If you’re looking for a final resting place that makes a big statement, look no further than The Great American Pyramid. This new exhibitor made a big splash at the expo of the 2018 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) convention in Las Vegas. This structure will be huge: 600 feet tall and and […] via Tumblr Why not Spend Eternity in a Great American Pyramid?
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Stop being romantic! This isn’t something you typically hear in marketing but ‘romance’ is killing many funeral homes. Let me explain: Romance generally involves love and commitment – two affections that are key for romance to be satisfying, but in marketing, love and commitment can be fatal. Example: Funeral directors are romantic about marketing methods that use to work. Their love and commitment to the traditional marketing methods that they understand are keeping them from experiencing the rewards of underpriced attention through new marketing channels like social media. Download our FREE eCouse – 4 Proven Strategies to Increase Call Volume Today: http://disruptmedia.co/ecourse-registration/ Learn more. Sign up for a demo: http://www.disruptmedia.co ——————————————————-- DISRUPT60 is a weekly one-minute marketing rant on topics that are insanely timely and thought-provoking. The post ROMANCE IS KILLING FUNERAL HOMES | DISRUPT60 004 appeared first on Connecting Directors. ROMANCE IS KILLING FUNERAL HOMES | DISRUPT60 004 published first on YouTube via Tumblr ROMANCE IS KILLING FUNERAL HOMES | DISRUPT60 004 So much to see at the 2018 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) convention and expo! This year’s theme was “All In.” Even with three days to visit the expo, I still didn’t get to see everything. But the new exhibitors I interviewed have some interesting offerings you’ll see in my YouTube videos in […] via Tumblr Fun Photos from the ICCFA Funeral Convention WHEELING, IL—The lure of the salty ocean air calls for industry professionals to gather in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Cremation Association of North America’s (CANA’s) 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention. The CANA Convention will be held July 25–27, 2018 at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. With a wide range of valuable networking and educational opportunities, the event will feature sessions that examine the last 100 years of CANA conventions and growth in cremation, evaluate where businesses are today, and focus on the next 100 years by providing strategic and practical information for long-term success. Get the Full CANA Experience In addition to a pre-convention Crematory Operations Certification Program (COCP) on July 25, CANA will be hosting a 100th Convention Celebration Party on Friday, July 27 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. We hope you’ll stay and celebrate beachside with us as we eat, drink, and be merry, enjoying the beautiful sunset with friends old and new. Exhibits and Sessions Together in One Room CANA’s convention includes a diverse range of suppliers—from vault, casket, cremator, urn and keepsake manufacturers to vendors who provide banking, architectural, technology, and office services-making this a unique opportunity for all involved. The exhibits are in the same room as the general sessions to facilitate information sharing and feature innovative products and services for all participants. Informative, Inventive Workshops The lineup of impressive presentations includes:
Program schedule and registration information regarding CANA’s 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention is available by visiting http://gocana.org/CANA18 or calling 312.245.1077. Watch a video preview of the convention here: https://youtu.be/7Bo0BY1dt0Q. About CANA Founded in 1913, the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) is an international organization of over 3,300 members, composed of funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, industry suppliers, and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization. The post Cremation Association of North America’s 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa July 25-27, 2018 appeared first on Connecting Directors. Cremation Association of North America’s 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa July 25-27, 2018 published first on YouTube via Tumblr Cremation Association of North America’s 100th Annual Cremation Innovation Convention at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa July 25-27, 2018 After our touching story covering Kermit the therapy dog going to meet Florida shooting survivors we began to wonder about exactly what it takes for a funeral home to add a friendly therapy dog to their team. We contacted one of the most famous death care therapy dogs online to learn more and his owner Mellissa Unfred (aka Modern Mortician on Instagram) shared her dog Kermit’s story with Connecting Directors. Below you will learn how Unfred came to unite with Kermit and the path of getting him to a fully certified and proud Therapy Dog. Feature Image Credit: John Anderson for The Austin Chronicle ——————————————————————————————– Mellissa Unfred: The Modern Mortician – Once upon a time, while serving my apprenticeship in a dusty little West Texas town, I read an article online about a dog named Lulu working in a funeral home. I chuckled to myself, imagining taking my cat to funerals as therapy for others, and thinking if I ever had a dog, what a wonderful gift to the families to have a sidekick capable of serving not only me, but the community as well. In the summer of 2016, at the urging of my primary care physician and therapist, I began to look for a dog companion to serve as my ESA (emotional support animal) to combat and soothe personal medical needs. My cat, Bella, had died from cancer a year prior, so my home and heart were open to a new companion. I began by checking my local shelters in Austin, and a few days later found myself on Petfinder.com staring longingly at a black and white pup with mismatched eyes. I distinctly remember thinking to myself, “this is a dog you can talk to about death…” At first, the shelter I rescued him from had dubbed him Slash. I pondered several days on what to name him, and then one afternoon it all came together: Widdle Kermit Ambrosius Von Prygodski. His name was a homage to so many things… however, I call him Kermit the Dog. The internet knows him as #DeathPositivePup and #GriefTherapyKermit. That first night I brought him home, he accompanied me on 2 nursing home removals, staying tucked into the floorboard of the service van while I worked. The following morning, I logged into the Nextdoor neighborhood app and began to look for a dog trainer to prepare my new companion for life as an ESA. Kermit began training on his basics; how to walk on a lead, come, heel. Commands like sit, stay, wait; everything a good dog should know to exhibit good manners. When he turned 11 months old, he took his first exam for the Canine Good Citizenship designation. I went on to Google to find an accredited testing site, and signed up to take this test at Petco. The exam proctor had a list of tasks Kermit would have to pass in order to earn his CGC. They varied from sit and stay, to walking past another dog without barking or interacting, and even placing Kermit in a stay position in the center of the store, while I was asked to leave his sight for a total of 3 minutes! When he passed this test, I was ready to introduce him to my doctors to get their approval, and letters designating him as an ESA. After that meeting, we were presented with documents allowing Kermit to accompany me in many daily activities, including flying. As Kermit interacted with more people, I wanted to research the next step past emotional support; Therapy Dog. I wanted him to be able to serve the public, not just me. In our area, we had several non-profit dog therapy groups that offered proper training to certify the dog as a legitimate therapy dog. I selected to train and test with The Dog Alliance. There are rules to before you can begin training as a therapy dog: 1. Pups must be at least one year old. 2. They must have never trained in Schutzhund. 3. There can be no history of aggression. 4. Any breed of pup may be qualified to become a therapy dog, however:
Kermit was allowed to begin training at 1 year of age. Every Saturday, we would join a class of 14 other pups and handlers, and go over the prior weeks lesson, then cover the new lesson, following with a run thru. The rest of the week we were on our own. After 2 months into a 3 month course, Kermit was allowed to test early, and he passed! The test was very difficult, and I am glad we were so serious about our training. We were now Texas’ first certified therapy dog team in Funeral Care! There are 4 levels of working dog:1. Comfort or Companion DogA Comfort or Companion Dog is a household pet or work companion without formal certification or working dog training. 2. Emotional Support Animal (ESA)An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) companion animal that a medical professional has determined provides benefit for an individual with a disability. This may include improving at least one characteristic of the disability. Emotional support animals, typically dogs, but sometimes cats or other animals, may be used by people with a range of physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disabilities. In order to be prescribed an emotional support animal the person seeking such an animal must have a verifiable disability. To be afforded protection under United States federal law, a person must meet the federal definition of disability and must have a note from a physician or other medical professional stating that the person has that disability and that the emotional support animal provides a benefit for the individual with the disability. 3. Therapy DogA Therapy Dog is a dog that is be trained to provide comfort and love to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas. They also do NOT have public access rights with exception to the specific places they are visiting and working. Typically the dog would be granted rights by individual facilities only. Therapy dogs are usually not assistance or service dogs, but can be one or both with some handlers. Many organizations provide evaluation and registration for therapy dogs. 4. Service DogService dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities. The dog must be trained to perform 3 medically related tasks and can not be handled by the general public. The training is very extensive, and Desirable character traits in service animals typically include good temperament or psychological make-up (including biddability and trainability) and good health (including physical structure and stamina). Some service dogs are bred and trained by service dog organizations, while others are bred by breeders, and trained by private trainers or even the individuals with disabilities who will someday become their partners. Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever crossbred dogs, and German Shepherd Dogs are among the most common dog breeds working as service dogs today in the United States. Although dogs of almost any breed or mix of breeds may be capable of becoming a service dog, very few dogs have the requisite health and temperament qualities. Such a dog may be called a “service dog” or an “assistance dog”, the terminology typically varying by country or region. The term “seeing eye dog” is frequently used as a generic label referring to any dog assisting individuals who are blind or have visual impairments. Funeral homes that bring in a dog without formal training and certification should not use the term Therapy Dog. They should use the term Comfort Dog. It’s like calling an Apprentice a licensed Embalmer. Lots of difference in skill level and training. I highly encourage funeral homes to partner with local Therapy Dog teams in their area to provide this service to not only the families they serve, but to their staff as well. If builds community connection and strengthens morale. Since completing his certification, Kermit and I have travelled all over the United States and been featured in online and print publications. I think the service we provide is with our heart, and not with marketing in mind. Bringing a team member of this caliber on board is a LIFETIME commitment. My dog is not a billboard. But he sure makes an impression. Follow The Modern Mortician and Kermit on Instagram here!The post Want a Therapy Dog for Your Funeral Home? Learn How to Start the Process appeared first on Connecting Directors. Want a Therapy Dog for Your Funeral Home? Learn How to Start the Process published first on YouTube via Tumblr Want a Therapy Dog for Your Funeral Home? Learn How to Start the Process West Des Moines, IA – Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in pre-need funeral funding, has announced the release of the Social Media Guide for Funeral Professionals. This free resource was developed in partnership with DISRUPT Media and features a step-by-step guide to attracting and retaining client families on social media. “Social Media is essential to a contemporary marketing mix,” said Dean Lambert, Homesteaders Senior VP-Marketing & Communications. “There are so many opportunities available online for funeral homes to connect and engage in meaningful ways with families, and this guide will give them a leg up on their competition.” Funeral professionals who are just starting to use social media will find a step-by-step guide for setting up a Facebook business page along with tips and examples of the type of content that will resonate with their communities. More advanced social media users will benefit from information on Facebook advertising, pre-need lead generation and suggestions for other social media platforms to explore, including Instagram and messaging apps. “Our goal was to give funeral professionals everything they need to start and manage a Facebook page for their funeral home businesses,” said Ryan Thogmartin, owner and CEO of DISRUPT Media. “This guide is unlike anything else available for funeral service.” The 30-page resource also includes information on how to create a one-of-a-kind social strategy, as well as tips for incorporating video into a marketing plan, what to expect from the future of social media and a straight-forward glossary of common social media terms. Click here to obtain a free copy of the Social Media Guide for Funeral Professionals. Homesteaders Life Company is a national leader providing products and services to promote and support the funding of advance funeral planning and end-of-life expenses. DISRUPT Media is a full-service social media management and content agency dedicated to the funeral profession. The agency provides creative ideas and a simple plan to produce a social media presence that is completely unique for each client. Visit disruptmedia.co to learn more. The post Homesteaders and Disrupt Media Offer Free Social Media Guide for Funeral Professionals appeared first on Connecting Directors. Homesteaders and Disrupt Media Offer Free Social Media Guide for Funeral Professionals published first on YouTube via Tumblr Homesteaders and Disrupt Media Offer Free Social Media Guide for Funeral Professionals As the funeral industry landscape continues to change as a result of factors like ecommerce, cremation, and foreign imports, the brand of the quintessential funeral home is changing too. The industry is experimenting with new ways to generate revenue and, with each success, filling a small part of the growing hole in profits. Over time, as funeral home owners fill those holes with additional products, services, and options, the new face of death care will begin to take shape. One clear emerging trend is the preference of families desiring a life celebration over the traditional memorial service and holding the celebrations off-site at event centers. A driver of this trend is likely the increasing popularity of cremation and the emerging trend of distancing from religion. Many people now are saying, “just throw a party for me when I die”… now they’re dying and the families are following their loved one’s wishes. Now that a body does not need to be present at a life celebration, gathering at the funeral home for a memorial becomes unnecessary. Even if a family wants the deceased present at their farewell party, it is far less weird to be at a restaurant with cremated remains than with a corpse. The life celebration trend is a problem for funeral home owners because an increasing number of families are opting to gather at pubs and restaurants leaving previously collected memorial service revenue going to other establishments. The life-celebrator customer decision to go elsewhere makes sense because, well, funeral homes dont have the most celebratory atmosphere. Besides the atmosphere, though, there is one other major component missing from funeral homes – alcohol. Some funeral home’s, like Serenity Funeral Chapel in Twin Falls, ID, have found a brilliant new revenue stream in redesigning the funeral home memorial experience to look more like an event venue. This has kept customers who would have typically dropped thousands of dollars elsewhere renting space, catering, and buying drinks, staying in-house. For Heidi Heil, mortician and owner of Serenity Funeral Chapel, turning her somber space into a party place has been transformative for her business. Serenity Funeral Chapel features event center amenities such as an in-house kitchen, an out-door patio, and a casual atmosphere. Taking on the characteristics and functions of a restaurant allows Heil to keep revenue that would have likely gone elsewhere. Her long-term goal is to make the full transition – she has her eye on separate event center building for sale and has been seeking funding to acquire it.
Heil does not yet serve alcohol in her her Life Celebration Center/Funeral Home, but she wants to…
The Seattle Times reported: It could take years to get a license; Serenity Funeral Chapel is still fourth on the Twin Falls list. Heil knew her less expensive option would be to wait, but she probably has just a few years left, and the time to act is coming soon.” Celebrations of life are becoming the new norm, even in states like Idaho that are typically considered ideologically conservative. How Can Your Funeral Home Jump on the Life Celebration Trend?1. Listen to your CustomersThe most important thing you can do is listen to and observe your customers. If they are not staying at your location for a service or memorial then where are they going? What do those celebrations look like? If you can provide the things you see your customers going elsewhere to find then you are taking great first steps. Maybe your customers all want services in-house. That’s great and there is no need to change at the moment. A unique aspect of the US death care industry is the vastly diverse customer desires from state-to-state and even from city-to-city. The CANA cremation report available here might give you some insight into the preferences of your region. 2. Shift Your AtmosphereChanging the atmosphere of your funeral home can be incredibly difficult. Your current atmosphere has worked for 50 years and changing it would make it feel like, well, not a funeral home. This can be a hard concept for funeral director-lifers to wrap their heads around. It can feel less reverent, insensitive, and non-religious. But if you go for “classy and social” you will never offed a customer. 3. Apply for a Liquor LicenseTake the first steps to apply for a liquor license in your city and if there is a waiting list, get on it now. Depending on your state regulations, liquor licenses can take years to get or can be insanely expensive to purchase outright. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, some states actually prohibit funeral homes from serving food and beverages, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and North Dakota. This could be a disastrous regulation for businesses as the face of funeral service changes. Has your funeral home shifted to look more like an event center? Tell us your experience in the comments! The post Learn How Funeral Homes Are Building Revenue by Looking More Like Event Centers appeared first on Connecting Directors. Learn How Funeral Homes Are Building Revenue by Looking More Like Event Centers published first on YouTube via Tumblr Learn How Funeral Homes Are Building Revenue by Looking More Like Event Centers Before I Die ABQ Festival Incorporates Day of the Dead Observances Halloween makes you think of skulls and skeletons, candy and candles. October 31 is also the start of Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, which is actually two days of life-affirming celebrations designed to express love and respect for deceased family members. […] via Tumblr This Halloween, Celebrate Dia de los Muertos in New Mexico So many funeral homes we come in contact with say they are ‘leveraging Facebook’ for their funeral home, but it is not working. When we start digging into it, we discover that they are just buying generic content and posting to their Facebook. This is a complete waste of money. In this episode, Ryan, explains why and what you should do about it. Ryan also talks about what video content funeral homes should be creating and how strong online brand relationships can be built to function just like offline brand relationships. Download our FREE eCouse – 4 Proven Strategies to Increase Call Volume Today: http://disruptmedia.co/ecourse-registration/ ————————————-- About Ryan Thogmartin: Ryan Thogmartin is a death care entrepreneur and the CEO of DISRUPT Media and creator of ConnectingDirectors.com. | Follower of Christ | Husband | Father | Entrepreneur | Host of #DISRUPTu! and #FUNERALnationtv | Lover of Skittles About DISRUPT Media: Most deathcare companies struggle with Facebook marketing. We provide a process for creating personalized Facebook content that will drive community engagement and measurable leads ensuring growth and profitability. The post IF YOU’RE DOING THIS YOU’RE WASTING MONEY | DISRUPTu! 045 appeared first on Connecting Directors. IF YOU’RE DOING THIS YOU’RE WASTING MONEY | DISRUPTu! 045 published first on YouTube via Tumblr IF YOU’RE DOING THIS YOU’RE WASTING MONEY | DISRUPTu! 045 Reimagine: End of Life kicked off in San Francisco this week and expects upwards of 7,000 area residents to attend. The funeral industry at-large is sparsely represented in the over 100 events taking place, but we are very excited to see Seven Ponds and Final Passages who have planned an enlightening presentation demonstrating 7 emerging life celebration trends. Cover Image Credit: Aya Brackett Photography This afternoon of powerful demonstrations invites participants to immerse themselves in a wide range of emerging practices and rituals around end of life including learning about the death doula, natural death care, shrouding, and memory celebrations. Attendees will have the opportunity to join in any of the 20-minute demonstrations and discussions throughout the afternoon. Some demonstrations will be interactive or illustrative while others will offer an opportunity for attendees to create something personal to take with them. All materials for participants to engage in various rituals will be provided free of charge. Click Here to RSVP for this Free Event Saturday, April 21, 2018, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM in San Francisco Suzette Sherman of Seven Ponds explained to Connecting Directors the inspiration for a program about memorialization and dying rituals:
1. Loving Heart WillThe first presentation is focused on the creation of a heart will, a modern version of the ethical will which is a 3,500-year-old Judaic tradition. The heart will is a beautiful letter exposing of a person’s values, life lessons, forgiveness, and love to their survivors. It is a tradition being revived and Sally Shannon, an end-of-life planner at Threshold Coaching and Consulting, will discuss the history, meaning, and types of heart wills and present tools to create one. She will guide participants as they create their own heart will on site. 2. End-of-Life DoulaThe end-of-Life Doula is transforming the rituals of dying and remembrance. The practice that was until recently a strange fringe practice is increasingly becoming destigmatized and mainstream. This presentation led by Henry Fersko-Weiss will present an overview of the philosophy and spirit of service that underpins doula care, along with the various grounding tools and techniques that give comfort and meaning at the end of life. Additionally, Fersko-Weiss will perform a live demonstration of a ceremony of blessings that honors a persons last breaths and reflects on how their life has touched the lives of others. Henry Fersko-Weiss is the executive director and co-founder of the nonprofit International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). He was the first person in the U.S. to create a doula program at hospice. His book: Caring for the Dying: The Doula Approach to a Meaningful Death, was listed by the Library Journal as one of the best books of 2017. 3. Home FuneralsAnother emerging trend is families distancing themselves from traditional funeral home memorial rituals for the intimate home funeral. Caring for your own dead can be the ultimate expression of love, respect, and closure. The information surrounding death outside of the funeral home is vague and difficult to find, so Jerrigrace Lyons and Holly Blue will be presenting a hands-on demonstration of ways in which families can honor their dead in their own homes. They will touch on the laws and logistics involved with home funerals, and demonstrate the deeply moving process of natural death care: the ritual of bathing, dressing, and preserving the body to lie in honor for a home funeral. Jerrigrace Lyons of Final Passages is a pioneer in the field of home funeral guidance, having facilitated hundreds of family-directed home funerals. A minister, death midwife, home funeral guide and reiki master, she co-authored the book Creating Home Funerals. She has been featured in the NY & LA Times, Wall Street Journal and appeared on POV/PBS. Holly Blue Hawkins is the founder of Last Respects Consulting, an organization that helps individuals put their end-of-life matters in order. She also founded the Integral Thanatology Institute, which offers comprehensive education for death care practitioners. Holly Blue also has hands-on experience in tahara, the sacred Jewish ritual of preparing the body for natural burial. 4. Green BurialGreen Burial (or Natural Burial) is an increasingly popular option lead by the Green Movement, promoting environmentally conscious living. According to the Green Burial Council, green burial focuses on burial methods with “minimal environmental impact that aids in the conservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon emissions, protection of worker health, and the restoration and/or preservation of habitat. Green burial necessitates the use of non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets, shrouds, and urns. Connecting Director’s recently published a related eBook called “Top 6 Eco-Friendly Cremation Urns” available for free download here. This demonstration lead by Marcus Valera will teach attendees about what a modern-day green burial consists of and explore the practices and rituals involved in the Jewish tradition of natural burial. He will discuss green burial rituals, and lead participants in creating a ritual of their own by offering a personal gift in memory of someone they loved. Formerly at Fernwood, the Bay Areas first green burial cemetery, Marcus Valera has had many years of experience working with families to facilitate their choice of natural burial. He has helped families with the complete green burial process, from preparation of the body, the use of green burial products and the final ceremony. 5. Cremation RitualsEven though cremation is now the most popular end of life option in the United States (according to this recent CANA cremation statistics report) how it works is surprisingly mysterious for the average person. This presentation given by Ryan Laplant will demystify cremation answering basic questions about the process like “What do cremated remains look like?” and dig deeper into the details of the now common practice. Laplant will also speak about the practice of witnessing a cremation and discuss rituals for scattering a loved ones ashes. Participants will have the opportunity to decorate a cardboard cremation container. Ryan Laplant is a licensed funeral director and an experienced Bay Area crematory operator. He currently oversees all cremation operations at Pacific Interment. 6. Memory CelebrationsAnother emerging trend in the death care is the hyper-personalized memorial rituals, objects, and services to remember loved ones. Melissa Goldman will walk participants through a variety of end of life celebrations and discuss how she works with families to create personalized celebrations that reflect the beliefs and values of the person being honored. Melissa will then direct the audience in a beautiful on-site memory ritual. Melissa Goldman Moore is a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant who provides services through Returning to Ritual. She is also a Transformational Coach and a facilitator with Veriditas, an international organization that trains labyrinth facilitators and educates the public as to the benefits of a labyrinth and walking meditation as tools for spiritual healing. 7. Healing with MusicMusic speaks to our soul and the right music can be deeply comforting in times of remembrance and grief. Live music at each step of the end of life process is quickly becoming a life celebration trend. These events showcase 2 instruments and sounds that inherently speak to us on a visceral level in times of pain. Their sound carries us, even if just momentarily, to a place of comfort, confidence, and strength when we are feeling at our most hopeless. Healing Harp Music with Labyrinth, by Portia Diwa & Diana StorkFirst, Portia Diwa and Diana Stork will play peaceful, gentle music on the lever harp, demonstrating its ability to lift the spirit, ease anxiety and lessen emotional and physical pain. Attendees will walk a 24-sq-ft labyrinth accompanied by Celtic and Medieval harp music, creating a sacred space for remembrance and celebration of life. Portia Diwa is currently the Healing Harp Clinical Supervisor at the Institute for Health & Healing at California Pacific Medical Center. Portia also provides harp therapy at the bedside for patients who are seriously ill or at the end of life. Diana Stork has performed for labyrinth walks for over 25 years at Grace Cathedral. She is the founder and director of the Festival of Harps concert series and the Bay Area Youth Ensemble. Years ago, Diana worked with Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, which inspired her to play for hospice, cancer centers, and people with HIV/AIDS. Hang Drum at the Bedside, by Deb GrantIn the second performance, Deb Grant will introduce you to the hang drum and explain how she has used her music to bring families together, helping them form meaningful connections at the bedsides of the dying. She will also discuss how her music can help alleviate pain and mental suffering, and how she uses sound to explore themes that provide meaning at the end of life. She will play the hang drum to illustrate how music speaks what is inexpressible in words. A two time cancer survivor, Deb Grant has been a licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1999. She has a masters degree in social work with an emphasis on expressive arts, which led her to become a hospice social worker 12 years ago. Deb has sat with hundreds of hospice patients exploring the possibilities of solace, guidance and peace in her music. —————————————————————————————————– Sherman believes this is a pivotal moment for how we approach death and dying as a culture and she’s leading the movement with this program at Reimagine. Sherman explains:
Click Here to RSVP for this Free Life Celebration Trends Event Saturday, April 21, 2018, 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM in San FranciscoThe post 7 Emerging Life Celebration Trends Being Demonstrated at Reimagine 2018 appeared first on Connecting Directors. 7 Emerging Life Celebration Trends Being Demonstrated at Reimagine 2018 published first on YouTube via Tumblr 7 Emerging Life Celebration Trends Being Demonstrated at Reimagine 2018 |
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