Closed due to Covid-19 -
This seems to be the new norm. I can only hope that by the time you are reading this newsletter that things have improved from today’s date (4/3/20). I am sure everyone is taking proper precautions to remain open and operational. The IAOPCC has sent out to our members a few critical documents during this pandemic, including transportation permits for your drivers, rules and regs for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and information regarding the SBA disaster loan applications. If you haven’t done so I encourage you to become familiar with the loan details, “cheap money” is available with the possibility of loan forgiveness. This is a great option to keep bills and employees paid in slower times if your business is experiencing a downturn. Your CPA will be the best source of info for your specific needs.
Now on to the fun stuff! The IAOPCC Conference in Chicago is right around the corner and our agenda is coming together nicely. We anticipate a record turn out and look forward to seeing you there. In the upcoming months, you will be receiving an email regarding the Board of Directors election that will happen in Chicago. There are two seats up for vote -- we will begin with a nomination process from the members, the nominees that accept their nomination will then be on the ballot in Chicago. Be sure to read your News & Views as more details will follow.
Our newly formed Alkaline Hydrolysis committee chaired by Robert Erdman is making significant progress in a short amount of time and we hope to have materials to present to everyone in Chicago.
And finally, if you haven’t heard, the IAOPCC’s first ever International Conference in Australia was a huge success, the attendance and excitement was through the roof. I would like to personally congratulate and thank Martin Hopp for facilitating and organizing this event!!
Until next time,
Respectfully,
Robert Blosser
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FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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TOGETHER.
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE PET AFTERCARE PROFESSION.
I hope this e-newsletter finds you well and surviving the recent turn of events that COVID-19 has brought about for all of us. Like me, I am sure you all have been busy making adjustments to your schedules, changes to your procedures and updating your protocols, as we all attempt to navigate this very fluid situation. To provide some guidance and help where possible, we have been sending out emails to assist you in this process. I hope it has been helpful to you. If you missed any of the emails, please visit our website here
www.iaopcc.com
to get the latest updates, flyers for your businesses, and suggested protocols. Make sure you contact Kathleen at the Home Office to ensure your email, or that of your staff are on-file with us so you can keep abreast of the latest updates. We will continue to provide information as we receive it. Also, a few really good websites to rely on as well are
www.CISA.gov
(Cyberinfrastructure and Security Agency) ,
www.coronavirus.gov
, and
www.uschamber.com
.
I wanted to share with you some bright news as we recently wrapped up our first ever International Conference in Australia!
Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our International Director, Martin Hopp, as well as our two Board Members, Robert Erdman and Keith Shugart, who flew over (pre-Covid-19!) to help facilitate and teach courses, our international conference was an overwhelming success! We had more than 70 attendees to the conference, and 16 Supplier Exhibitors. In addition, we had our second largest attendance for our
Certified Pet Crematory Operator Program
– 28 participants are now operating as certified pet crematory operators!
We could not be more excited with how wonderful this Conference turned out!
Be sure to check out the short highlight video below in Martin Hopps International update!
In the midst of this era of “social distancing”, it is hard to imagine now, but in just 6 short months we will be headed to our annual Conference in Chicago this September, and I could not be more ready.
We have added new certifications classes for you, we have put together an Agenda that includes great speakers, and important on demand topics, AND a site visit to
Hinsdale Pet Crematory & Cemetery,
which will include
“hands-on” workshops!
You Do Not Want to Miss this Conference!
We have so many “first time ever” events planned --
Be sure to visit our website often as we continue to add upcoming events, classes, and the latest Conference updates!
I am VERY MUCH looking forward to seeing everyone in September ---
And I am ready to experience it TOGETHER!
For now, stay safe, stay healthy, and make your plans to be with us in September!
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."
--Henry Ford
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COVID-19 Economic Relief & Employee Benefits Update
April 7, 2020
In a little over a week, we have gone from basic social distancing efforts to a "Shelter at Home" order for many states. Business owners and employees alike are working from home (or at least trying to) where possible. Many businesses are closed or now closing. Unemployment rates are soaring and the federal government has passed two major economic relief bills that have been signed into law. Not surprisingly, we have been flooded with questions:
How do I keep paying my employees?
What new employment benefits am I legally required to offer?
What happens if I let my employees go?
What do I do if I’ve been laid off?
What happens if I take money out of my retirement account to cover my bills?
How do I save my business?
What kind of loans can I get? How do they work?
Given all these questions, I wanted to share some information we’ve learned thus far in hopes that it may be helpful to you as a business owner.
Please note, this is not meant to provide tax, legal, or otherwise advise to you, but rather to impart information that may be helpful to you as you navigate through this evolving time:
For more COVID-19 information, please
CLICK HERE
.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
with Martin Hopp, IAOPCC Board Member
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This past September, your IAOPCC Board of Directors made the bold decision to hold its first ever IAOPCC Conference outside of North America ---
And, I am happy to report it was a
huge success!
We battled many obstacles! For months leading up to the Conference, Australia experienced its worst ever bush fires, as the conference drew closer, cyclones were predicted to be all around us, and then during the actual week of the Conference, came the COVID-19 Virus. Despite all of the challenges, we kept moving forward and the Conference was better than we could have ever expected.
Just goes to show you the PASSION and DRIVE our Members have for this industry and what they do!
We had 71 Registered Attendees and 16 suppliers! Our aim when we first started planning the conference was a minimum of 50 people and we surpassed our goal!
During our three days together, we had some amazing guest speakers from around the world. The highlight for me was on our Saturday morning session when we held a nearly three-hour discussion together about what is happening around the world in the pet cremation and aftercare industry.
We had a panel of four industry leaders within their country, who answered our questions and gave their views on the situation of the pet cremation industry within their country. Our panel included: Lance Stringer from Australia, Robert Erdman from America, Adam Masters from the United Kingdom, and Scott Hunter from Canada.
We were blessed to have so much knowledge on this panel and the over-riding message that I received from listening to these leaders was that
the Pet cremation industry is solid and we should all expect so much growth over the next few years!
The interaction between our Attendees and Suppliers was excellent! The Suppliers that attended were able to really make direct contact with decision-makers, and develop relationships with many Attendees. We attracted 16 Suppliers from cremator manufacturers, gas companies, urn suppliers, Jewelry manufacturers and computer software suppliers.
We started off our conference with the
IAOPCC Certified Pet Cremator Operator course
. Keith Shugart and Robert Erdman conducted the course along with the help of Tim Barlow from B&L cremators of Australia. We had 28 Australian pet cremator operators pass the course, the second largest attended classes that the IAOPCC has hosted.
Everyone who attended will remember Anthony our entertainment for the Friday night, I am sure we are all still trying to work out how he read our minds so well –
check out the video in this issue!
Our conference concluded on Sunday with over 70 people joining us on a site visit and tour of
Pets in Peace and Pets Eternal c
rematoriums. We thank the teams at both
Pets in Peace
and
Pets Eternal
for opening their doors and welcoming everyone --
They both showed the true IAOPCC spirit!
In reflecting on the weekend, I am so grateful that we were able to host a conference in Australia, but it also made me appreciate the value of being a member of the IAOPCC. The work that the Association has been doing for the last 50 years set the stage and the standard for
a very successful Australian conference.
I would like to thank Kathleen from our home office for all the help she gave me, as well as the entire IAOPCC Board for having the faith in the Australian market to be able to hold such an informative and history-making conference!
To our Attendees and Suppliers, thank you for being a part of that history!
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IAOPCC 49th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
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We are excited for the
IAOPCC 49th Annual Conference to be held
September 24-26, 2020:
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza River North
350 West Mart Center Drive
Chicago, IL
Watch for further information with our Agenda and registration details!
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THE STANDARDS CORNER
with Keith Shugart, Co-Chair of the IAOPCC Standards Committee
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Welcome to the Standards Corner! Follow along as our Standards Committee Chairs answer questions and discuss excerpts from our IAOPCC Accreditation Workbook offering sound advice and standards when working towards achieving accreditation. Questions regarding accreditation may be sent to
info@iaopc.com
Below are what the Standards Committee suggest as requirements for your Drivers and Crematory Department personnel during this environment of COVID-19. These are all actually good practices that should be followed regardless. The below template is in a format that you can immediately place on your company letterhead.
Each employee is expected to follow the items below while performing their job duties:
- You are required to wear gloves AT ALL TIMES during your shift and change them often;
- Each employee is required to wipe down his/her work area at the beginning of each day and again at the end of each day. Clorox wipes and/or spray disinfectant and paper towels are provided for this purpose;
- Your required greeting practices are now an encouraging “nod to our Clients” – no handshaking, hugging, and/or touching;
- You are required to wear a mask when working in the same area and/or room with a coworker. You are required to wear a mask when entering a hospital;
- Always keep a distance of 6 feet from coworkers and hospital staff;
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Each Employee’s Personal Responsibility:
It is each employee’s personal responsibility to practice social distancing when not at work. To protect yourself, your family, and your co-workers, you should follow the below recommended guidelines:
- Remove your clothes each day you return home from work before entering your home;
- Shoes should be left in your garage, and/or outside your door – they should not be worn inside your home;
- You should take a shower immediately when arriving home before interacting with your family members;
- Clothes should be washed nightly and SHOULD NOT be worn again until they have been washed completely.
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IAOPCC RECENT ACCREDITATIONS
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Congratulations to Texas Pet Meadow Crematory, Houston, TX on your recent Accreditation Status!
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IAOPCC ACCREDITATION WORKBOOK
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The 2018 Accreditation Workbook available.
Being an accredited facility allows you to demonstrate to your community and your clients your ongoing commitment to excellence. Request your Accreditation Workbook today!
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We would like to welcome the newest IAOPCC members:
Affiliate Members
Heartland Pet Aquamation
, Kansas City, MO
Regular Members
Texas Pet Meadow
, Houston, TX
Supplier Members
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IAOPCC EXHIBITS AT VMX IN JANUARY
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IAOPCC exhibited at the VMX (Veterinary Medical Expo) - The World's Leading Veterinary Conference January 18-22 in Orlando, Florida.
The Expo Hall has over 700 exhibits and is visited by over 17,000 veterinary professionals and guests from around the world including veterinarians, veterinary nurses/technicians, practice managers, and veterinary team members.
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RENEW YOUR 2020 MEMBERSHIP
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Have you renewed your IAOPCC membership for 2020?
Renewing your IAOPCC membership online is easy!
CLICK HERE to login to your membership profile and renew your membership.
If you need your login information, please contact the home office at
info@iaopc.com.
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Our office has moved! Please note the new IAOPCC Home Office Address:
750 US Highway 202, Suite 200
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Phone: (800) 952-5541
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CALL FOR IAOPCC MEMBER NEWS
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We want to hear from YOU! Please share your news with your IAOPCC peers! Send updates, articles and award announcements to
info@iaopc.com
.
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Our goal is to provide a list of resources that you can draw from to provide to your staff and clients for educational and informational services. If you have a resource that you would like to submit for consideration, please email us
info@iaopc.com
.
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ADVERTISE WITH THE IAOPCC
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The
eNews & Views
is distributed to members three times a year along with a special printed Conference edition of the
News & Views
each Summer. The IAOPCC offers several advertising options to fit every budget!
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The
International Association of Pet Cemeteries & Crematories (IAOPCC)
is an organization dedicated to advancing the standards, ethics, and professionalism of pet cemeteries and crematories around the world.
With Members in more than 15 countries, we are the
Recognized Leader in the Pet Aftercare Profession
!
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