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Tell us Something You Learned
At ICFA's 2002 Convention & Exposition
Keith Belgrove, first-timer,
Belgroves Funeral Home & Crematorium, San Fernando, Trinidad: I learned quite a lot. We are now opening a cemetery for the first time. Had I not come, I would have made many expensive mistakes. The programs were educational and useful.
Tomorrow I'll spend some time writing up ideas that I'll take back with me. I learned a lot about cemetery operations.
Tom Bowling, CCE, long-timer (30+ years), Ivy Hill Cemetery, Alexandria, Virginia: I've been coming to the ICFA convention since around '67-'69. I always come because I always learn something. I come to Annual for the trade show, the networking and the education -- in that order.
This year, I have found two products I thought ought to be out there and sure enough, they are. I bought both of them: the natural memorialization (from Rock & Water Creations), and a piece of cemetery hardware I was going to try to build myself, but I went to see Stan Scruggs at Cemetery Funeral Supply and he's got it.
Then there's the networking, all the things you get from talking to other cemeterians.
If you go away from here without learning something, you're just plain dumb.
Kevin Daniels, CCE, long-timer (20+ years), Southwest Commemorative Services, Rio Rancho, New Mexico: I've confirmed that the growth of the independents is on the rise. I was very, very happy to see the ratio of
independents to corporate members.
Derek, second-timer, Celebrate a Life and John Flynn Funeral Home, Hermitage, Pennsylvania: I learned the same thing I did last year: ICFA members love dogs -- and they're good petters.
(Ed. note: For information about Derek's job as a grief therapist, click here.
R. Michael Eddy, first-timer, Osceola Memorial Garden, Osceola, Florida: I've learned about new and different trends
-- not just the "same old" in a different shape, size and color. I've gone to all the Naked Sales conferences and I always pick up some things to take back to the office to implement -- that's why I keep coming.
Charles Freeman, first-timer,
West Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Weaverville, North Carolina: I've got some really good notes. I've learned we're on the right track with some of the things we're doing
-- alternative cremation services, a gift shop. We've got to continue the effort of informing folks about what we do and why we do it.
Jack Harding, long-timer (43 years)
New Tacoma Cemeteries & Funeral Home, Tacoma, Washington: I just now learned (from the session on dysfunctional families) which child has the right to the third grave. I used to think it was the oldest child, but apparently it's who dies first.
Randy & Carolyn Horton, first-timers, RN Horton Co. Morticians, Washington, D.C.:
Randy: There's just a wealth of information. We're with a consortium of funeral homes in D.C. and Maryland, and we're starting a cemetery. My wife and I are going to manage the cemetery, so we came here to learn about that side of the business. I didn't know this organization had funeral home information, too. I've learned about how to pre-arrange, how to manage your grounds. I'm going to sign up for the ICFA University.
Carolyn: Everyone has been so helpful. We've gotten information, contacts. All the classes and seminars have been useful.
Randy: It's not a competitive spirit, it's cooperative—it's the way God meant it to be! The speakers are open, they know what they are talking about. This is an A+ organization. I've gotten everything I need; people are so helpful. I'm very satisfied.
Janette Hunter, first-timer, Perpetua, Tucson, Arizona: I've learned how valuable it is for networking, reconnecting with people, continuing to grow. It all comes together -- deciding how you're going to meet the competition, how to turn obstacles into benefits.
We talked to a vendor about a drainage problem. He suggested turning it into a water feature -- turning a liability into
a positive.
Gary Kill, first-timer, Chiles and Sons -- Laman Funeral Home, Lima, Ohio: It's interesting to see the other side of our business, the cemeteries. (I'm a funeral director.) I really enjoyed the debate this morning.
John Llewellyn, CCE, long-timer (20+ years), Forest Lawn Memorial Parks & Mortuaries Glendale, California: I just learned that Forethought has a fascinating new trust product that includes insurance.
Wendy & Tim Mann, first-timers, Mount Elliott Cemetery Association, Clinton Township, Michigan:
Wendy: I've learned a lot -- about cemetery management, grounds management.
I've gotten more information on things I knew about. I've also seen different suppliers, different products that are available, different ways of doing things.
Tim: I'm the "spouse." I've learned that there's a lot more suppliers to the industry than I expected -- that's the first thing I noticed. There are so many different aspects of this business; it's not just caskets and coffins.
Doug Manuel, long-timer (15 years), Trinity Memorial Gardens, Waldorf, Maryland: Associating with other cemeterians, you gather information about what is working for them, especially at-need. There is always something I take away from these meetings, and that's why I keep coming back. It's also
helpful to interact with the suppliers and learn from them.
Gino Merendino, fourth-timer, Merendino Cemetery Care, Linden, New Jersey: I've got 22 pages of notes from Andrea Vittum's talk -- where do I start?
Doug Moody, first-timer, Sioux City, Iowa: For me, it's all new. I've been in the industry for 11 weeks. I'm the new cemetery manager for three cemeteries in Sioux City. We're looking for computer software and cremation gardens. I just listened a lot. We're a municipal cemetery, and we don't have a large budget.
I've been able to visit with (municipal cemeterians) Phil Carpenter and Tom Van Buskirk and they've been very helpful. I plan to go to Greeley, Colorado, for the Small Cemetery program.
Christine Mumford, first-timer, Baue Funeral Homes, St. Charles, Missouri: This is a whole new industry for me. I was recently hired by Lisa Baue to start a pet cemetery. In the meantime, I'm learning the business. This has been a really good experience. It was interesting to hear the speakers. Gary O'Sullivan was awesome, and I enjoyed the debate.
Bob Pointer, first-timer, Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, Arkansas: It's kind of like being a kid in a candy store. I've been in this industry 15 years, and this is the first time I've been to the national convention. I go from booth to booth just amazed at the technology. The trip is well worth it.
Eileen Santangelo, first-timer, Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Great Mills, Maryland: I come to these sorts of things for the education, because you always learn something. The tips, especially from the guy who talked about maintaining your reputation (Darin Drabing) were excellent. Why re-invent the wheel when there are people who can give you advice?
I've made new friends, and that's always a plus. The exhibits are outstanding. It's good to meet your vendors.
I had been to Small (ICFA's Small Cemetery & Funeral Management Conference) -- we're only a 10-acre park -- and I'll definitely come back again to Annual. I'm thrilled. There's such support through ICFA; I feel like there's a whole group of people behind us. We always say 'members in good standing of ICFA' on our literature, because we feel it says something to our families.v
Frank Stewart Jr., long-timer (43 years), Stewart Enterprises: I've learned that the industry is well and is doing the job in serving people. We're continuing to evolve.
Doralyn Trulson, first-timer, Palm Royale Cemetery and Mausoleum, Naples, Florida: I learned how wonderful everyone is -- really friendly and sharing ideas. The trade show was very well put together and had a nice variety, and the vendors were very helpful in explaining their products.
Glenda & Leroy Wilson, first-timers, Wilson Funeral Home, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia:
Glenda: I thought everything was informative. I liked the way we had time to network, talk to people.
Leroy: I've been to other groups' conventions. It's helpful to not have half a dozen workshops all going on at the same time. This was a nice way to do it.
Doug Whynott, CCE, long-timer (10+ years), Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts: I was really impressed with the speaker from Forest Lawn (Darin Drabing). I asked him for a copy of his presentation. He said to pay less attention to the "virus employee," reinforce your good employees and establish your own identity.
Copyright ICFA 2002
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