YES…The burials industry is being affected by the digital world

​Today, every industry and organization exists in an ever more demanding digital world and is being pushed to a place where technology is playing an increasing role in the daily life of the organization and its staff. Cemeteries and memorial gardens are not immune to this… so how could they use technology to deliver a better service, improve operational effectiveness, and build revenue opportunities? Let’s take a look at a few ways in which this …

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Messenger Acquires Express Funeral Funding (EFF)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AUBURN, IN – Messenger, a leading provider in stationery, funeral service items and personalization solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Express Funeral Funding. “After careful consideration, we sought the opportunity to acquire one of the fastest growing companies in the funeral profession,” commented Kevin Keane, president of Messenger. “This will allow Messenger to broaden our existing product line and services to funeral homes and cemeteries, while providing innovative solutions for …

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Funeral Innovations partners with Johnson Consulting Group

Funeral Innovations is now Johnson Consulting Group’s preferred digital marketing partner for enhancing funeral homes and cemeteries online presence West Des Moines, IA, [July, 2019]  Johnson Consulting Group and Funeral Innovations announced a partnership to provide funeral homes and cemeteries expert digital marketing analysis, strategic insight, and digital marketing implementation. In today’s fast-moving online world, a solid digital marketing plan is an essential component of a thriving business. “An effective digital strategy requires more than …

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54th Arizona Legislature – First Regular Session 2019 Legislative Report

The First Regular Session of the 54th  Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die on Tuesday, May 28th  2019  at 12:58 a.m. the session lasting 134 days. This session both the Senate and the House of Representatives had new leadership with Senator Karen Fann serving as the Senate President and Representative Rusty Bowers serving as the Speaker of the House. The majority margins also narrowed this session with the House with 31 Republicans and 29 Democrats. The …

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2019 AFCCA Annual Conference and Expo Recap

Another AFCCA Annual conference has come to a close and we hope that everyone that attended feels prepared for the Future of the Industry. This year’s conference was held at the Boulder’s Resort and Spa in Scottsdale where we were surrounded by the beautiful Arizona desert and wildlife. We believe everyone who stayed onsite thoroughly enjoyed the hotel and it’s amenities. Kicking off the event was our annual golf tournament, where 52 golfers teed off …

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The Missing in America Project – Southern Arizona

At the 2019 AFCCA ANnual Conference, we heard a presentation by Detective Shaun Pfund offering information on the Missing in America Project Southern Arizona and the projects they are working. Here are the details as we feel it is important for all our Funeral Home and Cemetery Members to know about MIAP.

MIAP MISSION STATEMENT

The purpose of the Missing in America Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. To provide honor, respect and dignity to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes.

This is a lengthy project and requires many man hours to ensure that we have done our utmost to discover every forgotten veteran and procure each a dignified resting place. This is also a labor of love, a task of redemption for a debt of service that can never be repaid.

In it’s short seven year history, the Missing in America Project has visited more than 1445 funeral homes, locating 7218 unclaimed cremated remains of which 2001 were veterans and eligible dependents.

The Missing in America Project as also assisted volunteers in getting laws passed in twenty-eight states, including Arizona. These laws are designed to protect funeral homes when working with MIAP.

Please visit Southern Arizona MIAP on Facebook for information on upcoming memorial services/events and for photos of past services.

For more details or to donate, visit www.miap.us. Select the Make a Donation Option and then select the Southern Arizona Button.

You may also contact Shaun Pfund, Law Enforcement Liaison, by email or calling 520-940-0274 if you would like to partner with MIAP to identify any cremated remains you may have at your funeral home.

19 States Now Permit Alkaline Hydrolysis

By Ed Defort Memorial Business Journal • June 13, 2019 Brookfield, Wisconsin – Washington’s recently passed bill, which made it the first state to permit human composting, also made it the 19th state in the nation to permit the use of alkaline hydrolysis to process human remains. Even though the number of states permitting the process continues to increase, the public’s awareness of alkaline hydrolysis has not. According to preliminary numbers in the NFDA Consumer …

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2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo: Relive the Past, Explore the Present, Focus on Your Future

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2019 Contact: Jessica Koth, 262-814-1536, jkoth@nfda.org Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) International Convention & Expo, taking place October 27-30 in Chicago, Ill., will offer funeral professionals an opportunity to get their future in focus, while reliving the past and exploring the present, through unequalled opportunities for learning, networking and discovering new products and services. Seth Godin, bestselling author, teacher, entrepreneur and founder of altmba.com, will give …

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2019 CGCC Mortuary Science Graduation and Scholarship Presentations

May 9, 2019 – 31 new Mortuary Graduates from Chandler Gilbert Community College proudly took the Funeral Service Oath and officially entered into the field. Congratulations to each and every one of these students and for what they accomplished. AFCCA William Aaron Scholarship Presentation The AFCCA is dedicated to promoting the further development of professional, ethical, responsive death care providers that are a credit to the industry. This is why the  William Aaron Scholarship Program was …

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Funeral Service Foundation Announces Scholarships to the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo

Brookfield, Wis. – The Funeral Service Foundation is expanding its Foundation ’45 Awards to include up to 10 scholarships for licensed funeral directors to attend the 2019 NFDA International Convention & Expo in Chicago, October 27-30, 2019. Scholarships cover registration and event fees, and three nights standard accommodation in a convention hotel. “We take our role to support funeral directors throughout their career very seriously,” says 2018-19 Funeral Service Foundation Chair Bob Arrington. “Education has …

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