Tim O’Brien, author of the popular continuing education course “Grief Management: The Role of the Funeral Practitioner” and presenter at both the NFDA and Florida FDA conventions, shares his insights with ASD clients on the emergence of generational shifts and their effect on the funeral profession. Look for more articles by Tim O’Brien in upcoming issues of The Director._
Tim brings his human and pet grief series to the ASD Rewards Program. “A Season for Healing-A Reason for Hope” and “You Will Always be a Part of Me” Grief Support programs help the families you serve deal with the mental, emotional and physical stress caused by the loss of a loved one or beloved pet. These programs support your current grief aftercare efforts and are excellent community outreach tools. ASD clients receive special pricing and rewards credit on both hardcover and soft cover editions. For more information, click here.
WARNING: There are generational tidal waves headed toward your Funeral Service business. If you simply plan for the future as you have in the past, there is a good chance that these tsunamis will cast you upon the rocks of economic failure.
Why should you think that generational differences are actuallyÖdifferent? Why should you not just sit back and wait for the seeming generational differences to coalesce into a familiar cohort of aged clients who have grown to think and act like those before them?
Brookfield, Wis. — The Funeral Service Foundation (FSF) has awarded a $40,000 grant to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) that will fund a study to examine the performance of formaldehyde-free embalming chemicals.
The “Formaldehyde-free Embalming Project” will not compare the performance of each product being tested. Rather, each product will be used in up to 10 embalmings and evaluated in an objective manner based on the performance of that product against specified embalming standards.
Initially, project embalmings will be conducted by three mortuary schools: the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, under the supervision of David Hicks; the Pittsburgh School of Mortuary Science, under the supervision of Gene Ogrodnik; and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, School of Allied Health, under the supervision of Thomas Shaw. As new products become market-ready, additional mortuary schools may have the opportunity to participate.
Sevierville, TN — Funeral Source One (FS1) is one of the fastest growing funeral supply and equipment companies in North America, continues to grow. Funeral Source One was founded in 2009 by industry professional, 24 year old, T.R. Ward, while in mortuary school.
Our exclusive items include , Church Trucks, Hydraulic Embalming Tables, Dressing Tables, Mortuary Coolers, and much more. All of these items can be delivered by December 31, 2011. We are offering free shipping on select items such as our church trucks, embalming tables, embalming machines and dressing tables, on top of free shipping on the mentioned items we are also offering multi-item discounts on these items, these items can be bought in conjunction with one another too.
Clarksville – If you’ve lost a loved one, you certainly know the financial toll it can take it can take on top of the emotional pain.
Most funerals begin around $6,000; some are far more than that. But a new venture opening this year in Clarksville brings a bit of a counter-culture to the funeral scene while promising big savings along the way.
We’re talking about a business called Community Funeral Service. And it’s definitely not your typical funeral home, mainly because they operate out of a downtown storefront versus the more traditional stand-alone funeral home buildings we’re accustomed to.
Brookfield, Wis. — The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recognized three funeral service suppliers for having the best booths in the Expo Hall during the 2011 NFDA International Convention & Expo, which was hosted in conjunction with the Cremation Association of North America and took place October 23-26 in Chicago, Ill.
Convention attendees voted for their favorite booth in the Expo Hall in three categories: booths 400 square feet or larger, booths 300 square feet or smaller and new exhibitors (any size booth). Attendees were asked to judge booths based on five criteria: creativity, imagination and originality; use of product, images and visuals in booth design; booth staff’s enthusiasm, friendliness and interaction with attendees; promotional giveaways; and overall appearance and experience.
Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2011 International Convention & Expo, held October 23-26 in Chicago, Ill., drew 6,949 total attendees – the largest total attendance in 10 years – and 417 exhibiting companies. The convention was held in conjunction with the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), making this the first time two major national funeral service associations came together to co-host a convention.
“NFDA has long been known for hosting the leading and largest funeral service International Convention and Expo in the world, designed to help attendees achieve more and lead the profession to an even brighter future,” said NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, CAE. “We appreciate the many workshop presenters who took time to share their expertise on the topics that matter most to our members. We’re thankful for our vendor partners who helped attendees discover the products and services they can use to increase profitability, secure their future and better serve the evolving needs of families. Most of all, we’re grateful to all the funeral professionals who attended the Convention. This event is strengthened by their presence and their eagerness to learn from and share ideas with their colleagues from around the world.”
Things are starting to shake up at Carriage Services following last weeks 3Q earnings call. It was stated on the call that the current COO Jay Dodds would be leaving the company at the end of the year along with Executive Vice President and General Counsel Bradley Green.
This information was quietly mentioned during the question and answer portion of the call around the 55-minute mark. Listen to the sound byte below as CEO Mel Payne mentions Dodds and Green’s departure.
As most of you know from previous articles, Genesis Casket Company was the talk of the 2011 NFDA convention. There was a lot of buzz about the company before the show and that has only escalated since the end of the convention a few weeks ago. I have the opportunity to have an interview tomorrow afternoon with the company’s CEO Tony Colson, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing Joe Weigel. Of course we have compiled a list of questions and topics we want to talk with them about, but we want our readers (you) to have some input as well.
I was emailed a link the this website a few days ago and wanted to get feed back from others in the profession. If you haven’t heard about “Life Before Death” it is self described as; a documentary project about the remarkable health professionals battling the sweeping epidemic of pain that threatens to condemn one in every ten of us to an agonizing and shameful death. Their tireless struggle pits them against unfeeling governments, dysfunctional bureaucracies, voracious corporations, over-zealous law enforcement agencies and, above all, the deep-seated attitudes of you and I.
Eternal Reefs Executive First Expert in Ocean Memorial Options To Join The Board
Atlanta, GA – George Frankel, CEO of Eternals Reefs, has been appointed to the Green Burial Council’s Advisory Board, offering that organization the first expert in marine memorialization options. Prior to today, all members represented the land, funeral and death care, conservation, and environmental industries. The Green Burial Council (GBC) is widely regarded as the go-to organization for Conservation Memorialization information, science, best practices, and industry regulatory information.
“George brings us deep expertise in ecological issues, particularly as they relate to marine biology,” Joe Sehee, Green Burial Council Executive Director, said. “We’re pleased that he’s willing to serve us in this capacity.”
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