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I’ve got to tell you, Austin is a great city! I was so impressed by what I was able to see during my stay there last week. We were “smack downtown,” next to the convention center – which is slated to be the venue for the NFDA convention in 2013. Beautiful!

Thanks so much to the members of FAMIC for inviting me to attend, and for the Austin Convention staff members who made us feel so special.

Extra special thanks to Tom Monahan, of the NCBVA, for extending the invitation to me, on behalf of the other FAMIC members. I’m really looking forward to returning to Austin in 2013 – and hope to have an event or two for our AWFD members who are able to join me. I’m sure we’ll really be a robust group by then, and can stage something wonderful!

As a report-back from the FAMIC meetings, I can say this most clearly: I was privileged to be part of a dedicated, insightful group of about 13 representatives of various funeral professional and trade associations – I was the lucky 14th, I guess. Those organizations in attendance were: NFDA, CANA, CFSA, MBNA, FSF, the NCBVA, and NFDMA…and (of course) me, representing the AWFD. What great company they all were.

The primary order of business was to review, and revise the FAMIC Survey – a consumer inquiry which is conducted every five years to keep abreast of changing perceptions and trends. I really enjoyed listening to the dialog, and contributing in some small way to the process.

As we currently are not members of FAMIC, we will not be able to have access to the survey results; however, most of our members are also members of NFDA, or NFDMA, or CANA – all of whom are dues paying FAMIC members, and can use the survey findings to benefit their member businesses. So…heads up! The survey should be completed within a couple of months, I believe.

What did I gain from attending FAMIC? Let’s see…the first thing was that I was able to connect with some members of the field, face-to-face, and share my goals for AWFD. Everyone was most supportive; in fact, Jamye Cameron, of NFDMA, join us while there! Welcome, Jamye; I’m so pleased to have you as a member.

The second thing; I am now quite clear about what it is I need to do to make the AWFD stronger, and more responsive to our members.

And, number three: I’ve GOT to get ready for NDFA in New Orleans next year! Anyone want to help me prepare for a live AWFD event there? Just send me an email: kim@wfdconnect.com.