2023 Agenda

Learn the top Funeral Rule compliance issues and the steps your funeral home can take to avoid FTC Funeral Rule violations. Hear the latest information on the FTC review of the Funeral Rule which kicked off at the beginning of 2020 as well as a discussion of how the review process will play out. (1 CE hour)

While the value of compassion in funeral care has gained increased attention, it remains a neglected focus of training. Vicarious trauma leading to compassion fatigue is changing the way funeral professionals think about self-care. Participants will explore how repeated exposure to traumatic deaths coupled with lengthy, irregular hours and the constant output of empathy can affect their cognition and emotional balance. Learn 10 evidence-based techniques designed to mitigate the effects before it leads to career burnout. (1 CE hour)

The LGBTQA and transgendered communities face discrimination and difficulty navigating all areas of their lives – why should they face this in death, too? This comprehensive presentation will bring attendees up to speed on common terminology and pronoun usage and reveal how to effectively serve this community through specific examples of common situations a funeral professional might face. Attendees will also learn methods of preparing and cosmetizing the transgender decedent in a respectful and appropriate manner. (1 CE hour)

AI has come a long way since its inception and its growth has been exponential. The original purpose of AI was to take on routine tasks and automate them to free up time. AI has grown since then and now can create, plan and make more complex decisions. This is a powerful combination of tools but where does this fit in your toolbox to assist families? How do you leverage AI in the workplace? This seminar will cover types of AI you can use in your work environment to streamline process giving you and your team more time to service your families. (1 CE hour)

Community is incredibly important to today’s consumers. You get points for being a good corporate citizen, points for protecting the environment, points for recycling, up-cycling, and for the local charities you support. We’ll look at what you can do locally to become a better corporate citizen, engage potential customers, and encourage your community to see your business as a local partner. You’ll learn: How to be present in local activities; an easy exercise to help you brainstorm ideas; how to create partnership promotions with other successful, non-competing businesses; how to utilize Cause Marketing; why it’s necessary to toot your own horn, plus PR tricks to help you capture media attention. (2 CE hours)

Dr. Bordere will address diversity, equity, and inclusion in work with bereaved families. Drawing from research and case studies, she will examine individual and systemic factors that impact the meaning-making and experiences of families in after-death care. In a safe and supportive learning environment, participants will have opportunities to develop skills in uncovering systems of oppression, self-reflective practices, alliance formation, and culturally conscientious service delivery to diverse populations. (1 CE hour)

The older generation of embalmers are “passing the baton” to the newer generation of embalmers. Those “old school” embalmers have many tips, tricks, and techniques they can pass down, and the “new school” has many innovations and improvements. Sadly, many old school embalmers don’t want to learn “new tricks” and the new school embalmers think the old school is outdated. This presentation will prove how both can coexist and are very much needed to step up everyone’s skills in the prep room so every family can have the final farewell of their loved one.  Pictures, instructional techniques, and videos illustrating old and new techniques will be included. (1 CE hour)

There are funds available through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) to help lessen the financial burden on homicide victims′ families to pay for funerals, grief counseling, and other services. However, individuals living in underserved and underrepresented communities don′t always know these resources are available to them or are unable to easily access them. Funeral directors are in a unique position to serve as the bridge that connects families of homicide victims to crime victim compensation and assistance. This becomes especially important in the aftermath of gun violence when there may be multiple victims and resources are stretched thin. During this panel, you will hear from representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime, the National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services, and a funeral director that has created a successful approach for ensuring survivors of homicide victims have access to services and resources.

Tim Purves of Scotland was entrusted with the great honor of looking after the Scottish element of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral arrangements. From the initial, solemn days stationed at Balmoral Castle to the carefully managed boarding of a London bound aircraft, Tim will share his unique first-hand perspective. He’ll share his experience of traveling in the hearse with Her Majesty for the 7-hour drive from Balmoral Castle to Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh. Tim will also talk about his role in the ceremonial movement to St. Giles Cathedral and how he felt about being under the scrutiny of the watching crowds and world-wide media. Finally, Tim will share his unique experience of attending Her Majesty’s state funeral in West Minster Abbey with the Royal Family and many world leaders. (1 CE hour)

Management is hard. It’s also vital to efficient and effective work as well as reaching your goals. Mismanaged people can lead to underperformance, mismanaged time can lead to an inability to meet goals, and mismanaged finances can lead to business failure. Ask yourself, “Am I maximizing my time? Are my management strategies enabling a thriving business?” There are a lot of theories and models out there for management. How do you identify the best one for you and your business? We will take a deep dive into time, financial, and people management and how to determine the best business strategies to reach your goals and win in the marketplace. (1 CE hour)