By Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE

The Haitian government anticipates that the recent earthquake disaster will claim between 100,000 and 200,000 lives. Of this number, very few bodies of the deceased will ever be found by their families, and honored with a funeral service and proper burial rites. Haitian families are coping with sudden and tragic loss made even harder to bear with the absence of a body.

When we first heard about the shootings at Virginia Tech, most of us experienced overwhelming feelings of shock, disbelief and sadness very much like our reaction to the horror of 9/11. These feelings of grief can be just as intense as when we lose a loved one who is close to us.

ALBANY, NY (March 7, 2008) – The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA), a statewide trade organization comprised of more than 900 funeral homes and 3,500 licensed funeral directors, is launching a statewide “awareness campaign” to inform consumers about the benefits of preplanning a funeral. The campaign, which commences on March 24, is the first-ever of its kind in the State. Three separate radio spots feature testimonials from “real-life” people who have lost family members that chose to preplan their own funerals.

ALBANY, NY (June 9, 2009) -- The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) has adopted an enforceable Code of Ethics which will apply to all members of the statewide trade association. Individuals will be required to sign a pledge to adhere to the Code when they apply for NYSFDA membership.

BOLTON LANDING, NY (September 3, 2009) -- Dr. Michael Baden, chief forensic pathologist for the New York State Police, delivered the keynote address to funeral service professionals who attended the New York State Funeral Directors Association’s (NYSFDA) annual meeting which concluded yesterday.  Dr. Baden discussed understanding forensic science; death investigations; police, medical examiner and funeral director involvement; exhumations, the embalming process and the body and, finally, how the body changes after burial.  Dr. Baden gave an insight into some of his most high-profile cases, including that of President John F. Kennedy.

ALBANY, NY (December 23, 2011) – Employees of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) voluntarily chose to participate in many worthy causes throughout 2011.  These included hosting a charity craft fair; donating hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; and for the first time, contributing unwrapped toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ 2011 Toys for Tots Drive. 

ALBANY, NY (October 8, 2009) – Randy L. McCullough, CAE, Deputy Executive Director of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA), was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council at the Board’s meeting this month. The Council, based in Washington, DC, is the leading international association for public affairs professionals and is comprised of over 600 member companies and associations. Its mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide tools and resources that enable public affairs executives and managers to achieve their business and professional goals.

ALBANY, NY (January 26, 2010) -- The New York State Tribute Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) has established a Haitian Relief Fund to assist victims of this overwhelming disaster. All New York funeral directors, funeral service suppliers and others affiliated with funeral service in the state are being encouraged to donate to this special fund. The public is also invited to make contributions to this fund.

WASHINGTON, DC (March 2010) -- A team from the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) recently traveled to an Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC hosted by the National Funeral Directors Association. The Summit allowed funeral directors from around the country the opportunity to meet and speak to their House and Senate representatives about legislative issues relating to funeral service.  The NYSFDA delegation of members and staff met with many NYS representatives and/or their legislative staff members while on Capitol Hill. The group focused on garnering support for legislation that would ensure taxpayers who set aside money for their funeral and burial trusts are not penalized by having the money counted as an asset in determining Supplemental Security Income eligibility. They also advocated for the Bereaved Consumers Bill of Rights (H.R. 3655) which would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to establish rules to prohibit unfair or deceptive acts or practices related to the provision of funeral services.

ALBANY, NY (August 11, 2010) – The New York State Tribute Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) has donated $10,000 toward relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that hit the nation on January 12, 2010.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (August 25, 2010) – John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby  International, delivered the keynote address to funeral service professionals who attended the New York State Funeral Directors Association’s (NYSFDA) annual meeting, which concluded today.  Mr. Zogby presented findings and conclusions of the Zogby Polling Research Survey of New York State Consumer Attitudes Toward Funeral Practices and Customs.  The project was commissioned by NYSFDA, and is the first such polling survey ever taken to gauge such attitudes of consumers exclusively in New York State.

ALBANY, NY (September 16, 2010) -- Six member funeral homes were recently awarded "Environmental Stewardship Certification" by the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) at its recent Annual Convention in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Teleconference Brings Together 400 NYS Funeral Directors

ALBANY, NY  (November 4, 2010) – The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) briefed more than 400 funeral directors from throughout the state today regarding the details of a new law which allows for the interment of veterans’ unclaimed cremains.  The law, which goes into effect on November 11, 2010 – Veterans’ Day – provides the flexibility and liability protections necessary for funeral directors and veterans’ organizations alike to carry out this noble endeavor.

NYSFDA’s top 2010 legislative priority to become law January 1, 2011

ALBANY, NY  (December 17, 2010) – The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) is pleased to remind funeral professionals that any pre-need funeral account established by a Medicaid/SSI applicant or recipient who pre-pays the funeral/burial expenses of a family member must be IRREVOCABLE.  They are currently revocable in New York State.  The new law will become effective January 1, 2011, and apply to all family accounts established on and after that date.

ALBANY, NY  (December 2010) -- Employees of the New York State Funeral Directors Association(NYSFDA) voluntarily chose to participate in many worthy causes throughout 2010.  These include holding a charity garage sale to support the American Cancer Society’s cancer education and outreach initiatives in the Capital Region; donating more than 125 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; and collecting toys for a local Rotary Club’s Holiday Toy Auction for needy children.  Staffers also participated in a variety of fundraising activities, and with a generous match by the Association, raised a total of $5,600 in 2010.  After careful consideration, they voted to donate the funds to two additional worthy causes.

ALBANY, NY (August 2011) – Hundreds of funeral service professionals representing almost 300 funeral firms from around the state attended the New York State Funeral Directors Association’s (NYSFDA) annual convention which concluded recently in Niagara Falls.

ALBANY, NY (September 2011) -- Employees of the New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA) chose to make a $4500 contribution to the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York. The money was raised during a variety of staff fundraisers throughout 2011. In addition to this generous gesture, staffers have donated cases of non-perishable food items to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. 

IRVINGTON, NY (October 2011) -- NYSFDA hosted a Certified Celebrant Training recently at the Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center in Irvington.  The training was specifically designed for anyone interested in understanding the process of the funeral service and in learning how to personalize and design meaningful funerals or tributes. Those completing the training were: