FFDA
/ FCFCA Joint Convention & Trade Show
"Partnering for a Better Tomorrow"
Naples
Grande Beach Resort ~ Naples, Florida
July 16 – 18, 2009
"Partnering
for a Better Tomorrow" was the perfect theme for the
2009 Florida Funeral Directors Association and Florida Cemetery
Funeral and Cremation Association Joint Convention &
Trade Show! Both Associations were excited about the joint
convention and the opportunity to join forces to host a
remarkable event.
The convention this year was held at the
beautiful Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida
on July 16 – 18, 2009. If you were unable to attend
this year, we encourage you to plan to attend the convention
next year. With the outstanding speaker presentations during
the convention, we know that attendees had excellent opportunities
to learn valuable information.
~
Sponsors ~
This convention would not have been possible
without the support of our sponsors. We also appreciate
the support of all of the companies who sponsored select
events during the convention.
PLATINUM PARTNER
& KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Matthews International
GOLD PARTNERS
Aurora Casket Company, Inc.
Batesville Casket Co.
Ellis, Ged & Bodden, P.A.
Federated Insurance
| Convention
Supporting Partner
Nomis Publications, Inc.
FFDA
Annual Business Meeting Refreshments
Pinellas County Funeral Homes Association, Inc.
FCFCA
Annual Business Meeting Refreshments
Flowers for Cemeteries, Inc.
Lanyards
M.E. Wilson Company
Opening
Welcome Reception
Metropolitan Funeral Service, Inc.
Opening
Welcome Reception Entertainment
Cold Spring Memorial Group |
FFDA
& FCFCA Convention
Golf Tournament
Veterans and Family Memorial Care
Beverage
Break
Roberts Vault Co., Inc.
Cash
Door Prizes
Greenflag Profit Recovery
by Transworld Systems
Ken Dear, Inc.
Roberts Vault Co., Inc.
Saturday
Evening Reception &
Banquet Dinner
Northstar Memorial Group
Saturday
Evening Banquet Entertainment
SCI Funeral Services of Florida, Inc. |
~
Welcome Reception & Trade Show ~
The kickoff of the convention began with
the grand opening of the sold out trade show on Thursday
evening. The reception included more that 50 exhibitors
showcasing their products and services and treated attendees
to an array of mouth-watering foods as well as great entertainment.
Exhibitors this year provided outstanding
door prizes for giveaways during the trade show. Attendees
won great prizes including cash! Thank you again to the
exhibitors for their participation in the convention and
for the extra support they gave FFDA and FCFCA this year.
This event would not have been such a success without you!
2009
EXHIBITORS
| AAL
Land Surveying Services, Inc.
Access
Business Communications, Inc.
AirNet
Systems, Inc.
Astral
Industries, Inc.
Aurora
Casket Company, Inc.
Bass-Mollett
Publishers
Batesville
Casket Co.
Bayco
Bronze
Century
Harmony Co.
CMSA
Advertising & Public Relations
Cold
Spring Memorial Group
Continental
Computer Corporation
David
Lerner Associates
Deaton-Kennedy
Company
Diocesan
Publications
Eagle
Granite Co.
Elite
Designs Lighting
Ellis,
Ged & Bodden, P.A.
Event
By Wire
Everlasting
Granite
Federated
Insurance
Florida
Tissue Services
Florida
Wilbert, Inc.
Flowers
for Cemeteries, Inc.
FSI
Funeral
Home Gifts
Gupton-Jones
College of Funeral Service |
Heritage
Flower Company /
The Sympathy Line
Hicks
Industries, Inc.
Holy
Land Caskets
International
Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association (ICCFA)
Ken
Dear, Inc.
Matthews
Bronze Division
Matthews
Casket Division
Matthews
Cremation
M.E.
Wilson Company
Memorial
Streams
Messenger
MetLife
Pierce
Companies
Pulice
Land Surveyors, Inc.
Roberts
Vault Co., Inc.
Sino
Source International
Southeast
Tissue Alliance
Southwest
Professional Vehicles, Inc.
Spaulding
Decon, LLC
Star
Granite Company
Starmark
Funeral Products of Florida
The
Dodge Company
The
Memory Vault, Inc.
Thomas-Pierce
& Company
US
Airways - TLC
Vantage
Products Corporation |
~
Educational Sessions ~
The schedule for the convention this year
was a different format than what attendees were used to
in previous years. Sessions began early in the mornings
and ended early in the afternoons to allow attendees the
opportunity to enjoy the resort with their families, meet
and network with other members and enjoy the golf and fishing
tournaments.
The convention provided attendees with two
days packed with great education. Friday included legislative
updates, tips on fulfilling customers' unexpressed wishes,
the legal obligations and duties of a funeral director,
and estate planning. The Saturday sessions began with an
electrifying guest speaker who explored the stresses of
the profession and taught attendees how to creating balance
and margin in their lives. Attendees were also given valuable
information on how to maximizing their trust funds in the
current market environment and the day ended with a report
providing information about the new Washington administration
and congress.
Thank you to the convention speakers for
taking the time to share their wealth of knowledge with
all those who attended the convention this year!
~
Scholarship Winners & PAC Raffle ~
During the convention, FFDA presented scholarship
winner Jackie Trzyna with the scholarship check in the amount
of $1,000, which was sponsored by Service Corporation International
(SCI). FFDA President John Williams and FFDA President-Elect
Lee Longino had the honor of presenting Jackie with the
scholarship award.
A
PAC raffle was led by Judy Ralph and raised $2,400. Thanks
to all those that contributed and thank you Judy for your
hard work!
~
Fishing & Golf Tournaments ~
Attendees
who participated in the fishing tournament on Friday afternoon
were provided with hours of exclusive backwater fishing.
While enjoying the action, attendees experienced the serenity
of the beautiful back country of Naples with its abundance
of birds and wildlife. The bounty of the backwaters of Southwest
Florida proved to be a great day for both seasoned and novice
fishermen. Congratulation to Gene Brown and his crew for
winning the fishing tournament!
On
Saturday afternoon, the golf tournament was held at the
exquisite Naples Grande Golf Club. The perfectly manicured
emerald-green course provided attendees with a truly unique
golf environment free from residential development. Attendees
signed up as foursome teams that competed against each other
in an overall competition as well as individual competitions.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the golf tournament
and congratulations to the first place team and individual
winners!
| 1st
Place Team
• Curt Elliot
• Bob Sheehan
• Tim Hauck
• John Bradley |
Closest
to the Pin
• Marty Ged
Longest
Drive
• Carol Beggs
Longest
Putt
• Curt Elliot |
~
Banquet Dinner & Installation of Officers ~
Saturday was a great evening of food and
entertainment! The night began with an outdoor cocktail
reception held poolside followed by a dinner that included
tropical music from a live band. The evening concluded with
the installation of officers for both the FFDA and FCFCA
Board of Directors. Thank you to Northstar Memorial Group
for helping to sponsor the banquet dinner and to SCI for
sponsoring the entertainment and beverages.
At
the banquet, Immediate Past President Lew Hall presented
the two outgoing FFDA Officers, Dan Perrin and Paul Mitchell,
with awards to honor their service and dedication to FFDA.
Mr. Hall also presented Georgia McKeown, FFDA Lobbyist,
with a token of appreciation for all of her hard work during
this year’s legislative session.
Other
special recognitions during the evening included the A.B.
Coleman Award for outstanding service that was
presented to Bill Williams for his hard work, dedication
to the death care industry in Florida, and his role in the
FFDA legislative initiatives during the 2009 legislative
session. And, outgoing FFDA President Lew Hall was presented
the Presidential Plaque from the National
Funeral Directors Association.
Mr. Wappner also had the privilege of performing
the Installation of Officers for both Associations. FFDA
members voted to elect the following Officers of the Board
and District Directors:
| President
- John Williams
President-Elect: - Lee Longino
Vice-President - Robin Giddens Sheppard
Secretary/Treasurer - Jim Semesco |
District
1 Director - Ted Beggs
District 3 Director - Peri Craven
District 5 Director - Mark Van Rees
At-Large Directors:
• Andrew Coleman
• Jason Toale
• Keenan Knopke |
We would like to again thank all our convention
attendees for joining us in Naples and also the convention
sponsors and exhibitors for your support. We truly appreciate
everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to attend
this outstanding event! We had a remarkable convention this
year and look forward to another great event in 2010!
