The cemetery industry has deep-rooted and historic associations and affiliations throughout the country. Because burial practices so closely reflect the culture, tradition, religious beliefs of its community, Cemetery associations and institutions exist in every region and every state.

The preeminent International Association is the ICCFA which provides educational resources member support, and legal guidance for cemeteries, crematories, and funeral homes on an international basis. The ICCFA can be found online at http://www.iccfa.com/.

State Associations are the best way to deal with local cemeteries and exist in most states.

Here is a partial list of state cemetery association contacts:

Alabama: Association of Alabama Cemeteries

What they do, in their own words: "The purpose of the association is to promote ethical practices and to provide information to its members about matters concerning the death care industry."

Arkansas: Arkansas Cemetery Board Information

Arizona: Arizona Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Home Association

What they do, in their own words: "The purpose of the Arizona Funeral Cemetery Cremation Association is to provide educational opportunities for its members as well as educate the general public, promote an improved understanding of death care services, its values and the community contributions made by the death care profession and provide a single strong voice on public policy and legislative issues."

California: California Association of Public Cemeteries

What they do, in their own words: "Dedicated to promoting the development of Public Cemetery Districts and Public Cemetery governance through interactive communication, education, and legislative advocacy."

California: Cemetery and Mortuary Association of California

What they do, in their own words: "The association works to serve ethical cemeteries in a manner that protects and enhances the interests of the families who utilize our services during a most sensitive time of their lives."

Colorado: Colorado Cemeteries Association

What they do, in their own words: "An organization dedicated to preserving legacies and advancing the cemeterian's experience."

Colorado: Colorado Historic Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "An educational network, promoting and utilizing appropriate practices for Preservation; Sustainability; and Education/Interpretation"

Connecticut: Connecticut Cemetery Association

Delaware: Delaware First State Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Provides mutual support and information to cemeteries and cemetery suppliers and vendors throughout the State of Delaware."

Florida: Florida Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association

What they do, in their own words: "Fostering positive consumer relationships by promoting high ethical standards"

Georgia: Georgia Cemetery Association: GCA

What they do, in their own words: "The GCA brings to its membership, information that allows cemeteries statewide, to operate and serve consumers in their communities with the most current of services and products and with the highest of ethical standards."

Illinois: Illinois Cemetery & Funeral Home Association

What they do, in their own words: "Protectors of the dead, fulfill the highest standard of a code of morality because they fulfill an obligation that is forever."

Indiana: Indiana Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Ethical standards of practice for our profession"

Iowa: State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries

What they do, in their own words: "To take such measures as are necessary, possible and reasonable to protect these cemeteries, and the monuments contained in them, from danger due to natural causes or from human encroachment."

Kansas: Kansas Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "An association of cemeteries, death care professionals and suppliers in Kansas."

Kentucky: Kentucky Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "A professional organization whose purpose is to promote fellowship among Cemetery Executives and Officials throughout the State of Kentucky; to create and maintain high ethical standards through education and training in the conduct of cemetery administration, to meet and discuss mutual problems and exchange ideas on subjects pertaining to cemetery development, operation and management for mutual benefit and protection."

Massachusetts: Massachusetts Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "The Association believes that our cemeteries help the living honor those who were dear to them and that our cemeteries tell a message of love, faith, and history to all who visit them."

Maine: Maine Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "We are responsible for the operation and maintenance of many cemeteries both large and small."

Maryland: Maryland Cemetery, Funeral, and Cremation Association

What they do, in their own words: "Improve management, operation, and perpetuation, of Maryland Cemeteries, Funeral Establishments, and Crematories and create and maintain high ethical standards in our industry."

Michigan: Michigan Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "The Michigan Cemetery Association is comprised of cemetery and supplier professionals working together to serve the membership and enhance the quality and services of Michigan cemeteries."

Minnesota: Minnesota Association of Cemeteries

What they do, in their own words: "The Minnesota Association of Cemeteries (MAC) is a resource for cemetery managers and people looking for information about cemetery property."

Mississippi: Mississippi Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Our members operate reputable businesses and abide by all Federal, State and Local laws. Each has the best interest of their client family and their loved ones in mind while serving with the highest ethical standards."

Missouri: Associated Cemeteries Of Missouri

What they do, in their own words: "To promote progressive methods in Cemetery affairs, and to protect the interests of cemeteries, existing lot owners, and the public as consumers and future lot owners."

New England: New England Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "We are an educational organization dedicated to the collection and dissemination of information pertaining to the operation, maintenance and improvement of New England cemeteries. Our members come from all six of the New England states and beyond. Our members are the leaders of the death care industry within their communities, their states, New England and nationally."

New Hampshire: New Hampshire Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Be a source of information on laws applicable to cemetery management including current and recent legislation. Provide information on technology and equipment. Promote meetings, seminars, and membership. Introduce service providers, e.g., cemetery designers, cemetery software developers Act as a gateway for networking among members, providing a method of contacting other NH cemetery staff and trustees in order to ask questions and share information."

New Jersey: New Jersey Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Our mission is to promote the advancement of practical knowledge in the operation and maintenance of cemeteries, to create and sustain high ethical standards in the conduct of business and to serve and support our membership. Our organization strives to keep membership current on legislative issues by monitoring proposed legislation in the state. We sponsor and conduct educational forums throughout the year to keep management and supervisory personnel informed. These include the physical care of cemetery properties, financial, legal and accounting procedures and the endowment of funds for cemetery maintenance and preservation."

New York: New York State Association of Cemeteries

What they do, in their own words: "NYSAC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the furtherance of effective cemetery management and operation for better community service."

North Carolina: North Carolina Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "Since 1949 the North Carolina Cemetery Association strives to foster a closer association between the owners, operators, officers, and employees of cemeteries, mausoleums, and columbariums, to disseminate information relating to the operation of such enterprises."

Ohio: Ohio Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "We will provide members with state of the art educational and training opportunities.

We will foster an environment and programs to facilitate member and association growth.

There will be a strong emphasis on inner- active networking.

We will maintain a strong lobbying position with State Legislators.

We will be fiscally responsible.

Our Code of Regulations will serve as our guide.

Our committee structure and committee personnel will help facilitate the implementing of our Code of Regulations.

We will conduct financial and process audits to ensure that we maintain compliance with our Code of Regulations."

Oregon: Cemetery Association of Oregon

What they do, in their own words: "To operate exclusively as a business league within the meaning of 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue code on 1954; for adoption of policies that will tend to improve the standards of all cemeteries, mausoleums and crematoriums; to elevate and improve the standards and services of all forms of caring for the human dead; for the promotion of a closer association between those engaged in the operation of cemeteries, mausoleums and crematoriums; to exchange ideas in connection with conducting such business to the end that better service may be furnished to the public; for the exchange of ideas or practices that would be of interest or benefit to the members, for legitimate promotion and lawful regulation of such business, and, for the general development of its members."

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission

What they do, in their own words: "There are 39 cities and towns in RI and all have historic cemeteries within their boundaries. These historic cemeteries are a template of the developmental patterns of each community and demonstrate the social and economic growth, as well as the changes throughout each community. It is our hope to formulate and develop plans and programs to restore, rehabilitate and maintain historical cemeteries and locate sources of funds such as grants and individual or corporate sponsors."

South Carolina: South Carolina Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "...the SCCA has strived to foster a closer association between the owners and operators of cemeteries, mausoleums and columbaria; to disseminate information relating to the operation of such enterprises; to encourage the building of modern interment places with embellishments and beautification symbolizing life and eternity; to establish and maintain high standards for the industry and to foster respect for it by encouraging honest and sincere dealings among its members and with the public; to encourage the public to see that providing family interment space in advance of need is a necessary and beneficent provision for family protection; to assist its members in controversies, both public and private, or where their rights are attacked or their interest threatened."

Southern US: Southern Cemetery Cremation & Funeral Association

What they do, in their own words: "The SCCFA is a not-for-profit regional trade association whose mission is to meet the needs of its members through service and education focused on industry issues and legislation in the region, to promote ethical practices, and to provide leadership in the memorialization industry."

Tennessee: Cemetery Association of Tennessee

What they do, in their own words: "Offers leadership, education, and guidance to new and existing cemeteries in the state."

Texas: Texas Cemeteries Association

What they do, in their own words: "We, the members of the Texas Cemeteries Association, being ever mindful of the kind and considerate service, which should be rendered to the individual and the community, recognize the following objectives of this association:

To foster a greater association between the owners and operators of cemeteries, mausoleums, and columbaria.

To disseminate information relating to the operating of such enterprises.

To develop and encourage good business practices.

To encourage the building of modern interment places with embellishments and beautifications symbolizing life and eternity.

To provide for the proper care and maintenance of such interment places so as to render them permanent places of beauty.

To elevate the ethical standards of the industry and to foster greater respect for the industry by honest and sincere dealings among its members and the public.

To encourage the cemetery industry to assist the public in making prearrangement of their cemetery needs."

Vermont: Vermont Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "The fundamental purpose for which this association exists is to inspire continued effort toward the improvement of Vermont cemeteries. To this end, it seems essential that we declare the principles and ethics upon which rests the successful administration of our affairs."

Virginia: Virginia Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "The purpose of the Virginia Cemetery Association is to help its members strive for excellence in service to families and communities in which they serve. We do this through education, instruction, and sharing."

Washington State: Washington State Cemetery Association

What they do, in their own words: "The WCCFA is a non-profit professional association dedicated to educating members of the death care profession in sound, compassionate and ethical service to our communities."

West Virginia: WEST VIRGINIA CEMETERY AND FUNERAL ASSOCIATION

What they do, in their own words: "WVCFA provides a voice for its members while dedicated to serving the public interest. The purposes of this Association are to promote the advancement of knowledge in the development, operation, and maintenance of perpetual care cemeteries. To continuously improve the services we render while creating and maintaining high ethical and moral standards. Further, to represent Association members in matters of legislation and in any public or private hearings or controversies deemed necessary or in the best interest of our profession."

Wisconsin: Wisconsin Cemetery & Cremation Association

What they do, in their own words: "Designed primarily as a tool for our WCCA members, this website is intended to: Be a source of information on laws applicable to cemetery management including current and recent legislation. Provide information on the recommended suppliers, technology and equipment. Promote meetings, seminars, and membership. Act as a gateway for networking among members, providing a method of contacting other WI cemetery staff and trustees in order to ask questions and share information."