COMMITTEE LISTINGS AND DUTIES

Awards Committee. The committee is made up of at least six (6) members. The chairperson shall be the Immediate Past-President. The President will appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year.

This committee selects up to six (6) awards annually: Funeral Directors Distinguished Service Award, Embalmers Distinguished Service Award, Supplier Distinguished Service Award, Young Funeral Professional Award, Mildred N. Lucas Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ed C. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award.

Each of the seven (7) Chapters may submit nominations each year for the consideration of the Awards Committee. All nominations must be received by the TFDA office from each Chapter prior to May 1 to be considered by the committee.

The membership at the annual meeting of the Association shall award a designated funeral director, either living or deceased, the Funeral Director of the Year and the Embalmer of the Year Distinguished Service Awards to commemorate outstanding contributions to the Association. The recipients must be members of the TFDA or if the recipient is deceased, he/she must have been a long-standing member of the TFDA.

In addition, the committee is responsible for the selection of the Manufacturers & Suppliers of the Year Annual Distinguished Service Award recipient that is given annually to a deserving manufacturer or supplier. Recipient must be a member of the TFDA.

The committee may select a funeral director, either living or deceased, to receive the Ed C. Smith and Mildred N. Lucas Lifetime Achievement Distinguished Service Awards. The nominated individual must be or have been a long-standing member of the TFDA and must have at least 40 years of funeral service.

The committee is also responsible for selecting the Young Funeral Professional Annual Distinguished Service Award. Nominees must be 40 years of age or under on December 31 of the year nominated. They also must be employed by a TFDA member firm and/or be an individual member of the TFDA.

Budget Committee. This committee shall consist of seven (7) or more members. The chairperson shall be the Immediate Past-President. The President will appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year.

This committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, President of TFDA Services, Inc., Convention Committee Chairperson, Immediate Past President, and at least three (3) members, two of who are not seated on the Board and one (1) to be appointed by the President-Elect. The Chairperson shall be the Immediate Past-President. One (1) member is to be well versed in accounting knowledge.

Long-Range Planning Committee. The membership of such committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, the Immediate Past President/Chairperson of the Budget Committee and the President of the TFDA Services, Inc. The President will appoint the chairperson of this committee. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the chairperson each year. The Committee shall have full power to maintain the properties of the Association after all proposals have been approved by the Board. This committee shall also study the changing needs of the funeral service community and anticipate demands of the Texas Funeral Directors Association during the next three to five years. The committee shall provide recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Bylaws and Resolutions Committee. This Committee shall consist of five (5) or more members. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President will appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The committee shall fairly and impartially consider all proposed amendments to the Bylaws and to recommend to the House of Delegates adoption or rejection of such amendments. This committee shall also draft, when necessary, any proposed resolutions to be considered by the Board and/or House of Delegates.

Convention Committee. This committee shall consist of at least three (3) members. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President will appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson(s), one of which will be a member of the Texas Funeral Suppliers Association. The duties of this committee shall be the arranging/planning of the annual convention.

Convention Site Selection Committee. This committee shall consist of at least four (4) members. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. Committee members shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year, one of which shall be a member of the Texas Funeral Suppliers Association The duties of this committee are to make recommendations on convention sites and facilities five (5) years in advance, to the annual meeting.

Disaster Committee. The TFDA has long been called upon by local, state, and federal government agencies as well as other funeral directors to provide rapid, professional, and ethical response when a disaster or mass fatality event has taken place within our state or neighboring states. The TFDA recognizes its responsibility and the need for a well-organized plan of activation when assistance is requested. The sole mission of the current committee is to manage/fulfill the state contract per state instructions when they place a call for assistance in the event of a disaster.

The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson(s) each year. The Executive Director will coordinate with the chairperson(s) on any deployment of state assets to ensure that all the state requirements are followed for the contract. The chairperson(s) have the authority to create a sub-committee, if necessary, for the sole purpose of having members available to assist in carrying out the state contract in whatever fashion necessary.

Emerging Leaders Committee. This committee shall consist of eight (8) members. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. There should be one member from each of the seven (7) Chapters and one member be a past president or member at-large. Committee members should be less than 40 years of age or over 40 years of age with less than five (5) years as a licensed funeral director.

Ethics Committee. There should be nine appointed members to include a Chairperson, an appointed member from each of the seven (7) Chapters, and one (1) appointed Member At-Large. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year, with the review and approval of the executive board. The duties of this committee are to provide the public and the profession with a balanced forum for creating and implementing the importance of ethical practices in all matters related to funeral service. Its commitment is to provide a venue for the public, as well as the Texas Funeral Directors, to convey the message of funeral services including (but not limited to) death care options, funeral arrangement information, pre-financed funerals, and the overall ethical purposes of the funeral profession.

Executive Director Advisory Committee. The committee shall be appointed by the Executive Director and serve in an advisory capacity in whatever areas of expertise the Executive Director might require.

Golf Committee (subcommittee of Convention Committee. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The purpose of these committees is to plan golf tournaments to raise funds for the TFDA PAC.

Investment Review Committee. This committee will provide oversight of the management and growth of the funds invested from the sale of the TFDA building.

Legislative Committee. This committee is to consist of at least five (5) members. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The duties of this committee are to advise and assist the State Legislature, Congress, or regulatory agencies in enacting and enforcing laws relating to funeral service.

The TFDA Legislative Committee may act on legislative matters in the Association’s interest during sessions of the Texas Legislature. The Chair shall work closely with the chair of the PAC Committee and Executive Director/Lobbyist to approve PAC Contributions.

Media Relations Committee. This committee will coordinate responses to any media requests made to TFDA.

Membership Committee. Each year the President shall appoint the President-Elect to chair this committee. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The Chapter Presidents shall serve on this committee. The duties of this committee are to contact the eligible applicants in their respective districts and invite them to join this Association.

Nominating Committee. This committee shall consist of five (5) members, including the Immediate Past President as Chairperson. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The duties for this committee shall be to furnish a nomination list of officers and board members at the appropriate membership meeting.

Presidents’ Advisory Committee. This committee shall be appointed by the President to serve in an advisory and knowledge bank position to better guide the president in his/her leadership throughout the year.

Programs and Education Committee. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The committee chair should typically be from an accredited mortuary school in the state of Texas. The duties of this committee are to provide an ongoing slate of programs geared toward management and staff levels which will address current industry concerns, promote personal and professional development, and enhance the quality of service rendered to the funeral consumer.

Special Projects Committee. This committee shall consist of a minimum of five (5) members and an administrative staff person. The chairperson will be appointed by the President. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. The duties of this committee are to address and enhance a positive image of the Association and funeral service by supporting positive community involvement programs such as, but not limited to, Wreaths Across America and National First Responder’s Appreciation Day.

State Board Exam Committee. This committee will spearhead efforts and goals to establish a Texas Board Exam to allow mortuary students in Texas to take a State Board Exam and obtain a license in the state without having to take the National Board Exam. The Committee will work with the mortuary schools in the state and other stakeholders.

Technology/Social Media. This committee will recommend changes to the Web-Based and Social Media Platforms Policy and work with staff regarding social media updates.

TFDA PAC Committee. The chair shall be the TFDA Secretary/Treasurer. The President shall appoint the members upon the recommendation of the named chairperson each year. This committee is charged with the responsibility of all PAC fundraising efforts and other duties as may be assigned. The chairperson is charged with working closely with other committees and members on projects to raise funds for PAC and approve PAC C contributions.