May 2021

Page B2 MAY 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on B CALENDAR of Events Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. Alan Wolfelt - May 03-06, 2021 Spirituality of Death, Grief, andMourning Training, Hilton Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www.centerforloss.com/ trainings drwolfelt@centerforloss.com Kansas Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - May 03-05, 2021, Topeka, KS. Exhibits. EVENT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. 785-232-7789. www.ksfda.org kfda@kfda. kscoxmail.com Utah Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - May 05-06, 2021, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Draper, UT. Exhibits. 801-263-3286. www.ufda.org ufda. org@gmail.com British Columbia Funeral Association Virtual AGM - May 06, 2021, Victoria, BC. 250-592-3213. www.bcfunerals.com info@ bcfunerals.com South Dakota Funeral Directors Assn 2021 Convention - May 12-14, 2021, Best Western PLUS Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center, Sioux Falls, SD. Exhibits. 605-246-9466. www. sdfda.org tkerr@triotel.net Western Canada Cemetery Association Webinar: Perpetual Care Fund Adequacy Analysis to Advance Toward Cemetery Long- TermSelf-sufficiency -May12, 2021, Saskatoon, SK. 403-507-9359. www.westerncemetery.com administration@westerncemetery.com Funeral and Cremation Services Council of Saskatchewan Spring Symposium - May 13-14, 2021, Saskatoon, BC. EVENT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. 306-584-1575. www.fcscs.ca administration@ funeralinfo.ca Louisiana Funeral Directors Association & Mississippi Funeral Directors Association (Joint Convention) - May 15-18, 2021, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, MS. 225-767- 7640. www.lfdaweb.org LFDA@tatmangroup. com Georgia Funl Serv Practitioners Assn Inc 2021 Annual Convention - May 16-19, 2021, Great Wolf Lodge, Lagrange, GA. 404-617- 9385. www.gfspa.net gfspaexsec@hotmail.com Int’l Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Assn ICCFA Annual Convention - May 17-21, 2021, Sterling, VA. Exhibits. EVENT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. (Originally Dated May 12-15, 2021) 703-391-8400. www.iccfa.com kspann@ iccfa.com Iowa Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - May 18-20, 2021, Prairie Meadows Hotel & Conference Center, Altoona, IA. Exhibits. 515-270-0130. www. iafda.org admin@iafda.org Indiana Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - May 25-27, 2021, Embassy Suites by Hilton Noblesville Conference Center, Noblesville, IN. 317-846- 2448. www.infda.org connie@infda.org Ontario Assn Of Cmtry & Fn Professionals 2021 Crematorium Operators Certification & Training - May 31 - Jun 01, 2021. EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 905-383-6528. www.oacfp.com info@oacfp.com Georgia Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 06-09, 2021, The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, St. Simons, GA. 770-592-8002. www.gfda.org staff@gfda.org Pennsylvania Cmtry, Crem & Funeral Assn 2021 Annual Meeting - Jun 06-08, 2021, Eden Resort & Suites, Lancaster, PA. 412-655- 4510. www.pccfa.com info@pccfa.com Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. Alan Wolfelt - Jun 07-10, 2021 Exploring the Shadows of the Ghosts of GriefTraining, Hilton Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www.centerforloss.com/ trainings drwolfelt@centerforloss.com Missouri Funl Directors & Embalmers Assn 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 07-08, 2021, Margaritaville at the Lake of Ozarks, Osage Beach, MO. Exhibits. 573-635-1661. www. mofuneral.org publications@mofuneral.org Arizona Funl Cemetery&Cremation Assn 2021 Annual Conference - Jun 07-11, 2021, Arizona Grand Resort and Spa, Phoenix, AZ. 602-909- 6135. www.azfcca.org director@azfcca.org Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 07-09, 2021, Radisson Hotel La Crosse, LaCrosse, WI. Exhibits. 608-256-1757. www.wfda.info office@wfda.info Funeral Directors Assn Of Kentucky 2021 Annual State Convention & Funeral Trade Show - Jun 08-09, 2021, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, KY. Exhibits. 800-866- 3211. www.fdaofky.com info@fdaofky.com Virginia Cemetery Association 2021 Annual Conference & Meeting - Jun 10-13, 2021. EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 804- 675-7502. www.virginiacemeteryassociation. com dimunn@asscmgmt.com Montana Funeral Directors Association 2021 Convention and Trade Show - Jun 10-13, 2021, Copper King Hotel, Butte, MT. Exhibits. 406-449-7244. www.montanafda.org info@ montanafda.org South Carolina Funeral Directors Assn 123rd Summer Convention - Jun 13-15, 2021, Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, Myrtle Beach, SC. 843-881-3634. www.scfda. org rion@scfda.org New Hampshire Funeral Directors Assn 2021 Summer Meeting - Jun 14-15, 2021, Ashworth by the Sea, Hampton Beach, NH. 603-903- 4699. www.nhfda.org nhfda1@gmail.com Funeral Service Association Of Canada Virtual Conference &Tradeshow - Jun 15-17, 2021, Toronto, ON. Exhibits. 888-507-3722. www.fsac.ca info@fsac.ca Virginia Morticians Association Inc 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 16-19, 2021, The Marriott City Center, Newport News, VA. 804- 469-9544. www.virginiamorticiansassociation.org vmainc@msn.com Tennessee Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 19-21, 2021, Embassy Suites, Franklin, TN. Exhibits. 615- 321-8792. www.tnfda.org dawn@tnfda.org Virginia Funeral Directors Association 133rd Annual Convention - Jun 20-22, 2021, Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA. 804-264-0505. www.vfda.net lwhittaker@vfda.net Idaho Funeral Service Association 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 20-22, 2021, Shore Lodge, McCall, ID. 208-888-2730. www.ifsa.us ifsa@ifsa.us SCCFA, GCA, NCCA, & SCCA (Joint Convention) - Jun 20-22, 2021, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, Hilton Head Island, SC. 770-490-6810. www.sccfa.info sccfa.office@gmail.com Michigan Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention and Exhibition - Jun 21-24, 2021, Traverse City, MI. 517-349- 9565. www.mfda.org pdouma@mfda.org Maryland State Funeral Directors Assn 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 21-24, 2021, Clarion Resort Fontainebleau Hotel, Ocean City, MD. 410-553-7706. www.msfda.net msfda@msfda.net National Alliance For Grieving Children 2021 Annual Symposium - Jun 23-25, 2021, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA. EVENT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A VIRTUAL FORMAT. 866-432-1542. www. childrengrieve.org vicki.jay@childrengrieve.org West Virginia Funeral Directors &Crematory Operators Assoc 2021 Convention - Jun 26- 29, 2021, Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV. Exhibits. 304-345-4711. www.wvfdcoa.org rlkimes@yahoo.com Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. AlanWolfelt - Jun 28 - Jul 01, 2021 Becoming an Effective Grief Educator, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www. centerforloss.com wolfelt@centerforloss.com Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. AlanWolfelt - Jun 28 - Jul 01, 2021 Becoming an Effective Grief Educator, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www. centerforloss.com wolfelt@centerforloss.com Illinois Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - Jun 28-30, 2021, Springfield, IL. Exhibits. EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. 217-525-2000. www.ifda.org mcarey@ifda.org Nebraska Funeral Directors Association 2021 Annual Convention - June 28-30, 2021, Embassy Suites, Lincoln, NE. EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED FROM APR 06-08, 2021. 402-761-2217. www.nefda.org staff@ nefda.org Professional Car Society 2021 International Meet - Jun 29 - Jul 03, 2021, Perrysville, OH. 973-862-6047. www.theprofessionalcarsociety. org hookjch@ptd.net TANEXPO 2021 International Funeral and Cemetery Exhibition - May 13-15, 2021, Bologna, Italy. Exhibits. RESCHEDULED FROM MAY 13-15, 2021. +39 051 282611. www.tanexpo.com info@tanexpo.com Florida Cemetery Cremation & Funl Assn Annual Convention & Trade Show - Jul 15- 17, 2021, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, FL. Exhibits. 800-226-3332. www. thefccfa.com elane@executiveoffice.org The Commander Initiative 2021 Virtual Symposium&Expo - Jul 15-17, 2021,Yorkville, IL. 847-987-0465. www.cooperprofessionals. com epitt@cooperprofessionals.com Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. Alan Wolfelt - Jul 19-22, 2021 Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Grief Training, Hilton Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www.centerforloss.com/trainings drwolfelt@ centerforloss.com Int’l Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Assn University - Jul 23-28, 2021, Emory Conference Center Hotel, Atlanta, GA. 703- 391-8400. www.iccfa.com kspann@iccfa.com National Funeral Directors Association Leadership Conference - Aug 01-04, 2021, Charleston, SC. 800-228-6332. www.nfda.org nfda@nfda.org Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars by Dr. Alan Wolfelt - Aug 09-12, 2021 Support Group Facilitator Training, Hilton Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO. 970- 226-6050. www.centerforloss.com/trainings drwolfelt@centerforloss.com Cremation Association Of North America 103rd Annual Convention and Trade Show - Aug 11-13, 2021, The Westin Seattle, Seattle, WA. Exhibits. 312-245- 1077. www.cremationassociation.org info@ cremationassociation.org Ontario Assn Of Cmtry & Fn Professionals Charity Golf Day - Aug 16, 2021 905-383- 6528. www.oacfp.com info@oacfp.com Washington State Funeral Directors Assn, Washington Cemetery Cremation & Fnl Assn (Joint Convention) - Aug 17-19, 2021, Icicle Village Resort, Leavenworth, WA. Exhibits. 509-608-0710. www.wsfda.org thewsfda@ gmail.com New York State Funeral Directors Assn 2021 Annual Convention - Aug 22-25, 2021, Saratoga Hilton & Saratoga Springs City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY. 518-452-8230. www.nysfda.org info@nysfda.org Assn Of Independent Fnl Hms Of Virginia 2021 Conference - Aug 22-23, 2021, Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach, Virginia Beach, VA. 804-643-0312. www.ifhv.org IFHVoffice@ gmail.com Academy Of Graduate Embalmers Of Georgia 2021 Annual Clinic - Aug 23-25, 2021, Forsyth, GA. POSTPONED FROM APR 12-14, 2021, 770-445-3180. www.ageg.org Ohio Funeral Directors Association 141st Annual Convention and Exhibition - Aug 24-26, 2021, Hilton Columbus at Easton, Columbus, OH. Exhibits. 614-486-5339. www.ofdaonline.org diana@ofdaonline.org Center For Loss & Life Transition Training Seminars byDr. AlanWolfelt - Aug 30 - Sep 02, 2021 Living with Meaning and Purpose in Your Life Training, Hilton Fort Collins, Fort Collins, CO. 970-226-6050. www.centerforloss.com/ trainings drwolfelt@centerforloss.com Submit Your Convention, Meeting or Seminar Online at www.nomispublications.com or send to: PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 Fax 1-800-321-9040 • Email info@nomispublications.com Additional Events online at www.nomispublications.com Within seven days of ordering, Spirit Pieces will send a collection kit for the cremains. Once returned, the Spir- it Pieces Memorial Art will typically take six weeks to create and ship. “Our society had lost an artistic connection with the end of life, and I made it my mission to change this,” says Blake. He founded Spirit Pieces in 2016 in memory of the passing of his grandmother. Beginning with a single glassblower, the company has grown to include 45 artists providing memorials to tens of thousands of families each year. “In the past few years, I’ve assembled a group of very talented artists dedicated towards helping families celebrate the life of their loved ones,” adds Blake. “We now carry the widest selection of handmade cre- mation ash keepsakes online, and we’re thrilled to be work- ing with dozens of talented artists to make this happen.” To learn more about Spirit Pieces and to become a dis- tributor, go to www.spiritpieces.com/distributor . Partici- pation is as simple as including a link in communications to client families, in social media messages, and/or on your website. Continued from Page B1 Spirit Pieces DALLAS,TX— Premier Preneed Marketing is ex- cited to announce a new aftercare offering that en- gages families via text mes- saging. “According to a study done by Salesforce this year, 84 percent of businesses use or plan to use texting in their sales and marketing efforts,” stated Jeff Wright, vice president of preneed at Premier Preneed Mar- keting. “Text communica- tion is the fastest-growing form of communication. It only makes sense for funer- al homes to leverage texting for aftercare, which can ul- timately benefit their pre- need marketing program.” The text messaging pro- gram offers a variety of communications that “checks in” with the fami- ly such as one text message that offers grief resources. Topics for other messages include: initial check-in; 30-day follow-up; benefits of pre-planning; birthday of the decease; and Veter- an’s Day (if applicable). “Not only does an effec- tive aftercare program help funeral homes continue to serve grieving families long after the death of a loved one, it helps gain addition- al preneed leads and refer- rals,” added Wright. “Also, a good aftercare program can help funeral homes to increase positive reviews on Google.” The new text system can help funeral homes build their reviews on Google. A link requesting a review is forwarded to the family via a text message. Once the family clicks on the link, they are taken to a page where they can quickly and simply complete a review. In addition to this new text messaging offering, Premier’s current aftercare program includes: Email: Customized after- care emails are automati- cally sent on behalf of the funeral home to the family every month and holidays after the funeral home en- ters the name and address of the grieving families on Premier’s Customer Rela- tionship System. Traditional Aftercare: Pre- mier continues to offer and assist funeral homes and agent partners with more traditional aftercare sup- port and lead programs. This includes a newsletter, letters of support, follow- up surveys, phone scripts, and community memorial services. Combining these tradi- tional programs with the new text and email pro- grams offers a complete package in supporting a fu- neral home’s families and communities. “At Premier Preneed Mar- keting, we are committed to providing an ever-grow- ing collection of marketing tools including traditional items like direct mail and digital marketing tactics like social media to help ensure our agents and fu- neral homes are successful,” added Wright. “Our cus- tomers have access to a full line of marketing resources for use with their families and the new Aftercare Text Messaging option is our lat- est offering.” For more information about this new texting pro- gram, view this video at http://bit.ly/premier-after- care-text, contact your Pre- mier Planning Specialist, or call 800-365-8208. Premier Preneed Market- ing has been providing pre- need support, training, and leading life insurance so- lutions to funeral homes throughout the country for more than fifty years. The company connects funeral homes with multiple carri- ers from which to choose and offers single pay, multi- pay, and preneed annu- ity options as well as stan- dard and guarantee issue plans. For more informa- tion about Premier Pre- need Marketing, visit pre- miersmi.com/preneed/. Premier Preneed Marketing Announces New Aftercare Offering