December 2020

Page A33 DECEMBER 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A Service of Remembrance: Honoring Last Responders A highlight of the Virtual Convention was the Service of Remembrance. Funeral direc- tors are serving on the front lines of the ongo- ing COVID-19 pandemic. During the ser- vice, Dr. Alan Wolfelt offered a message of healing and hope to the funeral directors who kept – and continue to keep – the doors of their funeral homes open to comfort griev- ing families during this trying year. And, as is its custom, NFDA honored the memory of funeral service professionals and other family members who died during the last year dur- ing the Service of Remembrance. A video of the Service of Remembrance is available on- line, https://convention.nfda.org/Highlights. Big Winners Every time a virtual convention attendee vis- ited a booth in the expo hall and clicked the “Email Me More Information” button they were entered into the Great Big Giveaway raf- fle drawing. There were many fabulous prizes, including the grand prize, a trip to the 2021 NFDA International Convention & Expo (including travel). The winners were: • $25 Gift Card : Mark Janik, Hamburg, NY; TaraWilliams, Walton, NY; Allison Bowerman-Johnson, Munising, MI; RubenGarza Jr., Dover, DE; TaziMarti- nez, Glendora, CA; Rodney McFarland Sr., Monroe, LA; Abi Works, Graceville, FL; Katie Mackoway, Waynesville, OH; Christine Bushby, Millbrook, AL; and Matthew Park, Beaver, UT. • $50 Gift Card: Tammy Haslem, Roos- evelt, UT; Dorinda Cobb, Blue Ridge, GA; Sarah Stopyra, Danvers, MA; Brad Walker, Spanish Fork, UT; and Dwayne Cobb, Blue Ridge, GA. • $100 Gift Card: Steven Melby, Clay Center, KS; and Carly Larson-Rondeau, Racine, WI. News Association ContinueD Virtual NFDA Convention Continued from Page A32 NFDA Bylaws Proposal Passes: Current Board to Stay in Place for 2020-21 Continued on Page A36 BROOKFIELD,WI— A proposal to amend the Na- tional Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) By- laws to keep the current 2019-20 Board of Direc- tors in place for the 2020-21 leadership year has passed, with 91.18 percent of mem- bers voting in favor of it. The members of the 2020- 21 board will be: R. Bryant Hightower Jr, president; Randy P. Anderson, presi- dent-elect; John O. “Jack” Mitchell IV, treasurer; Douglas “Dutch” Nie II, secretary; Charles “Chuck” T. Bowman, immediate past president; John W. Wenig, at-large representative; Christopher P. Robinson, at-large representative; and Linda Allan, at-large repre- sentative; Daniel J. Ford, at- large representative. Chris E. Christian and Beatrice “Bea” Lewan- duski, who were elected by the NFDA Policy Board in August to serve two-year terms as at-large representa- tives, will serve as non-vot- ing members of the 2020- 21 Board of Directors. They began their two-year terms as voting members of the board of directors at the conclusion of the 2021 NFDA International Con- vention and Expo. The extraordinary circum- stances the funeral profession faced this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives and changed priorities at every associa- tion and business. In 2020, NFDA devoted significant time and resources to assist- ing members who are deal- ing with disruption, loss and death resulting from the nov- el Coronavirus, along with the everyday business needs of their members. Beginning in March, the pandemic caused NFDA and most state associations to cancel all in-person meet- ings, workshops and semi- nars, including the advoca- cy summit, the leadership conference and the interna- tional convention and expo. Unfortunately, the pan- demic also prevented board members from meeting and connecting with members during state conventions throughout the country. Given these unusual cir- cumstances, the board of directors put forth a pro- posal t o members to amend the association’s bylaws to provide them with an addi- tional year to serve in their existing board positions. This proposal was not without precedent; several state associations have opted to extend the terms of their officers because of the CO- VID-19 pandemic. Among them are: California, Geor- gia, Missouri, North Dako- ta, Oklahoma, South Caro- lina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Other asso- ciations outside of funeral service have extended terms of officers and directors for an additional year. NFDA is the world’s lead- ing and largest funeral ser- vice association, serving more than 20,000 individ- ual members who repre- sent nearly 11,000 funeral homes in the United States and 49 countries around the world. NFDA is the trusted leader, beacon for ethics and the strongest ad- vocate for the profession. NFDA is headquartered in Brookfield, WI and has an office in Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.nfda.org. • Echo Show: Heather Brown, Franklin, PA; and Deirdre Ambrose, Chicago, IL. • Apple Watch: William Couey, Milled- geville, GA; and Hannah Auxter, Bel- levue, OH. • Grand Prize: Jenna Picou, Cleveland, TN. Each day, attendees had an opportunity to test their brain power during a trivia con- test in the break lounges. The top winners in each contest won prizes - $250 gift card for first place, $100 gift card for second place and $50 for third place – courtesy of ASD- Answering Service for Directors, Lendin- gUSA; Live Oak Bank, NGL and Tukios. October 20 • 1st place: Alexis Cannizzo, Johnstown, NY; 2nd place: Tara Williams, Wal- ton, NY; 3rd place: Frank Cagnina Jr., Walton, NY. October 21 • Contest 1: 1st place: Frank Cagni- na, Jr., Walton, NY; 2nd place: Andy Johnson, Parkersburg, WV; 3rd place: Lisa Meyer, Newton, IL. • Contest 2: 1st place: Chrissy Stanifer Bushby, Millbrook, AL; 2nd place: Tara Williams, Walton, NY; 3rd place: Alexis Cannizzo, Johnstown, NY. October 22 • Contest 1: 1st place: Tara Williams, Wal- ton, NY; 2nd place: Stephen Leavitt, Parkersburg, WV; 3rd place: Jason Mey- er, Newton, IL. • Contest 2: 1st place: Alex Roberts, Wooster, OH; 2nd place: Alexis Canniz- zo, Johnstown, NY; 3rd place (tie) – Ja- rad Roberts, Wooster, OH, and Shelly Chudzinski, Belleville, MI. Attendees cheered on their favorite ther- apy dogs-in-training in the Pup-Doodle Derby. Attendees could vote for their fa- vorite puppy in the Thumbies booth in the Expo Hall. All people who voted for the Now is the PERFECT time to order the PERFECT gifts! Easy order i ng on l i ne at www. NomisPubl ications .com Want a Custom Des i gn? CALL 1-800-321-7479 CHOOS E your an i ma l and “ I ♥ my Funera l Di rector ” OR “ I ♥ my Cemeter i an” ONLY $ 11 95 Save Sh i pp i ng Charges wi th Promo Code SHIPFREE Last Chance for Holiday Ordering!