The British Institute of Embalmers
Membership
On successful completion of the theoretical and practical
examinations, the award of membership may be made, upon application,
to students considered suitable. Membership may also be granted to
candidates whose qualifications are considered compatible with the
standards required. Other International members may hold direct
membership.
Fellowship
This is an honour conferred on a Member who is considered to have
rendered outstanding service to the Institute. One considered for
such honour will have been recognised as having made an especially
noteworthy contribution to embalming through the Institute, or
having been engaged on research work or similar activities in the
interest and promotion of embalming, provided such activities are
considered to merit the rank or degree of Fellowship. It is not
conferred by application.
The Governing Body Of The Institute
The Governing body is the National Council, members of which are
appointed at the Annual General Meeting and Annual Conference held
in Spring each year.
The National Officers
The National Officers are:-
THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
THE NATIONAL GENERAL SECRETARY
THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
THE NATIONAL TREASURER
THE IMMEDATE PAST PRESIDENT
THE EDITOR OF BIE PUBLICATIONS
These officers are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the
Institute, with the exception of the Immediate Past President.
The Institute consists, at present, of ELEVEN DIVISIONS.
The Scottish Division
The Welsh Division
The Southern Division
The South West Division
The Yorkshire Division
The Northern Ireland Division
The Irish Division
The North West Division
The Australasian Division
The Midland Division
The North American Division
Members and Student Members are assigned to the Division in which
they live. They may, if they wish, elect to belong to another
Division.
Members and Student Members may attend the General Meetings of their
own, or any other Division if they are visiting that area at the
time.
Members may vote in only one Division, provided their subscriptions
to the Institute have been paid.
Students and Visitors may not vote at meetings.
The National Examination Authority
This is a separate body, elected by the Institute, to serve on the
International Examinations Board of Embalmers. Members are elected
at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute and act as a medium
between the National Council and the International Examinations
Board of Embalmers (the IEBE being entirely independent of the
Institute and totally autonomous in its administration).
The National Education Committee
This is a sub-committee of the National Council and is responsible
for the promotion and control of tuition of Students and Members and
to develop the education and training of practising embalmers. The
NEC consists of a Chairman, a Secretary, a member of the National
Examinations Authority, a representative from the Tutor’s register,
the Technical Editor (BIE Publications) and another member who is
elected annually by National Council.
The Financing Of The Institute
Finance is raised by an Annual Subscription, set each year by the
National Treasurer, with the approval of the Annual General Meeting.
The National Treasurer administers the finance of the Institute and
reports to the National Council at each meeting.
Trustees
The BIE Charitable Trust supports various educational activities
concerning embalming such as annual awards for
newly qualified members and the administration of the funds for the
Company of Fellows American Exchange programme.
The Trust can also accept applications from BIE committees and
individuals for funding projects and financial support. All funding
must meet the Trust’s criteria and be granted at the absolute
discretion of the Trustees.
The Council Of British Funeral Services
The C.B.F.S. is a forum for all parties connected with the wider
sphere of funeral service. The Council usually meets twice a year to
consider mutually relevant matters.
Those represented on the Council are:-
The British Institute of Embalmers
The National Association of Funeral Directors
National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)
The Co-operative Funeral Service Managers Association
The British Institute of Funeral Directors
Interflora
B.U. Limited
British Retail Florist Association
British Teleflower Service
Cremation Society of Great Britain
Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers Association
Proprietary Crematoria and Cemeteries Association
The Institute of Burial and Cremation Authorities
National Association of Memorial Masons
The joint Committee for The British Memorial Industry
Memorial Advisement Bureau
General Synod of the Church of England
The Churches Group on Funerals at Cemeteries and Crematoria.
Public Relations
The Public Relations Officer is appointed by the Annual General
Meeting of the Institute. This post is linked by regulations with
that of the National General Secretary.
The PRO’s work consists of responding to any media coverage of
embalming or anything which concerns the Institute or embalmers in
general.
Professional Standards Committee
Being a sub-committee of the National Council, the Professional
Standards Committee are instructed to investigate, mediate and if
found necessary recommend suitable penalties or measures in response
to any complaint or allegation of unprofessional conduct made
against a Fellow, Member, or Registered Student of the institute.
Complaints should be addressed to:
BIE Professional Standards Committee
21c Station Road
Knowle
West Midlands
B93 0HL
Email: bieprofessionalstandards@gmail.com
Student Liaison Officer
The Student Liaison Office is appointed by National Council to act
as an intermediary between students and the various officers of the
Institute. The SLO will assist, and if required, represent the
interests of the students in any action, matter or discussion
brought before National Council or its sub-committees. The SLO will
also provide mediation and arbitration in any disputes between
students and their tutors.
The SLO may contact any registered students of the Institute at any
time for the purposes of quality control or in connection with any
investigation or enquiry that may arise from time to time. Students
are encouraged to make contact with the Student Liaison Officer at
some point during their course and should always do so in case of
any difficulty.
Publications
The official publication organ of the Institute is 'The Embalmer'
magazine, which is produced quarterly and is circulated to all
Members, Students and retired Members.
The Editor of BIE Publications is elected at the Annual General
Meeting of the Institute and is responsible for organising all the
material and the advertisements that appear within any document or
generally distributed publication from the Institute. The Editor
will work in conjunction with the Technical Editor to ensure the
quality and accuracy of any technical papers produced.
Headquarters
The International Office of the Institute is situated in Knowle,
Solihull and is run by the Administration Secretary.
The address of the Registered International Administration Office of
the Institute is :-
Anubis House,
21c Station Road,
Knowle,
Solihull,
West Midlands
B93 0HL
Telephone: 01564 778 991
email: info@bioe.co.uk
Divisions
For administrative purposes, the Institute is divided into 12
geographical divisions. Each division has its own administrative
committee, who arrange local meetings and act as an intermediary
between the general membership and the National Council and it’s
various sub-committees.
Divisional Officers are as follows:
Chairman
First Vice Chairman
Divisional Secretary
Second Vice Chairman
Divisional Treasurer
Immediate Past Chairman
Divisional P R Officer
Divisional Administrative Committee:
This committee will consist of not more than 10 full members and not
less than 4,
including the Divisional Officers. Divisional Officers are elected
annually at the divisional annual general meeting. Nominees for
election to divisional office should have been a full member of the
Institute for not less than one year.
Divisional Education Committee:
This committee will be a sub-committee of the Divisional
Administrative Committee and will arrange an ongoing educational
programme for the benefit of the general membership of the division.
It is recommended that a divisional education committee should
consist of the following officers:
Divisional Chairman & Secretary
Educational Convenor (if possible an accredited tutor)
and up to 3 other members
National Council Representative:
In order that the interests of the members of the division are
properly represented at National Council, a divisional
representative is appointed. Election to this post is usually held
annually at the Divisional Annual General Meeting. The appointment
of the Divisional National Council Representative is approved at the
Institute’s Annual General Meeting each Year
National Education Committee Representative:
Again, to ensure that the National Committees are truly
representative of the general membership, a divisional
representative is also appointed annually to the National Education
Committee. The Divisional National Education Representative is
invited to one meeting of the National Education Committee each
year, this meeting usually coincides with the Institute’s Annual
General Meeting.
Deputy Divisional Representatives are also appointed to the above
offices to ensure correct representation at all times.
Others who may attend Divisional Business Meetings are:
Fellows, Full Members, Retired Members, Registered Students and
Honorary Members.
Procedure To Progress To Full Membership
1. Find a tutor that meets your requirements and contact them.
2. Register with an Accredited Tutor.
3. Study the FOUNDATION UNIT. Take and PASS the Assessment.
4. Register with the Board of Examiners as a Candidate and
with the Institute as a Student Member
5. Registration Fees to be sent to International Office with the
Application Form received on passing the Foundation Unit Assessment
6. Fee for End of Module tests to be sent to the Board of Examiners
7. National Education Committee and Divisional Secretary informed of
the New Student
8. ATTEND DIVISIONAL MEETINGS
9. Pass all modular tests
10. Complete all Coursework and Projects
11. Pass Theoretical Examination
12. Pass Practical Examination
13. APPLY TO INSTITUTE FOR MEMBERSHIP WITH FORM AND FEE
14. ACCEPTANCE AS A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE
Code Of Ethics
The Code of Ethics is recited by all Members at a Divisional Meeting
when there are new Members receiving their Membership Certificates.
You must attend your Divisional meeting in order to receive your
Certificate. It will not be sent or posted to you.
It would be very nice if you are able to recite the Code of Ethics
from memory at the meeting. Copies will be available but it is
important that you KNOW and UNDERSTAND what you are saying.
When you recite this Code of Ethics you are making a promise, to
yourself and to the other Members of the Institute, which you should
make every effort to keep to the best of your ability.
So many people seem to say the words and then make no effort at all
to keep some of the promises that they have made.
There are FIVE POINTS to the Code, which are self-explanatory if you
take the trouble to look at them closely.
1. I believe that the practice of Embalming is in the interest of
Public Health and promise to promote embalming to the best of my
ability.
2. I will treat with respect each dead human body.
3. I pledge a complete confidential relationship to those I am
called upon to serve.
4. I will endeavour to promote scientific research in the problems
affecting Embalming.
5. I undertake to abide by the regulations of the B.I.E. and to
support, to the best of my ability, any meeting or gathering
arranged by them.
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