Funeral Consumer Advocacy. A West Texan Makes a Difference

AUSTIN, Texas - Aug. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- Jim Bates has been a funeral consumer advocate volunteer for over 25 years; serving in local, state and national leadership positions. Locally, he leads a board of directors who help consumers with deathcare issues in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, as well as teaching a seniors course on funeral planning at a local community college. Statewide, Mr. Bates serves as the legislative liaison in the state capitol, defending consumer rights and authoring consumer-friendly legislation. He served 9 years on the national board of directors for the non-profit Funeral Consumers Alliance, actively advancing technology and lobbying efforts for nationwide local affiliates of FCA.

Lately, he has become involved in home funeral and green burial efforts; empowering consumers to care for their dead in a more personal way. He is a team member with state agencies evolving an improved electronic death registration system for families to use without a contracting a funeral business. Also, he is actively working with Muslim groups in the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth area to develop and implement their own home funeral process that affirms religious heritage over the typical funeral business process.

Mr. Bates is an active volunteer in his neighborhood Methodist church. He keeps a keen eye on thermostat settings, insurance policies, technology systems and other overhead costs so that the Sunday offerings can be used wisely. Mr. Bates also serves on a church district leadership team to help other churches make the best of what they have.

Jim Bates is a retired Manufacturing Engineer who spent 31 years in the aircraft industry, developing and implementing advanced technology for helicopters and composite tilt-rotor aircraft. He has been married 41 years to a middle-school teacher, and shares the joys of 3 grown children and 5 grandkids; one and two of which currently live in Thailand. His favorite drink is a Dr. Pepper, Dublin-style and Favorite food ... what else but a Whataburger with extra mustard.

This week's podcast: http://journeypodcast.com/funeral-consumer-advocacy-a-wes...

SHOW SPONSORS: HOSPICETIMES.COM & QUALITYOFLIFECARE.COM