LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. — More than 300 members and guests of Selected Independent Funeral Homes gathered together virtually for the 2020 Annual Meeting, the association’s first-ever virtual experience, September 30 through October 2. By going virtual, Selected offered the opportunity for all members and funeral service professionals, regardless of where they were, to connect in one place and time, while still adhering to state and local safety guidelines.
With a focus on empathy, leadership and the future of the profession, the experience featured numerous educational opportunities plus the chance to reconnect with friends and develop new relationships in an innovative new format.
The meeting included a variety of presentations and activities such as: having the power to make a positive impact on others, understanding the new funeral consumer; informal discussions with Selected’s Preferred Partners; embracing the customer experience revolution; how to get the generations working together; association updates including the induction of the two new Board positions held by Paul C. St. Pierre who will serve as President and Eric R. Trimble who will serve as Board Chair, plus new Board members Al Asta, W. Byron Calhoun, Steven Pierce and Erich A. Schepp.
In addition, the following thirteen firms were recognized for 50 and 75 years of continuous membership:
75 Years of Continuous Membership
- Brown Funeral Home, Inc., Martinsburg, WV
- Twiford Funeral Homes, LLC, Elizabeth City, NC
50 Years of Continuous Membership
- The Behm Family Funeral Homes, Madison, OH
- Carson McLane, Inc., Valdosta, GA
- Holloway Funeral Home PA, Salisbury, MD
- Keyser Funeral Service & Cremation Services, Inc., Kingston, NY
- Langeland Family Funeral Homes Memorial Chapel, Kalamazoo, MI
- McLean Funeral Directors, Gastonia, NC
- Mothe Funeral Homes, LLC, New Orleans, LA
- Frank E. Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, Lancaster, OH
- Speers Funeral Chapel, Inc., Regina, SK, Canada
- Stanly Funeral & Cremation Care, Albermarle, NC
- Williams Funeral Directors, Garland, TX
The Annual Meeting also gave all participants and members an opportunity to complete the Community Service Project sponsored by Homesteaders Life Company. Selected partnered with the Walk a Mile Campaign, an online documentary series that tells the stories of impoverished women around the globe. Participants and members viewed three videos and voted for the organization they wanted to receive a $10 donation on their behalf. Selected member firm Flanner Buchanan, Indianapolis, Ind., was so moved by this effort that they have pledged to match the donations made through the Community Service Project.
“Giving back through community service has become an honored tradition at the Annual Meeting,” said Stefanie Favia, Partners and Meetings Manager at Selected. “We were honored to be able to expand on a global scale this year and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Homesteaders Life.”
The 2021 Annual Meeting will be held in San Antonio, Texas on September22 to September 25. For more information on Selected’s programs, becoming a member of Selected Independent Funeral Homes or to locate a member, visit selectedfuneralhomes.org or call 800-323-4219.
About Selected Independent Funeral Homes: Selected Independent Funeral Homes (www.selectedfuneralhomes.org) delivers innovative and pertinent resources, solutions and ongoing support necessary for enduring excellence to its international network of independently owned death-care providers who aspire to be the very best in their profession. Members of Selected operate according to specific standards and best practices to provide the public with reliable, high-quality service and funeral-related information.
