Current News and Comments from the Pennsylvania Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association / April 2017

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHARRISBURG PAPERMIT NO 533

PCCFA Members and friends,

I am pleased to report that the Association elected three Board Members and a Supplier Representative in 2016. Please join me in welcoming Scott Nulty - Service Corporation International, Dignity Memorial, George Good - Alto Reste Park, Alexander “Pete” Hoskins - West Laurel Hill Cemetery Funeral Home and Ernest Petersen III, AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services. These individuals have the experience, commitment and desire to serve the consumer. Congratulations!

The PCCFA is working hard for you! Led by Chairman Sam Saxton, we continue to maintain a proactive participation on educating Legislators in Harrisburg about the operations of our diverse industry. Without this effort, legislation could be passed that may have a negative impact on our businesses or the consumers we serve. We are excited about holding our 85th Annual Legislative & Government Affairs Reception on April 18, 2017 at the Harrisburg Hilton Hotel, Leland Room, from 5:30PM -8:00PM.

Make your reservations now! The PCCFA is holding its Annual Spring Conference on June 14-16, 2017 at The Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark! Chairman, Paul Simms, has been diligently assembling a cast of industry speakers and events for Members and their families which for both will be a blast! A special thanks and appreciation goes to our 2016 Co-Chairs, Gary Buss, Alesia Skinner and Dagny Fitzpatrick.

The Association’s membership continues to be an experienced resource. Harry Neel, Jefferson Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home, has done a great job fielding a variety of inquiries through our Consumer Services Committee. Thanks Harry for your commitment and service to the consumers!

Keynews is a designed to bring you industry news and entertainment and our website helps both consumers and members remain up-to-date with helpful information. A special thanks to David Middlemiss and Dagny Fitzpatrick.

See you at Kalahari Resorts!

Respectfully yours,

Craig S. SchwalmPresident

2650 North 3rd Street • Harrisburg, PA 17110

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Pennsylvania Cemetery Cremation Funeral Association

Officers CRAIG S. SCHWALM President FRANK GRABOWSKI 1st Vice President DAVID J. MICHENER 2nd Vice President DAGNY NEEL FITZPATRICK Secretary JOHN YEATMAN Treasurer

Class of 2017GUY N. SAXTONNorthampton Memorial Shrine3051 Green Pond RoadEaston, PA 18045(O)610-253-2000 (C)484-431-1433(F)610-253-5517 (Stephanie)guysax@verizon.net

CRAIG S. SCHWALMLetum Inc.2650 N. 3rd StreetHarrisburg, PA 17110(O)717-234-6940 (C)717-576-2829(F)717-234-6943 (Deanna)cschwalm@letuminc.com

RUTH SEEBECKWarren County Memorial Park20050 Route 6Warren, PA 16365(O)814-723-1540 (C)814-688-7501(F)814-406-7310 (Ed)ruth@wcmpark.org

PAUL SIMMSButler Cty Memorial Park & Maus380 Evans City RoadButler, PA 16001(O)724-287-5559 (C)412-614-0736 (F)724-287-3238 (Mary)paul.bcmp@yahoo.com

JOHN YEATMANForest Lawn Cemetery1530 Frankstown RoadJohnstown, PA 15901(C)240-462-4195 (F)301-355-4268(Angela)yacpas@aol.com

Class of 2018DAVID MIDDLEMISSJefferson Memorial Cem/FH/Crem401 Curry Hollow RoadPittsburgh, PA 15236(O)412-655-4500 (C)412-720-4878(F)412-655-7758 (Glenda)djmiddlemiss@jeffersonmemorial.biz

ALESIA A. SKINNER, LMPaxtang Cemetery401 Kelso StreetHarrisburg, PA 17111(O)717-564-2110 (C)717-307-6134(F)717-564-7288 (James)alesiaskinner@msn.com

ERIC WOLVERTONSCI-Dignity Memorial352 South Gulph RoadKing of Prussia, PA 19406(O)484-754-2486 (C)303-929-3380(F)866-786-1873 (Tanya)eric.wolverton@dignitymemorial.com

GEORGE H. GOODAlto Reste Park109 Alto Reste ParkAltoona, PA 16601(O)814-944-0879 (C)814-330-2615 (F)814-944-8922 (Li)george@alto-reste.com

SCOTT K. NULTYSCI-Dignity MemorialForest Hills Cem/Shalom Mem Park101 Byberry RoadHuntingdon Valley, PA 19006(O)215-673-5800 (C)610-633-3614 (F)215-947-4149 (Libby)scott.nulty@dignitymemorial.com

Class of 2019DAGNY NEEL FITZPATRICKJefferson Memorial Cem/FH/Crem401 Curry Hollow RoadPittsburgh, PA 15236(O)412-655-4500 (C)412-370-7126(F)412-655-7758 (Ryan)dagny@jeffersonmemorial.biz

FRANK GRABOWSKISchuylkill Memorial Park75 Memorial DriveSchuylkill Haven, PA 17972(O)570-385-2647 (C)570-573-3247(F)570-385-1580 (Janet)frank@schuylkillmemorialpark.com

DAVID J MICHENERAllegheny/Homewood Cems4734 Butler StreetPittsburgh, PA 15201(O)412-682-1624 (C)412-480-5418(F)412-622-0655 (Kristin)dmichener@alleghenycemetery.com

DAVID R. MORRISONLampeter Meeting Cemetery600 A Eden RoadLancaster, PA 17601(O)717-560-1500 (C)717-682-2873(F)717-560-5115 (Marilyn)dmorrison3091@aol.com

ALEXANDER L.”PETE” HOSKINSWest Laurel Hill Cem & FH215 Belmont AvenueBala Cynwyd, PA 19004(O)610-668-1835 (C)267-752-2610(F)610-668-9901 (Sharon)ahoskins@westlaurelhillcemetery.com

Board of Directors ~ Three Year Terms

Past President RepresentativesImmediate Past President

Two Year Term

NEVIN W MANNJohnson-Woodford Company411 Custis RoadGlenside, PA 19038(O)215-758-2181 (C)215-518-7351(Rosemary)nevinmann@gmail.com

7 Additional Past PresidentsOne Year Term

GARY BUSSArlington Cem/Toppitzer FH2900 State RoadDrexel Hill, PA 19026(O)610-259-5800 (C)215-341-1661(F)610-259-9284 (Lynn)gary@arlingtoncemetery.us

SAMUEL SAXTONCedar Hill Memorial Park1700 Airport RoadAllentown, PA 18103(O)610-799-2597 (C)610-248-1232(F)610-799-4547 (Missy)ssaxton799@aol.com ROBERT C. LOMISONLetum Inc.2650 N. 3rd StreetHarrisburg, PA 17110(O)717-234-6940 (C)717-576-2965(F)717-234-6943rlomison@letuminc.com

HARRY C. NEELJefferson Memorial Cem/FH/Crem401 Curry Hollow RoadPittsburgh, PA 15236(O)412-655-4500 (C)412-720-6100(F)412-655-7758 (Marianne)hcneel@verizon.net

JACK SOMMERProspect Hill Cemetery700 N. George StreetYork, PA 17404(O)717-843-8006 (C)717-891-1279(F)717-852-0121 (Linda)jack@prospecthill.org GREGG STROMStoneMor Partners, LP.155 Rittenhouse CircleBristol, PA 19007(O)215-826-2805 (C)215-688-6216(F)215-826-2853 (Carol)gstro@stonemor.com

Lobbyist

MORGAN PLANTMorgan Plant & Associates322 S. West StreetCarlisle, PA 17013(O)717-245-0902 (C)717-386-1012(Carole)morganplant@mac.com

Committees, AssignmentsConferences & Conventions Fall 2015: Robert Lomison, Ken Lee | Spring 2016: Gary Buss Fall 2016: Dagny Neel Fitzpatrick | Spring: 2017: Paul SimmsConsumer Service Committee Chairman Harry Neel Ethics & Inquiry Committee Chairman Harry Neel Executive Committee President, 1st VP, 2nd VP, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past PresidentFinance & Audit Committee Chairman John YeatmanFuneral Director Affairs Committee Opening (1) Keynews Editor: Dagny Neel Fitzpatrick & David MiddlemissLegal Defense Fund Chairman David MichenerLegislative Committee Chairman Sam Saxton, Vice Chairman Bob LomisonMembership Opening (2) Nominating/Polling Committee Chairman Nevin Mann with all Past PresidentsPCCFA Website-www.PCCFA.com Chairman Nevin MannSupplier Relations Committee Chairman Frank Grabowski

Real Estate Commissioner

EDWARD SEEBECKWarren County Memorial Park20050 Route 6Warren, PA 16365(O)814-723-1540 (C)814-688-7501(F)814-406-7310 (Ruth)ed@wcmpark.org

Supplier Representatives

ERNEST L. PETERSEN, IIIAmeriserv Trust & Financial Services216 Franklin StreetJohnstown, PA 15907-0520(O)814-533-5270 (C)814-243-3837(F)814-533-5102 (Barbara)epetersen@AmeriServ.com

Sometimes comfort needed during a person’s hardest times can come simply from petting a dog. When David Heasley of Gilpin found himself making funeral arrangements last year for a close relative at Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home in Apollo, he met Chester.

Chester, a Shih Tzu, has served as a “comfort dog” at Curran’s for four years, visiting with grieving families making final arrangements, attending viewings and even showing up at funerals at the family’s request. “He provided a calming presence,” Heasley said. “His sweet spirit eased our minds and lifted our spirits.” Chester was once a homeless pup, showing up matted and grungy at a random Saltsburg residence in 2012. Martha Matarrese, administrative assistant at Curran-Shaffer, was mourn-ing the recent death of her dog, a Jack Russell terrier. Her niece put her in contact with Chester, who was in need of a home.

“I wasn’t even sure I was ready for another dog,” Matarrese said. “But the moment he came over and stood at my feet, I knew that I was taking this dog home.” Chester is estimated by his veterinarian to be “8 or 9 years old,” said Matarrese, a Lower Burrell resident. Whatever name Chester answered to is a mystery, but he was christened Chester after Matarrese was inspired by his chestnut-colored coat. She is confident Chester was likely abused; he was skittish and afraid when she adopted him. “Chester is afraid of loud noises and is still skittish, but he mingles well with families at the funeral home,” Matarrese said. “I think Chester helping those grieving is actually therapy for him. And he doesn’t bark — that’s good.” She began bringing him to work at the funeral home in Apollo in 2012. Although Chester doesn’t have official therapy dog training papers, don’t tell him, because he rules the rooms he roams at the funeral home that is his second home. When Chester isn’t with people, he relaxes in a wingback chair, draped with a personalized blanket and assorted dog toys at the ready. He loves receiving treats, especially raw carrots and beef jerkey. Matarrese said he even munches on salad. But more often you will find him mingling among visitors, comforting families, according to funeral director Norm Connors. “Chester is very calming,” Connors said. “He will sit on laps. And when I sense a family is receptive to dogs, we bring Chester out.”

A GROWING TREND Funeral homes offering therapy dogs for comfort is a growing trend said Connors. “My friend owns a funeral home in Milwaukee, and they have a therapy dog there,” he said. The National Funeral Directors Association does not keep statistics on comfort dogs in funeral homes, but spokeswoman Jessica Koth said the association is noticing an uptick in dogs offering support to mourners. “Our members are telling us that the response from families is overwhelmingly positive,” Koth said. “The animals put families at ease and break the tension when they come in to make arrangements for a loved one. “The power of an animal to change the mood of a room is powerful, and funeral directors are discovering how they can use that to promote healthy healing in people who are grieving the death of a loved one.” PROMPTING A HUG Frank Kapr said his 6-year-old Yorkie, Rylee, isn’t a licensed therapy dog but is still a fixture at Frank Kapr Funeral Home in Scottdale. He’ll instinctively be there to comfort mourners. “It’s amazing what they can do; they can sense the person out who’s grieving the most, and they go to them,” Kapr said. He recalled a time that Rylee, unasked, hopped up on a particularly upset woman’s lap, prompting a hug. “(The woman’s) whole demeanor just changed,” he said. “A lot of people will even ask for her.” Back in the Kiski Valley, Chester often travels to other Curran-Shaffer funeral home locations in Leechburg and Vandergrift to comfort mourners. Families may request Chester’s presence, and his services are free. “Chester is very intuitive,” Heasley said. “I think every funeral home should have a dog offering comfort.”

Joyce Hanz is a freelance writer. Staff writer Matthew Santoni contributed to this report. Source: http://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/11795583-74/chester-funeral-comfort

Dogs at funeral homes offer comfort to mourners

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Oh, are we having an election?Morgan Plant, Government Relations Consultant to PCCFA

I expect we are all wishing it would be over soon, but as I write this we have 80 some days left before November 8. While most of us are focused on the top of the ticket all 203 members of the PA House are up for re-election for their 2-year terms and 25 of the 50 Senators for their 4-year terms. However, no one expects any major upsets in either chamber and Republicans will emerge maintaining firm control in both the House and the Senate.

What that translates to for those of us paying attention to what is happening in Harrisburg is that there are precious few session days this fall. The House is coming back into session after their summer recess on September 19 and plans a total of 12 session days before the election recess. The Senate is coming back on the 26th and plans a total of nine session days before the election recess. No “lame duck” legislative action is anticipated after the election, although each chamber will be coming back for one or two days post-election to “reorganize”, i.e. elect new leaders for the 17-18 session, which will kick off in January.

This year we did manage to get a state budget passed by mid-July, and found a compromise to allow the sales of beer and wine to loosen up. The two major issues for the fall are pension reform and further definition of Pennsylvania’s response to the heroin epidemic, which will be addressed during a special session of the legislature.

PCCFA is paying careful attention to SB 874, the Tomlinson cemetery bill, which has been on the House calendar for months, and we continue to monitor a variety of other bills that have some potential to impact our industry. Given the impending elections elected officials are loathe to make choices on contentious issues. We are hopeful that will hold in the few session days remaining in this legislative session. This is prime time to reach out to your State House Representatives and Senators and keep building the personal relationships which are essential to our success.

Meaning of Coins left on a Soldier’s GraveDate: September 6, 2015

Author: pdoggbiker

You may have visited a cemetery before and may have seen a headstone with coins on it. This article describes the meaning of placing a coin on the grave marker of a soldier that has made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Of course, for some cultures it has different meanings. The ancients would place coins with the deceased with a belief that it would cover the fee to have them cross the river Styx. The tradition of leaving coins with members of the military, especially men or women that may have died in combat, dates back to the Roman Empire.

For the United States, the practice became popular during the Vietnam War. With all of the political turmoil in the 60’s and 70’s surrounding the war, it was a way for friends and comrades to visit a fallen friend and leave a coin as a marker to the family that they had been there to pay respect, without having to contact the family directly, and possibly make a bad situation worse.

As for meanings of different denominations of coins, a friend or an acquaintance that visits may only leave a penny. A nickel would be left by someone that may have been through boot camp or trained with them, while someone that served in another platoon in the same company may leave a dime. A quarter would be left by someone that served in the same outfit or was with the soldier when they died.

Some Vietnam veterans would simply leave coins as a “down payment” to buy their fallen comrades a beer or to play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.

Pennies are left on graves, most of all, in remembrance of the deceased. Leaving a coin from your pocket is a way to leave a part of yourself at the burial site. The coin is a visual reminder that, even in death, the memory of the deceased lives on. It is also a sign of respect to the dead, as it shows that their memory has value to you and is something you want to commemorate.

This is a tradition that has been held onto by members of the United States Military. The money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is left in place for a time, but is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

The Air Force fighter pilots throw nickels into the grass at grave sites. This tradition began in the early 50’s when phone calls on public phones were only a nickel. Prior to leaving on a dangerous mission, pilots would toss a nickel into the grass so his team mates could notify the next of kin if he didn’t make it back.

Jewish people leave stones on headstones–there are many variations to this practice, but most popular is that cemetery visitors leave a pebble or stone as a token to commemorate their visit. The amount of pebbles gathered over time, unofficially, represent the level of mourners who had visited the grave site.

No matter what the original intention of the coin or pebble may be, it seems clear that when left on a headstone it’s a symbol of remembrance and respect. A way of telling all who pass by that the person buried there was loved and visited often.

The information used in this article was obtained from (http://www.snopes.com/military/coins.asp). Variations of this information are also posted on multiple blogs and websites by various authors throughout the internet.

The Vietnam War Story

You know care. We know how to care for your funds.

Ernie PetersenEPetersen@AmeriServ.com814-533-52701-800-837-2265 ext. 5270

AmeriServ Trust and Financial Services Company®

Main & Franklin Streets • Johnstown, PA 15907-0520 • 800-837-2265 • AmeriServ.com

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Former Matthews International Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Nearly $13 Million

It is easy to find yourself in that comfortable place with "unique" knowledge. If you are a hoarder of information and are of the opin-ion that all of the nuts you have squirreled away grant you immu-table job security, think again. The harsh reality is that nobody is irreplaceable. Information isn't a limited resource. Contrary to what some might think, your mind won't be emptied by giving away ker-nels of wisdom or experience. Think of knowledge as an ocean of facts and not a stream of data. It is possible to share what you know and still keep one step ahead of the competition — simply apply yourself and learn something new daily. Professionals help their peers and are respected for doing so.

9: Say thank youI always tried to find a way to thank others for their help. When their help was above and beyond the call of duty, I would buy them a Coke - a testament to the marketing power of Madison Avenue and Mean Joe Greene. The items I value the most in my personnel file from Hughes Aircraft are two AVOs (Avoid Verbal Orders memos) to my manager from frontline employees. The AVOs thanked me for the support I provided that helped them do their job better. Silly me–what was I thinking? I was sharing a Coke when I should have been sharing my thanks in a printed internal document to the employee's manager. Professionals thank others in a meaningful way that most benefits the recipient.

10: Keep a smile on your face and the right attitude in your heartThis has been the hardest item for me to do consistently over my working years. I believed I was lying to myself and the world by smiling when I was miserable or unhappy with an ongoing issue at work. I now realize it's not dishonest to be pleasant when you are having one of those lousy days. It is in fact thoughtful to care about how your attitude affects those you interact with. Share your unhappiness with your manager only. "Share the misery" is not the mark of a professional. Professionals are pleasant even during trying times.

The Final Word

Working with professionals is a pleasure, and I have been fortunate to work with some truly exemplary ones. There have been a few who liked to be treated as professionals without having to work and act like one.

You don't have to look any further than the medical profession to see examples of true professionals. Think back upon those doctors you've liked the most and model your professionalism after theirs.So, how do you measure up? Don't feel bad if you need some work in one or more areas. Demeanor that is less than professional can lead to an image problem for you and your company. Negative im-ages are hard to shake. Recognize any shortcomings you might have and begin working on your professional image today.

Source:http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-things-

that-define-a-true-professional/

A former employee for North Shore-based Matthews International Corp. pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling close to $13 million from the company over 16 years.

Cynthia Mills, 56, of McKees Rocks, waived indictment by a federal grand jury and entered a plea agreement before U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer in which she would serve 7 ½ years in federal prison, three years’ probation, forfeit assets she obtained with the embezzled funds and pay restitution to her former employer in the amount of $12,969,774.

The charges against her included mail fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion and theft, crimes that occurred between 1999 and May 2015 when she was responsible for depositing checks and recording transactions into the general ledger for Matthews International, a conglomerate best known for manufacturing funeral products.

She will be formally sentenced on July 28. Meanwhile she remains free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Ms. Mills, who was a cashier and treasury specialist, was able to siphon money from the company over a period of time by opening a bank account under the name of a fake company called Designs by Cindy, which she controlled.

Part of her responsibilities at Matthews involved depositing checks made payable to Matthews and handling wire transfers to pay ven-dors. Federal prosecutors said she moved funds into the bank account she controlled and took a number of steps to cover her tracks by altering Matthews’ bank statements and creating false invoices.

Prosecutors said Ms. Mills and her husband, Gary, used the stolen proceeds to live a lavish lifestyle. She purchased items such as high-end jewelry, furs, homes, a yacht and expensive cars. She and her husband also gambled.

Her husband had worked as a UPS driver, but was able to retire because the money from Matthews allowed the couple to be financially independent, according to prosecutors.

Ms. Mills told the court she has been unemployed since leaving her job at Matthews and has been unable to find other employment due to the publicity from her embezzlement case, the largest on record in Western Pennsylvania.

As part of her plea deal, Ms. Mills has agreed to hire an auctioneer to auction off her primary residence on Falck Road, which she bought with her husband for $194,000 in 1997. The home is now valued at $245,800 for tax purposes.

She will also relinquish 50 percent of whatever income she receives in federal prison, and she must immediately notify the court of any improvement in her economic condition after leaving prison so that her restitution payments can be increased.

Tim Grant: tgrant@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1591.

Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/03/15/Former-Matthews-International-employee-pleads-to-embezzling-nearly-13-

million/stories/201703160081?pgpageversion=pgevoke

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Courtesy of Carew International, Inc.

Time spent with customers is precious, and considering the high-risk/high-reward dynamic of each opportunity, we need to make sure every sales call is productive for all involved. Here are six tips to help you make the most of every sales call:

1. Set a clear objective for the meeting - from your own perspective and your customer's. Having a stated objective will facilitate focus and drive tangible outcomes. 2. Generate an agenda, and email it to the client two days prior to the meeting for their input. This simple step makes it less "my" meeting and more "our" meeting and gives the customer a role in the session before it even begins.

3. Bring fresh insight. If this is the first appointment, extensive research is warranted. But even if you have an existing relationship with the customer, make it a goal to bring at least one new piece of insight to each meeting; particularly insight that will help you better understand your customer's GAPs and objectives.

4. Write down a sales call plan. Whether the sales call is in person or on the phone, creating a sales call plan forces our thought process and gives us the opportunity to rethink each element, including the specific exploratory questions we will use.

5. Be open and responsive to new, unexpected information. While the goal is to stay focused on the stated meeting objective, we must remember to be receptive and responsive when customers bring new information, interests or concerns to the discussion.

6. Include a call to action at the end of the sales call. A call to action is essential to advance the sale forward. Avoid vague language like, "OK, I will touch base with you in a few days," or, "Take a look and let me know what you think." Instead, be specific as to the next action step and the date for completion.

Most of these tips are completed long before the call ever begins, and that makes sense because preparation is always the biggest predictor of success. These steps help secure a successful sales call the same way our selling skills (Positive Contact, LAER, Exploratory Process, Presentation Diamond) are learned and honed long before we apply them in our customer interactions. Keep in mind that the impact of a sales call is never neutral; each customer discussion either accelerates our sales process or hinders it. We can use both our selling skills and these tips to ensure each customer contact moves us in the right direction!

6 Tips to Make the Most of Every Sales CallBy Alan Norton

You may be a brilliant developer, a highly skilled net admin, or a crackerjack DBA -- but if you're unprofessional, your career is likely to fall short. Alan Norton offers some attributes to strive for. The term professional is thrown around quite a bit these days, perhaps too much. I do it myself. But what exactly does it mean to be a professional? As you read through the items below, consider how you compare with each trait.

1: Put customer satisfaction firstUnderstanding and satisfying your customer's needs are the cornerstones of a successful business. Do what is necessary to meet those needs. After all, without the customer, there is no professional.You may not view those you work with as your customers, but in many cases, they are. I remember when one of my managers perceived that I was overly stressed. He pulled me aside and sat me down in his office where he told me stories and jokes for the better part of half an hour. He recognized my needs and acted accordingly.Professionals identify and satisfy their customer's needs.

2: Make expertise your specialtyThe very word professional implies that you are an expert. Technical competence is essential in IT.• Become an expert in the skills and tools necessary to do your job.• Always perform to the best of your abilities.• Keep your knowledge up to date.Professionals know their trade.

3: Do more than expectedProfessionals aren't bound by a time clock. They are given wide latitude in their daily self-management. They are expected to manage their time and work habits. Don't abuse the privilege. If you take an hour for personal needs, give back two hours.The reality is that professionals are expected to exceed the standard 40-hour workweek. There are times when you may be asked to work weekends. You may have to forego a vacation or work 12-hour days to complete an important project. All are part of the job description of most professional positions. Professionals are expected to produce results. Strive to complete deliverables before their due dates and under budget. Professionals meet or exceed expectations whenever possible.

4: Do what you say and say what you can doThis is one of my favorite sayings especially in view of the fact that talking the talk is so prevalent and walking the walk so rare in this age of sound bites. You should "engage brain" before speaking — can you really do what you are about to say? If you can't, the wizard behind the curtain will eventually be revealed and hard-earned trust can be lost.Professionals deliver on promises made.

5: Communicate effectivelyI go out of my way to patronize a dentist who has excellent communication skills. He takes the time to explain the available options, make recommendations, state the total costs, and promise a date when the work can be completed. I then feel empowered to make the right decisions. Resist the urge to blame the customer when communication goes awry. Effective communication is ultimately your responsibility–not your customer's. Whether verbal or written, professionals communicate clearly, concisely, thoroughly, and accurately.

6: Follow exceptional guiding principlesAppreciate and support those you work with. Practice good manners and proper etiquette. Have high ethical and moral standards. Be honest and fair in all of your dealings with others. Obey the law. These may sound like the attributes of a Boy Scout, but they are basic values that all professionals should follow. Many companies have a document that outlines their operating principles. Have you read yours? Professionals adhere to high values and principles.

7: Praise your peers not yourselfRespect and acknowledge the talents of your peers. There is nothing more unprofessional and self-serving than telling others how won-derful you are. Professionals are humble and generous in their praise of others.

8: Share your knowledgeWhen I was hired at Hughes Aircraft, a second person with similar skills was hired with me. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that one of us wasn't going to survive. The competitive nature of the situation was palpable. I am no stranger to the belief that it is not in your best interest to share your knowledge with your associates, AKA the competition.

10 Things That Define A True Professional

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4. Appreciate your support system: Your support system could be your significant other, your best friend that you vent to, your family or others! These are the people who will listen, commiserate, and pick you up when life gets tough, busy and/or stressful. You have to not only appreciate them, but also be there for them when they go through the same tough, busy or stressful time. (Thanks Ty! [my husband]) 5. Compartmentalize: This is especially important for funeral directors. Negative emotions that meddle between your work life and personal life can be toxic to your life in general. Try your best to not let the personal bleed into work and work not bleed into the personal. It is okay to vent and to talk about one or another to someone on your support system (in fact this can be a positive and healthy way to get things out), but don’t let it determine your mood or your outlook on the day as whole.

6. Leave “unplanned” time: If you set your daily schedule and “chunk down your life” with every minute of the day accounted for, this will never work! Emails flow through, the phone rings, and if I know anything from meeting with funeral directors… you only get about 80 calls a day asking about service times/places from loved one’s friends and family (a full time job in and of itself)! You must have FLEX time scheduled each day for those unplanned things that seem to just crop up. This will help you mentally. Most health-related articles recommend a “flex time” of 20% - 30% of your total hours, and sometimes (depending on your job) as high as 40% of your total day. 7. Take “leave” from those things that are “non-essential”: Well, this is where this article comes full circle. You must prioritize the most important things first – “non-essential” items might need to be put off for the time being. This blog was one of the things I had to temporarily take a step back from in favor of the priorities of my work and personal life. As much as I wanted to continue my blogging, it was more important for me to tend to my family and my primary work duties. This is a practice that is important when “riding up the rollercoaster”.

Work/life balance is constantly a balance – sometimes work weighs a little more, and sometimes its personal life that weighs a bit more… and its healthy to see-saw back and forth. None of what I said above is rocket science – and none of it is something you didn’t already know. But sometimes it’s helpful to hear that someone else puts these things into practice and it’s good to be reminded that they actually work! As we are in the height of the funeral “busy season”, I can only hope you may use one of the things I have learned, (re)implement it, and find maybe just five minutes of your life streamlined!

Danielle Thacker is a third generation funeral professional.She serves as VP of Sales and Marketing for Thacker Caskets.

© 2015 Danielle Thacker | All Rights Reserved

https://www.funeralgal.com/single-post/2017/01/23/7-Tips-on-Striking-the-Work-Life-Balance

(Source: Internal Revenue Service)

Accident reports/claims (Settled cases)..............................................................................7 years Cash books..........................................................................................................................Permanently Checks (canceled – see exception below)...........................................................................7 years Checks (Canceled for important payments- i.e., taxes, purchases of property, special contracts, etc. Checks should be filed with the papers pertaining to the underlying transaction)..........................................................................................................................Permanently Employment Applications...................................................................................................3 years Expense analyses/expense distribution Schedules..............................................................7 years Financial Statements (year-end, other optional)..................................................................Permanently Notes receivable ledgers & schedules.................................................................................7 years Payroll records & summaries..............................................................................................7 years Personnel files (terminated).................................................................................................7 years Plant cost ledgers.................................................................................................................7 years Retirement & Pension records.............................................................................................Permanently Sales commission reports....................................................................................................3 years Time books/cards................................................................................................................7 years Training manuals.................................................................................................................Permanently

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The Funeral Gal| funeral focused small business |

Danielle Thacker

7 Tips on Striking the Work-Life BalanceJanuary 23, 2017

So where exactly has the Funeral Gal been? It seems as if I have been a slight bit absent lately from the blogosphere – I know, I know. Fact of the matter is that on the see-saw of work/life balance, the “life” part became a little bit heavier the last couple of months. Truth be told building a new house, moving in when you are eight months pregnant, and then having a baby 6 days before Christmas eats into a lot of evening/weekend time (the times I usually spend writing blog posts). Needless to say, the Funeral Gal blog took a “holiday vacation”. While the life side may have weighed slightly heavier, the work side of things was almost equally as heavy.

So now that the New Year has passed and my littlest one just turned 5 weeks old, I can sit and take the time to reflect on the past couple of months. What have I learned? Well I learned that it all relates back to effectively managing a “work/life” balance.

Work/life balance is one of the hottest topics in business today. Simply Google the topic and no shortage of 84,800,000 results appear (in .60 seconds I might add – impressive Google, impressive). This topic is seemingly ubiquitous – everyone is writing about it! Health publications such as the Mayo Clinic and Mental Health America; news publications such as NY Times and Huffington Post; business publications such as Forbes, Business Insider, Inc.com; and others have all weighed in on their opinions from their own perspectives about the topic.

Work and life is a constant roller coaster. Funeral homes know this the best. The old adage in the funeral industry is that if you want your funeral home to get busy, plan to do something in your personal life… a vacation, a can’t miss school or sporting event for your children, a state convention, the holidays, and on and on. All the calls will begin to pour in as you a) prepare for or b) are gone for this event. There can’t be a truer anecdote for our “on-call” profession. So how do you deal with it when both your professional and personal sides of your lives get busy?I don’t by any means claim to be an expert, and I’ll be the first to admit I have a lot to learn. However, each time I ride the roller coaster up where both my personal and my professional life both get extremely busy I become a little bit wiser on how to handle these situations. So, here’s what I have learned:

1. Don’t be afraid to learn something new (especially in the realm of technology): Time is the scarcest resource when things are busy. Too often, we spend more time doing things the way we are familiar with instead of learning a new method that may create us more of this precious resource that is time. Example: in preparing our tracking spreadsheets for the beginning of the new year, I was using my old monotonous and time consuming way of adding figures together. After about half way through, I decided to Google to see if there was a faster way of completing my task. Sure enough, up pops a YouTube video that taught me a much faster way of accomplishing my task. This saved me about 45 minute in completing my task. I took that 45 minutes finished additional work to be done, which freed me up to complete my work day right on time and get home 45 minutes earlier to sneak in a lot of my Christmas shopping on Amazon (another time saver right there). Moral: Even when you think you are drowning for time, don’t be afraid take a risk in the form of a couple extra minutes in learning something new if it has the potential to save time in the long run.

2. Chunk down your life: What is “chunk down your life” you might ask? Well, it’s my (in)formal way of breaking my life into separate segments. Whether I am at work or at home, I take big tasks or lots of things to do in a day and “chunk” them down into smaller tasks. I sit down in the morning, break up my chunks, and plan my day to complete all my tasks. I intermix longer and shorter tasks, my tedious and monotonous tasks, my sit behind my computer screen and get up and move tasks. This helps keep me fresh throughout the day and helps keep my fatigue down and my production up!

3. Delegate: Okay, so you need to be careful with this one. Fair warning here: don’t delegate tasks that you aren’t supposed to and don’t delegate tasks to someone who is unqualified or undertrained to complete them correctly. However, if it makes your work life sane to ask your significant other to pick up the children – it’s okay to ask every once in a while (so long as you are willing to return the favor). If you need to ask someone at work to do a favor and help you make some copies – go ahead and ask (again, so long as you’re willing to return the favor).

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KEYNEWSAll readers are encouraged to contribute articles, statements, stories and opinions of interest to Keynews. However, the articles, statements, stories and opinions printed or reprinted in the Keynews do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Association or its membership.

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Roller Coaster of DeathBy Laura Secorun Palet

Why you should care?

The idea alone should make any other roller coaster you try seem totally tame by comparison.

Death is terrifying, so why not make it exhilarating instead? That’s the purpose of the “Euthanasia Coaster,” a giant big-dipper design aimed at taking its passengers through a series of extreme drops and loops that would create euphoria and then kill them by starving the brain of oxygen.

This macabre invention is the brainchild of Lithuanian engineer Julijonas Urbonas, who designed it in 2010 as a Ph.D. candidate in design interactions at the Royal College of Art in London. Urbonas, who developed a romance for amusement parks during the years he worked at one, saw this horror-movie scenario as an alternative death ritual propelling people to the afterlife, as he puts it, “humanely with elegance and euphoria.” No one’s actually built it yet, except as a scale model.

Here’s how the world’s oddest suicide method would work: First the rider would face a long, slow climb up to more than 500 meters, giving him or her a few minutes to think back on life and contemplate the decision. At the top, there would be time to say a prayer or blow a kiss to relatives (or bail) before pressing the “fall” button and plummeting into the long steep plunge followed by the first 360-degree loop. That’s where most riders would die. According to Urbonas, traveling at 100 meters per second, the person would experience a G-force-induced loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoxia (lack of oxygen reaching the brain), which often causes a sense of euphoria. Just in case that first one didn’t do it, six more consecutive loops would finish the job. Building the structure would be a challenge. The Euthanasia Coaster would be more than three times the height of the world’s tallest roller coaster, the Kingda Ka, which took 18 months and $25 million to construct.

Of course this sounds like a nightmare for anyone without a death wish or who doesn’t enjoy white-knuckle thrills and vertigo. But for those who do, Urbonas argues his killer ride would provide a more “humane” death because not only would it be painless — even some-what pleasant — it would also be more beautiful. “It would be a meaningful death: For the faller, it is a painless, whole-body engaging and ritualized death machine,” says Urbonas, who believes death has become “divorced” from the cultural life in Western society and could be made more significant by a ritual adapted to the contemporary world.

The idea sparked outrage among anti-euthanasia groups. “The life of a human being cannot ever be taken ‘humanely with elegance and euphoria,’” says Dr. Peter Saunders from Care Not Killing, “and with this method the last sensation would more probably be one of overwhelming vertigo and fright.”

The concept of mixing death and fun is even too far-fetched for providers of end-of-life care working with the terminally ill and for defenders of euthanasia. “Such a machine has nothing to do with true euthanasia,” says Derek Humphry, president of the Euthanasia Research & Guidance Organization. “A good death is at home, with family, and a doctor present to relieve pain.”

No surprise the idea’s attracted no commercial interest, though perhaps it will end up being featured in some futuristic, scary movie. The debate around the right to die is already contentious enough without trying to turn it into a show. Yet Urbonas insists that, as an artist, he never meant for his creation to encourage or discourage people from assisted suicide, but simply to offer “food for thought.” That said, if the unlikely day comes when society is ready to embrace his idea of a monumental death ride, he says he’d happily hand the design over to the public.

Source Justin Pickard

This OZY encore was originally published Dec. 14, 2014.

http://www.ozy.com/flashback/roller-coaster-of-death/37275

The American FlagDo you know that at military funerals, the 21 gun salute actually stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?I hope you have noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times?You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!Be surprised at the following only because “they” quit teaching this around 1955 in public schools. The 1st fold of our flag is a symbol of life.The 2nd fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.The 4th fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.The 5th fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur: “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”The 6th fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts that, “We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”The 7th fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.The 10th fold is a tribute to the fathers, for they have given their sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews’ eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians’ eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy SpiritThe 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust.”After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the sol-diers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning. In the future, you’ll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Printing this out and handing a copy to those who would distribute it to school children and/or congregations is appropriate at a time such as we face today. Please share this with the children you love and all others who love what this symbol stands for…. By God’s grace it will continue to stand thusly… for and by “Liberty and Freedom.”

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Visitors to your cemetery expect it to be a clean, well cared for place of remembrance and quiet reflection. Rarely do they give any thought to who maintains your cemetery’s pristine appearance. They just expect it to be that way. And they should.

Weather conditions, staffing challenges and competing priorities make it harder and harder to keep up with visitors increasing high expectations. That’s why there’s Merendino Cemetery Care — your complete cemetery care solution. Our customized cemetery care service ensures your cemetery will always look like the place of reverence and respect it was meant to be.

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After August 8, 2012, all active regulated underground storage tank facilities must have at least one designated Class A, B, and C operator.

• Class A operator. A Class A operator has primary responsibility to operate and maintain the underground storage tank system and facility. In general, this person focuses on the broader aspects of the statutory and regulatory requirements and standards necessary to properly operate and maintain the underground storage tank system and facility.

• Class B operator. A Class B operator implements applicable underground storage tank regulatory requirements and standards in the field or at the storage tank facility. This person oversees and implements the day-to-day aspects of operations, maintenance and record-keeping for the underground storage tanks at one or more facilities.

• Class C operator. A Class C operator is the first line of response to events indicating emergency conditions. This person is responsible for responding to alarms or other indications of emergencies caused by spills or releases from underground storage tank systems and equipment failures.

How do I meet the requirements?

1. Class A and B operators must become qualified by completing a Department-approved course. For updated information on course availability, visit the Division of Storage Tanks website or contact the Division of Storage Tanks at 717-772-5599 or if calling from within Pennsylvania, call 1-800-42TANKS.

2. Class C operators must be trained by either the underground storage tank owner or the Class A or B operator.

3. A Class C operator must be briefed annually on emergency procedures following initial training.

Operator Training in Brief: What you need to know

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One-Minute Story Tip:Your lucky charms are within you!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! (Dude! Every day is St. Paddy’s Day in Story Land!)

About your lucky charms: are you a wee bit like a leprechaun or a troll?

No, no! I’m not asking if you’re short, squat and live under a mushroom or bridge.

I’m curious how you manage your nerves when meeting new people or preparing to stand and SPEAK. If chitchat and public speaking cause a “stranger danger” response, good news! Murphy’s Law is void this month. Yup, for another 24 hours. That’s Murphy! Here are three lucky charms that promise confidence, grace and joy.

Stand. You know how when you go to the doctor’s or boss’ office, the receptionist tells you to “take a seat”? Don’t. Stand tall, storyteller! At parties, don’t sit and (emotional) eat. Move, mingle, look at the walls, do something. Sitting makes you look and feel small. Think like an ape. Make yourself B-I-G. You’ll radiate confidence, approachability and warmth. Stand, deliver and remember to...

Shake. Handshaking has totally fallen out of fashion, which is a giant shame for most people. But it’s good news for gracious, beauti-ful people like YOU. One proper handshake – firm grip, warm eye contact, open body language – is equal to three hours of “getting to know someone.” Let’s say that again. A few seconds of handshaking builds as much trust as three hours of chitchatting. So shake with grace and remember to...

Smile. Show those pearly whites and people can’t help but smile back. When you’re about to meet new people or speak in front of a crowd, smile! Smile as you get ready, smile as you walk into the room, smile as you (stand) and mingle, smile as you walk toward that stage. Joy to the world – you’ve got a smile on your face! You’re also de-stressing, settling in and casting the biggest, brightest Light around. Smile and remember...

Share your pot of gold, sweet storyteller!

Shannon Leahy tells stories at Raystorm Communications in Toronto, Canada. Her office manager (pictured) is a cat intent on telling his life story. Some of Shannon’s favourite bright lights are undertakers, especially when they gather in storied places like San Antonio and New Orleans and ICCFA hands her the mic! She once wrote a textbook chapter about Pennsyl- vania but has never visited. Yet.