IMPORTANT UPDATES - State of the Profession
Now more than ever, funeral providers across New Mexico have been strained by the immense need from our communities. Many funeral homes are at or beyond the capacity to continue serving new families / deaths.
I called an emergency teleconference of our board on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 to discuss the surge in deaths and options to help alleviate those impacted. Some of the areas of concern discussed were:
* Refrigeration capacities
* Staff shortages / compounded with slow licensing approval by NMRLD
* Crematory capacities
* Delay in death certificates / cremation permits
* Delays in caring for indigent cases
As such, I have drafted letters to both State Representative Luis Terrazas - District 39, who is also a funeral director and to Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham. Copies of these letters are attached below.
The areas in which we requested help from our state government were as follows:
* Temporary Ability for those applying for a professional license to operate in the scope of the license upon application.
* Temporary Ability for out of state licensees to operate in New Mexico in relation to the scope of the out of state license held.
* Override of local regulations for crematories to operate without hourly restrictions and approval of new crematories to be installed.
* Liability protection for crematory operators who operate in "good faith" from problems that arose from another funeral provider.
* Requiring Doctors to adopt use of the DAVE System for electronic signatures.
In essence we are not asking for funding or supplies on the part of the state. Rather we are asking for more freedom and ability to meet the needs of our communities. I would like to personally thank Rep. Luis Terrazas for his time, attention and advocacy for our profession and bereaved families. More refrigeration and storage is only temporary and does nothing to help care for decedents in a dignified manner. We are not in the business of storing people. Rather, our responsibility is to care for the deceased and help their families move forward with the grieving process.
I did receive a response from the Governor's Office (Also posted below.) I implore you to pick up the phone and email your legislators and the Governor to take action.
Also, please contact me with any ideas or problems you are experiencing. The NMFSA is your voice and I welcome any input.
Sincerely,
J. Buck Dyck
President - NMFSA
NMFSA Letter to Governor Lujan Grisham
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NMFSA Letter to Rep. Luis Terrazas
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Sincere Condolences from the NMFSA - Michael Kirikos, October 31, 1942 - October 8, 2021
NMFSA President, J. Buck Dyck met with Federated Insurance Account Executive, Cody Schumacher in Albuquerque to discuss the NMFSA's continued relationship with Federated as our preferred provider of business insurance. Federated will continue to budget up to $3000 per year to help support our association. Many thanks to Cody for a great visit and a special thank you to Federated for their support of the NMFSA. Cody will be joining us for our December meeting in Truth or Consequences and sponsoring this meeting. Be sure to email: nmfuneraserviceassociation@gmail.com for a complimentary NMFSA/Federated polo shirt.
NMFSA Quarterly Meeting Updates from FRIDAY, September 17th, 2021. Held at Riverside Funeral Home, Albuquerque, NM
New OMI Release Form
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Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.
NMFSA Quarterly Meeting Updates from FRIDAY, June 18th. Held at Noblin Funeral Service, Belen, NM
- Welcome Nadine DeMay who was nominated by Ernest Martinez and unanimously elected to the position of Vice President. Nadine works for the Serenity Company in Farmington and we are honored to have her join our board of directors!
- Dr. Heather Jarrell - Chief Medical Investigator, Veronica Tovar - Program Coordinator of Decedent Affairs and Aidan H. Martinez - Morphology Technician, all from OMI were generous with their time. We discussed many ways that funeral professionals and OMI could better work together in our joint service to families. This included but was not limited to: increased turnaround time on death certificates, advocacy for OMI to the State Legislature to reduce the need for increased OMI and cremation permit fees and a new case management system that is being developed for funeral professionals to access real-time updates from OMI on release status.
- Given the limited capacity of our board during the pandemic and the 2021 convention having been cancelled, dues that were paid for renewal for 2021 will be extended through 2022. Members who have not yet renewed will be grandfathered in for the remainder of this year and able to renew at anytime through 2022 up to the convention.
- Our bank account at Bank of America has still not been transitioned to the new board, as such a treasurer's report was not available. However we are working on getting this situation resolved and will update our members online and notify by email ASAP once available.
- The 2022 NMFSA Convention Date has been set for Thursday March 10th and Friday March 11th 2022. Location TBD. We are excited to be back in person!
- Our next quarterly meeting is set for Friday, September 17th from 11a-1p at Riverside Funeral Home, 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Many thanks to Riverside Funeral Home for hosting.
NMFSA Quarterly Meeting - FRIDAY, June 18th - 11:00 AM
SPECIAL ELECTION UPDATES:
NMFSA QUARTERLY MEETING - Announcements:
UPDATE:
Nominations Received via Teleconfrence on Friday, April 9, 2021 for the 2021-2022 NMFSA Board:
* President - J. Buck Dyck - FRENCH Funerals - Cremations / Albuquerque
* President Elect - Michael McIntire - Steed Todd Funeral Home / Clovis
* Vice President - No Nominations
* Secretary/Treasurer - Angelique Good - FRENCH Funerals - Cremations / Albuquerque
* Director at Large - Robert Noblin - Noblin Funeral Services / Belen
* Past President - Joshua McManigal - Daniels Family Funeral Services / Albuquerque
Below is the invite to the Go-To-Meeting to hold our special election on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
Please join us and make your voice heard!
NMFSA - Special Election
Fri, Apr 16, 2021 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (MDT)
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/919776669
You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212
- One-touch: tel:+18722403212,,919776669#
Access Code: 919-776-669
New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/919776669
Below are some important announcements that came as a result of our quarterly meeting held at Strong-Thorne Mortuary on Friday, March 12, 2021.
- Lisa Dalton, NMFSA Secretary/Treasurer regretfully resigned effective, March 12, 2021. President Joshua McManigal will assume the roles and responsibilities of this position until a new board member is in place.
- A special meeting will be held on Friday, April 16th at 4:00 PM Via Go-To-Meeting to elect a new board of directors. Nominations are requested to be submitted by email by Friday, April 9th. The following positions are open for the 2021-2022 Session.
* President
* President Elect
* Vice President
* Secretary/Treasurer
* Director at Large
We ask all funeral service professionals and firms to join! Our collective voice and participation is needed to back our profession in public and legislative matters.
- Our next regular quarterly meeting will be on June 18th at 11:00 AM follow at Noblin Funeral Service, 418 W. Reinken Avenue, Belen, NM 87002
- The NMFSA Board of Directors has awarded our 2021 Scholarship to Natalie Luscombe, who is currently employed at Steed-Todd Funeral Home in Clovis. Natalie is a student at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. We are honored to help her achieve her goals and hopefully have another FSP serving in New Mexico!
An invite will follow on the Go-To-Meeting for the special election meeting.
NMFSA QUARTERLY MEETING UPDATE - FRIDAY, MARCH 12 - 11:00 AM (VIRTUAL INVITE)
IMPORTANT UPDATES:
The NMFSA extends sincere condolences to the family of Sam D. Baca, owner of Baca's Funeral Chapels (Silver City & Deming), Baca's Mimbres Crematory and NM Granite and Marble Co.
Sam D. Baca
Deming - Sam D. Baca, 75, longtime Deming resident and businessman peacefully passed away at home on Wednesday, January 13, 2021.
Visitation will be held on Friday, January 22, 2021 at Holy Family Catholic Church from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The rosary will be held on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 10:00 AM, officiated by Fr. Ron Machado. Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 11:00 AM celebrated by Fr. Prakasham Babu and Fr. Ron Machado, followed by concluding services and interment with military honors at Mt. View Cemetery. Due to capacity restrictions, church services will be live streamed. To view additional details about Sam D. Baca's Services, including any available live streams:
https://my.gather.app/remember/sam-d-baca
Sam was born February 15, 1945 in Faywood, NM to Eduardo and Elena Dominguez Baca. He attended the Cobre School system continued his education at Western New Mexico University. He served in the United States Army and after being discharged he went to the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, California graduating in 1970. His dedication to funeral service brought about the purchase of Wheeler Mortuary in 1975, followed by the establishment of Baca's Heather Funeral Home in Lordsburg, NM, Baca's Funeral Chapel in Silver City, NM and Baca's Funeral Chapel in Las Cruces, NM; along with New Mexico Granite and Marble Company and Mimbres Crematory.
He served as Mayor of Deming for 20 years, was a past board member of Deming Public Schools, the New Mexico Board of Funeral Service and was very active with the Community Development Block Grant program for our local area.
On October 13, 1983 he became an advisory director for First New Mexico Bank and was appointed a full director on March 14, 1985, for a total of 36 years on the board.
He was proud to serve on the board of the Help in Healing Foundation at the Village at Mayo Clinic.
He was a dedicated Catholic and had a lifelong dream of refurbishing his childhood church in San Jose, NM. Along with the help of former parishioners, family members and friends he was instrumental in accomplishing his dream.
He is survived by his brother, Fernando "Buddy" Baca of Deming, numerous nieces and nephews and professional family. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Eduardo and Elena Baca; sisters Clara and Nora; and brothers Adan, Ramon, and Julian.
Pallbearers will be Paul Baca, "Coach" Sandoval, Tony Saenz, Max Eddings, Jesse Valencia, and Ricardo Molina. Honorary pallbearers are his fellow Directors from First New Mexico Bank: G.G. Gore, Dr. John Lundy, Teresa Molina, Richard Patterson, Jakub Sherman, and Gary Shiflett, along with close colleague John Strand and very good friend Olivina Ortiz.
In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions to Help in Healing Home Foundation at the Village at Mayo clinic, 5811 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix AZ. 85254.
Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels and Mimbres Crematory. Exclusive provider for "Veterans & Family Memorial Care". To sign the online guest book or to send a card, please visit our website at www.bacasfuneralchapels.com.
811 S. Gold Ave., Deming, NM 88030. Phone: 575.546.9671
Our 2021 NMFSA Convention will be a virtual event - Dates: March 11th and 12th, 2021
Schedule Of Events
Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.