• "The Day the Music Died" – Edward J. Defort
  To mark the 50th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, we have posted a FREE downloadable PDF of the Funerals of the Famous article which focused on the death and funeral of Buddy Holly. This article originally appeared in the February 1999 issue of American Funeral Director, and later in Funerals of the Famous Volume 3.

• It Isn't Easy Being Green – By Tanya Kenevich
  Green burial is constantly gaining momentum as more and more eco-concious clients realize its benefits. This seminar from NFDA 2008 highlights some of the products and practices of the green movement in funeral service.


• Do You Believe in Magic? – By Thomas A. Parmalee
  Competing in the marketplace and hiring the right employees is a bit like a magic trick that you have to perform. Learn how to stay ahead of your real competition, and also identify the different types of employees and how to handle them.
  
  

• Read the letter that Thomas Lynch, co-owner of Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Michigan, sent Lisa Carlson before suing her, the Funeral Ethics Organization and the Funeral Consumers Alliance. Also, read Carlson's response. click here to download


• This is the lawsuit Thomas Lynch filed in a United States district court. click here to download


• The special deputy receiver of Memorial Service Life Insurance Co., Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Co. and National Prearranged Services recently filed an application for an order of liquidation and an order for approving the plan of liquidation. Read the official court document here.


• Read further details about the liquidation plan in another court document here.
  
  

• Write a Press Release Like a Pro – By Thomas A. Parmalee
  If your press releases aren’t getting you the type of exposure you want, here are some tricks to try to reverse that trend.
  

• Massive Painting Unveiled – By Thomas A. Parmalee
  An unveiling ceremony was held May 20 to showcase an immense painting that will be housed in the administration building at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene, scheduled to open in June 2009.
  

• ICCFA's Green Symposium and Pet Session Draw Large Crowds – By Jen Kiernan
  A symposium on "green" funeral practices and another on pet memorialization were popular sessions at the ICCFA convention. Read about what presenters had to say.
• ICCFA Photo Gallery
  If you didn't get a chance to visit the ICCFA convention at the San Diego Convention Center, then check out some photos of the event in our exclusive photo gallery. And if you did get to go, maybe you'll see a photo of yourself here!
  

• Growing Pains and Granite – By Ethan Ax
  When the Buchanan Group bought a monument company in 1999, it found itself stuck with a firm that used outdated glass-etching machines that were inefficient. But instead of giving up, it turned the sagging business into a profitable one and sees even better times ahead.
  

• How to Give Effective Directions – By Calvin Sun
  Has anyone ever gotten lost trying to get to your funeral home? Calvin Sun, a communications and customer service consultant, doles out tips on how to make sure those visiting your place of business get to where they need to be without a problem.
  

• Added Value of Memorial Tributes – By Lucy Galbraith
  Most funeral directors by now have heard of memorial tribute videos. But to experience one is to truly understand its impact and value to funeral service.
  
  
• The Changing Face of Education – By Laura Oettinger & Erin Casey
  Continuing education has changed quite a bit over the past several years. More states are requiring that their funeral professionals complete continuing education courses to renew their licenses and stay current with advances in technology, communicable diseases and specific laws.

• Tending to the Dead – Westland Services Corp., led by Philip G. Haddad Jr., has been quietly expanding. Westland takes care of gravesites in the United States and Canada. But Haddad is a controversial figure.

Expanded CANA Coverage:

• Deal or No Deal – A panel of funeral service experts talked about the state of the market and buying and selling funeral businesses in a pre-convention workshop titled “Deal or No Deal.”


• CANA Speaker Roundup – Learn what various speakers told CANA attendees at their conferences. Topics included technology, cremation, what customers really want and more.


• Harnessing New Technologies – Jeffrey C. Taylor, founder of Monster.com, has now launched Eons.com. He explained how the site helps funeral directors.


• Former CANA President Doing Just Fine – Mark Smith, now the former president of CANA, is selling one of his funeral homes and changing other aspects of his business. Learn what he’s doing and how he became successful in the first place.