. Awhile ago, I was meeting with George (made up name). George came to me struggling with hope and purpose. He was unhappy in his job. He was having trouble sleeping. He had lost all sense of joy in his life. Frankly, George was frustrated with the direction of …

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Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Marana is accepting Application for Interment

The Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana is now accepting Applications for Interment for decedents (Click Here for the Interment Application).  The cemetery staff will acknowledge each application upon receipt.

The Interment Application is a PDF fillable with drop down boxes in certain categories.  Included is the Marker Inscription format sheet which needs to be completed prior to the date of interment.  We appreciate your patience as sort out the fundamentals and staff are learning their new jobs.

Cemetery contact information is on the Application of Interment.

Additional Funeral Director Resources can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/funeraldirector.asp

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact those respective cemeteries.

Committal Service

2016 William Aaron Scholarship Recipient

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 for current Mortuary Science students at Mesa Community College.

Each year, AFCCA offers a scholarship to a 2nd year student, with a B or better grade point average. The scholarship is valued at $1,000.

Applicants that meet the criteria are asked to submit an essay on “Why They Want to be a Funeral Director.” A scholarship committee, made up of board members, reviews all applications and chooses the student that best reflects professionalism, ethical actions and has a passion for the industry.

Tuesday, March 1, AFCCA Board Secretary Amie Gazda announced this years winner of the $1000 scholarship as James Kevin Veal. They paid a visit out to the Mortuary Sciences College in Mesa to share the great news.

Congratulations again to Kevin!

“We all belong to a community, and in each one, we typically hold roles in which we have opportunities to serve people in the place we live and work in. These opportunities are foundations upon which we can build trustworthy business relationships with others.”

“This work is not about me, but about those whom I will serve, along with my fellow co-workers who help and assist me with serving others. The ability to work well with other funeral personnel is entirely crucial for they are also around me to help families through very hard times. I will trust those who I work with, for I can’t do it alone. I’ve always felt a strong camaraderie in working in a funeral home, sharing the same goal with other funeral directors serving in the community with these unique tasks.”

“The most rewarding thing from working in this profession is having the opportunity to learn about someone else’s life from the perspective of those who loved them most.” 

HB2613 and It’s Impact to Our State

The Law Offices of John K. Mangum, our AFCCA Lobbyist, brought to our attention an Arizona Bill was being proposed  to eliminate licensed cremationists putting Arizona Licensed Funeral Directors in charge of the crematories in Arizona. Funeral Directors have never been placed in direct charge of crematories, and cremation was in fact unregulated until June 18, 2002, when the cremationist licensed was implemented. After polling our members and we obtained the general consensus that this bill is bad for …

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FAMIC “Talk of a Lifetime” Press Release

Have the Talk of a Lifetime Campaign Helps Families Learn More About Their Loved Ones National public information campaign aims to help people begin the conversation about what matters most in life and how they want to be remembered February 2016 – Brookfield, Wis. – An individual’s life story – memories made, principles and lessons learned – is a gift that should be shared with family and friends. The Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) …

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