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Disadvantages: Gettingyourhomeansweringmachineandtheaffiliateansweringmachineto

cooperatewiththedifferentringsrequiresnewerequipmentandsomeskill.Itwillnotworkwithintegratedvoicemail,asbothlineswilldirecttoonesystem.

Iftheboardmembernolongerwantsthisrole,movesormoveson,thenumberhastobechanged

Thenumbercannotbelistedinphonebooksoronlinedirectoriesotherthanunderthehouseholdmember’sname

DedicatedResidentialAnsweringMachineorVoicemailAnotheroptionisaddinganadditionalpermanentresidentiallineinaboardmember’shomewithitsownansweringmachineorintegratedvoicemail.Advantages: Callscanbeforwardedtoanotherboardmember Addingapermanentresidentiallinehassomestart‐upcostsbutthencanbea

relativelyinexpensiveoption. Incomingcallsarefree

Disadvantages: Iftheboardmembernolongerwantsthisrole,movesormoveson,thenumber

hastobechanged. Thenumbercannotbelistedinphonebooksoronlinedirectoriesotherthan

underthehouseholdmember’snameunlesstheypayforabusinessline.

DedicatedResidentialAnsweringMachineorVoicemailAndanotherideaisaddinganadditionalpermanentbusinesslineintheirhomewithitsownansweringmachineorintegratedvoicemail.Advantages: Callscanbeforwardedtoanotherboardmember Phonebookandonlinedirectorylistings

Disadvantages: Iftheboardmembernolongerwantsthisrole,movesormoveson,thenumber

hastobechanged. It’snotcheap.InNewJerseyin2013,Verizonchargedabout$105toinstalland

thenabout$23amonth.Thisincludes75outgoingmessageunits(anycallfrom1secondto5minutes=1messageunit)and10centseachafterthat.Incomingcallsarefree.Ifyouraffiliatecanaffordthis,considerthevirtualvoicemailoptionbelow.

CellPhoneAdvantages: Inexpensive Canbepassedaroundamongboardmemberstoshareresponsibility

Disadvantages: Thenumbercannotbelistedinphonebooksoronlinedirectories

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HostedbyaBusinessorAgencySomehospitalsandlargerbusinesseswill‘donate’anumberontheirvoicemailsystemtoanon‐profitagency.Theycanassignyouanoutside7‐digitnumberthatwillgodirectlyintotheirvoicemailsystem,notringingonanyactualphone.Advantages: Free Voicemailcanbecheckedbyanyboardmember Prettypermanent,sincehospitalsandsimilarinstitutionsgenerallystayput

Disadvantages: Thenumbercannotbelistedinphonebooksoronlinedirectories

HostedbyaChurchorOtherOrganizationOption#1:Someaffiliatesuseachurchorotherorganizationtoaccepttheirphonecalls.Thisisoneoftheworstoptionsforavarietyofreasons. Yougivetheappearanceofbeingaffiliatedwiththatchurch,whichcanturnoff

anyonewhobelongstoadifferentreligion,denomination,ordoesn’twanttodealwithareligiousinstitutionatall

Callscannotbeforwarded Theofficesarenotstaffed24hoursaday,soyouarenotreachable Thechurchisunlikelytobewillingtochangetheiroutgoingmessagetoinclude

necessaryinformationforyouraffiliate,soyouarenotreachable Thenumbercannotbelistedinphonebooksoronlinedirectories

Option#2:Thereisarelatedoptionthatcanwork.Somechurchesandotherorganizationswillbewillingto

1. placeanadditionalpermanentlineintheirbuildingthatyoucouldstaffwithanansweringmachine,or

2. addanadditionalphonenumberwithadistinctiveringtotheiraccount

Advantages: Prettypermanentsincereligiousinstitutionsgenerallystayput Anadditionalnumberwithadistinctiveringisinexpensive YoupayforanadditionallistinginthewhitepageswithyourFCAnamefora

minimalcharge Callsfromapermanentlinecanbeforwarded

Disadvantages: Ifyougowiththepermanentline,itissomewhatmoreexpensivebutatleastit’s

notinaboardmember’shome Distinctiveringcallscannotbeforwarded

VirtualVoiceMailWethinkthebestoptioninthiscategoryandoverallisVirtualVoiceMailfromyourlocalphonecompany.Thephonecompanycangiveyouaphonenumberandvoicemail,withnoactualphonelineandnoneedforaphoneoransweringmachine.

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Advantages: Relativelyinexpensive Permanentvirtuallocation Voicemailcanbecheckedbyanyboardmember Canbelistedinthephonebook

Disadvantages: Notfree

SetUpYourOfficeandMailingAddress

Onlythelargestaffiliatescanaffordtorentofficespaceandhirepaidstaff.Mostareruneffectivelybyvolunteersusingtheirowncomputersandaportablefilingboxforessentialrecords.Theboardmemberresponsibleformailingoutnewmemberpacketswillneedsufficientspaceforthematerials.

Somegroupsusesympatheticlocalchurchesasamaildrop.Ifthisisanoption,besureyoucanaddressallmaildirectlytoyouraffiliatenameandaddresswithouthavingtousethenameofthechurchsoyoudon’tlosetheappearanceofbeingnonsectarian.Thereareotherpossibilities,suchasseniorcentersandclubs,butifyougothisroute,besurethatyouarepickingasolid,reliableorganizationthatwillresponsiblycollectandholdyourmail(whichwillcontainsensitiveinformationandchecks)longaftertheboardmemberwiththerelationshiphasmovedon.

ThebestoptionisrentingaPostOfficebox.Thatallowssomeconfidencethatanypublicityyourprintedmaterialgenerateswilldirectpeopletoaconsistentandcontinuingaddress.Whenofficerschange,someoneelsecanpickupthemail.Ifneedbe,mailcouldbeforwardedtoanotheraddressifthenewofficerlivestoofaraway.

Undernocircumstancesshouldtheaffiliate’saddressbelocatedatafuneralhome.Asaconsumerorganization,itisimperativethatyoumaintainyourindependencefromtheindustry,evenifyouhaveacontractforyourmembersatagivenfuneralhome.Withthemailreceivedbythemortuary,consumerswillquestionyourmotives.Therehavebeenseveralunfortunatesituationswherethisseparationwasnotmaintainedandaffiliateswereadverselyaffectedwhenownershipofthemortuarychangedandsalestacticsandpricesbecameoutrageous.

ClarifyOfficerandStaffRoles

Althoughyourboardoftrusteesmaynumbernine,usuallythebusinessoftheaffiliateisconductedbytheExecutiveCommittee,consistingofthepresident,vicepresident,treasurer,andsecretary.Yourorganizationmighthavebothamembershipsecretarytorespondtomail,andarecordingsecretaryfortheminutes.Reviewthetaskslistedonpages6‐8todecidehowyouwilldelegateresponsibilities.Noaffiliateshouldpermiteventhemostwillingvolunteertobecomeoverworked.Theworkloadneedstobedistributedsothatno

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oneofficerormemberfeelsheorsheisdoingitall.Anypresidentisespeciallyvulnerable.Anewslettereditorcantakepartoftheburden,andthispersonneednotbeanofficer.

Thetreasurerwilldepositallduesandothercontributionsorfees,andpaybills.Adequatereportingonfinanceswillalsobepartofthatjob.Toprotectthetreasurer’sreputation,thepresidentshouldappointareviewcommitteetoexaminethebooksonceayear.Inthemeantime,theexecutivecommitteeshouldkeepacloseeyeonthefinancialhealthofyouraffiliate.

Iftheorganizationfindsitselfabletoaffordparttimepaidhelp,aretiredmembermaybegladbothfortheimportantresponsibilityandextrapocketchange.Paidstaffshouldnotbeofficers.ApaidstaffpersonwouldbeexpectedtomeetwiththeExecutiveCommitteeorBoard,butwithouttherighttovote.

ManageMembershipRecordsandMailingLists

Membershiprecordsshouldbekeptinadatabaseor,atleast,aspreadsheet,withappropriatebackupsincaseofacomputercrash.Atminimum,thekeeperofthelistshouldemailafullcopytotwootherboardmembersonaregularbasis.

Themembershiplistshouldincludemailingaddress,email,phonenumber(s),dateofmembership,arecordofalldonations,includingamountsanddates,andamemofield.Adatabasecanincludemoreinformationincludinghowtheyheardaboutyouraffiliate,arecordofwhatthey’vebeenmailed,allcontactswithyouraffiliate,familymembersfullnames,datesofbirth,andotherpertinentinformation.

Thechoiceofdatabasesoftwareistoocomplicatedforustomakegeneralrecommendations.Manysmallaffiliatesgetbyjustfinewithawell‐designedExcelspreadsheet.Makethemostofitbyfollowingthesetips,whichwillsavetimeandeffortinupdatingandusingitformailings:

Giveeverywordadifferentfield.Donotincludefirstandlastnameswithinonefield.Thiswreakshavocwhenyouoramailinghousearetryingtosort.

Alwaysincludetheemailaddress Includeacolumnforthemember/donor’sdonationhistory.Thisisusefulfor

targetedfundraising. IncludeaNotescolumn,oracolumnwithtags,thatalertsyoutoanythingspecial

aboutthemember,suchasthefactthatsheisanestateplanningattorney.

Here’sasampleofhowtoconstructaspreadsheet:

Last  First Middle Street 1 Street 2 City State Zip Email Donations Notes

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Whenyourmaillistgoesover200,youmayobtainaBulkMailPermitbyconsultingtheUSPostOffice.Yourmailingcostwilldropfrom46centstoaround17cents,andyoumaymailpiecesthatweighupto3.4ounceseach.Ifyouhaveincorporatedasa501(c)(3)nonprofitorganization,youwillneedyourincorporationpaperstoqualifyforthenonprofitmailingrate;thiswilldropthepriceagain.Thislatterpermitprocessisalengthyone,sodon’twaituntilyouhaveastackofnewsletterstomailbeforeapplying.SeeChapter5:FinancesandFundraisingformoredetail.

PrepareforReciprocityandTransferofMembership

Weareamobilesociety.Inanygivenyear,anaffiliatecanexpectthatsomeofitsmemberswillmovefromitsserviceareaandnewmemberswillmovein.AccordingtotheFCAoperatingtenets,membershipinyouraffiliateistransferabletoanyotheraffiliatedgroup.Youarelikewiseexpectedtoacceptatransferfromanyanotheraffiliate.

Thisreciprocityisanicebenefitofmembership.Itwouldbeagoodideatorunareminderinyournewsletterfromtimetotime:“Pleaseletusknowifyouwillbemoving.Wewillsendyouatransferformtoregisterwiththefuneralplanningaffiliateinyournewarea.”

Ifamembermovesandtheredoesnotappeartobeanaffiliateinhisorhernewlocation,emailtheinformationtoLedaNuttingatleda@funerals.org.WewillenrollyourmemberintheFriendsofFCAgrouptokeepthememberup‐to‐datewithcurrentinformation.Whenandifanewaffiliateisstartedthere,yourmemberwillbenotified,andmembershipwillbetransferred.

Dependingonthevolunteertimeavailable,it’sanicecourtesytoemailtheaffiliatewhereyourmemberhasmoved.That’sonemorepotentialdonorforyoursistergroupandmembersappreciatetheservice.

HowtoKeepYourMailingListCurrentYour newsletter or announcement should have “Address 

Correction Requested” printed clearly above the label. Even 

though a returned newsletter sent by bulk rate will cost you a first 

class return fee, you pay this rate only on those that are returned 

rather than on your entire list. This will help you to keep your 

mailing list current. Many have found that a twice‐a‐year mailing is 

more effective in keeping your mail list “clean” and up‐to‐date, 

even though the postal service is expected to keep forwarding 

information for one year. 

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Youarewelcometochargeasmalltransferfee—perhaps$5—tocoverthecostofprovidingtheincomingmemberwithappropriateformsandinformationconcerninglocalmortuaries.But,sincethisisatleastonemorememberwhomayrespondtoyourregularrequestsfordonations,manythinkitwisesttoacceptthemintothefoldasanactofgoodwill.

Thosememberswhospendhalfayearinthenorthandtheotherhalfinsunnyclimesshouldbeencouragedtojoinaffiliatesinbothareas.Repeatedtransfersbackandforthareconfusingtoeveryone,bothmembersandorganizations.

Supposeonediesawayfromhomeandoutsidetheserviceareaofthemember’sorganization?Reciprocityalsomeansthatthismemberisentitledtothebenefitsoftheaffiliateservingthatareajustasthoughthatpersonwerealocalmember,includinganyfuneralhomediscounts,ifapplicable.Remember,ifyouhaveanycooperatingfuneralhomes,theywillneedtoknowaboutthereciprocity.

KeepanAnnualMasterCalendar

Youraffiliateshouldkeepamastercalendaroftasksthatneedtobeattendedtoeveryyear.Googlecalendarisgreatandcanbeaccessedbyyourwholeboard,withautomaticreminderssenttoyourphoneoremail.Themostimportant—andsometimesoverlooked—are:

annualreportstoyourSecretaryofStatefornonprofitcorporations theIRSForm990,thenonprofitequivalentofataxreturn.Duethreemonths

afteryourfiscalyearends.MostaffiliatesneedonlyfillouttheelectronicForm990‐N,thattheycallapostcard,thoughthereisnopaper.

twiceyearlystand‐alonefundraisers annual(ormoreoften)newsletter annualmeeting/presentation areaFuneralHomePriceSurvey(every2years) renewalofyourdomainnameregistration/hostingserviceforyourwebsite

FriendsofFCAWhen the FCA office gets inquiries from 

people living where there is no affiliate, 

they are invited to join the Friends of FCA 

in order to obtain our various funeral 

planning literature and to receive the 

twice‐yearly Grim Reader.   

The requested donation for membership 

is $35, with annual voluntary donations 

requested to cover the cost of the 

newsletter. If one of your members 

moves to such an area, we will transfer 

their membership to Friends of FCA at no 

charge. 

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EnsureSeamlessTransferofDocumentation

Lastbutcertainlynotleast,don’tletoneboardmembertaketheorganization’sdocumentstothegrave.Eventhoughwepreachthegospelofplanningahead,allofuscanforgetwe’remortal,butweneedtomakesureourfuneralconsumergroupisnot!Tworecentdeathsinfuneralplanningorganizationshighlightedtheneedforcarefulplanningtomakesureourorganizationscancarryoniftheleadershipdiesorstepsdown.Afterthedeathsoftheirpresidents,theseaffiliatesnolongerhadaccesstotheirmembershiplists,computerpasswordsorbankaccounts.

Manyfuneralconsumergroupshavebeenbuiltupandmaintainedbylong‐time,dedicatedvolunteers.Thetemptationtoleaveeverythingtotheall‐knowing,all‐competentvolunteerisgreat,butyoumustavoiditunlessyou’rebeggingforadisaster.Besurethatatleasttwopeoplehaveaccessto:

PostOfficeboxandofficekeys computer,onlineaccount,andotherpasswords backupcopiesofyourdatabase,websitefileandimportantdocuments copiesofyourArticlesofIncorporation,bylaws,IRSnonprofit‐status

determinationletter,andothercrucialpaperwork

AnsweringPhoneQueries

Q:“Someonejustdied.WhatdoIdo?”A:Ifthedeathwascompletelyunexpected,call911.Thepolicewilldecideifthecoronerneedstobeinvolved,whethertherewillbeanautopsy,etc.Keepinmindthatacallto911willalsosummonEMTsandwilllikelyinvolveresuscitationefforts,evenifthepersonisobviouslydead. However,ifthedeathwasnotcompletelyunexpected(elderly,ill,etc.),takeadeep

breathandpreparetoresistanypressuretomakearusheddecisionaboutwhatyouwanttodoortochooseafuneralhome.Anexpecteddeathisnotanemergency.

Ifthedeathwasathome,takesometimebeforecallingthepoliceifyoudonotwantthemtoattemptresuscitation.Ifyoucan,findthenon‐emergencynumberforyour

NotetoFCAVolunteersAnswers to state‐specific questions below, such as whether a family may 

take the body to a crematory without hiring a funeral home, are answered in 

Final Rights: Reclaiming the American Way of Death. Remember to check 

your state‐specific chapter in the appendix. Each FCA affiliate was sent a 

copy; additional books can be purchased at funerals.org. 

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localpoliceinsteadofcalling911.IfthereisahomeDo Not Resuscitateorderoradvancedirective,haveitouttoshowEMTpersonnel.

Ifthedeathwasinahospital,thereshouldbenorushasmosthaverefrigerationandareusedtoholdingbodiesuntilarrangementscanbemade,althoughsomehospitalsmayhavelessroom.

Ifthedeathwasinanursinghome,staffpeoplearelikelytowanttoremovethebodyasquicklyaspossible,especiallyifinadoubleroom.Ifyouhavenotyetmadearrangements,bepolitebutfirmandtellthemthatyouhavenotmadeadecisionyet,butwilldosoassoonaspossible.Theycanmovethebodyintoasingleroom(iftheyhaveone)ortransferittothelocalhospital.

Inmoststates,youcanhandlesomeorallfuneralarrangementsonyourownwithouthiringafuneralhome[pulloutyourcopyofFinalRightstogivecallersdetail;invitethemtodownloadtheirstate‐specificchapteratfunerals.org/bookstore].

Regardlessofthearrangementsyouchoose,yourchoiceoffuneralhomecanmeanthedifferenceofthousandsofdollars,evenforthesameservices.

Q:“Momdiedoutofstate,andthere’snoFCAaffiliateattheplaceofdeath.Idon’tknowwhattodowithoutacooperatingfuneralhome.”A:MakesureyourmemberpacketincludesthebrochuresDeathAwayfromHome,andFour‐StepFuneralPlanning.Thesetwowillshowmembershowtofindareasonablypricedfuneralnomatterwheretheyareinthecountry.Youshouldkeepthesebythephonetohelpmembersinemergencies.

Q:“HowdoIplanafuneral?”A:Wecanbeofmosthelptoyouifweknowwhatyouhaveinmind.Doyouwantcremationorfullbodyburial?Doyouwanttobeembalmed?Doyouwantaviewing?Invitingthepublicorjustfamilyandclosefriends? Ifyouwantdirectcremationandthenamemorialserviceatareligious

institution,restaurant,home,club,park,publicbuilding,etc.(anywhereotherthanthefuneralhome),youcanchooseanyfuneralhome.Choosingafuneralhomefartherfromhomecansaveyousignificantmoney.Infact,manypeopleneveractuallyvisitthefuneralhomeinthissituationasyoucanpayoverthephoneandtheashescanbedelivered.

Ifyouwanttouseafuneralhomeforaviewingand/orafuneralservice,youwillwanttochooseafuneralhomethatisappealingtoyouandgeographicallyconvenientforfriendsandfamily.

FederallawrequiresthatfuneralhomesgiveyouaGeneralPriceList(GPL).Thisisanitemizedlistofeverythingofferedandthechargesforeachitem.Italsoincludespackages.Shoparound.Funeralhomesinthesameareacanchargevastlydifferentprices.

Ifyouwantburial,youwillhavetopurchaseaplotandpayforopeningandclosingfees.

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FCAvolunteer:Offertoemailormailthemaplanningformifyouhaveone.

Q:“MyrelativediedandIneedhelppayingfortheservice.”A:Weareaneducationalorganizationanddonothavemoneytogive,butwehaveinformationthatwillhelpyoudothisasinexpensivelyaspossible.Themostimportantthingistonotcommittoafuneralyoucannotpayforupfrontasyoualonewillberesponsibleforthebill.

Considerbodydonationtoamedicalschool.Mostwillreturntheashestoyouafterstudy,typicallywithinonetotwoyears.ThereareanumberofanatomicaldonationorganizationsthatwillacceptabodyfromalmostanywhereintheUSwithnocosttofamily.ExamplesincludetheAnatomicGiftsRegistryandScienceCare.

Checkwiththelocaldepartmentofsocialservicesinyourcity/countytoseeifthestateorthemunicipalitywillpayforanindigentcremationorburialforthosewhodiewithoutmoney.Sometownshavelimitedfundsdedicatedtohelpingtheirownresidents.

Wehaveadvicetohelpyousavemoney.Areyouinterestedincremationorburial?Direct Cremationwithnoembalmingorviewingisthegenerallytheleastexpensiveoption.Thefuneralhomepicksupthebody,obtainsnecessarypermits,arrangesforthecremation,filesthedeathcertificates,placesobituaries,etc.Theashesaredeliveredormailed.Whenyouchoosecremation,youcantakethetimeyouneedtoplanathoughtfulmemoriallater.

Otherwaystosavemoneywithcremation: Inourstateyou can cannotbringthebodytothecrematoryyourself. Usethefuneralhome’salternativecontainerforcremationorbuyoneonlinefor

under$50. Buyanurnonline,oruseanyliddedvaseorothercontainer,orusethesturdyplastic

boxtheycomein. Sprinkletheashesinsteadofburyingthemtosavethecostoftheplotandgrave

openingandclosingfees.

Ifyouwantaviewingbutcannotaffordit,youcanspendtimewiththedeceasedattheplaceofdeathbeforecallingthefuneralhome.Or,askthefuneralhomeifitoffersprivatefamilyviewingwithoutembalming,whichisusuallylessexpensive.Ourstaterequiresthatthebodyberefrigerated,cremated,buriedorembalmedwithin____hours(somestateshavenorequirements).

Afullservicefuneralwiththebodypresentandburialisgoingtocostmore,buttherearewaystosavemoney. Buyprayercardsonline Buyyourownguestbook Makeyourownprograms Askfornoembalming.Thereisnolawthatrequiresit,thoughthefuneraldirector

canrequireitforpublicviewings. Haveasingle,one‐hourviewingdirectlybeforetheservice

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Haveaprivatefamilyviewingorhavefamilyandfriendsspendtimewiththedeceasedattheplaceofdeathbeforecallingafuneralhome

Don’trentthehearseandfancycars.Thecasketcanbemovedinavan.Haveeveryonemeetatthereligiousinstitutionorcemetery.

Don’tusethefuneralhomeorreligiousinstitutionandjusthaveasimplegravesideservice

Purchaseacasketonline,atWal‐Mart,Costcoorastorefrontcasketretailer Neverbuyaprotectiveorsealedcasket;they’reawasteofmoney Ifthecemeteryrequiresthatyoupurchaseavault(thereisnolawbuttheycan

requireit),askforagrave linerinsteadthathasfoursidesandatopbutnobottomorwhat’scalledarough box,whichisthesimplestconcretevault

Don’tgetmoredeathcertificatesthanyouactuallyneed;youcanalwaysgetthemfromyourvitalrecordsdepartmentlaterasyouneedthem

Findoutifthedeceasedisentitledtoanyveteran’sorsocialsecuritybenefits.Mostveteransandtheirspousesareentitledtofreeburialinanationalcemetery,butthatdoesnotincludethefuneralhome’scharges.

Shoparound.Funeralhomesinthesameareacanchargevastlydifferentprices. Explainyourcircumstancestothefuneraldirectorandseewhatyoucanworkout.

ManyfuneralhomesalreadydowhattheymayrefertoasaMedicaid Funeral.

FCAvolunteer:Ifyouarefeelinggenerous,youcanoffertogoovertheestimatetheygetfromthefuneralhometomakesuretheyhavemadecutswhereverpossible.

Q:“HowdoIpre‐paymyfuneral?”A:Werecommendpre‐planningbutnotpre‐paying.Theonlytimethatitmakessensetopre‐payiswhenyouareplanningtomoveintoanursinghomeandarespendingdownforMedicaid.Therearetoomanypotentialpitfallsandnotenoughbenefitstowarrantpre‐paying.Herearesomereasonswhy: Manystateshaveterribleconsumerprotectionlawsandyoucanlosemoneyifyou

moveorchangeyourmind. Youdonotknowwhereyouwillbewhenyoudiesoitisriskytocommityourselfto

aspecificgeographicalarea Thefuneralhomeyouknowandlovenowcouldbesoldtosomeonelessreputable,a

conglomerate,orgooutofbusiness Themerchandiseyoupaidformaynolongerbeavailablebythetimeyoudie

AbetteroptionisaPay‐on‐Death Accountatyourownbank.Yoursurvivorswillhaveaccesstothemoneybyshowingadeathcertificate.Ifyou’dlikemoreinformation,IcanemailormailyouourbrochurePre‐PayingYourFuneral:BenefitsandDangers.

Q:“Myrelativediedinonestatebutwantstobeburiedinanother.DoIneedtohiretwofuneralhomes?”A:Itisalmostalwaysbettertoworkonlywiththefuneralhomeattheplaceofburialasopposedtotheplaceofdeath.Ifyoustartbycallingafuneralhomeattheplaceofdeath,you

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arelikelytoenduppayingretailpriceforForwarding Remains+payingthefuneralhomeattheplaceofburialforReceiving Remains+alltheothercharges.Funeralhomesoftenuseshippingcompaniesandpayaveryreasonablewholesalecharge(under$900in2011).

FederallawrequiresthatallfuneralhomeslistapriceforReceiving RemainsandForwarding RemainsontheirGeneral Price List.Thelawalsorequiresthemtoquoteyouthesepricesoverthephone.However,thepricesforforwardingandreceivingdonotincludetheairfareforthebody,whichisasignificantexpense.

Ifcremationisanoption,thiscanbearrangedattheplaceofdeathforlessthan$1,000inmanyareasofthecountry.Thentheashescanbemailedhomeforburial.

LetmeemailormailyouacopyofourbrochureDeathAwayFromHome.

Q:“CanIhaveagreenburial?”A:Therearemanywaystoreduceyourcarbonfootprintatdeath.Alocalburialwithnoembalmingandabiodegradablecasketisgenerallythegreenestoption.

NaturalBurialGroundsTherearenaturalburialgroundspoppingupalloverthecountry.Checknhfuneral.org/Green_Cemeteries_List_.pdftoseeifthereisonenearyou.Thesegroundspromoteusingbiodegradableproductsanddonotallowembalming.

PrivateHomeBurialInmoststates,youcanburyabodyonprivatepropertyinaruralarea,butyouhavetocheckyourlocalzoningandhealthlaws.

GreenBurialHybridCemeteriesSomecemeterieshavesectionsdedicatedtovaultandembalmingfreeburial.

Ifyouwanttouseacemeterythatdoesnothaveagreensection,refuseembalmingandchooseabiodegradablecontainer.Cardboardorjustafabricshroudisbest,orchooseasustainablewood.

Ifthecemeteryrequiresthatyoupurchaseavault(thereisnolawbuttheycanrequireit),askforagrave linerinsteadthathasfoursidesandatopbutnobottomorwhat’scalledarough box,whichisthesimplestconcretevault

Iftheywillnotaccepttheprotector/liner,askiftheroughboxcanbeputinupsidedownwithnolid.Tellthemthatyourreligiousbeliefsrequirethatyoureturntotheearth.

Cremationisnotasgreen,asitrequireslotsoffossilfuelstoheattheretort.However,itisnothingcomparedtothedrivingandflyingyou’vedoneinyourlifetime.Alocalcremationislikelygreenerthantravelingoutofstateforagreenburial.

Ifyou’dlikemoreinformation,IcanemailormailyouourbrochureGreenBurial.

Q:“Canyoutellmewhereso‐and‐so’sfuneralisbeingheld?”

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A:I’msorry,butwedon’thavethatinformation.YoucancallthefuneralhomeordoaGooglesearchfortheperson’snameplustheword“obituary.”

Q:“Ihadabadexperiencewithafuneraldirector/cemetery.”A:Iamsorrytohearthatbutgladthatyoucalledus.PleasedescribethesituationtomesoIcandecideifIcanhelpyouorreferyoutoournationaloffice.LetmeemailormailyouacopyofourbrochureHowtoFileaFuneralHomeorCemeteryComplaint.

Q:“HowcanIbecomeanorgandonor?”A:Nineteenpeopledieeverydaywaitingforanorgansuchasakidney,heart,lung,liverorpancreas.Organdonationisthegiftoflife.ContactyourlocalOrgan Procurement Agency(OPO)tofindouthowtobecomeanorgan,tissueandbonedonor.OPOsarelicensedandregulatedanddonotsellbodyparts.

OurlocalOPOis: .

Ifyouwanttodonateyourwholebodytoscience,thelocalmedicalschoolsthatyoucanpre‐arrangewithare: .

Anotheroptionmaybetodonateyourwholebodytoaschoolofmortuaryscience.Theclosestonetousis: .

Youshouldalwayshaveaback‐upplan,astherearemanyreasonsthatyoumightnotbedonormaterialbythetimeofdeath,includingcertaininfectiousdiseases,havinghadanautopsy,amputation,morbidobesity,etc.

Q:“Isembalmingrequired?”A:Generallyno.ItisrarelyrequiredbylawandprovidesnopublichealthbenefitaccordingtotheCenter for Disease Control (CDC)andWorld Health Organization (WHO),thoughsomefuneraldirectorscontinuetobelieveotherwise.Itdoesnotpreservethebodyforever,butjustdelaystheinevitableandnaturalprocess.

Embalmingisaninvasiveprocedurethatmanypeoplewouldneverchooseiftheyknewthedetailsofwhatwasinvolved.IthasnorootsinChristianreligionandiscommononlyintheU.S.andCanada.EmbalmingisconsideredadesecrationofthebodybyJewsandMuslims.

Refrigerationisusuallyaviablealternative.Ifcremationorburialcantakeplacewithinafewdays,airconditioningoropeningawindowinthewinterissufficient.Undernormalconditions,abodycanstayatrestwithoutsignificantdeteriorationforthreedaysina65‐70degreeroom.Ourstaterequiresthatthebodyberefrigerated/cremated/buriedorembalmedwithin hours.[Note:Somestateshavenorequirements]

Ifyou’dlikemoreinformation,IcanemailormailyouourbrochureEmbalming.

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Q:“What’sinvolvedinbuyingspaceatacemetery?”A:Allsortsofthings. Youcanbuyagraveplotorspaceinacolumbariumormausoleum Youmightberequiredtobuyavault Therewillbeopeningandclosingfees Ifyoubuyspaceaheadoftimeandthenmoveaway,itcanbehardtore‐sellthe

graves.Ontheotherhand,ifyourfavoritecemeteryisrunningoutofspace,thepricewillclimbuntiltheyaresoldout.

Ifyou’dlikemoreinformation,IcanemailormailyouourbrochureAConsumersGuidetoCemeteryPurchases.

Q:“Arethereveteran’sbenefitsforfunerals?”A:Thereareloadsofpotentialveteran’sbenefits,includingburialinaveteran’scemetery,aflag,monetaryassistance,markers,andotherproductsandservicesCheckouttheVA’swebsiteatcem.va.govorcall800‐827‐1000.Ifyou’dlikemoreinformation,IcanemailormailyouourbrochureVeteran’sBenefits.

Q:“Canwehaveahomeviewingand/orfuneral?”A:Yes.Itislegalineverystateforthefamilytoshelterthebodyforthemandatorywaitingperiod,duringwhichtimethefamilymayopttoperformassociatedtasksasthelawallowswithinthatstate.Ifyouwanttocarryouttheentirefuneralyourself,includingpaperwork,preparingandtransportingthebodyyourself,ourstaterequires/allows:

Youcanalwayswaittocallafuneralhomeuntilyou’vetakenthetimeyouneedathomewiththebody.

FCAvolunteer:RefertotheappropriatestatechapterinFinalRights.

Q:“WherecanIfindoutmoreaboutthelegalandpracticalaspectsoffamily‐directedfunerals?”A:ThenonprofitNationalHomeFuneralAllianceisagreatresource.Visithomefuneralalliance.org.Inaddition,theHomeFuneralDirectoryhomefuneraldirectory.comprovidesastate‐by‐statelistingofhomefuneralguides.NaturalEndatnaturalend.comlistsfuneralhomes,homefuneralguides,andotherswhohavepledgedtoprovidefamilieswithsimpler,greener,andmorenaturalfuneralservices.

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Chapter5:FinancesandFundraisingManageandReportFinancialActivities

Thetreasurerwillbethepersonresponsibleformanagingandreportingonthefinancialactivitiesoftheaffiliate.Acomputerandsimpleaccountingprogram,suchasQuickBooks,willmakethisjobmucheasiertocreatereportsusingacceptedaccountingprocedures.

Initially,yourboardmembersprobablywillbefundingmaterialsoutoftheirownpockets.Asyourmembershipandtreasurygrow,youshouldexpecttoreimbursetheofficersforanyinvoicepresentedwhichdocumentsavalidexpense,onapprovaloftheexecutivecommittee.

Acombinedchecking/savingsaccountinacreditunionisoftenchosenforthedepositoryoffunds,but—presumably—thepersontakingonthetreasurer’sjobwillbefamiliarwiththebestdealaround.Somebanksoffercheckingwithnoservicechargesforseniorcitizensornonprofitgroups,sothoselow‐costpossibilitiesshouldbeexplored.Besuretoarrangefortwosignatoriessothatasecondpersoncouldreadilytakeoverifthetreasurerwereincapacitated.

GenerateIncome

Donationswillbeyourprimarysourceofincome.Youcansetasuggestedstandarddonationformembership—$35isagoodfigure.Ifyouarenotyetincorporatedasanonprofitorganizationorifyourcorporationislabeled501(c)(4),youshouldadviseyourmembersthatthisdonationisnottaxdeductible.

Incomebeyondtheinitialdonationwillbenecessarytosustainyouraffiliate.Itisperfectlyacceptable—indeed,it’syourduty—toregularlyrequestvoluntarydonationsfromyourmembershipandthepublicatlarge.Thisishownonprofitgroupsfundtheirwork,frombiggroupslikeNationalPublicRadiodowntothesmallestlocalanimalshelter.Startbyincludingaspecificappealinyournewsletter(s).Explaintoyourmembershowyouusetheirgiftstohelpthemandthepublic,inspecificterms,andtheywillgive.We’llgetintomoredetailbelowaboutdirectmailfundraising.

Don’tforgettheBeforeIGo,YouShouldKnowplanner.Thispopularkitsellsitself(almost100,000weresoldwhenDearAbbyfeatureditinhercolumn).ManyFCAaffiliatesincludethemintheirmembershipwelcomepacket,andselladditionalcopiesasafundraiser.FCANationalmakesthemavailabletoyouatbelow‐retailprice.

#1EasiestSteptoIncreaseDonationsIt is essential and cost‐effective to 

include a pre‐addressed return 

envelope with your request for 

contributions!   

Affiliates report double, triple, and 

quadruple the amounts received 

otherwise. You do not need to add 

postage, your donors will willingly 

do that. 

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EncouragePlannedGivingMembersshouldbeencouragedtoleaveabequesttoyourorganizationasameansofensuringconsumerinformationforgenerationstocome.Ifyouhaveaparticularprojectonwhichyourgroupisworking,thatisanidealtimetomentiontheidea.

Here’sasampleparagraphyoucanruninyournewsletterordonationappeals:Igive,devise,andbequeathtoFuneralConsumersAllianceofAnyCity,taxidentificationnumber12‐3456789,500EastMainSt.,AnyCity,USA.(inserttotalamount,percentage,orremainderofestate)tobeusedforgeneraloperations(oryourdesignatedpurpose).

CollectandPayDuesYourquarterlycontributiontoFCAAllaffiliatesareexpectedtoshareinthefinancialsupportoftheFCAoffice.FCAwillmailaquarterlyreminderandremittanceform.Youmayexemptbequestsandextraordinarygiftsfromtheduescalculation,ifyouwish.

Anannualreviewoftheorganization’sfinancesisaprudentmove,andthepresidentshoulddelegatethistasktoagroupoftwoormoreresponsiblemembers.

Althoughitmaybeyearsahead,onceyourtreasurybeginstoaccumulateasignificantamountofmoney,youshouldconsiderhavingthetreasurerbonded.Morethanoneaffiliatehaslostsignificantfundstoembezzlement—asituationnooneexpectedwouldhappen.

MakeYourMoneyWork

Areservefundequaltooneyearofoperatingexpensesisaconservativeapproachtomanagement.Ifyouspend$2,000ayeartocoverphoneandmailexpenses,youshouldaimtosetasidethatmuchinaReserve Fundcategory,sothatyouwillhaveatleastthatmuchleftattheendofyourfiscalyear.

Asyourtreasurygrowsbeyondyourreservefund,youwillprobablywanttolookforprojectstoincreaseyouroutreachandpublicity.Thisshouldbeconsideredbythefullboard,notjustthetreasurer.Setupabudgetthatispro‐active;spendingmoneyonpubliclyvisibleserviceprojectsshouldhelpyouraffiliategrow.NotethatyoumayofferastipendtoactiveboardmemberstoattendtheFCAnationalconferencethattakesplaceeverytwoyearsinevenyears(2014,2016,etc.).

Undernocircumstancesshouldyouraffiliatehoardmoneyinthetreasuryandallowittobuildovertimewithoutbeingspentonyourmission.Nonprofitgroupsshouldn’thaveretirementnesteggsthewaypeopledo.FCAboardmembersare,forthemostpart,a

SupportforNationalDues are 15 percent of your income from donations, membership fees, and fundraising activities.  

There is a minimum dues payment of $50 annually to FCA National, even if your income times 15 percent does not reach that amount. 

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prudentandfrugallot.Theydon’twastemoneyonfrivolousthings,preferringtogetthemostfrommemberdonationsbyspendingcarefully.

Butitcangotoofar.Sometimeswe’llhearalocaltreasurerreadthefinancialreportsatthepublicmeeting.Whenthetreasurergetsdowntothelinedescribingthesurplus,sheoftensays,“Andwe’reveryproudthat,onceagain,we’vehaven’thadtotouchour$30,000inCDs.”Sometimesthefigureis$10,000,sometimesit’s$20,000.Butit’salwaysasurprisinglylargeamountofmoneyforasmallorganizationwithfewexpenses.

So,what’swrongwiththat?Wedisciplineourselvessothatwedon’tcashinourretirementfundsbecausewevalueourlong‐termfinancialsecurity,right?Thegoalsyouhaveforyourownincomearecompletelydifferentfromthoseofanonprofitanditsassets.

Fundraisingprofessionalshaveabitofjargonforthisproblemcalled,“Thinkingfromaplaceofscarcityratherthanabundance.”Yeah,itsounds,well,jargon‐y,butitreallyistrue.Constantterroroftheskyfallinginifyouhavetodipintothereservefundcanskewyourperspective(andyourbloodpressure).Itcanalsopushotherwisesensiblepeopletomakequestionablejudgments.

Someofthesewouldhaveentangledthegroupsinconflictsofinterestorputthemincompromisingrelationshipswiththeveryindustrytheyseektooversee.Othersareshortsighted—penny‐wiseandpound‐foolish.

Ifyou’vegotmorethanoneyear’soperatingexpensessaved,it’stimetothinkaboutsettingsomeofyourmoneyfree!YourFCAcandoevenmoregoodforyourmembershipandthepublicbyinvestinginnewprojects.

Somesuggestions: UpdateYourWebsiteIsyourwebsiteoutofdate?Ifithasn’tbeensubstantially

overhauledintermsofcontent,navigation,andappearanceinfiveyearsormore,it’sancient.Hireaprofessionalwebdesignertogetyoursitemodernized.Thisisfarmoreimportantthananypaperpamphletorphonebooklisting.MostpeoplefindtheirlocalFCAonlinethesedays.Notjustahandful.Andyes,seniorstoo.Besuretogetasitethatwillletyourvolunteersupdateiteasilywithnewsandlinks.

GototheBiennialConferenceSendrepresentativestothebiennialFCAconference DonateBooksDonatecopiesofFinalRightstoyourpubliclibrary

TheDifferenceBetweenManagingYourFinances

andaNonprofit’sYour nonprofit’s reserve fund is not a 

personal retirement account. Nonprofits 

do not exist simply to exist and they’re not 

entitled to a comfortable “retirement.” 

They exist for specific purposes. Ours is to 

educate and protect the funeral consuming 

public. The money we take in is supposed 

to be spent furthering that mission. Quite 

literally, we have a legal and ethical 

responsibility to so. Sitting on excessive 

cash reserves year in and year out may be 

stunting the execution of your mission. 

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OrganizeanExpoPutonadeathexpo.TheSanDiegoMemorialSocietymountedonewitharangeofprofessionals,includingamedicalexaminer,representativesfromanatomicalgiftprograms,andotherstoanswerquestionsfromattendees.Theybilleditastheplacetogotoaskanythingyouwantedtoknowaboutdeathbutwereafraidtoask.Planningonabout80attendees,theygotmorethan300!Nottomentionthemorethan100newmemberstheygotfromtheevent.

SupportNationalYournationalofficewillalwaysmakegooduseofextradonations.Ifyouarelookingforaworthycause,we’reanawfullygoodvalueforyourmoney.

PublishaHospiceManualPublishacomprehensivedeath,dyingandfuneralsmanualforyourlocalhospiceandvisitingnursesassociations.Includeyourpricesurvey,aselectionofbrochures,tipsonaffordablefuneralplanning,andsamplefrequently‐asked‐questions.Dropthemoffin‐personandbesuretomakethemavailablefordownloadonyoursite.You’llbuildrelationshipswithpeoplewhowillspreadwordaboutyourgrouptohundreds,maybethousands,offamilies.

GiveOutFreebiesProvidefree‐end‐of‐lifeplanningkitstolow‐incomeseniorsatnursinghomesorotherlocalvenues.Combinedwithafree‐to‐the‐publicworkshoponhowtofilloutadvancedirectivesandchooseafuneralhome,you’llaccomplishacharitablefunctionandmakemorepeopleawareofwhoyouareandwhytheyshouldjoin.

SharetheWealthSponsorasisterFCAaffiliate.Someofoursmallergroupsdogreatworkbuttheyneedafinancialnudgetokick‐startaproject.Someofthemneed$500to$1,000inseedmoneytostartadirectmailcampaignforannualdonations.Othersmayneedaone‐timegrantof$400topayforIRSfilingstoachievetheir501(c)(3)status.Contactusatthenationalofficeforsuggestions.

FundraisetheSmartWay

Mostofyouhavealistofcharitiesandcausesyoudonateto.Perhapsit’syourpublicradiostation,yourlocaldomesticviolenceshelter,thehumanesociety,andthelocalfoodbank.Youknowwhyyoudonatetothem—youfindtheirworkimportantandvaluable,anditmakesyoufeelgood.

Buthow,mechanically,doesithappen?Whattriggersyoutowritethatcheckortosignupforamonthlydonationthroughyouronlinebankingsystem?

It’sdirectmail.Real,physical,pulped‐and‐pressedpaperthatcomestoyourdoor.Thejunkmailyouthinkyouneverread.Butyoudoreadsomeofit,

Fundraising101:BeDirect!

Direct‐mail fundraising is the backbone of 

almost every nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. 

Done well, it’s neither complicated nor too 

expensive. An affiliate cannot survive on new 

member donations alone. The biggest source 

of financial support you’ll have is your existing 

membership. These are people who’ve seen 

first‐hand what you can do for them. You’ve 

already sold them on why FCA is great, they’ve 

already told you they like your work by joining 

in the first place. Give them every opportunity 

to keep it going! 

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andyoulikelyputsomeasideinapilefor“charitiesI’llsupportthismonthwhenIpaybills.”There’sareasonthatorganizationsaslargeandwellknownastheAmericanRedCrosspaybigmoneytosendyoupaperappeals—itworks.Itworksbetterthanfundraisingdinners.Itworksbetterthanspammyemailsyou’lllikelydelete.Itdefinitelyworksbetterthanfundraisingtelephonecalls.Ifyouraffiliateisn’talreadydoingit,thisarticlewillshowyouhow.

Aneffective,easytoadministerfundraisingprogram: sendsappealsbymailatleasttwiceyearly,preferablyspringandfall. usesastand‐aloneappealletter,notjustatextboxonpagethreeofyournewsletter.

Youcanfundraisethroughyournewsletter,ofcourse,butitisnotareplacementforseparate,fundraising‐onlycommunications.

usesappealletterswritteninadirect,conversationaltone.Successfulletterstellapersonalstoryillustratinghowagiftaffectsrealpeoplewithrealconcernswecanallrelateto.

alwaysincludesapre‐addressedremittanceenvelope(nostamp).Don’tbotherwithaletteratallifyoudon’tsendaremittanceenvelope.

acknowledgesadonorwithathank‐youletterpromptly.

WhenExecutiveDirectorJoshSlocumcametoFCAin2002,theboardknewtheorganizationdesperatelyneededabetterwaytoraisefunds.Butneitherhenortheboardreallyknewwhattheyweredoing.Overthepasttenyears,we’vemadeenormousprogressbyreadingandlearningaboutwhatsuccessfulnonprofitsdotokeepthelightson.In2002,webroughtin$4,500indonationsfromtheonetepidappealincludedinthenewsletter.In2012,wetookinabout$70,000,thankstodirectmailandsomeotherminorefforts.

Theadvicebelowisn’tanythinguniquethatwecameupwith;itcomesfromreadingdozensofarticles,blogs,andbooksbypeoplewhomaketheirlivinghelpingnonprofitsmakemoney.Somewebsitesincludefundraisingcoach.comandstepbystepfundraising.com.

SeekBulkMailPermitsandNonprofitMailingRatesIfyouhave200ormorepiecestomail,youcantakeadvantageoftheUSPostalServicesbulkmailrates.Evenbetter,ifyou’realsoa501(c)(3)nonprofit,youcangetanadditionaldiscountperpiece.Askyourpostmasterhowtoapplyfornonprofitmailingrates.

Ifyou’renota501(c)(3)—remember,you’renotautomaticallya(c)(3)justbecauseyou’reanonprofit,that’saspecialIRSdesignationforwhat’scalled“publiccharities”—youcanstilluselessexpensivebulkmail.

Ifyouuseamailinghouselikewedo,youcanusetheirbulkmailpermit.Askyourmailerfordetails.Ifyoudoitin‐house,contactyourlocalpostmastertoapplyforabulkmailpermit.Thecostforthispermitwas$180atlastcheck,butitchangesconstantly.It’sfarmorecosteffectivetouseamailinghouseandtheirpermit,asthepostofficechargesalmost$200ayearjustforkeepingthepermitvalid.Thatisinadditiontotheapplicationfeeandyouractualpostage.

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Real‐worldexample:FCAnational’smailinglisthasabout2,000addresses.Ifwemailedfirstclassat46centseach,ourpostagealonewouldcost$920.Butbecauseweusebulkmailandnonprofitrates,ourbillisonly$315.That’s16centsperpieceinpostage.

WritetheLetterAcompellingletterincludesthefollowingcharacteristics.Eventhoughsomeofthesemayseemsurprisingortrivial,they’renot.Theyreallydowork.Rememberthatwhatyouthinkalettershouldreadlikeisnotthegoal.Wewanttocraftlettersthathavebeenproventoworkwithdonors.You’renotwritingatermpaperforEnglishcompositionclass.

Agoodletter: Tellsastorywitharealpersonwhomreaderscanidentifywith.Thisiswhere

youhighlightthewayyouraffiliatedoesgoodworkforrealpeople.Itappealstoemotionandempathyonahumanscale.Youshouldbecollectingemails,quotes,andanykindoftestimonialfromfriendswho’vepraisedyouraffiliate.Askthemifyoucanusetheirwords,andmakethestoryasanonymousaspossible,ifnecessary.

Talksdirectlytothereaderinaconversationaltone.Don’tbeafraidtowriteinthefirstperson,andmakesureyoureferdirectlytothereaderwithlotsof“you”statements.Here’sanexampleofthewrongwayandtherightway.

Wrong:FCAofAnycityprovidesinformationthathelpsconsumersfindfuneralarrangementstheycanafford.TheBoardofDirectorsasksrecipientstoconsiderdonatingtohelptheorganizationfurtherinformthepublic.

Right:Ifyou’veevervolunteeredforacharity,youprobablyrememberthefirsttimesomeonetoldyouwhatadifferenceyoumadeforhimorher.JaneCollinsfromHoovillewasmy“firsttime.”Whenshetoldmethatthemoneyshesavedonherhusband’scremationallowedhertoflyhertwosonshomeforthememorial,Iknewwe’ddonesomethingspecial,somethingunique,forthisfamily.ThisiswhatyoudoeverytimeyoumakeagifttoFCAofAnycity.

IncludesaP.S.ResearchshowspeopleoftenscantothePSfirst,souseittoenticeyourdonortoreadthewholething.Example:PS—TheCollinsboysweresogladtobeabletocomehometosupporttheirmom,theytoldmeaboutitaweekafterthememorial.

Includesaremittanceenvelope.Thisisthemostimportantpart.Makingiteasyforthedonorwitharemitenvelopeisthemostcost‐effectivewaytodoubleortripleyourdonations.Havingthatpieceofpaperintheirhandsmakesallthedifference.

ThanktheDonorPromptacknowledgmentandgratitudeiscrucial.Waitingtoolongtosendathank‐youtellsthedonoryoudon’tcareandyoutakethemforgranted.Ideally,thank‐yousshouldgooutimmediatelyonreceiptofthedonation.Forsmallgroupslikelocalaffiliateswithvolunteers,trytoaimtogetthemoutwithinaweek.

Ifyouhavetime,ahandwrittennote—evenashorthandwrittenPSatthebottomofyourthank‐you—meansalot.Mostofususestandardletters,though,addingpersonalnotes

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whenappropriateandwhentimepermits.Youshoulddefinitelywriteahandwrittennote,signedbyyourpresident,foranysignificantgifts.Forsomeaffiliates,that’sagiftover$50,forothers,$100.Largergiftsshouldbeacknowledgedwithaphonecallaswellasaletter.

Ifyouarea501(c)(3),besuretoincludethisdisclaimerlanguagesoyourdonorscansatisfytheIRSwhentheytakeatax‐deduction:Asalways,FuneralConsumersAllianceofAnyCityprovidesnogoodsorservicesinexchangefordonations.WhatthatmeansinplainEnglishisthatyou’renotsellingorgivingdonorssomethingspecialasadirectquidproquofortheirgift.Important—theIRSrequires501(c)(3)stosendwrittenacknowledgmentforallgiftsof$250andmore,thougheverygiftshouldbeacknowledgedinpractice.

SampleFundraisingLetter

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Chapter6:FederalIncomeTaxExemptionFilea1023EZApplicationforIRSTaxExemptStatus

Youwillprobablynotwanttofileforfederaltaxexemptionuntilyouhave: completedtheincorporationprocess wantanonprofitpostalpermit revenueof$5,000annually

Ifyourincomeisbelowtheselimits,youarenottechnicallyrequiredtoapplyfor501(c)(3)statustobetreatedassuchbytheIRS,butit’sanecessityifyouwanttoclarifyyourtaxstatusandconvincethepostofficetogiveyounonprofitmailingrates.

Whenmemorialsocieties(asmostofouraffiliateswereonceknown)firstsoughtnon‐profitstatus,TheAmericanWayofDeathauthorJessicaMitford—onceamemberoftheCommunistParty—washeavilypromotingthesegroups.Consequently,itwasverydifficultduringtheMcCarthyeratosucceedinbeingrecognizedasanonprofitgroupatall.

Nowtherearevariousnonprofitcategories,andonlyaftermucheffortdidtheIRSbegrudginglygrant501(c)(4)tomemorialsocieties.Theveryname“memorialsociety”almostensuresthatyouwillbeassignedtoa(c)(4)categoryandthatyouwillhaveadifficulttimegettingthemorefavorable501(c)(3)statusthatwouldmakecontributionstoyouraffiliatetax‐deductible.Thisisanothergoodreasontousethemorecurrent“FuneralConsumersAllianceofXXX”ratherthan“MemorialSociety”inyourname.TheNationalFuneralConsumersAlliance,Inc.,alreadyhas501(c)(3)nonprofitstatus.80%ofaffiliateshaveadoptedthenameFCA,andmorethan4o%havebecome501(c)(3)s.

AnIRSrulingin1995inresponsetotheOregonMemorialAssociation(nowFCAofOregon)putintoquestiontheabilitytogetorkeepanynonprofitstatusifyourorganizationhasarrangedfordiscountedfuneralarrangements.AtleastsomeregionalIRSofficesconsiderthisafinancialbenefitifitisexclusivetomembers,althoughsomelegalexpertsbelievethisstandcouldbeappealed.

Makesureyouhavegratissubscriptionstoyournewsletteronyourmailinglist.Bepreparedtogivefreeinformationandadvicetononmembersaswellasmembers,orperhapsbudgetlibrarydonationsaspartofyourannualexpenditures.YourduestoFuneralConsumersAlliance,Inc.alsoqualify.

TheBenefitsofOpenMembership

Oneeasywaytogainafavorablerulingistosimplymakemembershipwideopen:haveasuggestedmembershipdonationinsteadofamembershipfee—andwaiveanycontributionforthoseunabletopayit.Youwillalsoneedtoprovethatatleasthalfyourbudgetissupportingcharitableandeducationalpursuitsforthegeneralpublic.Thiseffortshouldenhanceyourimageandlikelyyourmembership,too!

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FormsSS‐4&1023ThefirststepistoapplyforaFederal Employers Identification Number (FEIN),evenifyouhavenoemployees.

GoonlinetoIRS.govanddownload FormSS‐4,ApplicationforEmployerIdentificationNumber Form1023EZ—thissimplified,3‐pageapplicationisnewasof2014andiseasyand

quicktocomplete.Youmayonlycompletetheformonline.Thereisnopaperalternative.

YoumustfilloutandfiletheSS‐4applicationandwaitforyourFEIN,asthatwillbeneededwhenfillingoutForm1023EZ.Thewordscharitable educationshouldbeusedwhenfillingouttheSS‐4form,lines8,9,and14.

Form1023EZasksyoutoconfirmthatyourorganizingdocuments(calledyourArticlesofIncorporation,orinsomestates,yourcharterorconstitution)providefortheproperdisbursaloffundsifyourorganizationdissolves.YoushouldinsertthefollowinglanguageintotheDissolution Statementinyourorganizingdocuments:

Intheeventofdissolutionofthiscorporation,anysurplusafterallobligationshavebeenpaidwillbeturnedovertoFuneralConsumersAlliance,Inc.,a501(c)(3)organization.

Form8718YouwillalsohavetofilloutForm8718andincludeafeeof$400(aslongasyourrevenueoverthenextfouryearswon’tgoover$10,000total,otherwiseit’smore)whenyousubmitForm1023EZ.

ItmaytaketheIRSayeartograntnonprofitstatusandsendyouadeterminationletter.Besuretomakeseveralcopiesofthisletterandfilethemindifferentlocations.Itisavaluabledocumentand,inavolunteerorganizations,couldeasilybecomemisplacedorlost.Variousofficersmayneedaccesstoitatdifferenttimes.Filetheoriginalinyourcorporationfolder.

Form990EZAfterobtainingclassification,youwillbesentaForm990forreportingyourincome.Ifincomeislessthan$50,000ayear,youwillnothavetofileagainuntilrevenuegoesoverthatamount,butyouwillhavetofiletheinitialreturntolettheIRSknowthat.Failuretofilethereturnmaycauseyourexemptionstatustoberevoked.

Form990NStartingin2008,evensmallorganizationswithlessthan$50,000ayearincomemustfileanElectronic PostcardannuallywiththeIRS,calledForm990N.It’sverysimpletofillout,andit’sshort,butifyoudon’t,youriskhavingyour501(c)(3)statusrevoked.

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OnceyourAlliancebecomeswildlysuccessful,youmustfileanannualinformationformonorbeforethe15thdayofthe5thmonthfollowingthecloseofyouannualaccountingperiod.ThismeansthatifyoukeepyourrecordsonacalendaryearendingDecember31st,youmustfileyourForm990onorbeforeMay15th.

StateTaxReportingYoumayalsohavetofilesimilarformstoexemptyourorganizationfromstatetaxes,too.AcopyofyourIRS501(c)(3)classificationwillberequired.Aconsumer‐friendlyattorneyoryourstatetaxdepartmentcantellyouwhatisnecessary.BesuretocheckwithyourSecretaryofState'sofficeforanyannualreportsorfilingstheyrequirefromnonprofitorganizations.

SampleAnswersforForm1023EZ

Thenew,streamlinedapplicationasksyouforinformationthatisintuitiveandtheanswerswillbeobvioustoyouforthemostpart.Herearesomesuggestedanswersforportionsyoumayhavequestionsabout.RemembertodownloadtheinstructionsforForm1023EZandkeepthemwithyouwhenyoufillouttheform.1023EZasksyouforafewanswersthatrequireyoutoconsulttheinstructions.PartIII YourSpecificActivitiesLine2—Checktheboxes“Charitable”and“Educational”Line4—Yes,youprobablywillattempttoinfluencelegislationthatbenefitsfuneralconsumers.Thisisabsolutelyallowed,butyoushouldconsiderfilingForm5768withtheIRS.Thisformallowsyoutoelecttospendmoneyoninfluencinglegislation.Ingeneral,youmayspendupto20percentofyourannualrevenuesonthisifyoutakethiselection.Ifyoudonottakethiselection,youractivitieswillfallunderamorevaguetestofwhether“anysubstantialpart”ofyourrevenueswasspentonlobbying.ThisisalesssafepositiontobeinwiththeIRS.Forverygood,understandableinformationontakingtheelectionandhowtolegallylobbyasa501(c)(3),visittheWebsiteoftheCenterforLobbyinginthePublicInterestatclpi.org.

PartIV FoundationClassificationLine1—CheckboxA.Youwillreceiveatleast1/3ofyourrevenuefromvoluntarydonations,membershipfees,andthelike.ThismeanstheIRSwillclassifyyouasa“publiccharity.”

AboutLobbyingYoumaylobbyasa501(c)(3),andweencourageyoutodosowhennecessarytopreservefuneralconsumerprotections.Theamountyoumaydoislimited,however.Formoredetails,contacttheNationaloffice.

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Chapter7:Activism

MovingOurMissionForwardSocialactivismhasanhonorablehistoryinthememorialandfuneralplanningmovement.Webelievethatprotectingthefuneral‐buyingpublicisamatterofsocialandeconomicjustice,notmerelyasave‐consumers‐moneygig.Cremationwasnotalwaysavailableyearsago,butitwaspressurefromourmembersthatdemandedtheindustrysupplywhatmanywanted.

Ournationalorganization,alongwiththededicatedandenergeticmembersfromlocalsocietieswhotestified,weresignificantplayersinachievingfederalprotectionforfuneralconsumersin1984whentheFTCFuneralRulefinallywentintoeffect.Ittookmorethantenyearsofpublicpressure,however,tomakesuchbasicthingsasitemizedfuneralpriceinformationreadilyavailabletoconsumers.

OncetheFuneralRulewaspassed,manylocalgroupsmistakenlybelievedtheirmissionwasover.Furthermore,manyhadsucceededingainingafavorablecontractwithlocalmortuariesfortheirmembers.Theybecamea“buyers’club”thatallowedthemtousethemultitudeoftheirmembershiptonegotiateagooddealwithparticipatingmortuaries.

Butwearemorethanabuyer’sclubfor(let’sbecandid)middleclass,educatedwhitepeoplewhowantasimplecremation.WearetheonlynonprofitspecificallyfocusedonreformingthefuneralindustrytopreservechoiceandtheabilitytospendsensiblyforallAmericansduringthemostdifficulttransactionthey’llevermake.

Thepeoplewhobenefitmostfromourworkarenotthe“shakeandbake”set.Thosewhowantmorethanasimplecremationdeserveaffordablechoices,too.Infact,thosewhopreferthefull‐servicesoup‐to‐nutsfuneralaremostlikelytooverpayandtheonesthatneedourhelpthemost.Familieswhochoosethetime‐honoredtraditionofcaringfortheirowndeadwithouthiringafuneralhomedependonFuneralConsumersAlliancetogotobatforthemwhentheindustryandlawmakerstrytotakethatchoiceaway.

CurrentObstacles

Moreover,thecommercialindustryandthelawsgoverningithavecontinuedtochange.Therearenowtwomajorproblemsmakingaffordablefuneralpurchasesmoreandmoredifficultforconsumers,includingourmembers:

Non‐declinablefeesIn1994,theFTCamendedtheFuneralRule,permittingalloverheadtobeincludedinanalready‐bloatednon‐declinablefee.Thisfee—whicheveryfuneralcustomermustpayregardlessofhowmodestthechoicesmightbe—effectivelyprotectsthe

Wearetheonlynonprofitspecificallyfocusedonreformingthefuneralindustrytopreservechoiceandtheabilitytospendsensiblyforall

Americansduringthemostdifficult

transactionthey’llevermake.

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industryfromthenormalforcesofsupplyanddemand.Itforcesthosewhooptforminimalservicestosupportafancyfacilitythattheydidnotuse—aclearviolationoftheoriginalintentoftheFuneralRule.FCANationalhaspetitionedtheFTCtoreopentheFuneralRulefornewamendments,andwe’vesupportedthreeCongressionalbillsduringthe2000stoexpandtheRuletoincludecemeteriesaswellastogetridofthenon‐declinablefee,amongotherchanges.Itwilltakeyearstoeffectthischange,andgiventhelobbyingpowerofthefuneralindustryitwon’tbeeasy.

Corporately‐ownedfuneralchainshavepurchasedthousandsofcemeteriesandmortuaries.Thestockholdereffectivelybecomesthereal“customer,”andfuneralpricesarepushedtonewhighs,inspiteoftheeconomiesofscalethatalreadyallowconsiderableprofitforthesecompanies.Atthetimeofthiswriting(2013),thetwolargestfuneralchainsintheworldaretryingtomerge.FCANationalisurgingtheFederalTradeCommissionnottoallowServiceCorporationInternationalandStewartEnterprisestomergeandbecomeevenbigger.

Insomepartsofthecountry,corporate‐ownedfuneralhomesmonopolizethemarketshare;fortheconsumer,thereislittledifferencebetweenafuneralhomeownedbyonechainandthenextownedbyanother—pricesatbotharelikelytobeexorbitant.Thenon‐declinablefeeatthesemortuariestendstobe25‐50%abovethenationalaverageormore.

Incertainareas,thechainshaveopeneddiscountoperations.Thesedonotappear,however,unlessthereislocalcompetition.Onewasblatantinitsannualreporttoitsstockholders,indicatingthatthecompanydidnotexpecttohavetocontinuediscountingaftertakingmarketsharefromthecompetition.

Someofthefuneralhomescooperatingwithouraffiliateshavebeenpurchasedbyaconglomerate.Severalhaveexperienceddifficultieswithhigh‐pressuresalestacticsforadditionalservicesortoprepayforarrangements.

In2005,FuneralConsumersAlliancelaunchedanationalconsumerclassactionlawsuitagainstthethenthreebiggestfuneralchains—ServiceCorporationInternational(SCI),theAlderwoodsGroup(formerlyLoewen),StewartEnterprises)andthenation’slargestcasketmaker(BatesvilleCasketCompany).Weaccusedthecompaniesofconspiringtofixcasketpricesartificiallyhigh,andofillegallythwartingcompetitionfromindependentcasketdiscountstores.Thishasdefraudedthegrievingpublicoutofmillions—perhapsbillions—ofdollars.Westronglyurgeyounottoenteranagreementwithfuneralhomesownedbythesecompanies.

GrassrootsActionReliesonYou

Whatcanyoudoonthelocallevel?Monitorstatelegislationandattendthestatefuneralboardmeetings—theremaybelotsgoingonandwewon’tknowaboutituntilit’stoolate.Ataminimum,readthemeetingminutes.Ifyouhavequestionsonyourstate’sopengovernmentandopenmeetingslaws,calltheFCAExecutiveDirectorforinformation.

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Furthermore,youmightwanttoworktomakesomechanges.Howwellareprepaidfuneralsprotectedinyourstate,forexample?ThebookFinalRights:ReclaimingtheAmericanWayofDeath,hasachapteronthelawsineachstate.TheConsumer Concernssectionineachchapterisaready‐maderoadmapforregulatoryreformyouraffiliatecantackle.

Althoughourmembershaveeffectivelyservedasconsumerrepresentativesinseveralstates(asinNewYork,Maine,andOregon,forexample),itwilltaketheinvolvementofevenmoretoeffectthestill‐neededchanges.

DealingwiththeStateRegulatoryBoardByronBlanchardwasalong‐timeleaderattheFCAofEasternMassachusettsandadoggedactivist.Thefollowingishisexperiencewiththestate’sregulatoryboard.ManyoftheproblemsBlanchardwritesaboutbelowhavesincebeencorrected,butthestoryisthesameinmanystateswherethereisnopublicoversightoftheregulatoryboards.Itwillprobablysurpriseyoutolearnthatthestateregulatoryagenciesareoftenthebiggestobstacletoeffectiveconsumerprotection.Why?Becausethey’renumericallydominatedbyfuneraldirectorsandtheyfunctiontowhitewashconsumerabusetoprotectthetradefromthepublic.

Find Out What the Laws & Regulations Really Say 

One of the lessons we learned from our experience with caring‐for‐your‐own‐dead 

questions in Massachusetts is that we must actually read the laws and regulations 

rather than taking other people’s word for what they say. Many folks, including some 

who should know better, have strange ideas about what the law requires. Our Alliance 

believed for decades that caring for your own dead was against the law; we were wrong.   

The regulations for funeral directors in Massachusetts are in the process of 

revision. We had to resort to Freedom of Information Act procedures in order to get a 

copy of the draft regulations, even though they had been given to the Mass. Funeral 

Directors Assn. a year previously. We will present both written and oral testimony at the 

public hearing on the new regulations.  

In preparing for the hearing we are examining the laws and regulations from many 

other states. The differences are enormous both in content and in clarity of expression. 

Quite a few states publish booklets containing all the laws and regulations relating to 

the funeral industry.   

Find Out What Your State Funeral Board Is Doing 

We had never paid much attention to the activities of our state funeral board in 

the past. After our victory on the caring‐for‐your‐own dead question, we became 

curious about the board’s activities and requested meeting minutes for the past year, 

along with specified correspondence. The requested documents were finally provided, 

but with large sections blacked out. I appealed the deletions and started attending all 

the meetings of the funeral board with my tape recorder. The board members don’t 

seem to have any problem with this, but the attorney for the board isn’t happy. He even 

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threatened me with fine and jail for tape recording the meetings; he later apologized 

because the law clearly states that taping is permitted.   

The board does hold closed meetings, called “adjudicatory sessions,” to meet with 

complainants and funeral directors accused of rule violations. The Attorney General’s 

office, on my complaint, has ruled that those closed meetings are unlawful, but the 

board hasn’t changed its position.   

One of the things clear to me is that the board’s staff and attorney frequently 

make decisions in the board’s name without consulting with the board and sometimes 

without even telling the board afterwards.   

The state Supervisor of Public Documents recently ordered that minutes of public 

meetings must be furnished in their entirety, with nothing blacked out. It remains to be 

seen whether the funeral board will comply.  

I highly recommend attending funeral board meetings. You can gain a better 

understanding of how the business is really handled. 

— Byron Blanchard, 1997 

BecomeanOmbudsman

Animportantpublicserviceroleyouraffiliateshouldfillisthatofconsumeradvocateforthosewithquestionsorcomplaintsaboutfuneralchoicesandcosts.Inordertodoso,youmustbecomefamiliarwiththeFederalTradeCommission’sFuneralRule.TheFCAofficecanassistyouindoingso.TwogreatresourcesaretheFTC’sComplyingWiththeFuneralRuleandPayingFinalRespects:YourRightsWhenBuyingFuneralGoods&Services.

Youalsoneedtobecomefamiliarwithstatutesandregulationsinyourownstate,whichmayvaryfromFTCrules.Forexample,isitlegalforsomeoneotherthanafuneraldirectortosellacasketinyourstate?Ifthereisaconsumerrepresentativeonyourstatefuneralboardthatwouldbeagoodplacetobegin.Ifthereisnot,perhapsyourorganizationandothersinthestateshouldbelobbyingtogetone.Checkthewebsiteforyourstate’sfuneralregulators,andremembertoconsultyourstate’schapterinFinalRights.

Whenpeoplearedissatisfiedwithafuneral—whetherbecauseofmortuaryconductandprocedures,failuretoexplainoptions,orlackoffullcostdisclosure—theymaynotknowwhetherornottheyhaveanyseriousgroundsforcomplaints,buttheystillfeelupset.Thisiswhereyourvolunteersneedtobewell‐educatedthemselves.

“$7,000forafuneralistoomuch!”Youwillhearcomplaintslikethis,buttheyarenotlegitimateifthemortuarycompliedwithallpricedisclosurerequirementsfromthebeginningofthefuneralarrangementsandifthefamilychoseallsortsofoptionsthatincreasedthebill.Ontheotherhand,ifthefuneraldirectorfailedtogivethecustomersaprintedgeneralpricelist(GPL)fromwhichtodotheirfuneralplanningandpurchasing,thenthemorticianhasviolatedfederalregulationsandprobablythoseofthestateaswell.

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Anystateofficial,suchasthosecitedearlier,shouldbeabletogiveyoutheprocedureyourstateusesforhandlingcomplaints.Doesthecomplainantaddressconcernstothefuneralboardortotheconsumeraffairsdepartmentoftheattorneygeneral’soffice?IftheoffenseviolatesanFTCrule,acopyofthecomplaintshouldbesenttothestateagency,withacopytoaregionalFTCoffice.TheFTCdoesnotusuallyprosecuteindividualviolations,butwaitstoseeifthereisapatternofcomplaintsagainstaparticularfuneralhome.Itisessential,therefore,thatcomplaintsbereportedtodocumentsuchapatternofviolations.

Whataresomeofthemostcommonviolationsofstateorfederalrules? notgivingageneralpricelist(GPL)fromwhichtoselectfuneraloptions notgivingpricesoverthetelephone notgivingacasketpricelistand/orhavingpricesclearlydisplayedoneachcasket notgivinganouterburialcontainerpricelist claimingthatanouter‐burial‐containerisrequired,bylaworbythecemetery,when

itisn’t claiminganurnvaultisrequiredwhenitisn’t nothavinglow‐costcasketsondisplay;somestateshaveacasketdisplay

requirement,buttheFTCdoesn’t addingahandlingfeeifonepurchasesacasketelsewhere,orrefusingtouseit indicatingthataparticularkindofcasketsuchasa“protective,”sealedcasketwill

preservethebody(itwon’t) requiringthefamilytopayforanewcasketselectionwhenano‐longer‐carried

casketwasincludedinaprepaidfuneralpolicy;moststatesrequiresubstitutionofequalqualityandvalue,butthisisatrickyone

tellingthecustomerthatembalmingoranythingelseisrequiredbylawwhenitisn’t embalmingwithoutpermissionandchargingforit chargingforservicesonedidn’tselect—forinstance,ahairdresserwhentheelection

wasforimmediateburialorcremation usingdisparaginglanguagetodiscourageyoufromanyofthelow‐costoptions;

almostallstatesrequirethatfuneraldirectorstreatcustomerswithdignityandrespect

notgivinganitemizedlistofFuneral Goods and Services Selectedpriortothefuneralarrangements

notindicatingthattherewillbeamark‐uponcashadvanceitems;theFTCdoesn’trequiredthemtodisclosebyhowmuch,butsomestatesforbidanymark‐upatall

chargingforpreparation,oftencalledSanitary Care and Disinfectionpriortoidentification

viewingbeforecremation,orchargingfortheIDviewingitself,eventhoughthefamilydidnotrequestthisandthelawdoesnotrequireit

Aneffectivecomplaintwillmakereferencetospecificwordsandactionsandthespecificstatute,rule,orregulationthatsuchbehaviorviolates.OnewomancalledtheFCAofficetofindouthowtocomplain.Shesaid,“Hewasn’tatallcaringandcompassionate.”Butthatistoogeneral,toosubjective.Thisiswhereyourwell‐informedmemberscanbehelpful.

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Unfortunately,itmaybeverydifficulttosueafuneralhome.Themostcommonreasonstoconsidersuitwouldbe: negligence consumerfraud personalinjuryintheformofemotionaldistress breachofcontract

Somestatesallowrecoveryoflegalfeeswhensuingforconsumerfraud,butifthesuitalsoinvolvedpersonalinjury,onlythatportionoflegalfeesthatwererelatedtoconsumerfraudwouldberecoverable.

OnewomaninVermonthadbeentraumatizedbyherfuneralexperience.Thefuneraldirectorwasguiltyofallfourcategoriesofharm,butnolawyerwouldtakehercaseonacontingencybasiswiththeprospectofa$10,000legalbillbecauseitwasunlikelythatthecourtwouldordermorethan$2,500inlegalfeestobereimbursed.Thefuneralbill,whichshehadn'tyetpaid,wasonly$3,650.So,again,theprospectofspending$10,000towipeoutafuneralbilloflessthan$4,000didnotmakefinancialsense.Hercomplaintwasfiledwiththestatelicensingagency,withacopytotheFTC.Sevenmonthsafter,FCAstaffwereheronlyrealsupportteam,asnothinghadyetbeendone.

Asamplecomplaintformthatyoucanuseinternallytotrackconsumercomplaintsisreproducedbelow.Youmaywanttokeepacopyofyourstateregulatoryboard’scomplaintformonhandaswell.Thefollowingisonlyaguideline,andwestronglysuggestyoutrackcomplaintsbycomputer,notonpaper.Ifyoudon’thaveadatabase,that’sfine,atextorWorddocumentwithanintuitivefilenameanddatewilldo.STATE:_______________________ComplaintDate:_________________Businesstype:FuneralHomeCemetery MonumentRetailCasketComplainttype:FTCViolationPreneedAt‐DeathLegalMisrepresentationCasketHandlingFee CasketRefusal

BusinessNameandAddress:______________________________________________________________________________________________________ComplainantNameandAddress:______________________________________________________________________________________________________Deceased’sNameandAddress______________________________________________________________________________________________________DateofDeath:__________________________PlaceofDeath:_________________________Includeadescriptivenarrative

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Chapter8:EncouragingMember&BoardParticipationBuildYourMembershipBase

Everysinglepersonwhocallsorwritestoinquireaboutmembership,forhelpwithacomplaint,etc.,needstogoinyourdatabaseandrightontoyourmailinglist.Every.Single.One.Whetherthey’vemadeadonationornot.Especiallythoseyou’vespentpersonaltimewithtosolveaproblem.Thesepeoplearethemostlikelytorememberyourkindnessandrespondtoyourcallforserviceanddonationsinthefuture.Remembertoaskfortheiremailaddress!

Remembertofollowup.Sendthepersonanotealongwithyourmostrecentnewsletterorpricesurvey.Thankthemfortheirinterest,andincludeadonationenvelope.Thisiskey—ifyoudon’tfollowupwithfolksregularly,youwon’tbuildinterest.

ACaseStudyinFriendraising—byJoshSlocum

 

John from Colorado called FCA. His sister was scrambling to find money to pay for Aunt 

Sadie’s funeral. Sister was convinced that “I’ll have to come up with $4,000 in addition to 

the $6,000 we already have, because I’ve heard a funeral costs $10,000.”  

Wait a minute. $6,000? Yes, the family already had $6K from Aunt Sadie. I said to John 

that was more than enough for what they wanted (cremation followed by burial in 

another state). What’s more, your sister needs to put herself back in the driver’s seat. 

It’s her decision how much the funeral costs, not the funeral home’s.  

Turns out John—a businessman who started a specialty food company—already gave 

his sister the same kind of advice I would have given. Don’t walk in with a blank check, 

know your budget before you buy, and remember that love and money is not the same 

thing.  

As we talked I gave John the tools to back up what he was saying. The Funeral Rule, 

shopping by phone ahead of time, etc.  Over a wide‐ranging conversation with lots of 

laughs I told John I would clone him and send him as a volunteer to every FCA group in 

the country. Well, turns out he was just ready to ask about how to volunteer. “How do 

people get trained to help you guys carry this out?” I replied, “We just started during this 

45‐minute talk.”  

He was eager to contact our affiliate in Colorado, and he offered to make a donation 

without my even asking.  

Follow‐up is crucial. Here’s what I did: 

Put John in our database. 

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Tagged him with a code indicating he was a potential volunteer. 

Immediately sent an email to John, with a cc to the board members of our 

Colorado affiliate.  

Attached our last newsletter and a few other materials I knew John would like.  

Physically mailed a copy of my book, gratis, along with a brief handwritten note 

and a remittance envelope.  

I got this email from John later in the day: 

Josh, 

It was my pleasure to speak with you this morning.  I just got done reading all of 

the literature that you sent and it is literally a gold mine of information (and 

entertaining at the same time).  I am very interested in possibly volunteering 

with your organization and would very much like to speak to Jim and Judy about 

it.  I have passed on all of my notes and your literature to my sister and brother‐

in‐law for their reading and hopefully their implementation.  I must praise you in 

that your writing style and delivery is excellent and at the same time very 

informative—keep up the great work!  Your “care package” will be coming soon 

so check your mail in about a week.  Again, thank you for your assistance and all 

of your great information.  I hope we will have opportunities in the future to visit 

and interact with each other as I can tell you are someone with a mission with 

great energy and enthusiasm.    

That care package from John included three bags of gourmet popcorn—and a $50 

check.  

GraduateYourMemberstoVolunteers

Viewingaudiencemembersandcallerswithquestionsaspotentialmembersisthefirststep.Thatiswhereyouestablishcredibilityandbegintonurturetrust.Ifyou’vedoneyourjob,youwillbegintoseedonorsbecomeinvestedintheorganization,whichideallywillresultinactivevolunteerism.Encouragethatshiftfromdonortomembertovolunteer!Here’show:

Wheneveryougiveatalk,bringasign‐upsheet.Donotjustleaveitatthedoor,keepitwithyou.Itworksbestifyoupresentitwithabitoftheater.Readandrespondtothecrowd’smood.Whenthey’reattheirmostattentiveandengaged—sometimesit’salaugh‐line,sometimesit’sshockatacaseofconsumerabuse—say,“Oh,thatremindsme!BeforeIforgetIwanttogiveyouthissign‐upsheet.Ifyouwanttomakeadifferencewithustohelppreventthiskindofabuse/lobbyforlegalchange/etc.,we’rereadywithopenarms.WeneedyoubecauseyouaretheFCA.Nothinghappenswithoutyoursupport!”WhenexecutivedirectorJoshSlocumdidthisatthemeetingoftheFCAofPrinceton,ninepeoplevolunteeredonthesheettoworkonlegislativechange.Letyourpassionandenthusiasmshineandyou’llfindit’scatching.

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SponsorRelationshipBuildingActivities.Whenwethinkaboutthereasons

peoplevolunteerforanorganization,ortalkituptotheirfriendsandfamily,weusuallythinkoftheirpassionforthecause,thegoodfeelingtheygetcontributingtoaworthwhilecharity,etc.Butweoftenforgetthemostimportantattractors:friendshipandfun.Peopleenjoysocializing,andit’salwaysmorefuntogetajobdonewithagroupoffriendsthanitistoslogthroughitalone.Weoftenunderestimatetheimportanceoffunwhentryingtoattractpeopletoourcause.Butweknowhowhumanrelationshipsareforgedandmaintained—bybreakingbreadwitheachother.Whenyoumovetoanewneighborhood,youhavetheneighborsoverforalightmealorapotluck.Websofmutualinterestandfeelingsof“I’vegotyourbackwhenyouneedme”arecreatedthisway.It’sthesamewithissuesandcauses.

ColdCallMembers/PotentialVolunteers.Yes,we’resuggestingyoucalloremailpeoplerightoutoftheblue.Eventhesmallesttaskscanhelpgetsomeoneinthedoorlongenoughtobeworthmentoring.Contactmembersinanareawhereyouneedhelppickingupfuneralhomepricelistsforyoursurvey,forexample.“ThisisJanefromFCA.Iwantedtotellyouaboutourlatestprojectandaskforalittlehelp.We’redoingourupdatedpricesurvey—youknowhowusefulitistofolks—andwecangetitdonemuchmorequicklyiffolkslikeyouwouldstopattheclosestfuneralhometoyourhouseandpickoneupforus.Wouldyouhelp?We’dlovetocredityouandtheothervolunteerswhenthesurveyisdone.Oh,andwe’rehavingaluncheonatPam’shousetocompiletheresults—we’dlovetohaveyouthere.”

OrganizeaDeathCafé—Theseinformalgatheringsaregettinglotsofpress.They’regroupsofpeoplewhowanttohaveabitetoeatandbeabletotalkaboutendoflifeplanningwithotherswhosharetheirconcerns.Typein“deathcafé”onGoogleandyou’llcomeupwithheadlineslike,“BritishWebdesignerandself‐named‘deathentrepreneur,’helpspeopletalkaboutthetabootopicoverteaandcake,”and“AfewdozenOhioanswillmeetWednesdayeveninginacommunityroomataPaneraBreadoutsideofColumbusfortea,cakeandconversationoveranunusualsharedcuriosity.”Ifthere’sadeathcaféinyourcommunity,yourFCApeersandyoushouldbethereyesterday.Andifthereisn’t,whatanopportunity!Startonerightaway.

GodoaGooglesearchrightnow.Lookatthepicturesoftheparticipants.Noticesomething?It’snotjustoldfolks.Peoplefromtheir30stotheir80s—withaheavytilttowardthemiddle‐aged,whowillbeburyingtheirparentssooner,notlater—arethere.Getovertheideathat“onlyoldfolkswanttotalkaboutthis.”Itisn’ttrue.

HostaDeathandDaiquiris—ordonuts,ordimsum.Hostabrunchandbillitasarelaxedmealwherepeoplecanaskanyquestiontheywantabouttheendoflifeandmeetotherswithsimilarconcerns.MembersoftheFCAofEasternMassachusetts,

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alongwiththeirpalsintogreenburialandfamily‐directedfunerals,hostaregularget‐togethercalledGhoulfriendswithfood,wine,movies,andsometimesasleepover.Or,haveapotluckwithafunerealtheme.Here’sJoshSlocum’sinvitationtohisownfriends:

Youcanthinkupanynumberofcreativeandaffordablewaystohavefunanddosomeseriouswork,too.Inviteyourmembershipandaskthemtobringafriend!Evite.comisagreatwaytosendinvitations,andyoushoulddefinitelyspreadthewordonFacebook.

CultivateBoardLeadership

Memberdevelopmenthastobeaneveryday,ongoingpartoflifeatyourFCA.Likewise,gettingnewboardmembersisnotadiscreteactivitythathappensonceayear.Groomingthemembershiptoseethemselvesasactiveparticipants,asownersofthenonprofitmissiontheysupport,hastobeasmuchapartofyourregularmissionactivitiesasansweringthephoneandemail.Last‐minutedesperationforboardvolunteersisimmediatelyoff‐puttingtoprospects.

First,realizethere’snosuchanimalBoardmemberprofessionalensis.Boardmembersarejustpeople.They’rejustmembers.Youwereprobablyoncejustamember‐at‐large.Weneedtotrainourselvestoseeeverymemberquery,everycommunicationtousfromthepublic,

Dearly Beloved,   

You are gathered here. . . well, you will be gathered here unless you want to miss 

Dishes to Die For! You all know I talk about death for a living. You also know I like 

to cook (and we all like to eat and party). So join me at [address] on [date] for an 

evening of funeral food‐n‐follies. Bring a dish and your funniest or strangest story 

from family funerals past. No story too morbid, no joke too irreverent! THRILL to 

the tale of Grandma Slocum’s viewing just days after her grandchildren gave her 

a homemade haircut! CHILL as I recount the hilarious hijinks of her final 

conveyance into the wrong grave!  

I’ll lay the groundwork for the festivities with the tuna‐macaroni salad that gets 

brought out every time a Slocum dies (we do make a fresh one each time). Bring 

your own family’s favorite “dish to pass on” and join me for a casket‐side chat. 

Wine will flow freely and there will be plenty of non‐alcoholic refreshments, too.   

Be there or you’re dead to me.  

Love,  

 

Josh 

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asapotentialtobringsomeoneintothefoldasacontributortothecause,notmerelya“customer”whopaysamembershipfeeandthenpassivelyreceivesproductsandservices.

Don’twaituntilthelastminuteandthenspringpotentialboardmembershiponacoldprospect.Otherwiseinterestedpeoplecanbeintimidatedoruncertainbyanoffertobe(cuedramaticmusic)OnTheBoard.Thetitleitselfcarriesconnotationsofhugeresponsibility;itsoundstooscaryandnotlikemuchfun.Instead,thinkandspeakintermsofvolunteerism.

Frametheinvitationasanopportunity.Peoplejoinorganizationsforavarietyofreasons.Theybelieveinthecause,theywanttomakeausefuldifferenceinthelivesofpeopletheorganizationserves,theywanttokeepbusy,etc.YourFuneralConsumersAlliancehastrulyuniqueopportunitiestheywon’tfindinother,better‐knownnonprofitgroups.Herearesomesuggestedwaystophrasetheinvitationdependingonthetypeofpersonyouapproach: “Mostpeopledon’tthinkaboutfuneralsuntilthelastminute,eventhoughit’soneof

themostexpensiveandemotionallydifficulttransactionswe’llevergothrough.Ilovehelpingourmemberstakethefearoutoffuneralplanning.Youcanhearthereliefinsomeone’svoicewhenyousimplygivethempermissiontoaskallthequestionsaboutpracticesandpricestheythoughtwere‘inappropriate.’Folkswillthankyouforempoweringthemtotakeonfuneralplanningwithmoreconfidencethantheythoughttheycouldmuster!”

“Ifyoudon’tmindrufflingafewfeathersforagoodcause,you’llhaveaballwithus.We’rereallyjusttryingtogetourfriendsandneighborsaseducatedabouttheirfinalplansastheyareaboutbuyingacar,but,fromthewaysomefuneraldirectorsreact,you’dthinkwewereproposingsocializeddeathcare!Collectingfuneralhomepricelistsisagreatwaytogetyourfeetwetandtoseehowthelocalfuneralhomesreacttohonestconsumerquestions.Ilearnedmoreaboutwhatfamiliesfaceontheworstdayoftheirlivesfromdoingsome‘funeralshopping’forourpricesurveythanIwouldhaveimagined.”

“You’vealwaysbeengreatbehindthescenesorganizeroneveryprojectwe’veworkedtogetheron.Havingsomeonetocoordinateourpricesurvey/newsletterpublicationschedule/memberpacketfulfillmentwouldfreeothervolunteerstodowhattheydobest.Weneedyourexcellentadministrativeskillstoreallyflythisorganization.Howaboutit?”

ManageYourBoardForMaximumEfficiency

Whatskillsdoesittaketohaveavibrantaffiliateboardofdirectors?Thefirststepisfiguringoutwhoyouneedonyourboard.Youneedabalancedboard.Olderpeople,youngerpeople,bigpersonalitieswholiketalkingupyourorganizationinfrontofacrowd,quieterworkerbees,delegatorsandthosehappytotakeassignmentsandrunwiththem.

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Trytofindpeople,akawizards,withthefollowingskills: Delegator—aneffectivepresidentneedstobeconfidentinsettingtheagenda,

assigningthework,andfollowingupwithvolunteersandboardmembers.Despitehowoftenyouseeanorganizationpresidentactingastheworkhorseanddrivingforcebehindagroup,aneffectiveleader/delegatorismoreimportantthanaJackorJillofalltrades.

Writer—youneedsomeonefacilewithlanguagetooverseeyourpublications,articles,andwebsite.

Financialwizard—avolunteercomfortablewithlightaccounting(perhapsanaccountantorsomeonewithvolunteerexperience)makesagoodtreasurer.Thispersonshouldbeaccurateandabletokeepthebooksuptodateandtheboardinformedoftheaffiliate’sfinancialposition.

Onlinewizard—businessandnonprofitworkhappensontheInternet.Someonecomfortablewithmaintainingyourwebsiteandsocialmediaspotsisabsolutelyessential.

Legalwizard—thoughnotabsolutelynecessary,alawyerorretiredlawyerisarealassetforsmallorganizationsinnavigatingnonprofitfilingswithyourstate,andoftenforboostingboardconfidencewhenindustryfolksoccasionallyrattletheirsabersatyouraffiliate.

Aham—someonewholikestogetuponstage,tellstories,andrallyacrowdisthebestpersontosellyouraffiliate’swork.Educationalpresentationsandworkshopsforhospiceorganizations,environmentalgroups,hospitaldischargestaff,andothersareanessentialpartofgettingandkeepingyouraffiliatenetworkedandinfrontofthepublic.

Settheexpectationsatthebeginning.Recruitsneedtoknowthey’llbeexpectedtoworkandcontributetheirtimeandtheirmoney(atwhateverlevelismeaningfulforthem).Don’ttrytopersuadesomeonetojoinyourboardwiththepromisethatshewon’thavetodoanything.You’llgetexactlynothingbutawarmbodyandfrustration.

ThenonprofitdevelopmentorganizationBoardsourcesuggestsintroducingnewboardmemberstothefollowingbasicresponsibilities: Attendallboardandcommitteemeetingsandfunctions,suchasspecialevents. Beinformedabouttheorganization'smission,services,policies,andprograms. Reviewagendaandsupportingmaterialspriortoboardandcommitteemeetings. Serveoncommitteesortaskforcesandoffertotakeonspecialassignments. Makeapersonalfinancialcontributiontotheorganization. Informothersabouttheorganization. Suggestpossiblenomineestotheboardwhocanmakesignificantcontributions. Keepup‐‐‐to‐‐‐dateondevelopmentsintheorganization'sfield. Followconflict‐‐‐of‐‐‐interestandconfidentialitypolicies. Assisttheboardincarryingoutitsfiduciaryresponsibilities.

Giveyournewrecruitssomehomework.AdvocatingforconsumerprotectioninthefuneraltransactionrequiresknowledgeofwhattheUSfuneralindustryisallabout,howit

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works,andhowconsumeradvocatesinterfacewithit.Atabareminimum,allyourboardmembersshouldbefamiliarwiththeFTCFuneralRuleandthebasichistoryofourorganization.AssignthemFinalRights:ReclaimingtheAmericanWayofDeath(2011),andJessicaMitford’sfoundationalTheAmericanWayofDeath(1963,1998).Thisservestwopurposes:

1. Itweedsoutanyonewhowon’tmakeamodestcommitmenttobecominginformed

2. You’llquicklyseehowenthusiasticnewvolunteersaretotakeonourwork.Somepeopleare“bittenbythefuneralbug”andthisreadingcanbringthatout.

HavethemgetfamiliarwithallthematerialsFCANationalhastooffer.TheFCA’scatalogofnewsletters,pamphlets,andbestpracticestipsheetsareallavailableatfunerals.org.TheAffiliateResourcessection(funerals.org/fcavolunteersmenu)hasthisguidebook,acompletelistofFCApublications,directionsforcompletingafuneralpricesurvey,aguidetoansweringconsumerqueries,andmuchmore.Assoonasyouhaveanewvolunteer,introducethemtothenationalorganizationbyemailatfca@funerals.org.We’llsendthemanorientation“cheatsheet”andmakesurethey’reonourmailinglistfornewslettersandorganizationalupdates.

AvoidBurnOutand“Founder’sSyndrome”Manynonprofitsarestartedbyoneortwopeoplewithfireinthebellytorightawrongandcomforttheafflicted.ThispassionhaslaunchedFCAaffiliatesfromcoasttocoast.Butit’seasyforonesuper‐competentfounderorpresidenttograduallytakeoneveryaspectoftheorganization’swork.Resistthistemptation.Onepersoncan’tdoitall,andnooneisirreplaceable.Apresidentorleaderwhoservesintoomanyrolesfortoomanytermswillbecomestressedandincreasinglylesseffective.Somealsobecometooheavilyidentifiedastheface(ortheheart)oftheorganization,whichdiscouragesnewbloodandthefranksharingofnewideasandapproaches.Termlimitsforboardservicearethefirstbulwark.Nooneshouldbepermittedtoservemorethantwoconsecutiveterms,usuallyofbetweentwoandfouryears.Thosecyclingofftheboardcancontinuetovolunteerandoffersupport,butleadershipmustturnoverregularly.Responsibleboardmembersmentornewrecruits,bringingthemuptospeedonessentialtasksandcross‐trainingthemsothey’reabletostepintodifferentroles.Remembertogivenewmembersroomtomakemistakesandsuggestchanges,too.Nothingkillsanorganizationfasterthanhearing“butwe’vealwaysdoneitthatway.”FCANationalhasnearly800volunteerboardmembersserving85affiliatesaroundthecountry.You’renotalone!Thebestplacetomakenewfriendsandgetpeersupportistheemaildiscussionlist(whatmostpeopleknowasa“listserv”)FCANationaloffers.Tojoin,sendanemailtojoin‐deathcare@hades.listmoms.net.Besuretoincludethewordgazelleinthesubjectline(ananti‐spammeasure).You’llgetawelcomeemailbackwithinstructionsonhowtoposttothelist.Introduceyourself;you’llfindnewfriendsquickly.

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Chapter9:PublicityandOutreachGettheWordOut

Wordofmouthisoneofthemosteffectivewaystogetnoticed,soifyou’recommunicatingwellwithyourmembersandthepublicandservingthemupinterestinginformationyouhaveagreatfoundation.Buteffectivepublicitydoestakealittlefocusedeffort.

Obviously,you’llwantyourwebsiteandFacebookpagesreadytogo.Besurethey’reuptodatewithfreshcontent,anddon’tforgetalittlehumor.IfyoulikeTwitter,getonthere,too!ThemorelinksandconnectionsyoumakewithothersitesandFacebookpages,themoretrafficyou’lldrawtoyourown.Don’tforgetonlinecommunitieslocally,suchashospicegroups,yourcommunity’sco‐opgrocery,environmentalandcitizenadvocacygroups.

DistributeaGreatNewsletter

Youshouldaimforatleasttwoissuesperyear(yes,thephysicalpaperkind)andregularemailupdatestoyourmailinglist.FCAdoesbi‐monthlye‐newsletterswithshorttidbits,updates,funnystories,andthelike.Youcanusethesetosummarizelargertopics—say,yourlatestpricesurvey—andlinkthereadertothefullstoryonyoursiteorFacebookpage.

SomeofthebestnewslettersforbothcontentandanattractivelookareputoutbytheFCAofGreaterKansasCityandtheAustinMemorialandBurialInformationSociety(AMBIS).Lookthemuponthoseorganizations’sites.SisterFCAaffiliatesarealwayshappytosharematerialandexpertise,soask!

Westronglysuggestyouaddasmanynamesaspossibletoyournewsletterlistwithoutworryingifthey’vemadeadonationornot.Thewideryourstorycirculates,themorepotentialvolunteersanddonorsyouwillhave.

Somegroupshavetriedcuttingbackonnewslettersbecauseemailisfree,sowe’realljustwastingmoneypayingforpostage,right?Wrong.

Weadviseagainstcompletelyreplacingyourprintnewsletterwithanelectronicversion,evenformemberswhosaytheywantemailversionsonly.Sure,thesavingslookgoodupfront,butit’snotabargainintheend.Here’swhy:Thesmallsavingsyouseefromnotprintingandmailingasmuchpaperwillbefaroutstrippedbytheamountofdonationsandexposureyoulosebyfailingtosendapapernewsletterwitharemittanceenvelope.Peoplearefarmorelikelynottodonateorrespondtoyourfundraiserrequestiftheyreceiveitonlybyemail,andnotonpaper.Why?Peoplereceivesomanyelectronicupdates,newsalerts,blogalerts,andthelikethatthere’sahighriskthey’llaccidentallydeleteyournewsletter.

Apapernewsletterhastheadvantageofphysicallybeingthereandstaringyouintheface.Whenyouincludeareturnenvelopeaddressedtoyouraffiliate,thatpieceofpaperfallsintothereader’shands,andthatmakesallthedifferenceintheamountofpeoplewhorespondtoyourfundraisingefforts.Thisiswhyprofessionalfundraisingorganizationsthatserve

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nonprofitsstillrecommenddirectpapermailasthemosteffectivefundraiserinmostcases.Thesefolksaren’tLuddites;theyknowwhatworks.

AnnGallon,aboardmemberoftheFuneralConsumersAllianceofKernCounty,California,recentlyconfirmeditwasamistakefortheirgrouptosubstituteemailforallpapernewsletters:

“Inacost‐cuttingmove,webeganemailingournewslettertothosewhooptedin—about25%ofmemberhouseholds.Whatwelostwasdonationsfromthosepeople.Onlyonedonation(andthatwasfromourpastpresident)cameinfromthosewhoreceivedthenewsletterbyemail‐alltherestcameintheenvelopeincludedwiththepapernewsletter.Wewillbegoingbacktopapernewsletters.”

Wethinkthebestapproachistomailyournewslettertoallofyourmembersandalsopostittoyourwebsite.Thisreinforcesyourcirculation,ratherthandetractingfromit.Regularemail‐onlynewsupdatesareagoodwaytostayintouchwithyourmembersbetweenregularmailings,anddirectthemtonewcontentonyourwebsite.

Forgroupsoursize,email‐onlypublicationsdon’tworkverywellforfundraising.Sure,all‐electronicorganizationslikeMoveon.orghaveraisedmillionsofdollarsandorganizedeffectivecampaignswithemailalone.Buttheyhavemillionsofemailaddresses—wedon’t.Yournewsletterisyourbestwaytoeducateyourmembersandthepublic.Itisaninvestmentinyourmission,yourcommunity,andyourmembership.It’ssomethingthatcarriesoutyourwork;don’tthinktreatitasifitwereaproductlinethathadtojustifyitsowncostwithprofitorbedropped.

Includingareturnenvelopeinyournewsletterwilldoubleortripleyourincome.Ifyoucanloweryourprintingandpostagecosts,that’smoremoneyforyourmission.Ourbestadviceistoshoparound.Getbidsfortheprinting,sorting,andaddressingforyournewsletterfromasmanyprintshopsandmailinghousesasyoucan.Somearemuchmorecompetitivethanothers.Pitchyourselfasanonprofit;someofthemwillofferreducedrates,orthrowinaportionoftheirservicesfree.Professionalmailinghouseshaveabulk‐ratepermitatthepostoffice,whichisasavingssinceyoudon’thavetopaytheyearlyfeesforyourown.Youshouldalsoapplyfor501(c)(3)statuswiththeIRS.Notonlywillthatenableyoutooffertax‐deductibledonationstomembersandthepublic,butitwillallowyoutoapplyfornon‐profitmailingrateswiththeUSPostalService.

SayYestoHotMoney!Althoughourmainsourceofdonationsiscertainlythroughresponsestoremittanceenvelopesandpapercontact,besuretoincludea“hotbutton”fordonationsonyourwebsite.Andaddalivelinktoyourdonationpageonyouremailsignatureline.Noteveryoneiscomfortablewithonlinegiving,buthavingtheoptionforthosewhopreferitisaplus.

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HighlightYourSpeakersBureauIfyouhaveadynamic,engagingvolunteer,lethershineonstage.Organizationsofseniorcitizensaremostdirectlyandimmediatelyconcernedaboutthehighcostofdying.Manywouldmuchratherseechildrenorgrandchildrenreceivethebenefitofsavingsorinvestmentsinsteadofspendinglargesumsonafuneral.Therefore,youshouldmakesurethatcontinuingcareretirementcommunities,seniorcenters,trainingsessionsforAgenciesonAgingandhospicegroups,nursinghomesandassistedlivingfacilitiesknowyouhavespeakersavailable.Manyreligiousgroupswillwantyourspeaker,too.

Butdon’tlimityourselftooldfolksonly.Afunandeye‐openingtalkonfuneralplanningcangooverreallywellwithlocalenvironmentalgroups,citizenwatchdogorganizations,humanservicesoffices(remember,thesefolksareoftentryingtohelpdesperatelypoorfamiliesandfuneralcostsareabiggie),andothers.Therightspeakercaninterestalmostanycrowdoragegroup.

MaketheMostofPrintMedia

Profitablerelationshipswithreportersrequirecultivation.Bydevelopingandnurturingrelationshipswithlocalreportersinallmediaformatsyoucanhelpensureyourgroupanditsactivitiesarecoveredonaregularbasis.You’llalsobeoneofthefirstsourcesareportercallswhenafuneral‐relatedscandalbreaks,whichiscrucialtobalancingthe“spincontrol”localindustrymemberswillinevitablydeploy.

Makeactualhumancontact,preferablyinpersonbutatleastbyphone.AsimplephonecallaskingifI’dmindreceivingapressrelease,accompaniedbyanoffertomeet,canbefruitful.

Beawareofdeadlines.Donotcallorsendapressreleasetoareporterthedaybeforetheeventyou’replugging,orthedaybeforethat,orthedaybeforethat.Youshouldgiveatleastoneweek’snotice,whenpossible.

Haveacrediblepitch.Don’tgotoreporterswithoutastory.Forexample(withtheexceptionofsomesmall‐townweeklies),“FuneralConsumersAlliancehasbeeninexistencefor32yearsandisdedicatedtoeducatingthepublic...”isnotastory.

“After32yearsofwatchdogging,theFCAofAnytownisstillcatchinglocalfuneralhomesbreakingfederalregulations”isastory.Sois“Anytownconsumersarerushingintocostlyprepaidfuneralcontractstheycan’tgetoutof.”Bereadytohaveconcreteillustrationsoftheproblem,includingconsumercomplaints,tobackupyourposition.

Putmediaonyourmailinglist.FCANationalcollectseverymediacontactwhoasksforourhelpandinstantlyputstheminourdatabasewithatagidentifyingthemasmedia.Theyalsogetouremailnewsalerts.Reporterswillbegintorecognizeyournameandyourmissionbyregularlyreceivingyourbulletins.Awritermayevenfindoneofyourstoriesfascinatingandcallyouforafollow‐up.

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Keepregular,butintermittentcontactwithreporters.Youarethebestjudgeofhowfrequentlytocallupareporteryouhavearelationshipwith.Whatyoushouldaimforisabalancebetweencallingthereportereverytimeyousneeze,andcallingonlyonceeverythreeyearswhenascandalbreaks.Incessantphonecallscanmakeyoulooklikethetowncrank,whiletoofewcontactswillleavenomemoryorimpressionwiththereporter.

Alwaysfollowup.Reporters’workdaysareusuallyhectic.It’seasyforthemtomisplacesomestoryideas,orforgetyourcallintheheatofthemomentwhennewsbreaks.Don’ttakeitpersonally.Followupwithatelephonecall,letthemknowthatyouknowhowbusytheymustbe,andoffertorearrangeyourschedule(ifpossible)tohelpthemout.

Identifylocalmediacontacts.Whoarethereportersandbloggersinyourneighborhood?Eachofthesemediaoutletshassomewhatdifferentnewspriorities.Assuch,youshouldtailoryourapproachforeach.Dailynewspapersareontighterdeadlinesthanweeklies,usually,butTVstationsworkevenmorefrenetically.

DailyNewspapers—TheDailyDishIngeneral,dailynewspapersgivethemostcompletecoverage.AscomparedtotheirTVcounterparts,newspaperwritersweighthoroughnessandaccuracymoreheavilythanspeed,althoughtheydoworkonadailydeadline.Dailynewspaperreporterswantstorieswithmeat.They'realsonotgoingtorunyourpressreleases,sodon'texpectit.Yourpressreleaseshouldsoundenticingenoughthatthey'llwanttointerviewyou.

Ifyou'rehavingtroubleidentifyingsympatheticreporters,trythese“beats”: ConsumerAffairs/Health

BusinessandFinancial

Arts/Leisure(ifthetopicissomethinglike“personalizedfunerals”)

WeeklyNewspapers—TheBeetownBuzzardSmall‐townnewsisthewarpandwoofofthesepublications.Theirstoriestendtobelessthoroughandmoresentimentalthanthoseatdailies.SubjectmattercoveredinaweeklyfrequentlyincludestheRotaryClub’s75thAnnualPancakeBreakfastortherededicationofthememorialtothethreevictimsofHurricaneHortense.

FindaHungryReporterYoumighthavesuccesswiththeNightCopsreporter(knownatsomepapersasthePublicSafetyReporter).TheNightCopsbeatisanentryleveljobwherethereporterworksfrom3p.m.to11p.m.andlistenstothepolicescannerforseriousarrests,murders,firesandthelike.It’sfeastorfamineonthisbeat.Duringtimeswhennewsisslow,NightCopsreportersarelookingfortheirweekendstory,aweeklyassignmentforastorytobepublishedontheirdaysoff.MostNightCopsreportersarestrugglingforweekendstoryideas,andtheyoftenhavethelatitudetogoofftheirusualsubjectmatter.Tryitout.

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Thesepaperstendtowardparochialsubjectmatter,butthey’reoftenwidelyandloyallyreadbythepeopleintheirarea,sodon’tcountthemout.Theadvantagetoyouisthatweekliesaremorelikelytorunyourpressreleasesverbatimtofillspace,andthey’reusuallystrugglingforstories.

Television—WAND‐ABC4“ProtectingGulchtownfromitselfsince1954”TVreportersontheconsumer‐on‐your‐sidedeskwilloftenbiteatafuneralstory,especiallyifyouhaveexamplesofconsumerswhowereharmed.Expectthatanyinterviewyougivewillbeculledtoafewsoundbites,whichmayalterthecontextofyourargument.Aswithanyreporter,haveyourstoryandyourpointofviewreadytogowhenyoucallaTVstation.Thesepeopledon’thavemuchtime,somakethemostofit.

RadioStations—WNPR89.1FMYourlocalNPRstationcouldbeyourbestfriend.MostlocalNPRstationsfeaturelocalprogramming,storiesonthelocaleconomy,politics,thearts,etc.Many,suchasVermontPublicRadio,haveregularlocaltalkshows.VPR’siscalledVermontEdition.ItairseveryweekdayatnoonandcoversabroadrangeoftopicsimportanttoVermonters.You’rejustaslikelytohearthegovernorasaguestasyouaretohearaninterviewwithlocalgrassrootsactivists.VPRhasfeaturedJoshSlocumseveraltimesontheshowtotalkaboutfuneraltrendslocallyandnationally.

BloggingBobby—ourtownisthebest.blogger.comMostregionshavelocalcolumnistswho’veventuredintobloggingaboutfood,arts,andlocalculture.Theymaybeconnectedtoyourlocalpaper,ortheymaybeaknownentityalltheirown.Dropthemaline—afuneralplanningstoryisunusualenoughthatmostwillbite.

SamplePressRelease

Onthenextpageisanexampleyoucanadapt.Rememberthatthepurposeofapressreleaseisnottoseeitreprintedorplacedonline.Youwanttointerestareporterindevotingawholestorytoyourorganization,sokeepitsimpleandmakeitsnappy.DonotlistentotheEnglishCompositionprofessorinyourheadoryou’llendupwithleadenprosethatnoonewillread.Giveyourreleasesadashofattitudeorhumor.

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Chapter10:AnnualConferences PlanandNotifyMembersofYourAffiliate’sAnnualConference

Anaffiliate’sexecutiveboardorcommitteemaymeetasoftenastheywish,thoughmostchoosemonthly,butyoumustholdanannualmeetingthatisopenandannouncedinatimelyfashiontoallmembersoftheaffiliate.Werefertoannual“meetings”hereasmanyarefamiliarwiththeterm,butwesuggestshiftingtotheterm“conference”or“lecture.”Itsoundsmoreinteresting,lessclub‐ish,andithighlightstheimportantpart—yourentertainingspeaker!Youshouldinformmembersofthetimeandplacewellbeforethedesignateddate.Yourbylawsprobablyhavearequirementregardingthenumberofdaysinadvancebywhichmembersmustbenotified.

Youmaywishtoholdyourconferenceinthesamelocationandatapproximatelythesamedateandtimeeachyear.Thiscreatesahabitthatmemberscananticipatewellbeforetheevent.Ontheotherhand,ifyouservealargegeographicarea,youshouldrotatelocationstomakeiteasierformoreofyourmemberstoparticipateinthebenefitsandbusinessoftheorganization.

Besuretohavebrochuresavailableformemberstodistributetotheirfriendsandtotaketoothermeetings.Informationalmaterialshouldbeonhand,togetherwithusefulbooks,videosandothermaterials.Someofthesemaybefreetothemembershipandsomeforsaleasafundraiser.

Andhere’sabrilliantideafromLauriePowsner,executivedirectoroftheFCAofPrinceton:useraffleticketstocollectnames,emails,andaddresses.Muchmorefunthanasign‐insheet,Lauriesaysnearlyeveryonefillsthemoutathermeetingsandtheonlycostisadonatedbookastheprize.

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Thebusinessmeetingislikelyaroutineaffairthatwouldattractscantattendancewithoutsomeotherprogram.That’swhyit’simportanttohaveanattention‐grabbingtopicandacharismaticspeaker.Thiswillattractmoreofthegeneralpublic,whoarethepeopleyouhopewillbecomemembers.Savethebusinessportionofyourmeetingfortheend,andhaveyourprogramfirstthing.

OfferaGreatProgramorSpeakerattheAnnualConference

Considerinvitinganauthortocomespeakabouthisorherbookasitrelatestoendoflifeordeath.Authorsthatgroupshavehadrecentlyinclude: MarkHarris,authorofGraveMatters:AJourneyThroughtheModernFuneral

IndustrytoaNaturalWayofBurialHarris’bookwasacatalystinmovingboththehomefuneralandgreenburialmovementsforwardbydescribingaspectsoftheU.S.modernfuneralprocessfrommostconventionaltoleastinvasive,introducingreaderstoanewwayofthinkinggraduallyandwithanenvironmentalconscience.

LisaCarlson,co‐authorofFinalRights:ReclaimingtheAmericanWayofDeath.Ms.Carlsonwrotetheoriginalground‐breakingwork,CaringforyourOwnDead(1987),whichstartedthehomefuneralmovement.ShehasalsowrittenCaringfortheDead:YourFinalActofLove(1998)andIDiedLaughing:FuneralEducationwithaLightTouch(2001).InhercapacityasExecutiveDirectoroftheFuneralEthicsOrganization(anon‐profitgroupthatworkstoeducateboththefuneralindustryandconsumers),LisaCarlsonendeavorstobroadentheparticipationofthoseconcernedaboutfuneralconsumerrights,includingthoseintheindustrywhoplaceahighervalueonethicalpracticesovermonetaryreward.

Herearesomeothersuggestedtopics: AFamilyUndertaking.Thishour‐longPBSdocumentaryairedin2004towide

acclaim.Itfollowsfivefamiliesfromaroundthecountrywhodecidedtocarefortheirowndeadathomewithoutusingafuneralhome.Whetheryouraudiencewantstoperformthiskindoffuneralornot,thefilmisprovocativeandeye‐opening—arealconversation‐starter.AvailableforborrowingfromFCANational.It’snotavailableforsaleataffordableprices,butisavailablefromNetflix.Video

AWillfortheWoods.Aman’squestforafinalrestingplacethatwillbenefittheearthleadshimtotheburgeoninggreenburialmovement.Video

IntheParlor:AFinalGood‐bye.Documentaryexaminingtheever‐growingtrendoffamiliestakingamoreactiveroleincaringfortheirowndead.Thefilmsharesintimateinsightsandexperiencesofthreefamilieswhochosethisfortheirlovedonesafterdeath.Video

TheRe‐EmergenceofHomeFuneralsinAmerica.TheNationalHomeFuneralAlliance’sinteractive,entertainingandinsightfulpresentationthatillustratesthebenefitsandresponsibilitiesoffamily‐directedafterdeathcare.Choosefroma

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SpeakersBureaulistforsomeonenearyouathomefuneralalliance.org,orcontactLeeWebstertoarrangeforaspecialguestspeakeratnhfa.paper@gmail.com.DemonstrationsarealsoavailablebycontactingtheNHFA.Presentation/Speaker/Demonstration

CareCommitteeFunerals.IfthereisaJewishcongregationinyourarea,itmayhaveaChevraKadisha—theHolySocietythatbathesandshroudsthedead.Youshouldbeabletofindthosefromotherreligioustraditionstocontributetothispanel,too,tostimulateadiscussionofthewaysinwhichtheemotionalorspiritualaspectsoffuneralritescanbeemphasized.Perhapsyoucanevenlocateafamilythathandledadeathentirelywithoutusingamortician(assumingthatyouareinoneofthe41stateswherethatispermitted).Also,seeifthere’salocalhomefuneralexpertorguideinyourareawhocoulddoahands‐ondemonstration.Checkouthomefuneraldirectory.comforadirectory.Speaker/Demonstration

GreenBurial—DyingGreenWithoutGoingBroke.Interestinformaldehyde‐freeburialsisgrowing,butmostpeopledon’tunderstandthattheycanhaveasimple,greenerfuneralevenifthereisn’tanofficiallydesignatedgreencemeteryrightnearthem.Promotethisoneheavilywithyourlocalenvironmentalactivistsandatyourgroceryco‐op.Speaker

Attorneysonestateplanning.Includetrusts,wills,powersofattorney,designatedagent,cremationauthorization,etc.Speaker

POLSTandAdvanceDirectives.GoogleTheConversationProjectandfindalocalgroupthatdoestablesigningsandpanelQ&Adiscussions,orcontactyourlocalhospital.Speaker

Let’sVisitaCrematory.Arrangeforsomeonetovisitacrematorytotakevideoandmakeaslidepresentation.Seeifthecrematoryoperatorcanattendwithasampleofcrematedremainspriortopulverizationandasampleafter.Videoand/orPresentation

BodyDonation.Manymedicalschoolshaveadesperateneedofcadaversfortheirinstructionalwork.Somemembershaveneverconsideredthisoptionormaywishtobringahesitantfamilymembertolearnmoreaboutthis.Insomestates,thismaybetheleastexpensiveoption,ifthemedicalschoolspayfortransportationofthebodytotheschooland,perhaps,foritscremationafterwards.Findoutthepoliciesofthoseinyourstate.Speaker

AssortedPanelDiscussions.Addressingbodydonation,burialinagreencemetery,standardburial,cremation,alkalinehydrolysis,usingacolumbariumforashes,spreadingashes,younameitPanelDiscussions

Hospice.BecauseitisquitepossiblethatmanyofyourmemberswillbenefitatsometimefromHospiceinvolvementpriortodeath,thisshouldbeaprogramofinterest.Hospicegroupsarealwayslookingforvolunteers,andyourmemberswhohave

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becomeeducatedondyingissuesaregoodcandidatestoparticipateinthisprogram.Speaker

Caskets,Coffins,andUrns.Contactaretailcasketoutletthatsellsmanufacturedcasketscheaperthanfuneralhomes.Alistisavailableatfunerals.org.Localpineboxandcasketartisansshouldalsobeinvited.Acrematoryormorticianmightbewillingtobringalternativecontainers.Youmighteveninvitealocalpottertodisplayurnsorgiveado‐it‐yourselfdemonstration.Speaker/Demonstration/Expo

AMedicalExaminer.GoogleMEinyourstatetofindonenearyou.Speaker

JoshSlocum,ExecutiveDirectorofFCANationalandco‐authorofFinalRights:ReclaimingtheAmericanWayofDeathisalwaysavailabletospeakaboutthefuneralindustry.Hedoesaninformativeandveryfunnypresentationthatisbrilliantforengagingthepublicandyourmembers.Youraffiliatepaysforhistravelexpensesandifanhonorariumisoffered,itisconsideredadonationtoFCANational.ManyaffiliateshaveJoshspeakeveryfewyearstokeepupwiththelatestintrendsandlegislation.Speaker

HoldYourRequiredBusinessMeeting

Anannualmeetingisnotonlygoodpractice,butalegalrequirementforanincorporatednonprofit.Atthisannualmeeting,membersmustsometimesbeaskedtomakedecisionsfortheorganizationthatareoutsidethescopedelegatedtotheboardoftrustees.Thebylawswilldefinehowtheaffiliateisgoverned.Eachaffiliatemustfunctioninademocraticmannerwithdecisionsmadebymajorityvoteofthememberspresent.

Themeetingannouncementshouldincludeanychangeinbylawsorpoliciesproposedbytheexecutiveboard.Membershavearighttobeforewarnedaboutanythingcontroversialtobebroughtbeforethemembership.Notthateverymeetingwillorshouldincludecontroversialissues,ofcourse.

AgendafortheBusinessMeetingGoodpresidentscarefullyprepareanagendabeforehand,duplicatecopiesfortheanticipatedattendance,anddistributethempriortothebeginningofthebusinesssession.Carefullypreparedagendashelpkeepmeetingsontrackandexpeditetheconductofbusiness.

Agendasshouldincludethefollowing.1. Calltoorderbythepresidentaspresiding

officer.2. Minutesofthelastmeetingmayhavebeendistributedwiththenoticeofthe

annualmeeting,butthesecretarymaymakeadditionalcopiesavailableatthe

KeepaLidOnItInsistonbrevityfromall

theofficerswhomakereportsandenforceitifnecessary.Theterminallylong‐windedorthosewhowanttoreadoutlongportionsoftextshouldnotbeallowedtoputtheaudiencetosleep.

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meeting.It’sbesttosendthemoutaheadoftimetoavoidtheboringdroneofthesecretaryreadingthemout.

3. ReportsofofficersandcommitteesKeepthembriefandfocusedonimportantorengagingitems,notadministrativetrivia.

4. NewbusinessTheexecutiveboardwillprovidemostitemsofnewbusinessifthereareany.Theannouncementmayencouragememberstobringtheirconcernsorproposalsforaction(newpolicies,fund‐raisingneeds,amendmentstothebylaws,etc.).

5. NominatingcommitteereportThismaybeeitheraseparateagendaitemorincludedundernewbusiness.

6. GeneralDiscussionProvideinyouragendaaperiodforopendiscussion.Thisunitoftheagendadoesnotpermitmotions,thoughifsomerecommendationdeservesimmediateaction,themembersmaydecidetoreturntoNewBusiness.Generaldiscussionistheplacefornewideas,foranymembertoexpressappreciationforjobswelldone,toreportconcerns,callattentiontocontinuingproblems,orbringanyimportantmattertotheattentionofboththeboardandthemembership.

7. AdjournmentQuitattheappointedtime,exceptincaseofdireemergency.

SpecialCircumstancesAmendmentofthebylawsNosetofbylawsisperfectorpermanent.Afteranorganizationhasbeeninexistenceforseveralyears,itmaybebothnecessarytoamendthem.Suchproposalsmayoriginatewiththeexecutiveboardorwithanyconcernedmember.Ifyouraffiliaterequiresgeneralconsentofthemembershiptobylawschanges,it’simperativetoannouncetheseaheadoftime.Wesuggest,however,followingtheFCAmodelandallowingtheboardtoamendthebylawswithoutageneralmembershipmeeting.Whateverthecase,clearnotice,transparency,andtheopportunityformemberstovoicetheirviewsareveryimportant.

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Chapter11:ResourcesandRelationsWithFCAApplyforFCAAffiliateStatus

Bythetimeyouarereadingthis,youprobablyhavehadanumberofcontactswiththeFCANationaloffice.Infact,youmayhaveevengottenafledglingaffiliateunderwayorareincontactwithanexistinggroup.ThehelpandinformationthatisavailablefromtheFCAofficeispossiblebecauseofyourfinancialsupport.Onceyouhavegottenonyourfeetasanewaffiliate,youneedtoapplyforaffiliationwithFCA(applicationformbelow).ThatwillobligateyoutosendquarterlypaymentstoFCA(currently15percentofyourdonationincome,or$50annually,whicheverisgreater).

Herearesomeofthebenefitsofyouraffiliationwithnationalorganization: FCApublishesmorethan30pamphletsondeath,dying,andfuneralplanningthat

arefreeforyourreproduction. FCApublishesatwice‐yearlynewsletterroundinguplegislation,affiliatenews,

consumerscams,andtipsfromaroundthecountry. FCApublishestwice‐yearlytheconsumernewsletterTheGrimReader,whichtakesa

lightheartedapproachtopracticalfuneralplanning. WeputthepublicintouchwithlocalFCAaffiliatesthroughphone,email,andthe

Web Wemaintainacomprehensive,up‐to‐dateWebsitewithdozensofpamphlets,

newsletters,andarticleswrittenspecificallyforFCAaffiliatesandfuneralconsumers. Weconsultwithlocalgroupsonregulatoryandlegislativemattersaffectingfuneral

consumers. OurBoardputsonanationalconventioneverytwoyearsforFCAaffiliateswith

workshopsoneverythingfromlobbyingforbetterfuneralprotectiontohowtocompleteamortuarypricesurvey.

Ourofficeactsasaclearinghouseforcomplaintsofabusivepracticesconsumersexperienceandaknowledgeableadvocatetoresolvethesecomplaints.

Ourstaffisavailableforworkshopsorpresentationsatyourlocalmeetings.

AWordAboutFCA’sBoardFCANationalisgovernedbyavolunteer,unpaidboardof9directorselectedbienniallybytheaffiliatedgroups.Theboardiscomposedoffolkslikeyoufromallwalksoflifewho’vejoinedtheirlocalFCAaffiliatetomakeadifference.Seeourcurrentboardbygoingtofunerals.org,andclickingonAbout FCA.

AWordAboutFCA’sStaffYourstaffatthenationalofficeare: JoshuaSlocum,ExecutiveDirector—responsibleforworkingwiththeBoardtoset

andimplementpolicy,producingnewsletters,andrepresentingtheorganizationanditsgoalsbeforethepublic.

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SherrySwett,Administrator—responsibleforkeepingouraccounts,orderingandstockingeducationalpamphletsandbooks,resolvingconsumercomplaintsandputtingaffiliategroupsintouchwithoneanother.

LedaNutting(halftime)—responsibleforfillingandshippingordersforbooksandmaterials,maintainingourdatabaseoflocalboardmembersandconsumermembersofFCA.

YourSisterOrganizationsYouareoneofabout85FCAaffiliatesaroundthecountrythatvolunteertheirtimetohelpthepublic.YoursisterFCAaffiliatesareoneofyourbestresourcesforquestionsaboutfundraising,membershipbenefits,workingwithfuneralhomes,andgettingpublicityonasmallbudget.Thebestwaytostayintouchwiththemistojoinouremaildiscussionlist.Sendanemailto:join‐deathcare@hades.listmoms.net

Besuretoputtheword‘gazelle’inthesubjectline.Thisshowsyou’renotaspambottryingtojoin.Wealsohaveaforumonourwebsitewhereyoucanpostquestionsandgetanswersfromotherconsumeradvocates.Visitfunerals.organdclickonDiscussion Forum.

Anymemberofanyofourgroupsiseligibletotransfertoanothergroupifheorshemoves.Tofindanup‐to‐datedirectoryofFCAaffiliates,gotofunerals.organdclickFind a Local FCAonthetopmenu.

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ApplicationforMembershipinFuneralConsumersAlliance,Inc.NameofAlliance: Phone:

Address. Fax:

Email:

President: Phone:

Address. Fax:

Email:

VicePresident: Phone:

Address. Fax:

Email:

Secretary: Phone:

Address. Fax:

Email:

Treasurer: Phone:

Address. Fax:

Email:

(PleaseattachalistofallyourBoardmemberswithaddress,e‐mail,andphoneforeach.TheywillbeaddedtotheFCAmaillisttoreceivenewslettersandotherboard‐membermailings.)

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Dates:

(organized)(Ifincorporated,givedate) (fiscalyearends)

Areaserved:

Totalmembers: Householdsthatreceivemailings: Memberslastyear:

Incomelast12months: Expenseslast12months:

Membershipfees:$ Phone$

Dues$ Mailing$

Contributions$ Publications$

Recordscharge$ Office$

Other$ Other$

TOTAL$ TOTAL$

Currentassets:$ (orattachafinancialstatement)BasicGuidelineChecklist:Haveyoumadeproperprovisionsforthefollowinginyourbylawsandotherorganizationaldocuments? Democraticcontrol Reciprocity Openmembership Transfers Nonprofit Quorum Servicevoluntary Dissolution(assets/membershiptoFCA) Amendmentprocedure Taxexemption(optional,butrecommended) Incorporation(optional,butrecommended)Doesyouraffiliate: Doafuneralpricesurvey? Evaluateconsumersatisfaction? Answerphone/retrievemessages(atleasteverytwodays)?Haveyouattachedthefollowingdocumentstoyourapplication: Bylaws Articlesofincorporation(ifincorporated)

ListofBoardmembers Membershipbrochure Otherpromotionalmaterials Listofcooperatingmortuaries

Date: President Secretary