Podcasts have hit just about every industry and scene out there in the last couple of years, and the funeral profession is no exception. As we continue to step into the future of the funerals, this journey will require more inspiration, more drive, more education and more collaboration from us. And podcasts… well, they just […] The post 6 Death Industry Podcasts Every Funeral Professional Should Follow appeared first on funeralOne Blog. 6 Death Industry Podcasts Every Funeral Professional Should Follow published first on YouTube via Tumblr 6 Death Industry Podcasts Every Funeral Professional Should Follow
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Go with us to the mountains of Salt Lake City for NFDA 2018! You’ll get a look at the expo and the ‘inside baseball’ conversations that take place. Increasing call volume and pre-need is the focus with most conversations, and it is interesting to see how many funeral professionals understand that technology has to be a part of the equation. That said, you will hear a common theme in most of Ryan’s conversations: RELATIONSHIPS. Everyone wants more calls and more pre-need, but the missing component is the relationship with the consumer. Watch this episode, and you’ll get a first-hand look at how relationships play a fundamental roll in driving call volume and pre-need. About Ryan Thogmartin: Ryan Thogmartin is a deathcare 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. Schedule a demo: https://www.disruptmedia.co The post Relationships are the Foundation and the Leverage | Funeral Hustle 025 appeared first on Connecting Directors. Relationships are the Foundation and the Leverage | Funeral Hustle 025 published first on YouTube via Tumblr Relationships are the Foundation and the Leverage | Funeral Hustle 025 It’s finally here! The Before I Die New Mexico Festival starts tomorrow, October 30, and goes through Sunday, November 4, 2018. With a full schedule of upbeat events, conversations, and parties, the second annual BID Festival promises an exciting look into how people are thinking and talking about death and dying in these modern times. […] via Tumblr Time’s Up! Before I Die NM Festival Starts Tomorrow The boys are back from the 2018 NFDA Internation Convention and Expo! __________ The post Wanna Hear the Biggest Acquisition Rumor from NFDA 2018? | FUNERAL nation 128 appeared first on Connecting Directors. Wanna Hear the Biggest Acquisition Rumor from NFDA 2018? | FUNERAL nation 128 published first on YouTube via Tumblr Wanna Hear the Biggest Acquisition Rumor from NFDA 2018? | FUNERAL nation 128 NFDA Convention offers incomparable education and networking and the biggest funeral expo in a stunning setting Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) 2018 International Convention & Expo, held October 14-17 in Salt Lake City, Utah, drew 4,029 total attendees (2,464 attendees and 1,565 exhibitor representatives). A total of 315 international attendees, representing 29 countries and territories, participated in the 2018 NFDA Convention. The Expo Hall featured 329 exhibiting companies which filled 82,800 square feet of space (828 10’ x 10’ booth spaces). The NFDA convention proved to be an exceptional experience for all who were able to attend. The convention featured an outstanding slate of workshops, many of which were at or near capacity, that challenged attendees to think about funeral service in new ways while offering practical strategies to help them understand the evolving needs and desires of the bereaved families. Topics included embalming and restorative art, the opioid crisis, helping families who are grieving a death due to tragic circumstances, marketing, compliance and more. The Expo Hall was a highlight for many attendees because, in addition to connecting with their valued supplier partners, they also discovered new products and services they can offer to families in their communities. From the rousing red-carpet themed Welcome Party to the heights of the Wasatch Mountains for an Oktoberfest-themed closing party, attendees had many opportunities to network and have fun while experiencing everything that makes Salt Lake City one of the country’s hidden gems. NFDA Highlights Consumer Outreach Initiatives During the Monday General Session, NFDA CEO Christine Pepper highlighted the significant strides NFDA has made during the past year to educate consumers about the value of funerals and the important role that funeral directors play in helping families heal after the death of a loved one. “The association committed to finding more and better ways to tell your story,” Pepper said. “Our most significant initiatives focused on helping consumers understand the value of funerals and funeral directors. From a new consumer website to expanded public relations, we are putting funeral service in front of consumers like we have never done before.” RememberingALife.com is a new NFDA initiative that educates and empowers consumers to make informed decisions about funerals and memorialization. RememberingALife.com also highlights the unique expertise of funeral directors in planning a meaningful service. It is a multi-faceted approach that includes, not only the RememberingALife.com website, but also printed materials, social media and a comprehensive public relations strategy. “In March, we launched RememberingALife.com, a website packed with useful resources for consumers,” Pepper explained. “It’s a place where they can find valuable information, whether they just experienced the death of a loved one or are preplanning a funeral. For many years, you’ve asked us to help educate the public about what you do and the value of a meaningful funeral. This website does that and more. The site provides information that encourages people to remember and honor their loved ones in ways that will help them reflect, mourn and begin to grieve. And when a consumer searches for a funeral home, the site’s directory connects them directly with an NFDA-member.” The association also debuted the first in a series of public service announcements to help families that have experienced a tragic death. When a loved one dies in a tragic way such as by drug overdose or violence, family members may think a funeral is not appropriate. They may not understand how important it is to have the support of friends and family or how a funeral can help them during this difficult time. NFDA hopes to help families that have experienced a tragic death to understand that a funeral is appropriate and how it can benefit them. The new public service announcements, along with a consumer brochure, convey that regardless of how someone died, they should be remembered by having a funeral. More information about these resources will be available soon. NFDA also introduced the winners of the RememberingALife.com Film Contest. The winning films, along with several honorable mentions, made their debut during the NFDA Convention and were available for viewing in the RemberingALife.com Area in the Convention Center. Earlier this year, NFDA invited amateur and professional filmmakers from around the world to create films that help convey the importance and power of memorializing lives. Three winning films were selected for their ability to inspire others to remember the lives of their loved ones. “As funeral directors, you see the wide variety of ways people share the story of a person’s life through their funeral,” said Pepper. “It’s important to remember. It’s important to pay tribute. These short films give you a glimpse into three lives.” The first-place winning film, A Brief & Concise History of Things and Other Things, was inspired by Sidney Butler’s family and illustrates how she sees us all connected to society in a bigger way. The second-place film, Tio Lino, was created by Adrian Burrell. It follows the life of an elderly gentleman who chose to devote his time and talents to serving his community and the disadvantaged youth in his neighborhood. The third-place film, Art Can Save You – The Story of Shari Kadar and 1,000 Colored Eggs was made by Austin Meyer. It tells the story of a World War II refugee from Hungary who came to America and discovered her passion for art. NFDA has arranged for its members to use the films selected as winners or honorable mentions to promote the value of funerals and memorialization, such as by posting films on their firm’s website or social media sites or using them in community presentations. More information about how members can use the films is available online, www.nfda.org/rememberingalife (member login required). Giving Hearts On Saturday, October 13, 19 volunteers shared their time and talents with Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity. This year, volunteers worked a side-by-side duplex. One of the future residents of this home is Kinsella, a single mother of three children, ages 23, 15, and 8, who has always wanted to own her own home. She has already completed her 250 hours of sweat equity but continues to work on the duplex because she wants to keep an eye on its progress and enjoys learning about home building concepts and maintenance. Thanks, in part, to the generosity of NFDA volunteers, the Kinsella and her family will realize their American dream of home ownership in her beloved community of Salt Lake City. The Power of Music A highlight of the 2018 NFDA Convention was the Service of Remembrance. The power of music is undeniable. It can invoke the deepest feelings or instantly whisk you away to the fondest moments of the past preserved in sweet memories of the people and places that mean the most. The service explored the importance and healing power of music at funerals. During the service, attendees enjoyed performances by NFDA member Austin O’Neal of Cochran Funeral Home in Blue Ridge, Ga., who played the piano, and local musical groups the Saltaires and One Clear Voice, both of which included members of the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir. As is NFDA’s custom, the Service of Remembrance was also a time for attendees to remember and honor the memory of colleagues and family members who died during the last year. NFDA Honors Funeral Service All Stars During the All-Star Recognition Ceremony, NFDA recognized funeral professionals who, within the last year, earned their NFDA Cremation Certification (Certified Crematory Operator or Certified Cremation Services Provider designation); NFDA Certified Preplanning Consultant designation; or their Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP) designation from the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice. NFDA also honored recipients of a Foundation ’45 scholarship or award from the Funeral Service Foundation, and the NFDA International Professional Achievement Certificate. Additionally, NFDA paid tribute to the funeral homes that are Green Funeral Practice Certificate holders and 2018 Pursuit of Excellence Award recipients – including the Best of the Best Award winners, Hall of Excellence inductees and the inaugural recipient of the Richard Myers Pinnacle Award – during the All-Star Recognition Ceremony. Big Winners During the Monday General Session, NFDA presented the 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award to ASD – Answering Service for Directors. The company was recognized for its Web Form Watchdog. Established in 2009, the NFDA Members’ Choice Award (formerly the Innovation Award) recognizes and promotes creativity, innovation and excellence among funeral service suppliers and vendors. During the Wednesday General Session, NFDA recognized Envision Strategic Partners as the winner of the Most Memorable Booth Contest, a competition for first-time exhibitors. Attendees voted for the booth that left a lasting impression on them with friendly, knowledgeable staff and a stellar booth design. NFDA also gave out fabulous prizes to attendees in the Great Big Giveaway, held during the Wednesday General Session. During Expo Hall hours on Wednesday morning, NFDA’s valued sponsors handed out tickets for a chance to win fabulous prizes. The winners were:
NFDA Convention Photos Now Available Professional photographers captured all of the excitement of the 2018 NFDA Convention. All of the photos can be viewed at www.nfda.org/saltlake. Attendees may download as many photos as they like at no charge; prints and other keepsake items are available for purchase. Planning Underway for 2019 The 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo will take place October 27-30, in Chicago, Ill. Chicago’s great magic lies in its mix: sophisticated yet friendly, bustling city streets adjacent to long stretches of green parks and sparkling blue Lake Michigan, and a stunning year-round array of things to see and do unique in all the world. Chicago is more walkable than most global cities, and visitors of all ages enjoy the proximity of such attractions as Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and other treasures. The city’s explosive performance art scene delivers audience-thrilling theatre, music and dance in historic venues. And, of course, an endless assortment of restaurants, high-end shopping on the famous Magnificent Mile and nightlife are all at visitors’ fingertips, ready to match every taste, budget and mood. Information about the 2019 NFDA Convention will be available soon on the NFDA website. Sponsors NFDA thanks its 2018 International Convention & Expo sponsors for their continued support:
About NFDA NFDA is the world’s leading and largest funeral service association, serving more than 20,000 individual members who represent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest advocate for the profession. NFDA is the association of choice because it offers funeral professionals comprehensive educational resources, tools to manage successful businesses, guidance to become pillars in their communities and the expertise to foster future generations of funeral professionals. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., and has an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nfda.org. Photo Credit: International Center for Documentary Arts The post Salt Lake Success appeared first on Connecting Directors. Salt Lake Success published first on YouTube via Tumblr Salt Lake Success The Domani Group, a preneed firm serving funeral homes across the United States, announced today their selection of the Travel Plan by Inman as their travel plan provider. Their Executive team has a long history in preneed and serving the death care community. Jon Lefrandt, CEO, commented, “The Travel Plan by Inman is a product that provides value and peace of mind to the families we serve. We appreciate that the owner of the Travel Plan by Inman, Dave McComb, is a funeral director and understands the needs of funeral professionals and the families they serve.” “We look forward to working with The Domani Group and their funeral homes,” said Dave McComb, Inman Shipping Worldwide CEO. “I believe the core of our industry starts with preneed.” The Travel Plan by Inman offers families’ peace of mind in knowing loved ones will not have to worry about details or cost should they die away from home. A one-time fee of $450 covers the cost of bringing a loved one home for ceremony if they die more than 100 miles from home. This coverage is good for anywhere in the world. Costs could range anywhere from $1,500 – $15,000. For more information on The Domani Group: Contact Riley Facer, Co-founder (801) 372-8762 or [email protected]. Visit www.thedomanigroup.com. For more information of the Travel Plan by Inman: Contact Lori Davis (260) 247-2202 or lori.davis@shipinman. Visit www.shipinman.com. The post The Domani Group Selects The Travel Plan by Inman As Their Travel Plan Provider appeared first on Connecting Directors. The Domani Group Selects The Travel Plan by Inman As Their Travel Plan Provider published first on YouTube via Tumblr The Domani Group Selects The Travel Plan by Inman As Their Travel Plan Provider Why isn’t death a trending topic? Even though humans have a 100% mortality rate, people only seem to talk about death and dying in hushed tones and behind closed doors, if they talk about it at all. Its high time death came out of the closet. If you agree, make plans to attend the Before […] via Tumblr Things You Need To Know Before You Die Halloween, also known as the “witches New Year”, is a great time to be a funeral director. There are so many fun ways to celebrate and create a little humor with your co-workers and community. That is, if you’re not too busy to celebrate! Just in case you do find yourself extra busy this Halloween […] The post 15 Punny Halloween Costumes Only Funeral Directors Would Understand appeared first on funeralOne Blog. 15 Punny Halloween Costumes Only Funeral Directors Would Understand published first on YouTube via Tumblr 15 Punny Halloween Costumes Only Funeral Directors Would Understand
ASD was named the winner of the 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award at the annual convention last week in Salt Lake City, UT. This prestigious award is given annually to a funeral service vendor whose product or service was introduced during the previous year and represents creativity, innovation and excellence. ASD was honored to have two submissions selected as finalists this year and received the award in recognition of our Web Form WatchDog™ feature.
With a growing number of people going online to research funeral options, web queries are becoming much more common and will only increase in frequency over time. Most funeral home websites have a ‘Contact Us’ form instructing visitors to leave their information and reason for contacting. When a form is submitted, it often is sent to a single, generic email address that is not monitored 24/7. As a result, funeral directors often don’t see them until the following day, if at all, and the family might contact a competitor in the meantime. In response to this dilemma, ASD created Web Form WatchDog™ to help funeral professionals become more responsive to submitted web forms. This feature allows ASD to monitor our clients’ web inquiries and immediately alert them when an urgent need is communicated. ASD’s Web Form WatchDog™ can be added to any existing funeral home website. It was built to complement ASD’s extensive array of web and mobile tools that help funeral homes stay better connected to their communities. It is fully compatible with the ASD Mobile app and ASD’s internal website, allowing directors to easily access their web forms from any device. When a web form is submitted, ASD will follow the designated contact preferences that have been specified by the on-call director. If no response is received within a predetermined time, the current on-call person will be contacted via a phone call to ensure the message is handled in a timely manner. ASD is honored to be recognized by the NFDA with our fourth Innovation Award in support of a feature that helps funeral professionals offer the highest level of customer service to their website visitors. Established in 2009, The NFDA Members’ Choice Award (formally called the NFDA Innovation Award) represents the pinnacle of achievement for a funeral service vendor. By encouraging innovation within our industry, this award inspires companies within the funeral profession to seek out new ideas, technologies, and processes to make a positive impact on funeral directors and the families they serve. The Opening General Session of #NFDA2018 after it was announced ASD was the winner of the 2018 Members’ Choice Award While no other company has won this award more than once, ASD is proud to now be a four-time recipient. Year after year, our company has demonstrated how fully committed we are to seeking out new and inventive ways to resolve communication issues for funeral directors. Our company was also honored to be nominated this year for our Spanish Translation Services. Watch as ASD Vice President and Family-Member Owner, Kevin Czachor, accepts the 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award from Past President, Kenneth Cahall, at the 2018 Convention Opening General Session last week. ASD Family-Member Owner, Kathy Kelley, was also onstage during the award announcement as ASD was honored to be the only company ever recognized as a finalist by the NFDA twice in the same year. It was wonderful to hear from so many funeral professionals, both in attendance at the convention and on our social media pages, how much they appreciated our new Web Form WatchDog™ feature and other solutions we have created to make life easier for on-call funeral directors. We are glad to be able to give our clients peace of mind knowing their web communications will be protected and monitored 24/7 by a company they already know and trust. Thank you to everyone who voted for ASD’s WebForm WatchDog™ to receive this prestigious award. We couldn’t have done it without your help and support! Be sure to check ASD’s blog later this month for more for a complete recap of our time in Salt Lake City at the 2018 NFDA Convention.Interested in learning more about the important role of web communications in funeral home customer service? Watch Kevin Czachor (Vice President and Family-Member Owner of ASD), Ryan Thogmartin (CEO and Owner of Disrupt Media), and Peter Richardson (Co-Owner of CFS – Consolidated Funeral Services) discuss the importance of online communication for funeral homes in the Homesteaders Life Company panel filmed during the 2018 NFDA Convention. The post ASD Wins 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award for Company’s Web Form WatchDog Feature appeared first on Connecting Directors. ASD Wins 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award for Company’s Web Form WatchDog Feature published first on YouTube via Tumblr ASD Wins 2018 NFDA Members’ Choice Award for Company’s Web Form WatchDog Feature In a world that sees death as something to vanquish, the 45-minute documentary Living While Dying presents an alternative: people living with terminal illness on hospice who greet the inevitable with courage, humor, creativity and acceptance. The subject is difficult. The film is surprisingly uplifting. Death is a big mystery, yet the outcome is 100% […] via Tumblr ‘Living While Dying’ Illuminates How to Live Life to the Fullest |
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