Searching for hashtags on social media is a great way to find content quickly. News outlets use hashtags so consumers can find information at the touch of a button. Couples create hashtags for their weddings to look back on pictures from their big day. Have you ever wondered what people posted on Instagram with #funeral? Probably not, but we found out anyway. Here are six #funeral Instagram posts that will make you LOL. 1. Is “finished his breathing practices” the politically correct way of saying someone died?2. What the #funeral Instagram?! Well, that’s one way to end a relationship.3. This takes “working your life away” to a whole new level.4. Pets are family and deserve the best the death care industry has to offer!5. What are friends for if they can’t complete this simple checklist?6. Everyone gets the best compliments at their own funeral, when it’s too late.It would be pretty interesting to see what hashtags people would come up with if hashtags for funerals became main stream. The post 6 #Funeral Instagram Pictures appeared first on Connecting Directors. 6 #Funeral Instagram Pictures published first on YouTube via Tumblr 6 #Funeral Instagram Pictures
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If there’s one trend that has surpassed all others in the death care industry, it’s cremation. This should come as to no shock to you, as a reported 48.5% of families are choosing cremation these days. But what are families doing with their cremated remains? According to Chris Keller, Vice President of Albuquerque-based French Funerals-Cremations […] The post Changing the Cremation Paradigm: Getting Cemeteries Back in the Game appeared first on funeralOne Blog. Changing the Cremation Paradigm: Getting Cemeteries Back in the Game published first on YouTube via Tumblr Changing the Cremation Paradigm: Getting Cemeteries Back in the Game Homesteaders Life Company, a national leader in pre-need funeral funding, has announced the release of the fifth edition of Pre-need Motivators. This publication provides information about the demographics, behavior and experiences of people who arrange and fund funerals in advance. “For more than a decade, funeral professionals have relied on insights from Pre-need Motivators to help them grow their pre-need programs,” said Dean Lambert, Homesteaders Senior VP-Marketing & Communications. “This completely updated fifth edition is particularly exciting because it examines the pre-need experience from the perspectives of both funeral directors and the client families we mutually serve.” In addition to providing results from a biennial survey of policy owners who prearranged and funded funerals with Homesteaders, this edition of Pre-need Motivators includes information from a new survey of funeral directors. This study provides feedback about funeral directors’ experiences when pre-need arrangements become at-need funerals, as well as their perceptions about their client families’ motivations for prearranging. “The research published in the latest Pre-need Motivators report reinforces that advance funeral planning continues to be highly valued by funeral professionals and consumers,” said Homesteaders Director-Research & Insights Pam Kleese. “Nearly all policy owners report that they are ‘completely’ or ‘very’ satisfied with their decision to prearrange, and 88% of funeral directors report that the at-need experience is better when a prearrangement exists.” Pre-need Motivators is now available as a free download at homesteaderslife.com/motivators. Funeral professionals may request a printed copy of the publication by contacting their Homesteaders account executive. Homesteaders Life Company, a mutual company owned by its policy holders, is a national leader providing products and services to promote and support the funding of advance funeral planning and end-of-life expenses. The post Homesteaders Releases All-New Fifth Edition of Pre-Need Motivators appeared first on Connecting Directors. Homesteaders Releases All-New Fifth Edition of Pre-Need Motivators published first on YouTube via Tumblr Homesteaders Releases All-New Fifth Edition of Pre-Need Motivators The Journey Group has named Inman Shipping Worldwide as their preferred provider of shipping services. Inman will assist on all shipments- domestic and international. By providing one point of contact for our shipments, Inman Shipping Worldwide will save time and allow The Journey Group associates to spend more time serving their families. “Associating ourselves with an established industry leader that is owned and run by a funeral director is the perfect fit for our funeral homes”, states Glenn McMillen, COO of The Journey Group. “We are honored to be named the Preferred Shipping provider by The Journey Group”, states Inman CEO David McComb. Inman offers over 40 years of experience bringing loved ones home for ceremony with over 450 experienced agents. Inman agents adhere to strict standards designed by industry expert Vernie Fountain of the Fountain Academy, in conjunction with NFDA legal counsel, Scott Gilligan. For more information: The Journey Group is the parent for a portfolio of companies that own and operation funeral homes, cemeteries and cremation businesses. Their focus is to help independent owners transition their businesses, maintain the local brand identity of the facilities they acquire and implement modern systems and business practices to improve performance. For more information on The Journey Group, visit www.thejourneygrp.com or call (281) 757-1130. For more information of the Travel Plan by Inman: Contact Lori Davis (260) 247-2202 or [email protected] The post The Journey Group Names Inman Shipping Worldwide as Preferred Shipping Provider appeared first on Connecting Directors. The Journey Group Names Inman Shipping Worldwide as Preferred Shipping Provider published first on YouTube via Tumblr The Journey Group Names Inman Shipping Worldwide as Preferred Shipping Provider It was recently announced that Iowa might join Minnesota and Ohio to become the third U.S. state to require a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science in order to gain a funeral director/embalmer license. This would be the first change to the Iowa funeral director license requirements in 60 years and it is being met with strong opinions for and against the proposed changes. Currently to obtain a combined funeral director/embalmer license in Iowa (and in most states) you are required to have the equivalent of an associate’s degree, the completion of an accredited mortuary science program, and passage of examinations. While the Iowa Funeral Directors Association wants to increase the qualifications to require a bachelor’s degree in order to obtain a license, many in the younger generation of directors see this change as adding more barriers to an industry already struggling to meet staffing demand. IFDA legislative council Michael Triplett explained his stance for the new education requirements to the the Des Moines Register:
Triplett implies that a student cannot be taught about “deal[ing] with fentanyl, ebola, AIDS” within the existing education requirements. In the funeral space, it would be unacceptable for a topic so crucial as body-conditions not to be covered before the license is issued. If Triplett is correct and the industry is indeed experiencing problems with “family dynamics and cultural experiences in Iowa [that] have changed radically…[since] 1955” than the education curriculum needs to change, not the level of education obtained. Triplett explains his second point saying:
Vicki Lensing of co-owner of Lensing Funeral Home shares a similar opinion saying:
The troubling lining of Triplett’s and Lensing’s arguments is that it assumes that intelligent college educated adults cannot make rational decisions about their own future. Triplett wants to “reward” students with a bachelor degree for their work by requiring them spend more money and an additional year of studying. Currently, if an individual studying mortuary science wants to spend an extra 30 credit hours obtaining a bachelor degree – they can. Further, Lensing’s motherly concern for mortuary science students neglects to acknowledge that someone unsatisfied with their career choice in any field has the ability to return to school later to obtain a required or satisfactory degree. Finally, we need to look at the practical attainability of a mortuary science bachelor’s degree in the state of Iowa. Currently, there is only one school offering a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science – Upper Iowa University on their Fayette campus. Here, you can get the degree in 3 years and complete the necessary schooling with a total estimated cost of around $86,550. If the education requirements do not change and students do not need a bachelor’s degree in mortuary science to get their funeral director/embalmer license, than one could attend Des Moines Area Community College’s nationally accredited program and complete the necessary schooling with a total estimated cost of around $20,000. Not only is it rare to find a mortuary science bachelor’s degree program in Iowa, its incredibly costly, especially for a job that will pay an entry-position salary of around $30,000 24-year-old Lance Angstman, a funeral director at Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, told the Des Moines Register:
Richard Slade, owner of Slade-O’Donnell Funeral Home for nearly four decades, said:
With the overwhelming evidence showing that tightening education requirements will lead to damaging Iowa’s funeral landscape, putting a financial strain on young men and women entering the field, and will ultimately cause a decrease in new students in an already understaffed space… then why is the IFDA pushing to do this? The answer could lay in the looming threat of widespread industry change due to innovative (and well funded) startups like Parting.com and Meet Grace. The more regulations the industry can put in place now, the safer they feel from outside change. Additionally, by making the education requirements stricter, one can make the funeral industry appear incomprehensibly complex and inaccessible, warding off potential disrupters. But there is a fine line to walk as we’ve watched 44% of the funeral homes in NYC close since 1991 (Crain’s NY) due to a variety of factors including staffing problems and unnecessary overhead due to over-regulation and fees. Des Moines Register reports that “Triplett and IFDA executive director Suzanne Gebel insisted that they’d receive agreement from one of the state universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents to provide a public mortuary science [bachelor’s] program option before proceeding.” Ultimately, the effects of this requirement change in Iowa would be minor. The funeral industry is known for being short staffed and having staffing quality problems and those problems will continue and likely get worse if the the new regulations are passed. The reason this decision is important is because it signifies a direction for the funeral industry at-large. Will we continue on the regulated protectionist stance pursued over last century or will we deregulate and open up the industry to allow for more employment opportunities, more innovation, less fees for funeral homes (more retained revenue), and more choices for customers? Pat Leonard, who owns Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory in Dubuque, is secretary-treasurer of the IFDA and has served as a past president to the Des Moines Register:
Leonard’s cavalier statement asking people to “calm down,” might be realistic considering the size of Iowa in relationship to more influential states, but the hype isn’t about Iowa. This seemingly insignificant decision carries iconic implications for whats to come for the funeral industry at-large and it is being watched anxiously by industry leaders awaiting a glimpse into the future of death care regulation. View Listings on Death Care JobsTo understand more about the history, current state, and future of funeral industry regulations in the United States we strongly encourage you to read the brilliant essay “Regulated to Death” by Tanya Marsh published by The Wake Forest Journal of Law & Policy. Click here to download it free.The post Iowa’s New Mortuary Education Proposal May Spark State-wide Staff Drought appeared first on Connecting Directors. Iowa’s New Mortuary Education Proposal May Spark State-wide Staff Drought published first on YouTube via Tumblr Iowa’s New Mortuary Education Proposal May Spark State-wide Staff Drought FrontRunner Professional today announced details for the annual Caribbean Workshop Cruise for funeral professionals including dates, workshop topics and cruise rates. The workshop cruise brings funeral professionals from across the United States and Canada together for a week of fun, and learning. This year’s 8-day, 7 Night Eastern Caribbean cruise will take place on Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest ship; Symphony of the Seas, setting sail from Miami, FL on February 16, 2019, and visiting the islands of St. Thomas, St. Maarten and The Bahamas. “This years itinerary is designed to give funeral professionals the break they need and the education they are looking for” says Ashley Montroy, CMO of FrontRunner Professional. “We attend a lot of conventions and the biggest thing we hear from funeral directors is that they don’t learn enough about technology or marketing in order to actually grow their business and better serve families. So, for this years workshops we’ll be teaching attendees the successful blueprints that we use to grow our client’s businesses, some experiencing growth of 300%-700%” concludes Montroy. “It’s going to be a big year for the workshop cruise. We’ve planned a great lineup of speakers, which we will announce in the coming weeks, and a special event just for the group” adds Montroy. “With the FrontRunner team there, ready to help take their business to the next level, and the opportunity to talk with and learn from funeral professionals across North America, it will be a working vacation they will never forget.” concludes Montroy. For more information on this year’s workshop cruise or to put a deposit on your cabin, visit www.FrontRunner360.com/cruise. All deposits made by August 1, 2018 will automatically enter to win a VIP cruise experience including luxury limousine transportation. FrontRunner is the leading full service technology and marketing company offering the only truly integrated solution on the market. To learn more about what FrontRunner can do for your firm visit them online at www.FrontRunner360.com, or contact them at 1-866-748-3625. The post FrontRunner Announces 2019 Caribbean Workshop Cruise for Funeral Professionals appeared first on Connecting Directors. FrontRunner Announces 2019 Caribbean Workshop Cruise for Funeral Professionals published first on YouTube via Tumblr FrontRunner Announces 2019 Caribbean Workshop Cruise for Funeral Professionals Richmond, IN – One Source Prime is pleased to announce the addition of another quality supplier to their innovative bulk purchasing program. VerPlank Enterprises, with their production facility in Iron City, TN, manufactures high-quality 16 and 18 gauge carbon steel caskets as well as stainless steel, copper and bronze models. For the One Source Prime program, VerPlank will make available several of their high-end 18 gauge steel round end caskets as well as their unique square corner Sportsman casket featuring a camouflage interior licensed from Realtree®. Additional VerPlank casket models are under consideration to be added to the One Source Prime program in the coming months. “We are excited by the opportunity to reach a much broader market with our specialty caskets,” commented VerPlank Enterprises President Elizabeth (Betsy) V. Kerl VerPlank. “One Source Prime is a truly innovative way to offer our popular products beyond our current distribution footprint.” “We are thrilled to add VerPlank Enterprises’ premium caskets to our growing list of casket suppliers that manufacture here in the US,” added Gerald H. Davis, President of One Source Prime. “We look forward to adding more, high-quality products from other independent, domestic suppliers to the One Source Prime catalog over the next few months. Participation in the One Source Prime program is easy; customers simply place their orders with a One Source Prime product specialist at 833-871-4677. The product specialist will then work with the funeral professional to help mix and match products that meet their needs at the lowest possible price. The team is experienced at taking full advantage of the floor and cube space within a trailer to achieve maximum savings while helping ensure products arrive safely and damage free. For more information, contact a One Source Prime customer service specialist at 833-871-4677 or visit www.onesourceprime.us. About One Source Prime: One Source Prime provides casket distributors, funeral homes, vault companies and even crematories a conduit to purchase ½ and full semi-load quantities of caskets from Astral, C J Boots, Southern Craft, VerPlank and Vision Casket combined with Starmark Cremation Product that are delivered to one location. There is no other one stop competitive source for such a wide variety of products. Funeral professionals looking for the ultimate savings on caskets and cremation products only need to call one number to order at the lowest possible factory direct prices. About VerPlank Enterprises: VerPlank Enterprises Inc. manufactures high quality 18 gauge and 16 gauge carbon steel, stainless steel, copper and bronze caskets. They offer a ready-to-ship line of caskets, in addition to their line of custom-built caskets. They also can design caskets to fulfill a customer’s specifications. In addition, they offer custom colors and specialty units, such as the elliptic, priest, and oval glass. The post VerPlank Enterprises Joins One Source Prime Program appeared first on Connecting Directors. VerPlank Enterprises Joins One Source Prime Program published first on YouTube via Tumblr VerPlank Enterprises Joins One Source Prime Program Finding the right Memorial Day content to express your gratitude and honoring those who have fallen for our country can be difficult when you are busy servicing your community. Your brand’s voice is important and we want to help deliver your message of “Honor and Remembrance” to your audience and community. In the spirit of transparency, respect and thanks for your support, here is FREE Memorial Day content for your Facebook and social media outlets. Just download, post, and participate in the conversation on your favorite social media platform. Included in the download:
Don’t miss this easy and effective video to build your brand! Happy Memorial Day from the team at Connecting Directors and DISRUPT Media. The post Download Our FREE Memorial Day Video appeared first on Connecting Directors. Download Our FREE Memorial Day Video published first on YouTube via Tumblr Download Our FREE Memorial Day Video Each year, Inc. Magazine highlights 30 of the most impressive entrepreneurs under 30-years-old to inspire the business community. This year, Adelle Archer, founder of Eterneva was featured in the May edition of Inc. Magazine in an article that starts “Meet the 30 Most Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs of 2018…” – Archer was featured on the cover. The young entrepreneur co-founded Eterneva, an Austin-based memorial diamonds company, with Garrett Ozar in 2016 and it has since skyrocketed into the memorial diamond space competing with industry staples like LifeGem. In just the first year, Eterneva generated $280,000 in sales, and Archer projects $2 million in revenue for 2018. The post MEET ONE OF DEATHCARE’S MOST INSPIRING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS | FUNERAL Nation 112 appeared first on Connecting Directors. MEET ONE OF DEATHCARE’S MOST INSPIRING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS | FUNERAL Nation 112 published first on YouTube via Tumblr MEET ONE OF DEATHCARE’S MOST INSPIRING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS | FUNERAL Nation 112 FrontRunner today announced the unveiling of the new GPS enabled App, Final Resting Place, which allows funeral homes, cemeteries and families to record the exact location of a loved ones remains. The app is designed to provide future generations with a permanent location that can be visited like any other traditional grave site. The App can be downloaded by funeral homes, cemeteries and the public at large. It enables users to record their loved ones final resting place, whether it be in a cemetery or ashes spread in the middle of an ocean, which is then converted to GPS coordinates. Those coordinates are instantly attached to the Book of Memories Memorial Website to be permanently accessible online for future generations. In addition, it allows for a photo of the headstone or other key landmarks to be attached. “Today, with such a rise in cremation and particularly with the scattering of cremated remains in remote, meaningful places, we wanted to create a simple tool that will allow future generations to return to the location and honor their loved one’s memory,” says Jason Truesdell, President of FrontRunner Professional. “It is a tremendous example of a great use of technology. There are a lot of families that take their deceased loved one to a specific location as their final resting place, without recording the location. Now, future generations will know exactly where to visit, years down the road,” concludes Truesdell. For funeral homes, the App is particularly powerful as it gives them a form of mapping system attached to the Book of Memories memorial tribute page. It’s a service for their families that focuses on more than just helping the family today, but also years down the road, setting them further apart from their competition. When it comes to smaller cemeteries that have limited budgets, the App can also be used as a no-cost platform to map out their cemetery. With a custom website solution and a memorial website platform, families will now be able to interact with and expand their loved one’s memorial and even assist in the cemetery mapping process by recording the final resting place themselves. FrontRunner is a client focused Technology and Marketing integrated solutions company designed to exceed client’s expectations when it comes to innovation, service, support and business growth. For more information about FrontRunner, visit www.1FrontRunner.com or contact a FrontRunner team member at 1-866-748-3625. The post FrontRunner Unveils its New ‘Final Resting Place’, GPS Enabled App appeared first on Connecting Directors. FrontRunner Unveils its New ‘Final Resting Place’, GPS Enabled App published first on YouTube via Tumblr FrontRunner Unveils its New ‘Final Resting Place’, GPS Enabled App |
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