Cremation Association of North America

It was great having CANA as part of the All-Star Recognition Ceremony & Reception yesterday at the NFDA Convention!

Thanks, Jessica. We were honored to be part of the program...and what a great program it was, especially with the inspiring remarks of Coach Jack ("We Are Marshall") Lyengal to set the tone.

I renewed my membership yesterday by fax on American Express. I sure hope you don't have any problems with it this year!

Here in Florida, everyone is from somewhere else. The cremation market is very competitive. too bad it has to be a competitive market than a dignified service. Are they loved ones or $895.00 deals?

San Diego, CA is also mostly going to Cremation. I charge 995.00 which includes removal in 30 miles. The consolidators, lack of religion, mindsets and disciplines have created this. Everyone here is from somewhere else also. We as a profession have not given people a reason to get anything other than a Death Certificate. Families cannot afford thousands that a consolidator gets. The average grave space starts at 5,600. Allfaithsfuneral.com is our site then look at Greenwood and others.

I try a solid cherry rental casket 550.00 and viewing. Families simply do not want to experience death. It's the computer age don't you know they have little perceived time and a different reality. California law requires a durable cremation container which is a plastic urn. When California forced us to use plastic, they killed our urn sales. You cannot give away an urn. Families will not buy.

I think it's really low of ASCAP to interrupt a funeral in the first place. Let alone make a scene by forcing the funeral home to buy a license then and there when they were probably playing music provided by the family anyway. Does that mean that one can't play their personal radio during work hours?

There is much confusion on this, even if the family supplies the music in a public forum. I have never really understood why we need a license and not a church? Are we not preforming the same format? No one would interrupt my service for any reason. Fight Later!!

Let's add a little fuel to the fire shall we? God I love this part. Why don't we have ASCAP go to all the truck stops in the country and stop every driver coming in who is listening to his radio and make him buy a license too. I mean after all he is listening to music in his place of business. Isn't this what this is all about. (Money)? And you go Wally kick his ....

Julie: Thanks for the kind words. It really is a great class. So much information on cremation operations. CANA appreciates your support.

Thanks!