(Editor's note: Translations from Spanish to English by Daniel Osorio of the ICCFA. Nota del editor:
traducciones de español al inglés de Daniel Osorio del ICCFA)
Carlos Roberto Belloso, Parque Jardines Cuscatlan, San Salvador, El Salvador I think it's been a success, because the speakers have talked about the problems we have in the business. That's why we come here-to learn-and I think we've learned a lot. What the speakers have said is about the real practices in the business, and that's what we came here to hear. And I have enjoyed the convention.
Joe Blunden, City of Calgary Cemeteries Calgary, Alberta
I think it's pretty good. I've seen a lot I haven't seen before and met some people. I'm learning a little bit. There have been a lot of good displays and products; it's really interesting to see what's out there on the market.
Jose Candia, Grupo Empresarial Kantutani, La Paz, Bolivia
Primera vez que vengo una convencion de este tipo yo trabajo en recursos humanos y nunca antes he tenido la oportunida de participar en convenciones deste rugro de cementerios, casas funerales, crematorios. Bien interestante a mi me sirve mucho porque me hace conocer las nuevas perspectivas del negocio.
This is the first time I've come to a convention of this kind. I work in human resources and never before had the opportunity to participate in a convention of cemeteries, funeral homes and crematories. Very interesting; it's useful to get a new perspective on this business.
Stephanie Christensen, University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science Minneapolis, Minnesota
I'm very impressed with everything I've seen. All the speakers have been awesome. I've gotten a lot of great material to take back to the classroom to show the students the latest trends in funeral service and things for them to keep in mind when they become first-time practitioners.
Perry Cox, Springdale Cemetery Park, Charleston, West Virginia
It's been very interesting and very educational. I've picked up a lot of good ideas and we hope to use those to better our operation and our facility.
Mark DaFoe, City of Edmonton Edmonton, Alberta
It's been great. I'm pretty new into the industry, so it's been a real learning experience for me. The trade show was great; we spent a lot of time in there the first couple of days. There were a lot of experienced people in there who really helped us out.
Jerry Dillon, Dillon Family Services Tulsa, Oklahoma
The timing for me was perfect. I've not been in the industry and I'm just about to purchase two cemeteries I plan to convert to combo, which would include a pet cemetery, crematory and funeral home. I could not be more thankful than to have this week together with people to give me such great wisdom and counsel. I grew up with five brothers older than me and I learned from their mistakes, and this week I've heard I'm entering the industry at a time when great change is needed, and I get the benefit of everybody's wisdom.
Francisco Escobar, Immobiliaria de Cortes S.A. de C.V., San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Mi opinion es que me parece muy bien. Me parece muy bien la expocicion y los temas a tartar son muy interesante. Algunas charlas no toca directamente el tema indicado, pero en el fondo me parecieron bien.
I think it has been great. I really like the Expo, and the subjects in the different sessions are very interesting. Some speakers don't tackle directly the subject that was supposed to be covered, but deep down I thought they were good.
Steve Fowler, Select Community Funeral Homes, Saint John, New Brunswick
I'm very, very impressed with it. We came here specifically because of the broad range of educational programs and we weren't disappointed. We're a relatively small Canadian company, but we're growing and doing what we think are some interesting things. We do a lot of training, put a lot of focus on staff development, working with our partners who we own funeral homes with. So we came looking for all kinds of material we can take back and use in training and possibly speakers we can invite to a small conference we host. We're going home with a lot of good material; we're very impressed.
Alvaro Fuenzalida Acoger, Santiago, Santiago, Chile
Bueno siento que es una convencion muy interesante, muy aclaradora respecto a muchos conceptos que son propios del sistema americano pero que son trasladables a nuestra situacion en chile particularmente el reordenamiento de la industria que aqui esta ocuriendo por conocimiento mercado que tiena va atras el mismo que se esta produciendo en nuestro pais. Entonces el tema de la reaccion de la funeraria frente al cambio, tema de los cementerios como negocio inmoviliario y su adaptacion a la cremacion que son temas tienen que ser vistos en pocos años mas, si no ya, eh? El problema de fondo es adaptarce al cambio con rapidez y esto nos adelanta la vision, por otra parte hay otros hints de indicacion muy clara. La participacion de la mujer en las desiciones, la necesidad de estar continuamente en pregunta, sentir que uno puede recrear el negocio. Aqui tenemosla posibilidad de verlas desde afuera del negocio.
I feel that it has been a very interesting convention, very clear in concepts about the system in the United States that can also be applied to our situation in Chile. The change occurring in the market is the same change that is happening in our country-the reaction of the funeral homes toward change, subjects such as cemeteries as real estate businesses and their adaptation to cremation, the increased participation of women in decision-making, the need to constantly question yourself, to feel you can re-create your business. All these are subjects that were long overdue. Here we have the opportunity of seeing them from a different perspective.
Francisco Mantilla, Jardines Esperanza S.A., Cucuta, Colombia
Me parece muy importante porque conoces mucha gente, aprendes un poco mas sobre el negocio y pues siempre importantes ser intercambio con otras personas del gremio o del negocio para evaluar como se esta empeñando usted en su pais como esta la industria en su pais comparada por la otras paises.
I think it's been very important because we have met a lot of people. You learn a little more about the business and, of course, it's always important to interact with other people in the business to evaluate how good the practices in your country are and the differences in the industry in different countries.
Reinaldo Martinez, Profamilia Servicios Especiales, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela
Esta convension ha sido muy buena. He estado en otras convenciones a nivel mundial en italia, en muchas parte america latina, y me he quedado bastante impresionado con esta de la ICCFA y ha atraido mucha gente de todas partes del mundo tal como nosotros de Venezuela, Guatemala, El salvador, de todas partes de centro america, y Colombia. Sus expositores han sido gente clara lo unico que puedo decir es que la traducion no ha estado para nosotros como gente de habla hispana a la par del Ingles que hablan ustedes. Algo muy provechoso, distinto, nuevo, material bastante actualizado en cuanto al negocio funerario y cementario y cremacion, he visto que estan haciendo un despliegue muy grande en cuanto a la cremacion, le estan dando muy buena cabida a esta rama. Pero de verdad en el grupo de nosotros han dado muy buena impresion, los felicito de verdad.
This convention has been very good. I have been to other conferences worldwide, such as in Italy and different parts of Latin America, and I have to tell you I'm very impressed with the ICCFA Convention. It attracted a lot of people from all over the world such as us from Venezuela, people from Guatemala, El Salvador, from different countries in Central America and of course Colombia. The speakers have been very good, easy to follow; the only thing I think it could be improved would be the translations. It's been something very good, different, new, great material very up-to-date regarding the funeral and cemetery business. I've also noticed the big display about cremation; I see it's becoming a big part of the industry. In general, the ICCFA has made a great impression on all of us, and I honestly congratulate you for that.
Catalina Moreira, Naser Group, Mexico City, Mexico
I've liked the conference a lot; it's interesting. I knew a lot of the people here, both from Latina America and from the United States, so it was very interesting for me.
Andrew and Dorothy Nix, White Chapel Memorial Park Feasterville, Pennsylvania
Andrew Nix: Great; I've learned a lot. It was really worth coming. I should have come here two years ago, when we started in the cemetery business. We've learned about the whole death industry, from cremation, operations, the funeral home part. We've been in the funeral business for 54 years, so we knew a lot about that, but going into the cemetery business was really new to us, and we could have avoided some mistakes by having met these people and learned some of the things we've learned here now.
Dorothy Nix: I agree with my husband. We've learned a lot, we've met a lot of nice people and we certainly will be back next year.
Jaime Humberto Oquendo (president of ALPAR), Funeraria Medellin, Medellin, Colombia
La gente que llego de latino america en tanta cantidad, salio satisfecha de haber participado por primera vez en ella. Y estamos seguros que a futuro tambien van esta participando cordialmente en ella.
The people who came from Latin America in such numbers came out very satisfied at having participated in this convention for the first time. And we are sure that in the future we will also participate in it.
Tatiana Milena Osorio (executive director of ALPAR), Medellin, Colombia
Fue muy grato haber traido a los latinoamericanos porque tienan mucha inquietud de conocer a los proveedores de los estados unidos y aqui habia un buen numero de ellos reunidos, pudieron hacer negociaziones y capacitarze en la jornada academica. Fue muy grato para nosotros.
It was great to bring all the Latin Americans because they wanted to meet the suppliers from the United States, and here a large number of them were gathered. The Latin Americans did some business with them and they acquired a lot of knowledge through the academic sessions. It was great for us.
Henry Perez, Abadia de las Mercedes, Maracaibo, Venezuela
La convencion ha tenido temas muy interesante. Estamos, todo el gremio a nivel latinoamericano esta muy contento por el recibimiento de la ICCFA, las converencias han sido interestantes. Creo que vamos muy nutridos de conocimientos y tenemos dos mercados diferentes, tal como el mercado americano y el mercado latino, y tenemos como un punto para comparacion que en este momento donde podemos tanto de los partes nutrirnos de esas comparaciones entre dos mercados.
The convention has had very interesting subjects. We-all the Latin-American participants-are very happy with the welcoming efforts from ICCFA. The sessions have been interesting; I think we have absorbed a lot of knowledge. We have two different markets, the American market and the Latin market, and now we have a point of comparison between the two so we can get even more experience from the comparison.
Carlos Rodriguez Rivera, Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista, Arequipa, Peru
Respecto a la convencion estamos muy contentos, esta muy bien organizada y bastante interesante. La presensia masiva de compañias provedoras de servicios y productos de los cuales estamos llevando bastante informacion. Y respecto a las charlas, son de muy buen nivel y nos ha permitido descubrir algunas cosas que en nuestra experiencia aun no estaban anotadas.
We are very happy about this convention; it's been very well organized and interesting. We are taking a lot of information back with us from the massive presence of suppliers, of both services and products. The speakers have been in a very good level, and they showed us a few things that we had not noted in our experience.
Judy Rohovie, Edmonton Municipal Cemeteries, Edmonton, Alberta
For me it was very, very good; I took away something from everything.
Robert (& Cynthia) Ross Sunset Memorial Gardens Missoula, Montana I thought it was a great experience. It's been a while since I've attended conventions and seminars, and it's always a learning experience. Great displays; it was a lot of fun seeing new products and talking with all of the suppliers and manufacturers. The speakers have been excellent; the whole program has been excellent.
Teresa Saavedra Parque das Memorias, La Paz, Bolivia
We've enjoyed it very much, all the conferences, the exhibitors, everything-absolutely everything. It was a lot of fun, and we're going to be here for San Diego.
Doug Stauffer, Stauffer Funeral Homes Frederick, Maryland
I'm very impressed with the speakers and with the whole convention facility, the exhibitors' displays. But more importantly, I think there's a lot of information being shared here through the speakers and of course through networking with other members. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and look forward to being back next year.
Loreta Tamborelli, Naser Group, Mexico City, Mexico
It's been amazing. I've been learning a lot from all kinds of people from all over the world. Everything about the conference has been very, very interesting, especially for our company, a Latin American company trying to develop our business over here. It's been very, very good for us.
Alberto Gomez de la Torre, Asociación Civil San Juan Bautista, Arequipa, Peru
Y el hecho de haber venido aqui no ha sido facil. Es bastante lejos y es bastante caro para viajar aqui. Pero creo que enriquese a todos y el hecho de convivir diferentes experiencias para aprender los unos de los otros sobre todo de gente como ustedes en estados unidos que tienen una cultura en este tipo de negocio muchisimo mas antigua y distincta a la que tenemos en sur america. Y bueno, por ultimo yo aprovecho la oportunidad para que puedan considerar para que la proxima sede de convencion pueda ser Peru la sede que los pueda acoger. Lima es ciudade importante y Cusco muy importante-por ser un nacionalidad con Machu Picho que esta por ser elegida una de las nuevas maravillas del mundo, no?
It was not easy to come here; it's very far and expensive for us. But I think it enriches all of us. We can learn from the different experiences, especially from people such as you in the United States who have an older and different culture regarding this kind of business compared to the one we have in South America. I'd like to ask you to consider Peru as the host of future conferences. Lima is an important city and Cuzco a very important city, where you can see Machu Pichu, which is about to be elected as one of the new wonders of the world.
Carlos Mario Vallejo, Senoriales Corporacion de Servicio (Cementerio y Funeraria), Guatemala
Fue una convencion bastante interesante. Ya que se tuvo la oportunidad de tener personas de latinoamerica que en su numero fueron casi 100 personas. Con respecto a la parte academica fue bastante atractiva. Tuvo temas de mucho interes, de mas interes, para latinoamerica incluso me sorprendio mucho lo que es la cremacion aqui en america. Y obviamente esto influye mucho que america latina la cremacion tambien esta subiendo, especialimente centroamerica.
It was a very interesting convention. It brought together more than 100 people from Latin America. The academic part was very attractive. It had subjects of great interest, even of more interest for the Latin Americans. I was also surprised how big is cremation getting here in America. And obviously this influences the fact that the cremation rate is also growing in Latin America, especially in Central America.
Fernando Villacis, Camposanto Jardines del Valle, Quito, Equador
Es la primera vez que tengo la oportunidad de visitar esta convencion de ICCFA. Me ha parecido muy interesante. Ha habido muchos temas que en Ecuador no lo conocemos y que esta muy avanzado. Por lo tanto ha sido de mucha utilidad y esperamos aplicarlo en nuestro pais.
It's the first time I've had the opportunity to visi the ICCFA Annual Convention. I think it has been very interesting. There have been subjects that we don't have any knowledge about in Ecuador and are very advanced here. Therefore, is has been very useful, and we expect to use this newly acquired knowledge in our country.
Melissa Volk, Vertin Co., Breckenridge, Minnesota It's been a wonderful convention. I learned a lot-great speakers. And it was lots of fun in Vegas!
Yi Hua Shanghai, Fu Shou Yuan Industrial Dvt. Co., Shanghai, China (via translator)
It was really a very good convention. I really learned a lot from this convention, from the sessions, from the exposition.
Copyright ICCFA 2007
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