Pollster John Zogby Keynotes NYSFDA Convention; Association Elects 2010-2011 Officers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (08/25/2010)(readMedia)-- Saratoga Springs, NY -- August 25 -- John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International, delivered the keynote address to funeral service professionals who attended the New York State Funeral Directors Association's (NYSFDA) annual meeting which concluded today. Mr. Zogby presented findings and conclusions of the Zogby Polling Research Survey of New York State Consumer Attitudes Toward Funeral Practices and Customs. The project was commissioned by NYSFDA, and is the first such polling survey ever taken to gauge such attitudes of consumers exclusively in New York State.

NYSFDA membership elected their 2010-2011 slate of officers: President S. Scott Mason, CFSP, owner of the Mason Funeral Home in Westfield; President-Elect Beatrice E. Lewanduski, CFSP, manager of the D'Andrea Brothers Funeral Home in Copiague; Secretary/Treasurer Timothy P. Doyle, owner of the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home in Poughkeepsie; Immediate Past President Richard D. Hazzard, former owner and president of the Beecher Funeral Home in Brewster and the Dwyer Funeral Home in Patterson and Continuing Past President Gordon R. Terry, CFSP, president and treasurer of the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home in Edmeston.

The convention offered a variety of educational programs for attendees. NYSFDA Executive Director Bonnie L. McCullough, CAE, said: "Knowledge and compassionate service remain the governing principles of funeral directing. Our members stay current with the latest developments in best funeral service practices and techniques, as well as with the many local, state and federal regulations governing the profession to best serve the families in their communities." Topics included such subjects as working with families to secure benefits for deceased veterans, contemporary mortuary cosmetology and what Americans truly values about death rituals.

Concluding the conference was a special program presented by Deborah Orecki, director of the New York State Bureau of Funeral Directing, who spoke about detailed aspects of the various New York State laws and regulations that govern the practice of funeral directing.

Approximately 600 funeral service professionals and licensed funeral directors representing almost 300 funeral firms from around the state attended the association's convention at the Saratoga City Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Founded in 1889, NYSFDA's mission is to promote the highest standards of funeral service to the public and to enhance the environment in which its members operate. Over 900 member firms and 3500 licensed funeral directors who operate across the state belong to the New York State Funeral Directors Association. In addition to maintaining a Web site at www.nysfda.org, NYSFDA also publishes a quarterly newspaper column "Transitions", as well as brochures which educate and inform consumers about end-of-life issues.

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Editor's Note: For more information, or to schedule an interview with any of the new officers or NYSFDA Executive Director Bonnie McCullough, please call Randy McCullough at 518-452-8230 or Vera Nuspliger at 518-882-9816; cell 518-424-8719 Officers' photos may be downloaded by visiting www.nysfda.org and clicking on About Us; then Press Room.