June 2019

Page A31 JUNE 2019 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Batesville Sponsors Keynote Speaker and Hosts Book Signing at ICCFA Sich Casket Donates $50,000 to the ICCFA Educational Foundation continued from page A30 2019 Convention HIGHLIGHTS sented was just awesome. I brought three of my young mentees with me, and all were amazed with the knowledge they re- ceived. They asked if I could bring them to San Antonio next year and I told them we all can go! They are the future of this industry.” – Anthony Roberts , Roberts Funeral Service , Lexington, NC “This was the best convention concern- ing funeral service that I have encoun- tered in my entire life! I am complete- ly amazed, transformed, and inspired to keep pushing in the career!” – Torez Blue , student Over 60% percent of exhibitors rated their overall exposition experience as fa- vorable. When asked about their plans next year, 90% percent indicated they planned to exhibit at the 2020 ICCFA Annual Convention & Expo. Among exhibitor comments: “We receive[d] a lot of positive inter- est that has led to strong business poten- tial follow ups.” – Stephen Power , Urn Towers Ltd “We made amazing contacts with some large groups and several independents. These contacts are total game changers for us as a keepsake company. What an awe- some event! Can’t wait until next year!!” – Chuck Ferris , Eternity’s Touch, Inc ., Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada ICCFA Annual Convention Crosses the Finish Line in Charlotte Continued from Page A30 Sirius Chan of Sich Casket presents $50,000 check to ICCFA Educational Foundation at the ICCFA Convention in Charlotte as Foundation president, Jim Price, looks on LOS ANGELES,CA— Sich Casket, a leading man- ufacturer of caskets, has pledged to donate $50,000 to the ICCFA Educational Foundation to aid its mis- sion to support cemetery and funeral professionals in building meaningful rela- tionships with the families and the communities they serve. The Foundation’s programs include academic scholarships awarded to ap- plicants to make it possible for them to attend the an- nual ICCFA University and the annual ICCFA Wide World of Sales Conference. “Sich has always respected the funeral profession,” says Sirius Chan, president of Sich Casket. “That’s why we chose to support the profes- sional development of fu- neral professionals through the Educational Founda- tion’s mission of providing education to future lead- ers.” At this past ICCFA Convention in Charlotte, NC, Jim Price, the founda- tion’s president, recognized Mr. Chan and Sich for their support. The ICCFA Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Drew Dudley BATESVILLE,IN— Batesville was proud to sponsor the keynote address by lead- ership expert Drew Dudley at the 2018 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Convention in Char- lotte, NC. The compa- ny also hosted a free book signing with the author. The founder and chief cat- alyst of One Day Leadership , Dudley has spent the last 15 years helping individuals and organizations increase their leadership capacity. He believes leadership is not reserved for the extraor- dinary, but is a daily choice that should be fostered, acknowledged and rewarded. His keynote address, “Creating Cultures of Leadership and the Power of Lollipop Moments,” aimed to make you laugh, think and reconsider how you eval- uate leadership in your life and workplace. “Drew Dudley has inspired millions with his practical wisdom and humor,” said Chris Trainor , president of Batesville. “He has a unique ability to help us understand how sim- ple acts – things we do every day – can make the lives of others better. This is a great mes- sage for everyone, and especially funeral pro- fessionals who provide comfort and support to families during their most difficult times.” Today’s consumers have different expectations about personalization that encompass their entire fu- neral experience. Batesville showcased a variety of new burial and cremation prod- ucts, personalization and memorialization offerings and digital solutions de- signed to help families plan meaningful funerals, share memories and remember their loved ones. Some of the highlights included: • Custom military caskets representing the branches of service • Our latest metal and wood caskets in different styles and price points • New LifeStories ® medallion designs • 3-dimensional statuary designs that can be usedon caskets, urns or as keepsake elements entity whose sole purpose is to make education ac- cessible to our profession’s future leaders through scholarships awarded to ap- plicants. Founded in 1887, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral As- sociation is the only inter- Continued on Page B11 Continued on Page B11 HIGHLIGHTS continued ON page b11 Photos Courtesy Elizabeth Roberts, Roberts and Downey Chapel Equipment, Argenta, Illinois