The World Of Funeral Services Is Evolving At An Ever Increasing Pace. We're Seeing All Sorts Of New Options For Laying Loved Ones To Rest, Thanks To Advancements In Medicine And Changes In Society's Preferences. And Let's Not Forget The Impact Of Technology, Which Is Revolutionizing How We Operate And Connect With Others. With All These Changes (And Probably More On The Horizon), It's Vital To Stay Informed. But Here's The Million-Dollar Question: Who's Picking Up The Tab?
Funeral service is a fascinating field, now more than ever. New disposition options are being introduced, changes in the medical field influence our world, and society’s needs shift. Technology has opened doors for increased efficiency and new ways to reach people. With these changes (and others not named), the need to keep up is imperative. It’s not always easy however…
Whether you serve families in the back of the house (embalmer) or the front of the house (funeral directing), there is always new information out there to aid in your growth. We have to think outside of the box when we desire to access training, and often collaborate with peers and leadership to secure the time for the more expensive options. Let’s explore the range of training and development choices we have in this day and age.
On-Site Workshops
These training courses involve firsthand learning and application at the host location. They are usually for a series of days and can involve transportation requirements to attend. The trainings are often technical in focus, with the opportunity to gain experience from skilled experts in a small group setting. With these advantages comes a cost that is on the higher end of the spectrum.
Conferences or Events
WThese training opportunities can be local, with a registration fee that covers a variety of speakers and topics. Events such as this may be hosted by your state’s association or a larger professional group (NFDA, CANA, etc.) In addition to learning more about different topics, you can participate in quality networking.
Live Online Webinars
Online webinars give viewers the chance to tune in from anywhere, assuming the time is convenient. You can join using a mobile device while wearing your pajamas, and no one is the wiser.
Self-lead Online Courses
The self-lead course allows the viewer to take it in increments if desired, and at a time and location that is convenient to them. There can be an assortment of supplemental material and assessments to enhance understanding. (*This is an area Raven Plume is delving into.) There are companies that offer very basic online packages to satisfy state specific CEU requirements, which may or may not be of value to you as an individual. Additionally, you can explore general topics of interest (Microsoft Office, Resiliency training, etc.) with an assortment of free options
Suppliers
UsYour suppliers will (should) gladly come and provide support in the use of their company’s products. They may also have video channels that can be a reliable source of information. (Our mortuary recently purchased a new Frigid Embalming Machine, and the tutorial on operations and care was fantastic!)
Professional Publications
WritThere are magazines available that provide current information, often of relevance to all working in the funeral home. You may want to invest in an updated embalming book, restorative art book, or funeral service management text. These books can remain on the firm’s shelf for all staff to review when seeking guidance or to brush up on a particular area of interest. Technology offers a plethora of options, from blog articles and newsletters to professional sites that allow you to “follow” their organization on multiple platforms.
Image courtesy of Benjamin Schmidt, Co-author of the textbook CREATING NATURAL FORM: RESTORATIVE ART THEORY AND APPLICATION
While location and means vary, many of the above options also offer CEUs. The saying, “You get what you pay for” can be the case, so the exchange of your time should be a worthwhile one. What do you do if you have your eyes on a big conference? What if your employer does not want to pay? This is where things can get tricky, and I have a couple of suggestions.
- Forecast in advance. If you know you want to attend a training or event, have the information handy to discuss with your leadership. They will need to know about not only the cost involved, but the time you’d be away, so staffing can be managed. The sooner you can start this conversation, the better.
- Be able to describe how it will benefit the organization. If you approach the discussion with an emphasis on how you can better serve families, manage the administrative tasks, or perform restorative work you will have their interest. If possible, relate the desired training to a specific challenge or opportunity you are facing that relates to your work.
The projection should be that you and the other employees will gain knowledge that you can bring back for the betterment of everyone’s work outcomes. If your employer does decide to assist with funding, be sure to circle back after the event and summarize the experience. This lets them see what it is you learned and demonstrates a worthwhile expenditure on their part. It is a nice courtesy gesture of thanks.
- Consider grabbing what is in reach. If this is not the year for either your employer or yourself to fund a big event, look at some of the less expensive options. The goal could be a workshop, but for now you attend webinars or enroll in online courses to take in the information that is easily accessed.
- Inquire about scholarships. Some workshops/conferences have means to decrease your cost available. Funeral Service Foundation is one such resource to look into. You can also reach out to the organization hosting the event. The worst thing that can happen is they say no, but what if they don’t?
- Realize that you may have to fund some things yourself. It may be that you have to choose to go regardless of who pays, to take advantage of the opportunity. I say this from a place of experience. You may have a leader that doesn’t see the value of continued learning, so it is up to you to make that a priority in your own life.
Investing in yourself makes you more marketable and also makes you more capable of serving others. Riding the wave is better than getting left on the shore.
