The 2022 NECA Laffond Cemetery Management Seminar was held at The Publick House in Sturbridge, MA on December 5-7, 2022. Connecticut was well represented at this event. In attendance were: (photo at left, from left) Doak Marasco, Lisa Vaeth, Anthony Puglisi, Mary Anne Hawthorne, James Randall, Maureen Crick Owen, Chris Gehrke, Pam Brown, Hector Santiago and Dan Krueger). CCA members in attendance were (photo below right, from left) Lisa Vaeth, Doak Marasco, James Randall, Maureen Crick Owen, Anthony Puglisi, Charlotte Mahon and Pam Brown). It was 1½ days of seminars packed full of information. The speakers and their topics were:
Should Cremated Remains Rest in Peace:
Barbara Kemmis, Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America, reported on the results of CANA’s latest consumer research, which was conducted by Harris Insights & Analytics. The two main objectives of the inquiry were to quantify the number of cremated remains being held in US and Canadian households, and to gain insight into these families’ long-term plans for permanent placement.
How to Ensure Your Perpetual Care Funds Will Stand the Test of Time:
Hayden Burris, HB Actuarial Services LLC, outlined the process and benefits of a Perpetual Care Fund analysis forecasting the next 100 years. The goals are to determine if you have enough funds, how likely you are to run out and, if you are going to run out, when is it likely to happen. The idea is that the sooner you know your funds are not likely to last long-term, the smaller the changes you will need to make in order to get back on track.
Cremation Memorialization:
Barbara Kemmis and
Scott MacKenzie, President of Mackenzie Vault. Inc., focused on aspects of the consumer research related specifically to cremation memorialization. The presentation outlined consumers’ knowledge and attitudes toward cremation memorialization.
Foundation to Finish – Planning Ahead:
Ray Leach, Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Cold Spring, and Rob Baker, Field Sales Manager, New England and New York, Matthews International, addressed burial and memorialization including topics about the different products, placement of the products and best practices for selling these products to families.
Turf Alternatives and Ground Covers for Cemeteries:
Warren Leach, Landscape Horticulturist and co-owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth, MA, discussed the use of ground covers as an alternative to grasses, highlighting energy savings, labor efficiency and an improved visual aesthetic.
Sustainable Practices for Landscape Management:
Doak Marasco, Manager of Strategic Partnerships for The Davey Tree Expert Company, discussed best management practices for tree care and turf that promote sustainability, how do plants add functional value to the landscape, how can you create awareness around the value of healthy landscapes and how is climate change creating new challenges to managing sustainable landscapes.
Embracing Cemetery Tourism:
Ashlynn Rickord Werner, Customer Success Manager in North America for PlotBox, discussed expanding public awareness of the significance of cemeteries and how they can serve as educational resources for the public.
Cemetery Insurance 101:
Brennan Regan, Agency Principal and Cemetery Practice Leader at Regan Agency, Inc., covered insurance topics of interest to cemeteries, including Certificates of Insurance, additional Insureds, risk transfer, cyber liability, and the most common claims and how to prevent them.
Ask the Experts:
David Boyle (Town of Chelmsford, MA), Joseph Cavallaro (Swan Point Cemetery, RI), Patrick Healy (Green Mountain Cemetery, VT) and Dan Krueger (Beaverdale Memorial Park, CT) were the panelists. Pam Brown facilitated and started off with asking the experts a question. From that point on, the attendees started asking questions and a conversation ensued.
Of course, there was time to socialize with other cemeterians and suppliers. We were entertained by UConn’s oldest all-male a cappella group,
A Completely Different Note (photo at left), commonly known as CDN. They sang classic rock, R&B and a few holiday songs. Thanks to Pam Brown for getting them to entertain the crowd. They were great!
Do you want to join in on this great learning experience and also have fun? Mark your calendars for December 4-6, 2023. It will be held again at The Publick House, Sturbridge, MA.
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