?It is always a valuable experience to get together with my Selected Independent Funeral Homes colleagues,? said Rick. ?The meeting offers a variety of informational seminars and opportunities to share insights and ideas, which help our funeral home, better serve the families of our communities.?

Seminars held throughout the course of the meeting focused on issues concerning the funeral service profession, sharing successful service program ideas and providing practical business advice. In addition, members participated in interactive sessions, which featured discussions about online obituaries, innovative funeral services and best practices. The Association also inducted its new president, Porter Loring, III of Porter Loring Mortuary, San Antonia, Texas; and a new secretary-treasurer, Richard C. Andrews, Jr. of Andrews Mortuary, Wilmington, North Carolina.

Founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians, Selected Independent Funeral Homes (www.selectedfuneralhomes.org) is the world?s oldest and largest association of independently owned funeral homes. The Association?s approximately 1,500 members operate under strict standards and best practices in order to provide the public with reliable, high-quality funeral services and funeral-related information. As a professional association, Selected Independent Funeral Homes actively monitors its members to help consumers obtain the best care available when choosing a funeral home.

?Over the years, Selected Independent Funeral Homes? Code of Good Funeral Practice has demonstrated our members? commitment to providing quality funeral service and their understanding of the responsibility they have to the families and communities they serve,? said George Clarke, Executive Director of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. ?It?s a tradition of trust that Allnutt Funeral Service has been a part of for almost 90 years.