July 2019

Page A41 JULY 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Ohio Funeral Directors Association Convention May 21-23, 2019 Hilton Columbus at Easton Photos by Elizabeth Roberts, Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment, Argenta, Illinois Golf Outing Participants get ready to tee off The Premier Midwest Funeral Service Expo Representatives of Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Cedar Rapids receive the IowaAward of Funeral Service Excellence. Iowa FDA Convention guard Iowa Partnership presented “De-Es- calation and Response to Active Threats,” and Wanda Sizemore of Homesteaders Life, Inc presented “Influencers of Ethics and Morality.” Following the morning sessions, there were three final hours of Expo time and lunch be- fore the drawing for seven $100 bills from those exhibitors who paid $25 to be on the drawing card. The Ladies Outing was led by Sandy Arm- strong. The ladies went to the Botanical Gardens where the ladies lunched together, toured the Botanical Gardens and learned the importance of botanicals. Following the expo, three concurrent ses- sions were presented. Leili McMurrough presented, “Law 101: Tort Liability,” and staff from the Securities Bureau Presented, “Iowa Preneed Laws and Rules,” while Size- more presented “The Evolving Consumer.” Late Wednesday afternoon featured three concurrent sessions, “Narcan Training,” by Sarah Ziegenhorn of the Iowa Harm Re- duction Coalition; “Clothing Consulting Fo- rum: The Rules for Business Dress,” present- ed by Tony Woods, Pat Langel, and Tanya Mansatt of Langel & Woods and; “Before They Close the Lid: How to Live Such a Life that People Won’t Have to Die at Your Fu- neral,” by Matt Soderstrum. AngelaWoosley of the University of Minne- sota presented, “Preventing Funeral Director’s Burnout Through Self Care,” on Wednesday evening. Wally Hooker of Friends & Family Fu- neral Home of Wingate, IN presented “Quality Body Preparation: From the Cot to the Chapel” on Thursday, May 16. Following Wally’s presentation, Bill Arm- strong closed the 139th Annual Convention. Many individuals who attended the con- vention remarked on the quality of the speakers, the variety of exhibitors, and the beautiful updates to the Prairie Meadows Events Center. The IFDA board of gover- nors has signed contracts to hold the IFDA convention at Prairie Meadows for the next five years on these dates: May 19-21, 2020 (golf outing on May 18); May 18-20, 2021 (golf outing on May 17); May 17-19, 2022 (golf outing on May 16); May 16-18, 2023 (golf outing on May 15); and May 14-16, 2024 (golf outing on May 13). Plan now to join them in 2020 for the 140th Annual IFDA Convention. Continued from Page A26 Photos by Elizabeth Roberts, Roberts & Downey Chapel Equipment, Argenta, Illinois