Welcome...Why are we here?

I am amazed as I write this welcome message. Being part of the "blogosphere" is something we just read about, right? Or, "blogging"??? Is it "to blog or not to blog? (that is the question)." Or, as I have more commonly asked, "who's got the time for all that stuff and what is its value?" Actually, based on my informational trajectory about all this social media stuff, I guess I could say I have become a "blogging born-again." Why? Because it allows for interaction that can't be found in this great a form anywhere else.

The purpose of Bonnie's Bytes is to create a space where we don't just regurgitate the news you've already gotten about the happenings in funeral service, but to create a dialogue between one another about what it means. I also plan to provide you with information you may not have immediate access to elsewhere. My plan is that together we will create thoughtful discussions that could very well help to inform decisions about your business operations and how you approach your funeral service career.

It is my belief that over time you will find the comments from your fellow funeral directors heartening, informative and of value.

Please be a part of the action by posting your own comments about subject matter. Don't worry about what others may think of your writings...you are in a friendly space here. Just keep them limited to funeral service and related topics.

And as that new-born blogger, I promise you absolutely, totally and completely (and I really, really mean it), that I will not be writing about what I had for breakfast, my latest trip to Target, or what's in my refrigerator.

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July Message

A couple of weeks ago, all NYSFDA members were asked to complete an online member survey designed to discover how the association can best continue to serve them at the highest levels. There were many questions, including one that asked respondents to rank in order of importance what they believed to be the top five member services NYSFDA delivers.
My belief has always been and continues to be that the most important thing we do is advocate on your behalf to regulators and legislators. The success or failure of these efforts has a real impact on the operation of your business year in and year out. It is not only important, it is absolutely critical.

The creation of a successful government affairs program is not just hard, although hard it is. It is entirely complex, with an astonishing number of moving pieces. Over the last few years, as New York’s governance has hung in the balance, it has become still more difficult. Think about it: a new Governor was elected in 2006; he was forced to resign in 2008; the sitting Lieutenant Governor was elevated to the post where he has struggled mightily and the state Senate changed majority hands with a very tiny margin. Add to all this erosion of the economy and what you have is a fine mess, indeed.

Yet astonishingly, by any measure, NYSFDA had an overwhelmingly successful legislative session, securing passage of the Family Irrevocable Medicaid legislation, our number one priority. I still remain amazed at how this got done and that it got done at all given the amount of opposition.

This type of success is due to the diligence and innovation of our talented staff, the dedication of our members and leadership and the work of our lobbyist. In the current lawmaking environment, every single element of this successful formula must be present in order to succeed.

I’d also like to put in a kind word for our state legislators, the Governor and their respective staff members. Even though many of us are greatly disappointed in processes and some individuals in state government, many are exemplary in their ethics, work and diligence. They care, they are willing to learn and they are accessible.

I pledge to you a continuation of our intense focus on government affairs, and delivery of the very best possible outcomes in the future.

Sincerely,

Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE

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