Share Your Expertise at the 145th OFDA Convention and Exhibition!
The submission deadline is September 1, 2024.
Submissions for the 2025 Call for Presentations will be reviewed by the OFDA Education Committee for consideration at the OFDA Annual Convention, as well as for other educational opportunities, including alternative in-person programs, live webinars, and on-demand online sessions.
The 2025 OFDA Annual Convention is scheduled for April 29 - May 1, 2025, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, 3900 Chagrin Dr., Columbus, OH 43219.
The 145th OFDA Convention and Exhibition aims to break the mold with its "Think Outside the Box" theme, encouraging attendees to embrace innovation, diversity, and active engagement within their professional organizations and the broader community. The 2025 event provides a platform for professionals to explore, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals committed to excellence and compassion in funeral service. By fostering a mindset that values inclusion and creativity, the convention empowers attendees to create meaningful and memorable experiences that honor the departed with dignity and respect, paving the way for a brighter future.
Key points of interest are:
• Inspire and Be Inspired: The convention challenges attendees to explore and be open to new ideas, methodologies, and perspectives. Participants are encouraged to consider innovative approaches that cater to diverse cultural, religious, and personal preferences by attending inspiring keynote presentations, engaging sessions, and interactive discussions that challenge conventional thinking and spark innovation. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, we can shape the future of funeral care together while also catering to the diverse needs and preferences of families. • Inclusion: Inclusivity lies at the heart of the convention's message. Learn how to create inclusive environments within funeral homes, acknowledging and respecting the cultural, religious, and personal backgrounds of clients and colleagues alike. By valuing diversity, we enrich our practices and strengthen our communities. • Involvement: - The convention underscores the importance of actively engaging with communities and fostering meaningful connections beyond the funeral home. Discussions explore ways to support bereaved families, collaborate with local organizations, and contribute positively to the communities they serve. By being visible and accessible, we can build trust and demonstrate our commitment to serving others. - Take an active role within your professional organization(s). Participate in networking events, share best practices, and contribute to ongoing discussions about the future of funeral service. By collaborating with peers and leaders in the field, we can drive positive change and elevate the standards of our profession.
Rules:
• All proposals must be submitted online (no exceptions) • All proposals must be complete • You may submit a maximum of three proposals per presenter • Presentations cannot be sales pitches
OFDA Convention Fast Facts:
• Audiences are typically composed of funeral professionals, OFDA members and industry partners (vendors, consultants, etc.) • Audience size for learning lab/break-out sessions can range from 30-200 • Audience size for keynote sessions can range from 200-350 • Pro-bono speakers are appreciated. OFDA provides opportunities for speaker visibility via conference marketing materials: pre-convention brochure, convention website, digital communications, and post-conference re-caps
Thank you for your interest in becoming a continuing education provider for the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Our goal is to provide quality seminars, online webinars, and on demand education opportunities for our members.
OFDA is seeking presentations relevant to the funeral industry that offer practical, thought-provoking content with tangible takeaways, aligned with today's progressive market. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Business Management & Operations • Social Media and Technology • Legal Compliance • Human Resources • Cremation • Diversity • Grief Management • Marketing • Customer Service • Communication • Preneed Insurance and Trusts • Ethics
*The Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors mandates licensees obtain 18 hours of continuing education every 2 years to uphold their licenses. Out of the 18 hours of continuing education, 4 are mandatory in the following categories:
• 2 hours Rules and Law (Pertaining to the practice of funeral director, embalming and cremation. Includes but not limited to topics such as FTC, ADA, Veterans Affairs, OSHA, etc.) • 1 hours Preneed Ethics • 1 hour Ethics
*Ohio Revised Code for Funeral Directors & Embalmers
Please provide all requested information for equal consideration.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
Presenter Information First Name Last Name Job Title Company Name Professional Designation(s) Address City State Zip Business Phone Mobile Phone Email address Website URL
Co-Presenter Information (If Applicable) First Name Last Name Job Title Company Name Professional Designation(s) Address City State Zip Business Phone Mobile Phone Email address Website URL
Program Information Please complete the information OR upload your documents at the end of the form. Should you choose to upload a document, please make such notation in the appropriate field.
Note: the Upload Utility is located at the end of the Call For Presentation form on the 'Thank You' screen and will prompt you at that time to upload your information and photograph.
Program Title Program Subject/Sub Does Program meet any of the following mandatory topics? Please indicate yes or no below for each box:
Ethics choose one Yes No Pre-Need choose one Yes No Rules and Law choose one Yes No
If so, please indicate the number of minutes per mandatory topic included (Minimum of 30 min; in 30 min increments).
Total Program Length (Minimum of 60 min; in 30 min increments)
What makes your presentation unique to other programs on this subject matter?
Provide brief description of key learning objectives/takeaways (bullet point list recommended).
Provide a summary/description of benefit to funeral industry.
Provide Program Outline. Note: not summary/description completed above.
Presenter Qualifications/Credentials
Presenter bio/credentials:
A brief description of background, presentation experience, and qualifications are required below, or please upload files at the end:
Recent presentations given:
Honorarium/expense reimbursement requests. If none, please enter N/A**
Co-Presenter Qualifications/Credentials (If Applicable) Presenter bio/credentials:
A brief description of background, presentation experience, and qualifications are required below, or please upload files at the end:
Recent presentations given
Honorarium/expense reimbursement. If none, please enter N/A.
**Disclaimer: OFDA has a restricted budget for our continuing education programs. In lieu of an honorarium or expense reimbursement, OFDA can provide advertisement/sponsor recognition for the speaker's affiliated company.
