Summer 2015 - Mississippi Funeral Directors Association

The Caring Professionals
A publication of the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association
A Message from MFDA President Greg Pegues
In this edition…. If you were fortunate enough to attend the 2015 Joint MFDA/LFDA Convention in New Orleans, you can attest that this year’s convention was outstanding. Our Mississippi attendance was the best it has been in a number of years. In fact I’m proud to say that in New Orleans there were more MFDA members than LFDA members. Can you believe we had 16 Past‐Presidents represented at our Past Presidents Dinner? Doesn’t that speak volumes for our association? Jean and Bertinna did a wonderful job coordinating the details of the convention with our LFDA friends. You two are the best. I would like to personally thank the members of our convention committee, Sandra Chancellor, Sammy Reed, Jessica Estes, Dennis Beasley, and Suzanne Eades who along with Jean and Bertinna work so hard in making Page 1 President’s Letter 2015 Legislative Report Page 2 MFDA Board of Directors 2015 Convention Report 50 Year Awards Page 3 Lamcraft Ad Page 4 Convention Awards Past President’s Dinner New MFDA Board Convention Photos Page 5 Matthews International Ad Page 6 People in the News SFLIC Ad Page 7 Federated Ad Page 8 Save the Date for the 2016 LFDA‐MFDA Convention everything possible. Of course, I must also thank the Louisiana Funeral Directors Association. They were wonderful and gracious hosts. The bar has been set for next year’s joint convention in Biloxi but I know MFDA will meet the challenge as we begin preparations. Mark your calendar for June 12‐14, 2016. A special thanks to Ladd Pulliam who led us this past year as our president. Many positive steps were made to better our association during his tenure and we all owe Ladd a tremendous debt of gratitude. Lastly, if there is anything any of us on the MFDA board or in the MFDA office can do to improve its service and benefits to our membership; please don’t hesitate to call anytime. We want to hear your ideas as well as any concerns that would help Mississippi Funeral Directors Association be among the best trade associations in the state. Yours in funeral service, Greg Pegues Summary of the Final Legislative Report for Mississippi Funeral Directors Association
As part of MFDA’s membership benefits, a portion of dues goes towards contracting with Clifford Thompson of Thompson & Associates to watch, track, and lobby on bills that could have a positive or negative impact the funeral service industry. This is a vital service as it is unknown from year to year what type of bills could be introduced and when immediate action is needed. The MFDA Board and Legislative committees coordinate with Thompson & Associates throughout the year. Below is a report from Thompson & Associates on bills that were tracked on behalf of MFDA. I. Overview of 2015 Session The Mississippi legislature convened on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 and adjourned on Thursday, April 2, 2016, a 90 day session. There were 1,689 House Bills introduced, and 931 Senate Bills, for a total of 2,620. This is about the same number of bills as were introduced in each of the last three sessions. Roughly speaking, the legislature averages about 1700 House Bills introduced and about 1000 Senate Bills introduced; a total of 2,700 bills. In addition, there were 181 Senate Resolutions introduced, and 123 House Resolutions introduced, totaling 304 resolutions. It remains very difficult to pass a bill through both the Mississippi House of Representatives and the Mississippi Senate. Only 181 Senate Bills passed both the Senate and the House; and only 204 House Bills passed the House and the Senate. This is a total of 38S. Thus, only 14.5% of all House and Senate bills were sent to Governor Bryant and many of these were appropriation bills which always pass into law. The Governor signed 343 bills; 4 bills became law without his signature; and he vetoed 5 bills. II. List of All Bills You will find on MFDA’s website (www.mississippifuneraldirectors.com) the full summary of MFDA’s 2015 Final Legislative Report of all bills tracked and lobbied by Thompson and Associates for MFDA during the 2015 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature. The Report is nine pages long. It sets forth the entire "long" title to each bill, and it shows the entire legislative "history" of each bill (i.e., what happened procedurally to the bill). III. Executive Summary of Legislation Thompson and Associates tracked 11 "Super Critical" bills for MISSISSIPPI FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION. We also tracked 7 "Critical" bills. We tracked these 18 bills in 4 different House Committees and 4 different Senate Committees, a total of 8 committees. Super Critical Bills: HB 677, HB 697, HB 753, HB 783, HB 785, HB 832, HB 960, HB 1121, 5B 2479, SB 2681, SB 2873 Critical Bills: HB 691, HB 837, HB 881, SB 2142, SB 2506, SB 2685, SCR 546 2015 – 2016
LFDA-MFDA Joint Convention a Smashing Success!
MFDA Board of Directors
President Greg Pegues W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors Tupelo, MS President‐Elect Kippy Lang, CFSP, CCO Bradford‐O’Keefe Funeral Homes Gulfport, MS Vice President Sandra Chancellor Chancellor Funeral Home Byram, MS Secretary‐Treasurer Sammy Reed Lee Memorial Funeral Home Verona, MS Past President Ladd Pulliam, CFSP Jones and Son Funeral Home Richton, MS Northern District Governors Brett Brewster Cutshall Funeral Home Iuka, MS Gene Phillips Brantley Funeral Home Olive Branch, MS Central District Governors John Wise Boone Funeral Home Greenville, MS Bill Clark Natchez Trace Funeral Home Madison, MS Southern District Governors Colby McMorris Riverwood Family Funeral Service Brookhaven, MS Bruce Lynd Heritage Funeral Home Moss Point, MS NFDA Policy Board Representative Bill Chancellor, CFSP Chancellor Funeral Home Florence, MS Editor Jean A. Weiss MFDA Account Executive The 2015 LFDA‐MFDA Joint Annual Convention held June 14‐16 in New Orleans is in the history books and I am happy to say it is a good part of our history. One Past President said it was the best convention in the last 25 years! The two associations along with over 36 sponsors and vendors met together for a few days of learning, playing, eating, and fellowship. Sunday morning began with board meetings, then Mother Nature had other plans for the optional golf outing. We did have a great time at the New Orleans School of Cooking learning about the culinary history of the city and eating some of its specialties. Sunday night a record number 16 of our Past MFDA Presidents and their spouses were hosted by sponsors David Higgins of UBS and Paul VonSchoeler of ASI, Inc. for a wonderful evening of reconnecting and a delicious dinner at the Palace Café. Monday morning started off with our annual business meeting followed by a very informative presentation by Boyd Mothe, Jr. about the FTC Funeral Rule. I realized how much I didn’t know and what I needed to bring back to inform my staff! We had a wonderful membership luncheon and met a group of very deserving students who were awarded “Student of the Year” from their respective schools. Our speaker was Walt Coleman, an Official from the NFL who kept us in stitches and challenged us with a great message. Then it was my favorite time, the Exhibit Hall. Thirty‐six booths of friendly faces, some old and some new showing what they have to offer. It’s also a place to catch up with other friends you haven’t seen in a while. We finished out Monday night with dinner and drinks on the Creole Queen paddling on the Mississippi. Tuesday morning we were brought up to speed with what is going on nationally with NFDA Policy Board Reps Butch Mulhearn and Bill Chancellor. It was also great to have Ruthann Johnson from the NFDA office. If you have called NFDA, you have probably spoken to Ruthann and I can assure you she is as nice in person as she sounds. Our last speaker was Brad Speaks with Speaks Family Legacy Chapel speaking on marketing ideas. He has had great success with thinking out of the box for advertising. An outstanding brunch followed allowing us to mingle and eat some more, especially my favorites, the ham, biscuit and beignets. The evening winded down with a Service of Memories honoring our colleagues and family members that had passed away over this past year. It concluded with a Second Line Band leading us into the President’s Reception. The final event was the Installation Banquet in the grand ball room with over 250 people in attendance. Seeing and hearing testaments from members that hold so much history of our association and being a part of the future only made that night even more special. While there are so many people that worked on this convention to make sure it was a success, space will not allow me to list them all; that and fear I would leave someone out. I do have to thank Kathleen and Raven with LFDA and Jean and Bertinna with MFDA for all of the hours, site visits, conference calls, emails, etc. You ladies are truly professionals. If you were there I know you must agree it was one of the best conventions we have had in several years, but if you missed it I hope you see what a great time we had and start making your plans now to be a part of next year. Plans are underway for the 2016 Joint Annual Convention at Beau Rivage in Biloxi, June 12‐14, 2016. Sandra Chancellor Convention Chair 2014‐15 50 Years & Counting! Congratulations on 50 years of Funeral Service to Bubba Lang of Bradford‐
O’Keefe Funeral Homes, Joe Tucker of Jones & Son Funeral Home, William Burl Hall of Ellisville Funeral Home& Henry Hunter Jordan of Jordan Funeral Home for 50 years of Funeral Service. These gentlemen were presented 50 Year plaques at the 2015 MFDA‐LFDA Convention in New Orleans. Top Left: A.W. “Kippy” Lang, IV, A. W. “Bubba” Lang, III, Ladd Pulliam Top Middle: Frank Jones, Joe Tucker, Ladd Pulliam Top Right: Ladd Pulliam, William Burl Hall, Thomas Laird Bottom Left: Ladd Pulliam, Henry Jordan, Sonny Wilcox Photos from the 2015 LFDA‐MFDA Convention
Recognition Awards Left: A. Wendell Stringer (l) of Stringer Funeral Home was presented a plaque by Ladd Pulliam in recognition of his many years of service as MFDA’s Policy Board Representative to NFDA. Middle: MFDA Services Board Chairman Bob Rosson (r) presents an award to Past MFDA Services Chairman Chuck McClain of McClain‐
Hayes Funeral Home in recognition for his 18 years of service. Right: MFDA Past President Beth Rosson presents the Funeral Director of the Year Award to MFDA President Ladd Pulliam Past President’s Dinner At the 2015 MFDA‐LFDA Convention, 16 Past MFDA Presidents and their spouses attended a special Past President’s Dinner sponsored by UBS and ASI, Inc. Front Row: (L to R) Sonny Wilcox, Henry Jordan, Beth Rosson, Barney Nowell, Frank Jones Middle Row: Ellis Wright, Wendell Stringer, Bob Rosson, Greg Pegues, Terry Gentry, Ladd Pulliam Back Row: Bubba Lang, David Ainsworth, Hunter Jordan, Bill Chancellor, Carl Latham We look forward to seeing them all back in Biloxi for next year’s Convention and we also hope to see all the Past Presidents who could not attend this year. Above Left: Suzanne Eades, president of the MS Funeral Supply & Sales Club presents a $500 donation check to MFDA Foundation President David Ainsworth. Above Right: 2014‐15 MFDA President Ladd Pulliam passes the gavel to MFDA incoming president, Greg Pegues. Right: The 2015‐16 MFDA Board. Front row, (L to R): NFDA Rep Bill Chancellor, Vice President Sandra Chancellor, President‐Elect Kippy Lang, President Greg Pegues, Past President Ladd Pulliam, Secretary‐
Treasurer Sammy Reed. Back row: Central District Governors John Wise and Bill Clark, Southern District Governors Colby McMorris and Bruce Lynd, Northern District Governors Brett Brewster and Gene Phillips To see all the 2015 Convention photos: www.mississippifuneraldirectors.com Click on the Annual Convention tab.
People in the News…
Heritage Funeral Home Promotes Lynd as New General Manager
MOSS POINT, MS –– Heritage Funeral Home, a locally owned, community oriented funeral service establishment has been serving the families of Jackson County and surrounding areas since 1999, providing full service funerals and cremation services. With a view to continuing improvement of their service efforts, the funeral home has recently promoted Bruce A. Lynd, Jr. to the position of general manager. Upon graduation from Heritage Christian Academy in 2008, Bruce began his career with Heritage Funeral Home. He attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and the University of South Alabama, and then worked his way through the funeral service technologies program at East Mississippi Community College. There he was at the top of his class, receiving several awards, including the coveted Gale M. Galloway Student of the Year Award for 2011 from the Mississippi Funeral Directors Association. Bruce, a lifelong resident of Jackson County, resides in Moss Point with his wife, Gabbie, and their son, Anderson. Maintaining a balance between work and family has proven Bruce to be the sort of leader that this community minded business needs. His love for his community, paired with hard work and dedication is a unique and important asset to Heritage Funeral Home’s mission. Thompson Qualifies for CFSP Designation John Robert Thompson, CFSP, of Southaven, MS and manager of Affordable Cremation Society and Mortuary Service in Memphis, Tennessee, has recently qualified for the designation of Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. A number of professions grant special recognition to members upon completion of specified academic and professional programs and "CFSP" is funeral service's national individual recognition. The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice, since its 1976 founding, has had as its goals: 1) to recognize those practitioners who have voluntarily entered into a program of personal and professional growth, 2) to raise and improve the standards of funeral service and 3) to encourage practitioners to make continuing education a life‐long process in their own self‐interest, the interest of the families they serve, and the community in which they serve. To initially receive this award, the practitioner must complete a 180 hour program of continuing education activities and events. In addition, the practitioner is required to accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify. Credits are awarded by the Academy for work leading to personal and/or professional growth in four areas: • Academic Activities • Professional Activities • Career Review (for retroactive credit) • Community and Civic Activities Did You Know?
Matthews International
is a Preferred Vendor
of MFDA.
A portion of each
burial casket purchased
by MFDA members is
given back to the
association annually.
June 12 – 14
2016
LFDA – MFDA Joint Convention
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Biloxi, MS
Hotel Reservations: http://tinyurl.com/p4pgpyu Or call: 888‐567‐6667; Group Code: LFDA & MFDA Joint Annual Convention P.O. Box 173 Clinton, MS 39060