FUNERAL DIRECTORS HOST CAREGIVERS SEMINARS

Albany, NY -- April 18 -- The New York State Funeral Directors Association (NYSFDA)
hosted a series of seminars “The Power of Presence” conducted by Doug Manning for
nearly 1,000 clergy members, hospice workers, caregivers and local funeral directors from April 18 – 22 in New York City, Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse and Buffalo. The purpose of the seminars is to foster closer relationships among these professionals to promote a better understanding of each other’s roles so that the highest quality of grief counseling is available to those in crisis.

In the seminars, Manning stressed the importance of the “power of the ear” -- the art of
listening that professional caregivers and people in service-related fields should use every
day.

As a counselor, lecturer and author, Doug Manning has addressed the subjects of grief,
aging and personal relationships across the United States, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand. Following 30 years as a minister, he began a second career as one of the early
pioneers in the study of grief and the problems faced by families caring for aging parents.

According to Thomas L. Kearns, NYSFDA president, “These seminars are both
interesting and enlightening and provide NYSFDA members with an opportunity to build
closer relationships with those caregiver colleagues they work with every day. “The Power of Presence” was the first seminar of its kind in our state. We look forward to hosting similar sessions in the future to share information with caregivers and grief counselors to better serve families who need compassionate understanding.”

NYSFDA member funeral directors invited the various clergy and caregivers in their
respective communities to attend the seminars.

Founded in 1889, NYSFDA’s mission is to promote the highest standards of funeral
service to the public and to enhance the environment in which its members operate. More
than 750 licensed funeral firms who operate across the state belong to the New York State Funeral Directors Association. NYSFDA maintains a Website at “www.nysfda.org”; publishes Transitions, a monthly consumer information newspaper column and a member newsletter; conducts ongoing educational sessions for members and consumers, and manages PrePlan, a preneed trust fund for persons who wish to prefund their own funerals

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Editors Note: For more information, or to schedule an interview with NYSFDA Executive Director Bonnie McCullough or President Thomas Kearns, please call Vera Nuspliger at 518-882-9816 cell 518-424-8719 or Randy McCullough at 518-452-8230.