To our Priests, Catholic Cemetery and Funeral Service Professionals and Cemetery and Funeral Service Community:
Greetings from sunny Scottsdale Arizona. Did you know that we have over 300 sunny days per year? Now that I have your attention, I want to take this opportunity to thank our members and suppliers who have already registered for our upcoming annual conference. I encourage those who have not registered yet to come see us in January 2018.
This conference is about education, hospitality, building life-long relationships, welcoming family travel, modifying old convention models and building new ones. We want to educate our members and provide the structure to promote the Order of Christian Funerals in our Parishes and community. This change cannot happen without our members and suppliers coming together to first know and support each other. For more details on the conference goals, please refer to the attached Presidents letter from September and go online to register and review the schedule and speaker biography’s at www.ccfwest.org/annual-conference/
I would like to especially thank all of our long-time members and suppliers. I have never met a more genuine and friendly group of people. I cherish and rely on the friendships I have made in 4 short years of attending the conference and enjoying the benefits of membership. Throughout the years, our members have enjoyed the benefits of:
- Resource Sharing: As a group, we have valuable information and resources that are available to each of us. CCFW has created a page on the website for members only where they can view marketing materials, community outreach ideas and more that will help promote the Order of Christian Funerals.
- Relational Networking: We are not just building a network, we are creating long-term relationships and friendships that help personal growth along the way. There is a lot of value to having a group of like-minded, service orientated individuals when we work in the industry we do.
- Mission Formation: We live in a world where indifference is rampant, and there is a lack of faith when it comes to honoring our loved ones when they pass. CCFW is committed to work with its members to promote Catholic burial and funeral rites to the families of those we serve.
- Education: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin Involvement is key when it comes to personal and organizational success. We invite everyone to come to the annual conference to learn and grow both individually and as a group.
As the end of the year approaches, I hope you can all reflect on the benefits you receive from the CCFW and will renew your membership for 2018. If you are not a member, we encourage you to reach out to those who are and hear why they value their membership with the Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services of the West. Together we can continue with our mission and increase the value of a Catholic Funeral and Burial.
In Christ,
Joseph Lange
President
Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Services of the West