AWFD Member Blog

Big Announcement from Ryan Thogmartin, of Connecting Directors!

July 21, 2010

This is worth a second posting for today – well worth it! Read on…. Connecting Directors Launches the First Industry-Specific Social Networking Site July 21, 2010 –Zanesville, Ohio. Ryan Thogmartin, founder of Connecting Directors (www.connectingdirectors.com) is excited to be bringing full-blown social networking to the funeral industry, with the launch of CDSocial (www.cdsocial.com). “We’ve literally made history here; ours is the first industry-specific social networking site on the Internet,” and Ryan added, “it’s just one more example of my personal commitment to keep Connecting Directors on the leading (more…)

Two Inspiring Videos

July 21, 2010

And a new woman-oriented website, It’s All About Women. Months ago I shared an essay titled “The One Flaw in Women,” and this video (released as a teaser for the site) is a nice reminder of the truth…for all my women friends this Wednesday morning. Click on this link to see the movie. One remarkable woman in our lives is Gretchen Rubin, and her most recent resolution on the Happiness Project site is worth sharing (as they all are!) If you click over to the site, you’ll see her video on the subject. The tip? Put your values into action in your everyday life. She has yet to post her Wednesday Tip of the Week…I’ll let you know what it is as soon as I can. Or, you can do as I do: bookmark the site, and return daily for a dose of happiness!

75 Ways To Be Your Healthiest Ever

July 20, 2010

WebMD: a great resource for anybody who wants to live healthier, happier lives. Last week they had an article worth sharing…so many of our members are overworked, and distracted – for a wealth of reasons. Let’s make a commitment to one another to be happier, healthier, and more fit. Here are just some of their ‘ways’…to read more, click here to read the full article. I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. I’ve been doing my best to get ample exercise, quiet my mind, eat well…but my body just isn’t getting more than 5 hours of sleep (and not solid sleep, either) a night. Here’s what they recommend:

4 Sleep Helpers

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1000 Memories

July 19, 2010

Ah. The online memorial genre – growing in number, expanding services…all are evidence of the shift from print obituaries to more engaging online memorials. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rudy Adler, a co-founder of 1000 Memories, perhaps the most recent entry into this field. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, having learned a great deal about their mission, and the personalities behind the company. If you’d like to learn more, check out the TechCrunch video interview. What I liked best about this newcomer is simple: they are focusing on the positives. With the “Projects” feature, families are compelled – if that’s not too strong a word – to create life-enriching events or programs, in honor of their loved one. I like that a lot. Let’s see; if I were to create a project in memory of my mother (gone these 22 years), I’d focus on…women who face the dilemma of fulfilling their potential. Women who turn to alcohol, to numb their disappointment. But, I digress. How can you support 1000 Memories? By supporting those client families who seek to memorialize their loved ones, without cost. And in this economy, “free” takes on new meaning. So many memorial sites are fee-based; but not 1000 Memories. Check them out; their site is clean, crisp; easy-to-use; and elegant in its simplicity. Kudos to the developers. We here at AWFD stand up to applaud their efforts, to make life more meaningful, through the memorialization of those we loved so deeply.

Funerals Today Magazine

July 17, 2010

The May/June issue arrived in my mailbox this afternoon. Perfectly timed, for a quiet afternoon’s reading! If you’re not a subscriber, you should be aware of this journal designed to educate families about funeral service. Published by our own Muneerah N. Warner, owner of The Warner Funeral Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the magazine is doing something no other publication does – bring the power of ceremony and remembrance to the foreground. I can’t say enough about how valuable I think this journal is – and I encourage all AWFD members (and allies!) to subscribe. Make it available to your client families by having issues prominently placed in your firm. I also think giving every family a complimentary copy (with a sticker identifying your firm’s name and contact details) could be a valuable marketing strategy. I’m sure Muneerah has other ideas on how to promote funerals in this very consumer-friendly manner. Contact her at: admin@TheWarnerFuneralHome.com. Learn more about the magazine at the website dedicated to the publication: Funerals Today Mag.

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