CANA/NFDA Shatter Pre-Convention Attendance Record

CANA-NFDA SHATTER PRE-CONVENTION ATTENDANCE RECORD

Chicago, IL: The Cremation Association of North America (CANA) and the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) announced the Crematory Operations Certificate Program (COCP) set a new record with ninety three attendees representing twenty seven states, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Chairman of the COCP, and CANA President, Mike Nicodemus was extremely pleased with the turnout. "Having ninety three people take seven hours out of their Saturday in Chicago to join us speaks volumes of the importance people are placing on this program, and I thank NFDA for having the insight to allow CANA to provide this program prior to the convention”.

Funeral intern Shelby Shafer of Colorado stated, "I attended the NFDA convention specifically for the CANA cremation class. I wasn’t disappointed. The class was everything I had hoped for. Receiving my certification make me a stronger asset to my family’s funeral home”.

This was the third year that CANA has provided this program prior to the start of the NFDA convention, and NFDA CEO Christine Pepper, who took time out of her hectic convention schedule to speak to the attendees knows this is a win-win for everyone. "With the cremation rate now nearing 40% nationally, it is vital that funeral professionals undergo training to ensure they are serving families according to the highest professional and ethical standards. That is why NFDA has included CANA’s COCP as a preconvention seminar offering since 2008 and endorsed it since 2009. I was particularly glad to have been part of the largest certification program that took place in conjunction with the joint NFDA-CANA Convention in Chicago”.

CANA has fourteen COCP offerings slated for 2012 in cities throughout the country. Be sure and check the CANA website at www.cremationassociation.org to find a city near you.

Founded in 1913, CANA, is an international organization of over 1,300 members, including cemetarians, cremationists, funeral directors, industry suppliers and consultants. CANA members believe that cremation is preparation for memorialization.