FCA Online Conference 2021—Friday, October 15 through Sunday, October 17, 2021
ALL EVENTS TAKE PLACE BY VIDEO ON ZOOM~YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM US WITH LINKS TO YOUR MEETINGS
Friday, October 15 (three presentations)—REGISTER FOR FRIDAY OR ALL THREE DAYS
Opening Remarks (1 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern)
Join FCA executive director Josh Slocum for a discussion of various funeral-related topics including:
-changes to the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule
-the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s reimbursement program for funeral costs for COVID-related deaths
-state funeral regulatory boards; what use are they really to consumers?
Natural Organic Reduction (2:45 pm to 4:15 pm Eastern)
Natural Organic Reduction (composting) of human remains is one of the newest form of body disposition. Anna Swenson will describe how the Seattle company Recompose brought it to market, what the process entails, how much it costs, and more. Swenson is the outreach manager at Recompose, where she leads marketing, public policy, and community outreach for the green death care organization.
Veterans’ Burial Benefits (4:30 pm to 6 pm Eastern)
Join National Cemetery Administration outreach officer Larry Provost to learn what burial benefits veterans are entitled to. Provost, who has served in the Army and the Virginia National Guard, will describe the national cemetery system, what veteran families can expect at a national cemetery, how to arrange a military honor guard for a veteran’s funeral, and more.
Saturday, October 16 (three presentations)—REGISTER FOR SATURDAY OR ALL THREE DAYS
Tax-sheltering funeral prepayments (1 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern)
Creighton University law professor Victoria Haneman thinks Americans should be able to save money for their final expenses without having to pay tax on the income earned in such accounts. She’ll describe her proposal to create tax-free funeral savings accounts that follow the”529” model used by college savings accounts.
The Pros and Cons of Contract Funeral Home Discounts (2:45 pm to 4:15 pm Eastern)
FCA national board member Rod Stout will discuss the pros and cons of having a formal agreement with funeral homes to give FCA members discounted prices. Join us to discuss the pros and cons of working closely with local funeral providers in your area. We’ll consider the pitfalls, concerns, successes and failures of linking your affiliate with local funeral homes. Be ready to ask questions, offer comments, and hear the requirements for finding a FH, agreeing to terms, whether to make it official, and how to follow up with quality concerns.
Alkaline Hydrolysis (4:30 pm to 6 pm Eastern)
Sometimes called “water cremation,” alkaline hydrolysis is a new alternative to cremation. Jason Bradshaw, president of Bradshaw Funerals in Minnesota, will describe how it works, how much it costs, and what families who choose the process have to say about it.
Sunday, October 17 (three presentations)—REGISTER FOR SUNDAY OR ALL THREE DAYS
Make Your Newsletter Make Money (1 pm to 2:30 pm Eastern)
Ruth Bennett learned how to turn an unremarkable organizational newsletter into a fun read that makes money, and she wants to show local FCAs how to do the same. This workshop will show you easy ways to make your newsletter something catchy and fun to read while at the same time encouraging more donations from your members and readers.
Jewish Funeral Traditions Today (2:45 pm to 4:15 pm Eastern)
What makes a Jewish funeral Jewish? Join David Zinner, founder of the educational nonprofit Kavod v’Nichum, for a discussion on Jewish burial and mourning practices. Kavod v’Nichum favors the truly traditional practice of caring for the dead within the community privately, with limited or no use of commercial funeral homes. Learn how they do it; there are lessons for anyone interested in private death care, regardless of religion.
Open Forum for FCA Affiliates With the National Board and Staff (4:30 pm to 6 pm Eastern)
We’ll close the conference with an open discussion for local board members and volunteers of FCA groups. Bring your questions and share stories of the work your local group does that sister organizations might be interested in learning about.
