May 2018 From Bill Hightower, GFDA Treasurer

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1 May 2018 From Bill Hightower, GFDA Treasurer In preparation of our 2018 Annual Convention which will be held June 3-6, the Executive Board has prepared excellent speakers, entertainment and activities for all in attendance. The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort in St. Simons, GA offers the perfect location for some much needed family time and relaxation, as well as continued education programs such as: The Obsequies of Rev. Billy Graham with Mike Squires, CFSP, CCO, Southern Calls; and "Battling Burnout & Building Resilience: Supporting & Retaining Funeral Professionals" with Jason Troyer, PhD. We hope you can join us for this year s convention. As your GFDA Treasurer, I am proud to report all financials have been recorded by our accountant, the association taxes have been filed, and I am pleased to report that the association is financially sound. The Georgia Funeral Service Expo was a great event, thank you to our members, sponsors, and exhibitors for making this a huge success. I would also like to extend our thoughts and prayers, to Danny Hutcheson and his family during this time of healing and wish abundant blessings upon him and his family. Sincerely, Bill Hightower GFDA Treasurer

2 GFDA MARKETING ALLIANCE PROGRAM PARTNERS GFDA's Marketing Alliance Program Partners offer GFDA Members incentive programs or rebates to GFDA Members who purchase from them and revenue to GFDA based on company sales to GFDA's membership during the period of Agreement MARKETING ALLIANCE PROGRAM PARTNERS Cincinnati Equitable Life Insurance Company Federated Insurance Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions More information about our Marketing Alliance Program Partners may be found by visiting HERE. Reminders from the GFDA Office Visit GFDA MEMBER PAGE often for the latest updates from GFDA, the Georgia Board of Funeral Service, the Georgia Department of Public Health & State Office of Vital Records and more! Obituary Notices are posted HERE. Please send funeral-service-related death notices to If it is outside of normal business hours, we ask that you call the GFDA office ( ) after ing the obituary information to ensure we are able to notify members in a timely manner. HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR GFDA 2018 DUES? To be a GFDA Member and enjoy all the benefits of GFDA Membership, including our Marketing Alliance Program benefits, Member Page and GFDA App access, and inclusion in our directories, your GFDA 2018 Dues must be current. Renewal invoices have been sent to the address on file. Please remember, it is very important to return a fully completed copy of the renewal invoice with your payment to help us ensure our records are accurate. Do you need a duplicated invoice? Contact staff@gfda.org or visit JOIN GFDA where you can choose your membership type from the drop down windows and print a duplicate invoice. Remember, your Firm's Funeral Directors are GFDA Associate Members. To ensure your funeral directors receive GFDA updates, obituary notices, event information and Alerts include their names and addresses on each year s renewal form. If the renewal has already been sent, visit "GFDA News - Add Your Associate Members" HERE and enter their contact information. News from the Georgia Board of Funeral Service PROPOSED RULE CHANGES BEING CONSIDERED BY THE GEORGIA BOARD OF FUNERAL SERVICE Proposed rules may be viewed at the Board's website HERE. Any questions or comments may be directed to the Board by calling (478) Written comments to the Board are due no later than close of business June 5, 2018 to Lisa Durden (specific instructions for submitting comments may be found in the proposed rules). Public Hearing - June 12, 2018, in the Office of the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA

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4 GFDA 2018 Annual Convention June 3 6, 2018 King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort St. Simons Island, GA We hope YOU will join us this summer for education, fun, and networking opportunities! This event was planned with funeral service professionals in mind. GFDA strives to provide meetings where you can bring your family to enjoy some relaxation & fun while earning your needed Continuing Education hours. The King and Prince is the perfect location for both! There are many activities to choose from onsite & in the surrounding area. Meal options are always delicious, & the scenery is beautiful! Our convention will feature Continuing Education programs you will not want to miss and offer 8.5 Continuing Education hours approved by the Georgia Board of Funeral Service. A QUICK LOOK AT OUR CONVENTION Continuing Education Programs The Obsequies of Rev. Billy Graham" with Mike Squires, CFSP, CCO, Southern Calls "DriveSafe" with Nathan Gravley, Federated Insurance "Battling Burnout & Building Resilience: Supporting & Retaining Funeral Professionals" with Jason Troyer, PhD, Mt Hope Grief Services Consumer Research Staying Relevant with Heather Garman, Messenger Followed by Moderated Roundtable Discussions Annual Programs Nominating Committee Report & Election, NFDA Updates, Memorial Service, GFDA Annual Business Meeting with Officer Reports, Scholarships, 10, 25, & 60 Year Service Awards & Officer Installation Annual Events Sunday's Welcome Reception & Dinner / Monday's Past Presidents Breakfast & Golf Tournament / Tuesday's Convention Dinner & Party with Dueling Pianos - Flying Fingers JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AND PEERS FOR OUR ANNUAL PARTY - TUESDAY, JUNE 5 This will be a fun filled evening guaranteed to entertain all ages! Represent your alma matter by wearing your favorite college attire! Dueling pianos - Flying Fingers will join us immediately following dinner. If you missed them before - now is your chance to see what all the buzz was about! Sing and clap along with amazing piano players... the more you participate, the more fun you will have! Request your favorite songs and let the fun begin! Requests for celebrations or to roast a special friend or colleague are part of the FUN as well. Tell the players who, and we'll make them a part of the show! And there is more - Activities and games for younger attendees Opportunities for all to win cash & prizes

5 ATTENDEE AND GOLF TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION Pre-registration for Attendees and our Golf Tournament ends Friday, May 25. Our agenda and pdf registration forms for attendees, golf tournament, and sponsorships are included in this newsletter. Printable forms are also available HERE. GFDA ROOM BLOCK - Reserve your room TODAY - Space is limited!! The King and Prince offers online reservations for our group. Visit HERE to make your room reservations online for your preferred length of stay at the GFDA group rates (including before and after the convention, as hotel availability allows). Of course, you may also call, Annual Memorial Service - Wednesday, June 6 at 9:30 AM We hope this later start time will allow for family members' attendance. As in years past, GFDA will present a blanket to family members in attendance with their loved ones photo. For those unable to attend, blankets will be mailed following the convention. Should you have additional members or their loved ones names to add to the Memorial Service List found HERE, please staff@gfda.org. Funeral Service Achievement Awards - Wednesday, June 6 We will be awarding 10, 25, 40, 50 or 60 year pins during our Business Meeting. If you are or know of a funeral director celebrating one of these year marks in funeral service, please send an to staff@gfda.org so we may recognize them during our Business Meeting. SPONSORSHIP Sponsorship is a GREAT way to market YOUR company and support this event! Sponsor benefits include: your listing in reminders (pre/post event), pre-printed flyer on our sponsor table, recognition during event, & signage during event. Some opportunities include convention registrations and all sponsorship can be co-sponsored. We understand funeral service is always busy so we have extended our registration deadline for sponsorship to Tuesday, May 22! At this time, we do ask if you are mailing a check, please or fax a copy of your form to the GFDA office to ensure you inclusion in print items. SUNDAY, JUNE 3 Opening Reception $12,000 (includes 4 Convention Registrations) MONDAY, JUNE 4 Past President Breakfast $2,000 (includes 1 Convention Registration) Co-Sponsor with LifeLink of Georgia Non-Golfer Lunch $4,000 (includes 2 Convention Registrations) TUESDAY, JUNE 5 Breakfast $2,000 (includes 1 Convention Registration) Co-Sponsor with Batesville Lunch $4,000 (includes 2 Convention Registrations) Dinner $12,000 (Includes 4 Convention Registrations) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 Breakfast $4,000 (includes 2 Convention Registrations) AM Break $500 Co-Sponsor with Taylor Funeral Homes GFDA Supporter $250

6 THANK YOU TO OUR 2018 ANNUAL CONVENTION SPONSORS (TO DATE) Hospitality House Sponsored by Wilbert Monday Past President Breakfast Co-Sponsored by LifeLink of Georgia "The Obsequies of Rev. Billy Graham" with Mike Squires Sponsored by Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions "DriveSafe" with Nathan Gravley Sponsored by Federated Insurance Monday AM Break Sponsored by Cincinnati Equitable Life Insurance Company Monday Golf Tournament Sponsored by Federated Insurance Tuesday Breakfast Co-Sponsored by Batesville "Battling Burnout & Building Resilience: Supporting & Retaining Funeral Professionals" with Jason Troyer, PhD Sponsored by Homesteaders Life Company Consumer Research Staying Relevant with Heather Garman Sponsored by Messenger Followed by Moderated Roundtables - Sponsored by NFDA Tuesday AM Break Sponsored by Georgia Eye Bank Tuesday Evening Entertainment Dueling Pianos, Flying Fingers Sponsored by SCI Georgia Funeral Services Wednesday AM Break Co-Sponsor with Taylor Funeral Homes GFDA Supporters Bearden Funeral Home Precoa Vantage Products Corporation

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11 GFDA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Nathan Stanley, President Stanley Funeral Home & Crematory, Dublin, GA Telephone: Bill Hightower, Treasurer & NFDA Policy Board Member Hightower Funeral Home, Bremen, GA Telephone: Rob Roberson, Secretary Shepard Funeral Home, Folkston, GA Telephone: David McLeighton, Past President McLeighton Funeral Service, Reynolds, GA Telephone: Your GFDA Executive Committee looks forward to seeing you during the 2018 Annual Summer Convention! Register today and join your fellow funeral service professionals June 3-6, 2018 at the beautiful King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort!

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