About two weeks ago I decided to take in the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association convention.  Now, I have not attended that particular convention for 5-7 years and decided to this year only because a friend of mine from Chicago was going to be in attendance and it gave us the opportunity to see each other and have dinner and discussion with a couple of other industry friends.

I also decided to go because this year’s convention was easily accessible and held only an hour and fifteen minutes by car from my home in Minnesota resort country.  Finally, because I missed the NFDA convention last October due to unforeseen circumstances I was a little short on my 2-year total of continuing education credits and it gave me the opportunity to pick up some of those much needed CEUs.

Once I got to the convention and registered I had a great deal of fun.  I saw people who I don’t see all that often but really do enjoy when I do see them.  It gave me a chance to walk the convention floor and see some interesting new products being introduced into the Death Care world.

Then later in the week I read an article and eventually published this article about a funeral director in Michigan retiring and selling his four funeral homes to acquaintanences of his from his days in the funeral work field.  It made me think how valuable those conventions and the “involvement” in the greater Death Care world can be to all of us.

I get how “busy” being a funeral director/owner/operator can be.  That was me in days past and I always believed that it was more important to be taking care of the families in my community than attending conventions.  Especially when my children were growing and I was very involved as a Little League coach or serving on any number of community and non-profit boards.  In essence, my free time was very limited . . . as is yours as a working funeral director.

Back in 1992 however, I was invited to a funeral professon golf outing which has became an annual outing for me. . . .except in some of those child-raising years when the time could not be found to attend.  This annual outing, the inspiration of Johnson Consulting Group founder Tom Johnson, is now known as the Tom Johnson Memorial Classic and is something that is on my “don’t miss” list every year.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

You see, the friendships with other industry people — from funeral home companies to casket companies, to preneed companies, to other individual funeral directors like me — have had much value over the past 34 years.  Quite frankly, there is nothing in my business world that I value more than catching up once a year with those who have been attending this event as long as I have.  And, the Death Care business knowledge that I have picked up from members of this group has been a big factor in any success that I have had in the funeral and cremation business.

So, I know the difficulties that come from time commitments about being “involved”, especially when you are still operating your business.    But, don’t forget the advantages that come from your involvement in NFDA, CANA, ICCFA, your state association, and other industry/profession groups you may be part of.

I think over the long run you will find that the “Advantages of Involvement” far outweigh the idea of staying at home.

More news from the world of Death Care:

• Even dying is complicated in today’s Cuba.  Havan Times (Cuba)
• “Unacceptable”:  Families call on Avon cemetery owners to fix persistent flooding issues.  Video news story and print article.  ABC News 5 – Cleveland (OH)
• Natural burial ground opens in New South Wales.  OzArab Media (Australia)
• Prepaid funeral funds should come with verification, association says.  Video news story and print article.  WJRT Channel 12 – Flint (MI)

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