NFDA Home > Home Page Items > 2013 Election Candidates - At-large Representative
2013 Election Candidates - At-large Representative
Charles T. "Chuck" Bowman, CMSP, CFSP
Scott B. Anthony
Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels
1031 Ridge Rd.
Webster, NY 14580
Phone: 585-872-6380
anthony.sb.1031@gmail.com
State and National Experience
NFDA involvement:
- NFDA Advocacy Committee, 2013
- Policy Board, 2011- present
- Chairman, Funeral Service Foundation, (FSF) 2009-2010
- FSF Executive Committee, 2008-2011
- Pursuit of Excellence Committee, 2005
- Member, Board of Trustees Funeral Service Foundation, 2003-2011
I have been a member of NFDA for almost 30 years. I have attended the National Convention many times over that time span. When I became an officer in the New York State Funeral Directors Association in 2004 my attendance was yearly. During that time, our state also sent the officers to the NFDA Leadership conferences.
My experience on the FSF Board of Trustees offered me the most direct contact with NFDA and its governance. Service on the board allowed me to work closely with NFDA Executive Director, Christine Pepper and several different members of the Executive Board who served as liaison to the Foundation board.
The Foundation serves as the 401 C-3 charitable subsidiary of NFDA. The Executive Board of NFDA was charged with oversight of the Foundation. However, in practice the Foundation Trustees made all the decisions and ran the foundation without the NFDA's executive board's involvement.
The foundation was able to grow its endowment almost twofold during the time I served on the board. The fund raising efforts during those years were specific to funeral businesses and supplier partners who had the capacity for significant contributions of $10,000 and above. The foundation also closely scrutinized our investment advisors and made several changes to improve the performance of the corpus that was almost $5,000,000 when I completed my service. The mix of investments was also altered to insure that the Foundation had a reliable return yearly so charitable dollars could be distributed to requests that fit within the foundation's mission.
The Foundation is well positioned to have a direct impact on the future of funeral service. It continues to attract some of the most prominent and generous members of the profession.
Professional Background
I joined our family funeral business in 1982 after spending some time in the sales profession after college. I graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, SC in 1974 with a degree in Business Administration. I graduated from Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY in 1982.
The funeral profession has been a good fit for me. My sales experience taught me how to work with potential customers by offering them a product that would solve their problem. The sales experience with funeral customers has many similarities. My interest in serving families who have experienced a death has fit well with my understanding and sincere style.
Anthony Funeral Chapel, Inc. was started by my father in 1952. It was the fulfillment of his dream to have a funeral business. The entire family helped with the construction and getting the business started. In 1982, I joined the business along with my cousin who had joined the firm several years earlier. By then, the business was well established and soon afterwards my cousin and I purchased the business from my father and uncle. In the thirty years we have been operating the firm we have acquired two separate funeral businesses and more than doubled the number of families we serve which is between 400-500 families per year.
My involvement outside of the business includes community, service and hospital boards. I started volunteering with our local funeral service association in Rochester. Then in the mid 90's I became involved with our state association. My activities with the state included the board and eventually becoming President in 2007. My most memorable accomplishment was tasking board members to serve on a Governance Committee to look adopting a different model of board leadership. Our board had grown to over 50 board members with a large percentage of board members who were past presidents who were allowed a board seat after their terms ended. It took another administration to complete the task but the end result trimmed the board leadership to 27 board members. Bonnie McCullough, Executive Director of the New York State Funeral Director's Assoc. has been very supportive and encouraging of my interest to serve on the NFDA board.
Candidate Statement
NFDA is the largest funeral service organization in the world. Our members are some of the most committed to the industry that has seen significant change in the last five years. My interest in serving on the Executive Board of NFDA as an At-Large Representative is a continuation of my belief in service above my own needs. I believe that it is my responsibility to give back to the community, nation and profession that has provided so much to me and my family. My journey in funeral service has allowed me to meet all kinds of people who I have served. From the very educated, who generally place the least amount of value on the presence of the body in the funeral ceremony to the least educated who often put the highest value on the ceremony. Our firm serves a variety of ethnic groups within our community. Through these families I have observed different rituals some which contains meaningful and beautiful symbolism. The funeral or memorial can offer so much help to the bereaved. I am committed to help keep these traditions alive or at least part of the conversation. NFDA has the platform to bring all facets of the profession together. Our practitioners, supplier partners, and consultants all make up the fabric of funeral service within NFDA. I feel that with my experience I have more to give back to this industry. Therefore, I am seeking the At-Large Representative position on the NFDA Executive Board.
Charles T. "Chuck" Bowman, CMSP, CFSP
Horan & McConaty Funeral Service & Cremation
5303 East County Line Road
Centennial, CO 80122
Phone: 303-221-0030
cbowman@horancares.com
State and National Experience
In the early 1980's while working part-time in a small, family-owned funeral home, I was introduced to the Colorado Funeral Directors Association. I became interested in the issues facing the association after the Colorado legislature "sunsetted" the mortuary licensure laws in 1982.
The Colorado Funeral Directors Association has worked diligently to maintain high standards of practice and ethics in a state with limited regulation. The CFDA created the Colorado Funeral Service Board, a voluntary certification program for funeral service professionals based on requirements that are comparable to licensure in other states. CFDA was also instrumental in helping to establish the accredited Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton (CO).
After a career in law enforcement, I began full-time employment in the funeral industry in 1990. I was approved as a Certified Funeral Director (CFD) by the Colorado Funeral Service Board in 1995 and was elected to serve as a director for the association's certification program soon thereafter.
Although Colorado does not require mortuary college as a practical requirement, I went back to school and earned an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science from Arapahoe Community College in 1998. After passing the National Board exam, I was certified as a Mortuary Science Practitioner by the Colorado Funeral Service Board in 1999. I am also a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), awarded by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association in 2000 and served consecutive terms as Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President. I have also served on several committees and task forces for the CFDA.
Since 2004, I have served as CFDA's Legislative Chair and have learned a great deal about state laws and the legislative process. I have testified in support of funeral service on numerous occasions and continue to serve as a liaison with state regulatory authorities as a resource for funeral service in Colorado.
Working in a state without licensing, the practice of funeral service is dependent upon the committed professionals within the industry to maintain high standards of fairness and ethics. I have led the charge towards reinstating a funeral service license system in Colorado and helped to introduce several (unsuccessful) licensure bills, including one that passed through the state legislature but was vetoed by the Governor in 2006.
Our efforts were finally rewarded in 2009 when House Bill 1202 was signed into law. Since 2010, funeral establishments and crematories must register annually with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), consumers may file complaints with DORA, and disciplinary measures can be taken. CFDA has also helped to craft and pass other important funeral service legislation, such as instituting laws to define standards of practice and control disposition rights; create an electronic death registration system; clarify disposition rights for last remains of members of the armed forces; and allow for the disposition of abandoned cremated remains. Our current legislative efforts will strengthen the laws regarding preneed funeral plans.
I was elected as Colorado Representative to the NFDA Policy Board in 2007. I have served on the NFDA Disaster Committee and the Metals Recycling Committee.
I continue to study policy issues from the NFDA Policy Board and incorporate them into standards of operation for the state of Colorado.
Professional Background
The beginning of my funeral service career began as a teenager when my family lived one block away from a small, family-owned funeral home in Castle Rock, Colorado. I worked at the funeral home part-time for 20 years learning about all aspects of the funeral business.
After earning a degree in law enforcement administration, I worked as a deputy sheriff, patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, detective and captain until my retirement from law enforcement in 1989.
I began my second career in funeral service in 1990, working full-time as a funeral director at Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery in Littleton, Colorado. Although mortuary college was not a requirement to practice in Colorado, I decided to go back to school. In 1996, I enrolled in the newly established Mortuary Science Program at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton and I am proud to be a member of the program's first graduating class, earning an Associate of Applied Science degree in 1998.
In March 1997, I began working for my current employer, Horan & McConaty, where I started as a funeral director, assistant manager, then building manager, and now Vice President. My duties include handling high-profile funeral services for community leaders, public safety officers, and local armed forces members killed in the line of duty. I am blessed to work for a firm that recognizes the importance of advocacy for the funeral service profession and that generously supports my participation in local and national activities.
I was certified as a Mortuary Science Practitioner by the Colorado Funeral Service Board in 1999. The CFSB is a certification program created by the Colorado Funeral Directors Association in 1982 to promote professionalism under a voluntary system of certification, registration and the development and maintenance of standards. I am also a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), awarded by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.
I credit my professional involvement to my friend and mentor, Bob Gibson, owner of the Castle Rock funeral home where I began my career. An active member of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association for many years, Bob educated me about the state of the funeral business in Colorado without licensing (eliminated by the state legislature in 1982). I have actively participated in CFDA for many years and have served in numerous leadership roles for the association:
- Colorado Funeral Service Board (certification board) – 1995 to 2000
- Disaster Committee Chair – 1999
- Secretary/Treasurer – 2000
- Vice President – 2001
- President Elect – 2002
- President – 2003
- Immediate Past President – 2004
- Legislative Chair – 2004 to present
- Director at Large – 2005 to 2007
I represent CFDA as a liaison to the Department of Regulatory Agencies, Office of Funeral Establishment and Crematory Registration, and have engaged in several key legislative initiatives during my term as chair of CFDA's Legislative Committee. I am often called upon to testify before the state's legislature regarding funeral service issues and serve as CFDA's media spokesperson.
I was elected to serve on the NFDA Policy Board in 2007 and will complete my term in 2013. I have served on NFDA's Disaster Committee and Metals Recycling task force.
I have been a member of the Region VIII Disaster Mortuary Operations Recovery Team (DMORT) since 1984. Starting as funeral director, I have worked through the ranks of training officer and now serve as deputy commander. I have been deployed to New York (NY) after the 911 tragedy; to New Orleans (LA) after Hurricane Katrina; and to Joplin (MO) for tornado recovery. I continue to be active in the development of training for the team.
I have served for the past 12 years on the Arapahoe Community College, Mortuary School Advisory Board and currently serve as chairperson. I was appointed in 2006 to serve on the Colorado Mortuary Practices Committee to develop standards of practice in the event of a mass fatality situation and a pandemic flu outbreak. Since 2007 I have served on a task force with Denver (CO) metro area coroners to develop and maintain standard operating procedures for handling mass fatalities.
I have actively served with Littleton (CO) Rotary Club since 1995. I served on the Rotary Board in 2010-2011 and on the Rotary's foundation board in 2005-2006.
For the past 15 years, I have also served as a host site/director for the 9Health Fair, a community non-profit organization that provides free and low-cost health awareness and educational screenings at more than 150 health fair locations across the state.
Candidate Statement
I am seeking the opportunity to serve on the Executive Board because I believe that my experience can be put to work for the benefit of NFDA.
NFDA plays an extremely important role to continue the training and mentoring of funeral service professionals. Funeral directors must become educators of society by teaching grieving families, health care professionals, church and community leaders about the high standards of care for the deceased and the importance of saying "goodbye" to our loved ones. We need to refine and preserve these practices today to safeguard our well-respected role in death care education.
We must focus our strong efforts as "the voice of funeral service" to our local, state and national political leaders to make certain they understand the unique character of our profession. As chair of the Colorado Funeral Directors Association's Legislative Committee, I know that constant vigilance is required to ensure that legal issues are dealt with in a positive fashion for the good of the funeral consumer as well as the funeral industry, and to guarantee the effective operation of small businesses.
NFDA must continue to work with federal authorities to develop standards in preparedness for mass-fatality catastrophic events. Well-developed preparedness plans will help to avoid fear and panic, greatly influence the proper care for the dead, and offer resolution to the sudden, unexpected grief of survivors.
I believe my commitment to education, advocacy and emergency preparedness can contribute to the overall mission of NFDA and the future of funeral service.
Steven A. Palmer
Westcott Funeral Home
PO Box 352
Cottonwood, AZ 86323
Phone: 928-634-9566
steve@westcottfuenralhome.com
State and National Experience
- State-related experience
- 2005, Elected to the Board of Directors of the Arizona Funeral Directors Association
- 2007-2008, President of the Arizona Funeral Directors Association
- 2008, Was instrumental in dissolving Arizona Funeral Directors Association and the Arizona Cemetery Association to form the Arizona Funeral Cemetery Cremation Association
- 2008, Board member
- NFDA-related experience
- 2006, Appointed Arizona Policy Board representative for unexpired term of Kent Palmer
- 2009, Appointed Arizona Policy Board representative for unexpired term of Patrick Foley (2009)
- 2011, Appointed Arizona Policy Board representative.
- Appointed by President Wappner to the first Allied Membership Committee
- Served on the second Allied Membership Committee
- Serving a third term on the Advocacy Committee
Professional Background
- 1971-1978, Joseph Dee & Son Funeral Home, Concord, Mass.
- 1974-1975, Apprenticeship with the Charles B. Watson Funeral Home (and trade service), Cambridge, Mass.
- 1975, Honors Graduate of the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, Boston, Mass.
- October 1975, Licensed as Embalmer
- January 1976, Licensed as Funeral Director
- 1978-1990, Manager of the Smith Funeral Home, Gardner, Mass.
- 1990-1994, Manager of the Miller-Jones Mortuary, Hemet, California
- 1994-1996, Manager of the Hillview Funeral Chapels of Patterson, California
- 1997-present, Owner of the Westcott Funeral Homes of Cottonwood and Camp Verde, Arizona
- Monthly columnist for Nomis Publication Funeral & Cemetery News (YB News) since 1996 and contributor to Mortuary Management Magazine.
Candidate Statement
I announce my candidacy for the position of At-Large Representative of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Funeral Service is under siege. There are many combined forces that seek to dismiss the relevance and importance of funeral service and the funeral director.
I truly believe in the value of trained and licensed funeral directors. We must maintain the relevancy of what we do. We saw it recently in Newtown Connecticut, Aurora, Colorado, we see it when a former president is laid to rest, but in the everyday passing of those in our community, these feelings seem to be lost. Direct cremation rates climb, visitations and services may not exist. We must display our value.
How? Collectively.
NFDA is only four letters unless the staff has direction from us, the executive board understands what we want and the policy board can voice the opinion of the members.
I want to be a bigger part of that process. I served as Arizona State Association president, the Advocacy Committee and have served as Arizona Policy Board Representative since 2011 and served an unexpired term prior to that.
I have written about funeral service for Nomis publications (YB News) for 17 years, I have and do contribute to Mortuary Management magazine. Licensed in 1976, I have owned two funeral homes for the last 16 years.
Collectively we have the solution; NFDA has the tools and the resources. Please join me in combining these talents for the value of funeral service.