2023 MFDA Mid-Winter Conference February 8-9, 2023 Great Northern Hotel Helena, MT DIRECTORS MONTANA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION PUB. 1 ISSUE 4, 2022
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©2022 Directors Digest | The newsLINK Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Directors Digest is published four times each year by The newsLINK Group, LLC for the Montana Funeral Directors Association and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Montana Funeral Directors Association its board of directors, or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Directors Digest is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of the Montana Funeral Directors Association. While the Montana Funeral Directors Association encourages a first-print policy, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at 855.747.4003. Table of Contents 24 19 13 04 President’s Message: T.J. Stevenson 06 Executive Director Report: James Brown 07 2022-2023 MFDA Calendar of Events 08 2022-2023 MFDA Board of Directors 09 Getting to Know T.J. Stevenson 10 FTC to Move Forward with Rulemaking Process to Modernize the Funeral Rule 13 This is Your Day. Live Inspired. 16 2022 NFDA International Convention and Expo in Baltimore 17 Cloyd Funeral Home History 19 Garfield Refining Helps Crematories Develop Recycling Programs Focused On Impact 22 MFDA Fall District Meetings 24 Funeral Director for a Queen Who are the Queen’s Funeral Directors? 26 MFDA’s Opposition to Governor Gianforte’s Red Tape Relief Initiative 28 Why Being Kind at Work Matters 30 A Conversation with Linda Cohen, The Kindness Catalyst Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE T.J. Stevenson Members of the Association: It has been a busy fall, and I do not know where the time goes! Winter sure came in with a bang today, and we had to postpone our district meets in both Great Falls and Missoula due to the winter storm. We were able to hold the district meetings in Miles City, Billings, and Butte. I want to thank all the firms that took the time to give me a tour of their funeral homes in those areas – I thoroughly enjoyed it. The meetings had great turnouts, and it was fun seeing everyone again. Attendees should have received an email with their continuing education certificates; if not, please let us know. A couple of things that the board is looking for feedback on is whether or not we should go from a one-year term to a two-year term. We have also tossed around the idea of holding the summer convention every other year with a larger scale midwinter conference on the off years. We handed out sheets at the district meetings for those in attendance on thoughts on those two issues. We would certainly appreciate everyone’s thoughts on those two topics, so feel free to email us. The NFDA Convention in Baltimore was well attended. One topic of discussion is the FTC Funeral Rule. The FTC is looking at revising the funeral rule. They recently had a panel discussion with several participants that can be watched on the NFDA website. From what I gathered, the NFDA’s stance on it is yes. There are a few things that could be revised with the funeral rule, such as presenting a GPL immediately to a family when they walk in the door in sensitive situations. However, they do not feel that the FTC should add more regulations to the funeral rule – something to keep an eye on for sure. We also hosted the MFDA dinner while there and had 12 members attend a restaurant right on the harbor. Thank you, Terri, for lining that up for us. I wanted to give a shout-out to Jim Brown. Even though the results did not go in your favor for the election, we are proud of the professionalism you upheld during your race for Montana Supreme Court Justice. I look forward to getting the district meetings rescheduled in Missoula and Great Falls and to visiting your funeral homes in those areas. I hope everyone has a warm and safe Holiday Season! Sincerely, T.J. Stevenson 4 Montana Funeral Directors Association
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT James Brown Welcome to the final 2022 edition of the MFDA Director’s Digest. Where has this year gone? The speed with which this year has passed reminds me of the following Nathaniel Hawthorne quote: “Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.” In keeping with the passage of time theme, as of the annual state convention meeting held in June, MFDA has a new president guiding the ship. T.J. Stevenson with Stevenson & Sons Funeral Homes stepped into the President’s role. T.J. takes over from Chris Holt, who did an outstanding job during his two-year term as MFDA President. As such, with this change of leadership at the top, this magazine edition contains a Q&A with T.J., designed to introduce you, the reader, to who T.J. is and what he is all about in championing Montana’s funeral industry’s interests. I think you will find the article quite informative. I encourage you to take a few moments to read all about the man guiding the Association for the next two years. This being written, the best way to keep time from catching up with you is to stay busy. And staying busy has been no problem for MFDA. In October, the Association weighed in on a proposal being advanced by the Governor’s Office through the Governor’s Red Tape initiative. As part of this initiative, the Department of Labor proposes several legislative reforms that will, if adopted, impact the Board of Funeral Service. Among those reforms are the following: 1. Prohibit a member of the Board of Funeral Service from also serving as an officer or a leadership position in MFDA; and 2. Move fiscal decision-making and budgeting away from the Board to the Department of Labor. As noted, MFDA testified against these provisions when a public hearing was held in Helena on October 17. (You can listen to the meeting at https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/educational-sessions) Given the possible detrimental impact of these proposals on the independence of the Board of Funeral Services, and the ability of the industry to control licensing fees, MFDA will closely monitor this situation as it develops. Also, in October, the Association hosted its annual Montana dinner at the NFDA National Convention, held in Baltimore this year. The Montana dinner, one of MFDA’s more popular benefits, brought together all members of the Association in attendance. If you plan to attend the 2023 national convention in Las Vegas next September, you are invited to join your colleagues for this fun event. In early November, MFDA hosted its fall district meetings in Billings, Miles City, and Butte. Due to horrific weather conditions, the Missoula meeting was conducted via Zoom. Among the great presenters were Sgt. Jay Nelson, who provided active shooter training, Deacon Dan McGrath, and Willy Kemp, Montana’s Chief Medical Examiner. With this being the last edition of the Director’s Digest for the year, I will use this article to remind you that MFDA member renewal notices for 2023 will be hitting your mailboxes in December. We here at MFDA understand things are tight financially for Montana’s funeral providers, particularly given the burden placed on your institutions by excessive regulation and high inflation. That is why the Association does its best to ensure you receive the maximum value for your dues 6 Montana Funeral Directors Association
2022-2023 MFDA while also gaining extensive support in the areas that matter. When you receive your renewal notice, we hope our efforts to tighten the Association’s belt over the last seven years while successfully expanding member services and programs will be foremost in your mind. Thank you again for being a part of the MFDA team. And thank you for all you do on behalf of your customers and the Montana communities you serve. See you next year, if not sooner. James Brown Executive Director 2023 MFDA Membership Renewals Sent Out December 26, 2022 2023 MFDA Membership Renewals Due January 31, 2023 2023 MFDA Midwinter Conference February 8-9, 2023 Best Western Great Northern – Helena Winter Board Meeting February 8, 2023 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm NFDA Advocacy Summit April 19-21, 2023 Washington, D.C. MFDA Spring Board Meeting April MFDA Spring District Meetings Coming May 2023 Miles City Butte Missoula Billings Great Falls MFDA Summer Board Meeting June 11, 2023 Miles City Hotel & Suites MFDA Convention & Trade Show June 11-13, 2023 Miles City Event Center NFDA Leadership Conference June 25-28, 2023 Scottsdale, AZ NFDA Convention and Expo September 10-13, 2023 Las Vegas, NV Fall District Meeting November Webinar Calendar of Events Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 7
2022-2023 MFDA Board of Directors Matt Coon Southcentral District Governor Billings mtc1@bresnan.net Cell: (406) 951-1546 Fred Nelson Western District Governor The Lake Funeral Home Polson flateheadpolson@centurytel.net Office: (406) 883-2808 Cell: (406) 261-0579 Katie Baca Future Development Leaders Director Just Cremation Montana, Missoula katie@missoulafuneralhomes.com Office: (406) 543-4190 Scott Stevenson Eastern District Governor Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home, Miles City scott@stevensonandsons.com Office: (406) 232-4457 Rick Walter Northcentral District Governor O’Connor Funeral Home and Cremation, Great Falls rick@oconnorfuneralhome.com Office: (406) 453-7257 Brianne Mulvaney Secretary Axelson Funeral & Cremation Services, Butte bri@axelsonfuneralhome.com Office: (406) 494-4264 James Brown Executive Director jim@thunderdomelaw.com Office: (406) 449-7444 Terri James Association Assistant info@montanafda.org Office: (406) 449-7244 Cell: (406) 490-7712 Chris Holt Immediate Past President NFDA State Association Representative Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, Helena chris@aswfuneralhome.com Office: (406) 442-8520 T.J. Stevenson President Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home, Miles City tj@stevensonandsons.com Cell: (406) 853-1860 Office: (406) 232-4457 Tyson Moore Vice President Garden City Funeral Home, Missoula tyson@agelessinc.com Cell: (505) 985-2712 Steve Kirkegard Treasurer Cloyd Funeral Home & Cremation Service Lewistown skirkegard@yahoo.com Cell: (406) 868-5437 Office: (406) 538-8711 Jessie Billquist Southwestern District Governor Axelson Funeral & Cremation Services, Butte Jessie@axelsonfuneralhome.com Office: (406) 494-4264 8 Montana Funeral Directors Association
GETTING TO KNOW T.J. Stevenson From the day he was born, T.J. Stevenson belonged to a funeral service family. His grandfather, Dale Stevenson, started Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City in 1962. Afterward, his father, Todd, and uncles Joe and Jon – along with their respective spouses – have since spread their wings into serving communities in Montana and North Dakota. T.J., his parents and his sister Tiffany lived above the funeral home in Miles City until T.J. was about eight years old. He said it was like growing up in any other kind of family – ranching or farming – you knew no different. Since it was “normal” for him to live above a funeral home, he thought everyone did! However, he soon discovered he was the “odd one out.” Being part of a family business at such a young age, he would often help with various jobs that needed to be done: washing cars, mowing the grass, and of course, lots of cleaning. Over the years, he graduated into other aspects of funeral services, such as assisting with funerals and transferring loved ones into the care of Stevenson & Sons. By the time he graduated high school, he knew the next step was to go right off to mortuary school. He was fortunate to get a scholarship at Montana State University to play golf, and his parents suggested he pursue a bachelor’s degree and fulfill the scholarship for four years before going into the family business. He completed a Bachelor of Business Management and Marketing at MSUB and then went to Mount Hood Community College for a year to complete the mortuary schooling he needed to assist his family at the funeral home in Miles City in 2010. What T.J. enjoys most about funeral service is meeting and helping families during their most difficult times. He finds it quite rewarding to be able to hold a person’s hand and help walk them through hard decisions, be able to cross paths with families he might never have met otherwise and be able to forge long-time friendships. For someone interested in funeral service, T.J. strongly recommends they contact their local funeral home and ask to be able to shadow them on services around their business before applying to mortuary school. This is a great way for an aspiring funeral director to gain insight into what funeral service entails, but T.J. also strongly endorses the profession. It takes a lot of hard work, but the families one services make it worthwhile. T.J. praised the MFDA board, explaining their importance to Stevenson & Sons. “We have always tried to make it a priority to support and be a part of MFDA,” T.J. explained, recalling that his mother, Terri Stevenson was on the board several years ago. Additionally, he was elected to the board as the Eastern District Governor for eight or nine years. “The MFDA family is a small, tight-knit group, and it has been a learning experience for me,” he said. He also encouraged members to apply to be on the board, as it is a great way to get to know other colleagues in the state who face the same issues every day. It is important to promote funeral services throughout the state and help local legislators with laws and regulations about their industry. Working in funeral service has been a great experience for T.J. and his family, who are always looking for new ideas to better serve their fellow Montanans. ■ Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 9
FTC to Move Forward with Rulemaking Process to Modernize the Funeral Rule The commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission voted unanimously in favor of retaining the Funeral Rule and issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on potential updates to modernize the rule, including improvements to the public accessibility of funeral home price information. The Commission also approved the issuance of a staff report that summarizes the results of their review of almost 200 funeral provider websites. NFDA ensured the perspective of funeral service was heard loud and clear. President Jack Mitchell and General Counsel Chris Farmer spoke on your behalf, commenting on the issue of the FTC’s stated goal of modernizing certain aspects of the Funeral Rule – without impeding funeral homes’ ability to serve families with compassion and dignity. Additionally, association members Cason Hightower, a member of the NFDA Advocacy Committee from Carrollton, Georgia, and former At-Large Representative Stephen Kemp of Southfield, Michigan, offered comments. You can watch a recording of the meeting at https://kvgo.com/ftc/open-commissionoctober-20-2022. One of NFDA’s long-held positions is that the trigger for presenting a General Price List (GPL) to families is vague and imprecise, a point which Mitchell, Hightower and Kemp addressed in their comments. The Funeral Rule currently requires the GPL to be given upon “beginning a discussion” of funeral goods, services, arrangements or prices. NFDA has pointed out that this requirement can be triggered in many different situations and scenarios where the consumer has no interest in selecting funeral goods or services. It can also come at a point when presenting a price list may seem cold and crass. Commissioner Bedoya commented that he did not believe a scenario shared by Hightower during her remarks would have triggered the requirement to provide a GPL as she believed; however, this assertion appears to be inconsistent with how the Commission has enforced the Rule to date. Farmer’s comments focused on two areas. First, he focused on the rigidity of the Rule and its effect of stifling funeral homes’ ability to offer reduced packages, such as cremation with a service for less than the basic non-declinable service fee. As written, the Rule stifles competition and keeps prices artificially high for consumers. Second, Farmer addressed the suggestion that the Funeral Rule be amended to require funeral homes to post prices online. While NFDA agrees that funeral homes should be transparent regarding pricing, it is NFDA’s position that posting prices online should be the choice of the business owner. Further, there is no evidence that consumers have difficulty obtaining pricing information. 10 Montana Funeral Directors Association
Mid-Winter Conference 2023 FEBRUARY 8-9, 2023 Great Northern Hotel Helena, MT Up to 6 CE Credits available! https://montanafda.org/new-page-1 Let’s Work Together! Scan QR code and register today. Additionally, it appears as if the matter is moot as states are looking at regulating the issue, and third parties are consolidating and posting price lists online, allowing consumers to visit one site for several funeral homes prices (as opposed to the consumer having to look up each funeral home separately). These developments are preferable as they are more responsive to consumers’ desires and better tailored to each individual market than a rigid federal regulation. In his comments, Kemp also addressed the Funeral Rule’s lack of clarity when dealing with diverse populations – something funeral service professionals are increasingly dealing with as communities continue to grow and evolve. The Funeral Rule does not adequately address the challenges imposed by language or cultural barriers when a funeral director presents a GPL to a family. The FTC shared a news release and issued the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on its website. Once NFDA has had a chance to review all of the information released by the FTC, we will provide an update to members. Most importantly, as the FTC moves forward with the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, NFDA will be fully engaged in the process, ensuring that the perspective of funeral service professionals is heard loud and clear. We pledge to keep you informed throughout the proceedings. ■
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 This is Your Day. By John O’Leary, Keynote Speaker at the 2022 NFDA Convention & Trade Show in Baltimore My Name is John O’Leary I’m 43 years old. I’m married to my beautiful wife, Beth, and we’re raising four wonderful kids together. I’m a college graduate. I own a business that’s taken me all over the world doing a job I love. But at one time, none of that seemed likely. A Curious Boy When I was a nine-year-old boy, I was burned on 100% of my body. I was in my garage playing with matches and gasoline – just like I had seen the older boys on my block do. A fire exploded, consuming my garage, sending me flying back against the wall and turning my whole world upside down. I woke up in a hospital bed where doctors had given me a 1% chance to live. Through all the pain, I remember hearing my mom’s voice and asking her if I would be okay. My mom had the courage not to comfort me with a lie but to instead ask: “John, do you want to die? It’s your choice, not mine.” I thought for a moment and answered: “Mom, I don’t want to die. I want to live.” That was the start of the rest of my life. I spent five months in the hospital, endured dozens of surgeries and underwent years of physical therapy. I survived. And when life finally settled back into normal, all I wanted was for it to stay that way. A Tiny Spark For years, my family and I kept that chapter of our lives private. We didn’t discuss the fire, what we had endured, or all we had learned. That changed 20 years later when my parents decided to write a book. They called it Overwhelming Odds, and it told the story of our family’s experience. We printed Live Inspired! Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 13
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 100 copies and gave them out to family and friends who supported us during our long journey of healing. As it turned out, our friends and family started telling their friends and family about our little book and its message of hope. Before we knew it, we had to print more copies. And more after that. To this day, Overwhelming Odds has sold nearly 100,000 copies. A Newfound Voice Like most things, my speaking career began with a seemingly insignificant first step. I gave my inaugural keynote to a group of third-grade Girl Scouts. There were only three members, but that was enough to make me sick with nerves in the parking lot. I had never told anyone my story, and I was intensely afraid of public speaking. Still, I found the courage to take that first step. Over the dozen or so years since that inauspicious beginning, I’ve spoken to more than a million people across 49 states and 17 countries. In March 2016, I published my first book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, which became an instant number-one national bestseller. My second book, In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy, was also an instant number-one national bestseller when published in May 2020. A Global Movement I spent decades hiding from my story. Now, I travel the world, inspiring others to harness the power within theirs. With every keynote, podcast and book, I share my perspective to wake you up from accidental living and invite you to embrace three simple truths: 1. Our life is a sacred, awesome gift. 2. We get to choose our mindset in every situation, no matter how bleak it seems. 3. Together, we can change the world. Starting with our own. Today is your day. ■ I spent decades hiding from my story. Now, I travel the world, inspiring others to harness the power within theirs. 14 Montana Funeral Directors Association
When your marketing is generating quality leads, your sales team is delivering happy customers, and your product is safe and secure, preneed becomes one less thing you need to worry about. Our mission is to make sure your entire preneed program is operating to its fullest potential. Grow Your Market Share With Total Confidence 2X your preneed with Precoa’s end-to-end marketing & sales program How to Grow with Precoa VISIT PRECOA.COM TO GET A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS ASK FOR A FREE MARKET ANALYSIS 1 GET A PROACTIVE MARKETING PLAN 2 2X YOUR PRENEED 3 SERVE MORE AT-NEED FAMIIES 4 27 MIN AVG COMMUTE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS Organizations ORGANIZATIONS 521 521 ORGANIZATIONS 521 ORGANIZATIONS 521 ORGANIZATIONS 521 ORGANIZATIONS 521 ORGANIZATIONS 521 COMMUTE TIME 0 5% 25% 20% 15% 10% OCCUPATIONS 0 5% 25% 20% 15% 10% Office Man Farm Labor Mach Office Office Office Office Office Office OFFICE ADMIN SUPPORT MAN. EXECUTIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGERIAL FARM FARMING, FORESTRY, & FISHING LABOR HANDLERS, EQUIPMENT CLEANERS, HELPERS, & LABORERS MACH MACHINE OPERATORS, ASSEMBLERS, & INSPECTORS PROD PRECISION PRODUCTION, CRAFT, & REPAIR SPEC SPECIALTY SALES SALES SERV SERVICE TECHN TECHNICIANS & RELATED SUPPORT TRANSP TRANSPORTATION & MATERIAL MOVING RENT VS OWN 60% OWN 40% RENT AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME $56,732 MEDIAN INCOME 0 5% 25% < $10k $10 - $15k $15 - $25k $25 - $35k $25 - $35k <4 MIN 5–14 MIN 15–29 MIN 30–44 MIN 45+ MIN $25 - $35k $25 - $35k $25 - $35k $25 - $35k $25 - $35k 20% 15% 10% MARKET SHARE BY ZIP CODE 66047 66049 66046 66044 66025 97352 97489 ZIP City FH Cases Estimated Market Share Lawrence 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Lawrence 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Lawrence 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Eudora 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Baldwin City 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Linwood 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Tonganoxie 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Perry 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Lecompton 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Tecumseh 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Berryton 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% De Soto 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% Lawrence 52 100% 1,450 Other Lead Sources 4.0% 97045 97553 97266 97045 97352 97489 Mailable Households Estimated Return Rate Lead Source Distribution DEMOGRAPHICS DETAILS 66047 66049 ZIP City Population 55+ Population Lawrence 17,777 2,673 29 101 15,133 567 $52,211 $481,039 595 Lawrence 23,955 3,135 32 137 20,348 787 $63,283 $578,244 1,024 Median Age Estimated Deaths Caucasian African American Hispanic Median Income Avg. Net Worth DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN Caucasion 83% African American 3% Hispanic 6% 8% Other OVER 55 14% 66046 Lawrence 16,851 2,346 28 96 12,949 849 815 $43,989 $313,113 66044 Lawrence 25,282 2,933 26 144 20,710 1,290 1,144 $32,293 $282,304 66025 Eudora 6,120 1,047 32 35 5,687 38 166 54,646 $394,608 66006 Baldwin 6,591 1,235 35 38 6,186 56 112 $63,324 $539,210 66052 Linwood 1,931 369 4 0 15 1,792 5 66 $60,999 $507,257 DEMOGRAPHICS DETAILS 66047 66049 ZIP City Population 55+ Population Lawrence 17,777 2,673 29 101 15,133 567 $52,211 $481,039 595 Lawrence 23,955 3,135 32 137 20,348 787 $63,283 $578,244 1,024 Median Age Estimated Deaths Caucasian African American Hispanic Median Income Avg. Net Worth DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN Caucasion 83% African American 3% Hispanic 6% 8% Other OVER 55 14% 66046 Lawrence 16,851 2,346 28 96 12,949 849 815 $43,989 $313,113 66044 Lawrence 25,282 2,933 26 144 20,710 1,290 1,144 $32,293 $282,304 66025 Eudora 6,120 1,047 32 35 5,687 38 166 54,646 $394,608 66006 Baldwin 6,591 1,235 35 38 6,186 56 112 $63,324 $539,210 66052 Linwood 1,931 369 4 0 15 1,792 5 66 $60,999 $507,257
NFDA International Convention & Expo in Baltimore Members of MFDA attended the NFDA Convention October 9-12 and met up with thousands of funeral service peers for networking, education, and much more. On October 10, MFDA held its annual Montana Dinner at Cindy Lou’s Fish House along the harbor in downtown Baltimore. This dinner was sponsored by Memorial Monuments, Federated Insurance, Medallion Vault and Casket, Precoa. A great time was had by all of the Montana firms who attended. The NFDA Convention and Expo for 2023 will be held in Las Vegas, September 10-13. We hope to see you there! ■ 2 0 2 2 16 Montana Funeral Directors Association
CONTINUED ON PAGE 18 Cloyd Funeral Home The Cloyd Funeral Home opened Oct. 1, 1961, to serve central Montana. The building, built in the early 1950s, was the former home of the Georgian Theatre, owned by the Weidman Brothers. In the mid-1950s, it became the Fergus Theatre until its closing in 1960. Jerry Cloyd then purchased the building and began the remodeling project, transforming a theatre into a funeral home. On Oct. 1, 1961, Cloyd Funeral Home opened; Jerry and his Uncle Wesley Cloyd operated the business with chapels in Stanford and Denton. Jerry graduated from the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles in 1947. Wesley graduated from Worsham College of Embalming in Chicago in 1935. They operated the business with part-time help until Wesley retired in 1973. Jerry’s mother, Nell, helped in the business for several years, then Jerry’s son Rick began as office manager. In 1976, R.J. (Dick) Brown graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science and returned to work with Jerry. In 1990, Dick purchased the business A History of Service Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 17
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 federatedinsurance.com Commercial Insurance Property & Casualty Life & Disability Income | Workers Compensation Business Succession and Estate Planning | Bonding Federated Mutual Insurance Company and its subsidiaries* *Not licensed in all states. 20.08 Ed. 1/22 © 2019 Federated Mutual Insurance Company “Service Personal and Distinctive.” We continue to offer that same choice and service. We are very proud of the longevity of our staff, allowing people to become familiar with them. When customers come in, they work with people they know and trust. In over 60 years of operation, only three ownership groups (Jerry, Dick, and Steve & Maggie) have owned and worked with the families we serve. We are proud to be a part of the central Montana family and will continue to be a part of the future of central Montana. ■ from Jerry. In 2021, Dick sold the business to Steve Kirkegard and Maggie Gist, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati graduates, respectively. Our current staff working with Steve and Maggie are Dick Brown, James Jensen, Paul Kaufman, Bob Long, Scott Lutz, Todd Olsen, and Fiona Rice. “We are a full-service funeral home, offering preneed arrangements and trusts, complete funeral and cremation services and monuments.” We celebrate over 59 years of service to Central Montana; Dick has been working with families for over 40 years. Cloyd Funeral Home was started to offer the people of Central Montana a choice with 18 Montana Funeral Directors Association
Is your metal recycling program having enough impact on your business and community? Recycling programs with Garfield Refining are built to drive sustainability and social impact through operational efficiencies and targeted metal capture. Best practices for recycling post-cremation metal are still evolving in the death care industry. Many crematories have questions about ethical recycling, local and state regulations, and evaluating recycling partners to find the best fit. Garfield works with crematories to build recycling programs that positively impact both business operations and local communities. Focusing on impact has been core to Garfield’s culture since it was founded in a small building in Center City Philadelphia, more than 130 years ago. Now operating a refinery with more than 12,000 square feet of stateof-the-art equipment, Garfield has a global reach and over one million clients. It’s come a long way from being the local refiner of choice for Philadelphia’s Jeweler’s Row and making silverware! The secret to Garfield’s sustained success is its commitment to its core values: sustainability, customer focus, and giving back to its community. Developing a recycling program focused on impact starts with collection efforts at the crematory. To be truly sustainable, a recycling program should identify as much metal during processing as possible. Every ounce of metal recycled with Garfield is an ounce that does not have to be mined; instead, gold, silver, palladium, and platinum are repurposed through Garfield’s conflict-free and responsible supply chain. Garfield helps crematories focus on small metals, like gold and palladium, in dental material. Through training and equipment improvements, many crematories that start working with Garfield see three-to-four times as much metal captured and greatly enhance the impact of their recycling program. Once a crematory has optimized collection, Garfield leverages its expertise to capture as much value from the recycled metal as possible. Value from the metal is then returned to crematory operations or funneled through Garfield’s direct donation program, through which crematories donate directly to charities or trade groups. For example, Garfield works with the Funeral Service Foundation, the charitable arm of NFDA. The Arizona Foundation for Children, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have received hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last few years, thanks to the generosity of crematories working with Garfield’s direct donation program. Garfield’s pacemaker recycling program is another way recycling programs can create an impact. Crematories or funeral homes send recovered pacemakers to Garfield’s facility so they can be reused in countries where treatment would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. A team of experts refurbishes those pacemakers through the University of Michigan’s My Heart Your Heart Project. Instead of going to waste, these pacemakers go to individuals with heart conditions in developing countries. Just this year, Garfield customers have donated over 650 pounds of pacemakers. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 Helps Crematories Develop Recycling Programs Focused on Impact Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 19
Garfield’s recycling program is only one of many ways it continues to put impact first. Garfield donated masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) to hospitals during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hosts tree-planting events at parks in Northeast Philadelphia, and operates with state-ofthe-art pollution control and filtration equipment at its refinery. In fact, Garfield was recently recognized by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for its work to improve local parks and streams. Behind each of these efforts is the talented staff at Garfield. Among the team is Cameron Axelson. He has been serving on the MFDA Board as Garfield’s Vendor/Supplier Representative and has staunchly advocated for Garfield’s crematory programs and their social impact. Axelson is a born-and-raised Montanan who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Montana in 2008 and is currently pursuing his master’s in Healthcare Administration. Axelson has a long professional career in the death care industry. He spent over 14 years as a Recovery Team Leader on the clinical side of donation and as a Donor Relations Account Manager for LifeNet Health. There, he was responsible for the sterile recovery of allografts, building and maintaining relationships with local hospitals and community partners, including medical examiners, coroners, funeral homes, EMS services, and the state of Montana 911 programs to increase awareness and participation in tissue donation. Axelson maintains a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist certification with the American Association of Tissue Banks and was an elected board member of the Washington State Funeral Directors Association. In his career as a death care professional, he believes the crematory program Garfield offers has been one of the most impactful endeavors he’s seen. He relishes that it came from an over-century-old company that continues to serve its local community while working with clients from around the globe. When asked: “What does social impact look like? What does it look like within the death care industry?” Axelson said, “Look no further than Garfield for answers.” ■ “Garfield’s representatives have always been very responsive to our needs and provided us with very good technical assistance as we developed our metal recovery program. With their help, we have provided significant funding to several non-profit organizations. THANK YOU, Garfield, for all you do for us!” – Paul Evans, Evans Burial Vaults & Crematorium. “Garfield is very user-friendly and personally has been a pleasure to work with. The tour of the plant and how the metals are processed was fascinating. Garfield is a company that helped us with an updated cremation processor so we could collect more small metal pieces. Thank you, Garfield, for helping Eastern Crematory.” – Laurie & Harry Fash, Eastern Crematory. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 20 Montana Funeral Directors Association
If you are interested in: • Helping Others • The Human Biological Sciences • Community Involvement • A Business Environment Then a career in funeral service may be right for you! Funeral service professionals work with the bereaved during times of emotional need. These professional caregivers enable families and communities to express their emotions and help them to grieve properly. Looking for an awarding career? Offering up to $5,000 in scholarships for mortuary science schools. CONTACT ONE OF OUR MEMBER FIRMS OR MFDA TODAY! 406-449-7244 info@montanafda.org MONTANA’S ONLY FUNERAL PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION. MFDA Montana Funeral Directors Association UNLOCK THE HIDDEN VALUE IN POST-CREMATION METALS TO GET STARTED, CALL (800) 523-0968 OR EMAIL CREMATORY@GARFIELDREFINING.COM Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 21
District Meetings The first District Meeting was held in Billings, MT, at the Windmill Bar and Grill. District Governor Matt Coon of Medallion Vault and Casket held a cocktail hour followed by dinner with guest speaker, Sgt. Jay Nelson from the Montana Highway Patrol with an active shooter/incident training. Speakers also included MFDA President T.J. Stevenson and MFDA Executive Director Jim Brown with industry-related updates. The following evening, we met in Miles City at the Black Iron Grill. District Governor Scott Stevenson held a cocktail reception followed by dinner for a very large audience from the Eastern District. Guest speakers included Dr. Willy Kemp from the Montana Crime Lab, Sam Pontillo of Federated Insurance, MFDA President T.J. Stevenson, and MFDA Assistant Terri James with association updates. Awards were presented to Nic Stevenson for 15 years as an MFDA member and to his father, Jon Stevenson for 40 years. Awards were presented by MFDA President T.J. Stevenson, their cousin, and nephew respectively. The third stop of district meetings was held in Butte, MT, at the Metals Sports Bar and Grill, hosted by District Governor Jesse Billquist and MFDA Secretary, Bri Mulvaney. This event followed the same agenda with cocktails followed by updates and news from MFDA President and MFDA Executive Director. The guest speaker was Deacon Dan McGrath, with a presentation on “The Wisdom of Companioning the Bereaved.” The next two district meetings had to be rescheduled to do a winter storm. Special thanks to our associate members who joined us in Miles City and in Billings, Chris Albrecht of LifeNet Health, Cameron Axelson of Garfield Refining, Mike Meyers of SightLife, and Sam Pontillo of Federated Insurance. ■ MFDA Fall 22 Montana Funeral Directors Association
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The funeral directors of the Royal Household are selected and appointed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. As the Queen made her final journey from her beloved Balmoral, the emotional scenes were broadcast live on television, with millions watching from home. Her Majesty’s oak coffin was draped with the Royal Standard for Scotland as it left Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, carried in a hearse with the name William Purves on the windows. They transported the Queen on the six-hour journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh. The Queen’s coffin, lined with lead, follows a royal tradition dating back to the Victorian era when it was necessary to seal bodies for resting above ground. Eight pallbearers would be required to carry the coffin, rather than the usual six, as it weighs around 500 pounds. Rehearsals for the procession from Balmoral to Edinburgh have taken place regularly over many years, with every detail considered. For William Purves, they were required to change the color of their signature silver Mercedes hearse to black in line with Royal protocol. Their logo, part of the standard livery on all their funeral vehicles, remained in place. On Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, during the procession, they became increasingly aware of the attention they were receiving, attention which should, rightly, be directed to Her Majesty. In response, William Purves removed its logo on the first possible occasion. Humbly, they issued a statement that read, in part, “We have never sought to gain any PR from our involvement with the Palace. For us, it has been a true privilege to have cared for our Queen and her family. We will continue to do this until Tuesday evening.” Said their chairman, Tim Purves: “I would like to thank you for your support as we navigate the protocols and sensitivities during this unprecedented time.” Eagle-eyed viewers must have noticed the name written across the hearse and rushed to find out more about the funeral directors. William Purves’s website, which crashed after thousands rushed to visit the family funeral director’s site, states: “When you place your trust in William Purves, you can expect the highest standards of professionalism, compassionate care and truly distinct service. Whatever you need, whatever your plans, lean on our experience, wherever and whenever you need us.” The family-run funeral directors handled the Scottish aspect of the arrangements, but Leverton & Sons, based in Camden, London, were responsible for the funeral overall. They were also responsible for organizing the funerals of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Baroness Thatcher, and Prince Philip. ■ FUNERAL DIRECTOR FOR A QUEEN Who are the Queen’s Funeral Directors?? 24 Montana Funeral Directors Association
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MFDA’s Opposition to Governor Gianforte’s Red Tape Relief Initiative The Montana Department of Labor & Industry’s Business Standards Division (BSD) held informational and listening sessions beginning in August 2022. MFDA staff was especially interested in what the Department planned and appeared on behalf of the Montana Funeral Directors Association. What MFDA discovered was that, in connection with the Governor’s Red Tape Reduction Initiative, the Department explored new methods to work directly with stakeholders to bring effective reform regarding how licensing is administered and maintained in Montana. Their goal was to reduce regulations and costs to licensees, and they focused on three primary areas of reform: Restructuring Board Governance • Determine what professions are better managed as programs or through voluntary certification rather than investing in full board infrastructure • Review where multiple boards may be combined • Evaluate board composition for a number of appointees, terms of service, qualifications, and conflicts of interest in addition to standardizing these processes across all boards to promote additional efficiencies Modernizing Licensing Laws (Title 37 of Montana State Statutes) • Modernize and standardize language to reduce redundancies, ensure sound licensing practices, and remove obsolete language • Review legal-technical language to minimize unnecessary red tape Increasing License Mobility and Processing Efficiency • Strengthen the Department’s ability to recognize licenses issued in another state when those licensing requirements are substantially equal to Montana’s requirements • Expanding license exemptions for military spouses • Address licensing delays created by fingerprint background checks • Increase availability and duration of temporary licenses • Standardize continuing education The Department conducted more than a dozen stakeholder surveys in June and July, 2022 that asked licensees and other stakeholders their thoughts about the proposed governance changes. (The surveys are available to the public at https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov.) The informational sessions allowed participants to learn how Montana’s licensing works. Participants were allowed to share their thoughts about how professional licensing administration and governance can be improved. Conclusion MFDA opposes the bill as written. Specifically, the association opposes the proposal prohibiting a board member on the Montana Board of Funeral Service from also serving on the Montana Funeral Directors Association board. This provision likely violates the First Amendment, as the state has no legitimate basis for prohibiting persons from associating with trade associations in order to serve on a regulatory board. 26 Montana Funeral Directors Association
MFDA requested that this provision be stricken from the legislation draft. Additionally, MFDA opposes the provision of the draft legislation that takes the power of the purse away from the board members and gives it to the Department. This is a change in current law, and MFDA can find no good explanation for why it has been proposed. Boards are and should be independent decisionmakers, keeping the proper role of the Department to administrative purposes. We believe this provision should be struck from the legislation. The MFDA staff expressed willingness to work with the Department on revising and improving the draft legislation. We will keep you updated on what happens with the proposed changes and if our voice impacts the Department. If any of you would like additional information, please reach out to us. We will be happy to speak to you about any input you may have. ■ ...the association opposes the proposal prohibiting a board member on the Montana Board of Funeral Service from also serving on the Montana Funeral Directors Association board. ©2019 Batesville Services, Inc. We walk in PARTNERSHIP. More than 120 years ago, Batesville began crafting high-quality caskets – and began a journey of helping funeral professionals honor every life with respect and compassion. Along the way, we have learned from thousands of funeral directors, and expanded our business to support every aspect of yours, from guiding families in the selection process to managing your business. Thank you for your partnership, and inspiring us to always go further. WE LISTEN. WE LEARN. WE WALK WITH YOU. To learn how Batesville can make a difference for you and your families, visit Batesville.com/InspiringStories ARE YOU READY FOR GROWTH? ADVERTISE IN THIS MAGAZINE AND GET YOUR BRAND IN THE HANDS OF YOUR TARGET MARKET. 801.676.9722 | 855.747.4003 sales@thenewslinkgroup.com Pub. 1 Issue 4, 2022 27
Why Being Kind atWork Matters Kindness is a soft skill. Since kindness can be hard to teach, measure or master, many people dismiss it as a nonessential nicety that won’t make or break your business. They value other capitalist-oriented skills more, such as ambition, grit and skill. Consider a fictional example: Scrooge, the main character in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; people recognize he is a miserable, lonely man, and no one would want to be like him or be around him. Yet Scrooge also fits the idea of the selfish and ruthless business owner who makes money because he is willing to take advantage of others. As the story begins, he thinks any generous act detracting from profit is foolish. No business leader is likely to make similar claims in public, but when they consider the business ideas separate from the man, some might secretly think Scrooge’s ideas have some merit. But this is a big mistake. The soft skill of kindness is not just an important life skill; it’s also an important business skill. Being considerate, friendly, helpful and generous is a strength. It does not mean being a pushover or finishing last. Kindness means giving people the benefit of the doubt and remembering they may be dealing with difficult issues. Kindness can strengthen business relationships within any culture, and many benefits involve employees. When the workplace culture is kind, communication is smoother and more effective, and employees are more likely to trust their leaders. Employees focus on their work and are less likely to compete negatively with other employees. Not only are relationships in and outside the company improved, but research also shows that employees with opportunities to be kind at work feel more loyal to their company. Companies with a reputation for being kind find it easier to recruit and retain new employees. That’s a huge plus, as there are currently more open jobs than people to fill them, and qualified applicants have their choice of jobs. Who wouldn’t prefer working at a company where they can feel valued and respected? Productivity also improves. Everybody makes mistakes, especially when trying out new business ideas. Employees can safely share information and be more innovative if the work culture kindly embraces learning from failure instead of punishing it. Kindness is most challenging when it requires taking the high road and being kind in response to negative behavior. If you are trying to figure out why someone behaves badly, rather than treating them harshly, kindness is more likely to open someone up, giving them a chance to explain their side. Customers respond positively to companies they believe are kind. When customers interact with a kind employee, a bond forms, resulting in increased customer engagement and brand loyalty. Kindness is also helpful during difficult conversations. When speaking candidly to someone about a problem, kindly delivering what you must say is essential if you want the conversation to be a success. Choosing to be kind doesn’t mean avoiding any discussion of difficult things. Balance honesty with kindness. The goal is to be empathetic and curious instead of harsh. All employees should be courteous to everyone, regardless of status. Smile often. Say thank you. Use a kind, pleasant tone when talking, be clear and positive when communicating, and accurately express your feelings and ideas. The cleaning crew deserves the same level of civility as the company owner. Managers might also encourage employees to help others when their tasks are complete and to be generous about sharing space and material resources when necessary. Be a good, thoughtful and kind listener. Listening skills improve communication, reduce mistakes and encourage collaboration. Make time for others when they need it. If employees need substantial help, schedule a time to work with them. Doing little things, like complimenting someone’s work and recognizing others when they do well, shows kindness. 28 Montana Funeral Directors Association
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