This time our newsletter concentrates entirely on the good news! Please do take the time to read it carefully - there is a definite need for all members to respond to questions from Council.

 
Admin News

Public Liability Insurance
It has not been an easy road, but your Council have finally reached a stage where they have completed negotiations with an insurance broker for a group policy for Public Liability Insurance.

The professional advice given to us is that celebrants do not need Professional Indemnity Insurance and accordingly it has not been part of our negotiations. However, there is a perceived need for Public Liability Insurance. As self-employed contractors, we would not be covered by a Funeral Director's policy. Some companies are now asking what insurance cover celebrants have and will not employ anyone who is not covered. It may not be happening in your area yet, but it does not take long for news to spread.

The deal we have negotiated would provide cover for just over 100 celebrants at a cost of £50 per annum per head. This is a figure that none of us could hope to achieve on our own. You will get cover and an annual certificate as proof. And, of course, having insurance indicates a certain level of professionalism - a big marketing bonus that could help to "sell" your services.

There is a large cost implication involved in all this. Before we spend your money we need to be reasonably certain of some facts. First and foremost is: how many celebrants want this cover? We have a bulk figure and when we pay it you will all be covered. We need to know how many of you think it is worthwhile. When we have the answers, we will work out how to pay it from existing funds!

Please let me have a one line e-mail as to whether or not you think the purchase of this cover is the right thing to do. Again, the address is petermcnulty27@yahoo.co.uk.

Please let me have the answer to this by Monday 4th March.
 

Questionnaire returns
Each questionnaire returned is now scrutinised by a member of Council. The overwhelming view of those doing the scrutiny is that the service given by our members is of exceptional quality and is greatly appreciated by your clients. It is quite humbling to see the comments written by some families. Long may our standards continue to be upheld.

We do also 'investigate' where there are seemingly adverse comments. More often than not these have turned out to be either misunderstandings or matters completely out of the control of the celebrant. On a very personal basis for instance, I was seemingly at fault because the lady funeral director wore a black hat! From all members of Council - thank you for the excellent way in which you go about your business.
 

National Funeral Exhibition 2013
The 2013 NFE will be at Stoneleigh from Friday 7th June to Sunday 9th June. As is only proper, the IoCF will have a stand. I will attend on the evening of Thursday 6th and set up the stand. A member of Council will be in attendance each day to oversee matters - myself on the Friday, Janice Thomson on the Saturday and Viv O'Neill on the Sunday. We really do need a selection of celebrants to help us out on all three days. None of us is a spring chicken and we need some rest and recuperation periods!

Karen Hopkins is co-ordinating the rota of helpers. If you can spare the time to help on any of those days, please e-mail Karen on karenhopkins@blueyonder.co.uk.
 

Magazine Subscription
Some of you may read and/or subscribe to the FSJ. A reduced subscription rate of £17 has been negotiated for our members. To take advantage of the reduced rates, state you are a member of the Institute when you renew your subscription.
 

Mini-websites for members
Council has arranged with our web team, Siserone, to create mini-websites for members. These sites will link from the IoCF website, but can also be linked to separately, and so used independently in your marketing.

Jill Maguire has acted as our guinea pig and her mini-site is now "live" here. The address of Jill's site is jillmaguire.iocf.org.uk and it is also linked to from her entry on the map (with the text "View Jill Maguire's Profile"). Any member wishing to have a mini-site will have the web address in the format <yourname>.iocf.org.uk, and it will also be linked to from their map entry.

This is your opportunity to have your own website at a very low price.

As well as mini-sites, we are also pleased to announce that we are also now in a position to provide members with @iocf.org.uk email addresses. This gives you the chance to have a completely separate e-mail address for your funeral work. The email address will be in the format <yourname>@iocf.org.uk (eg jillmaguire@iocf.org.uk).

The arrangement is completely flexible - you can have just a mini-site, or just an email address, or both - entirely up to you.

Barbara at IoCF will co-ordinate the final details but in the meantime, could I ask you to register your interest in having either a mini-site or an email address (or both) with a one line e-mail to me at petermcnulty27@yahoo.co.uk. That will get things moving.

As always, you will have the burning question - "How much?". The fee for a website per member will be a one-off payment of £30. Should you wish to have an IoCF e-mail address, that will cost you £5 per annum. Speaking on an entirely personal basis, I think that represents tremendous value for money - and with my Chairman's hat on I would urge you all to take advantage.

Please let me have the answer to this and the question on public liability by Monday 4th March. Even if you do not have a view one way or another on either of the questions, please let me know that you have seen the questions and considered them.
 

 
Conference News

IoCF Conference 2013 at Hilscourt 1st to 3rd November

Viv O'Neill has again been hard at work on our behalf and the 2013 Conference is up and running. The price is unchanged - again!

Viv has analysed the feedback forms from the last Conference, as a result of which we will do our level best to provide both a timetable and a delegate list in advance.

The keynote speaker will be our Patron, Professor Malcolm Johnson. Among the other speakers will be representatives from the NCT (Child bereavement), the Alzheimer's Society, a Coroner's Officer, a member of a Transplant Unit team and, with luck, a return of the unfortunate Fran Hall. There are others in the wings, but Viv aims to have six speakers in all.

There will be small workshops, much as we have had in the past. Council are not the final arbiters in what is needed - we need your positive input on this. Which workshops would you like to see - and perhaps why? Please contact Viv at viv.oneill@btinternet.com and let her know.

One thing I do know for certain - the Friday evening Quiz is definitely on. Modesty almost forbids me - but the gauntlet is thrown. Who will dethrone the champions?!
 

 
Database Statistics

Here are the stats for January 2013.

Total number of booking forms logged: 541

 
2013 Diary Dates

 
And finally ...

We welcome Jenny Gibbs, Abby Aron, Jeremy Bradbear-Hector, Sally Randell and Jeremy Caddy, who have all joined the Institute in 2013.

Congratulations to Chris Howe, Lynn Banham, Sarah Willis, Heather Peet and Graham Cuthell, who have all passed another milestone in their work (ranging from 200 to 1000 funerals)!

And finally, congratulations to Graham Cuthell and Lesley Bates, who have recently completed the CCL Diploma in Civil Funeral Celebrancy.
 

Thank you for reading
Peter McNulty