What do Rock Hudson, Tom Sawyer, Charlie Sheen, George Carlin and Shirley Mc Clain all have in common besides their chosen careers? Each had an on camera opportunity to consider their cemetery and funeral options. In each case they saw the experience through their family and friends …. some didn’t like the camera vision. If you could call the plays from your armchair at home what plays would you rework and what would the end result look like? It might make a great movie.
I spent the morning at a new type of event called “Speed Networking”. Much like it’s single relative “Speed Dating” you share your marketing message in a sixty second format and move down the tables making new friends. It was high energy and an experience within itself. The unusual setting was a center created by a local community church in Greenwood called “The Gathering”. Within this building there were massive exercise stations, meeting rooms, basketball courts, and music chambers. The church had expanded it’s vision past Wednesday prayer meetings, choir practise, and church services. Rethinking their communities needs and space allocation during the week.
Although this was foreign to many of the companies around me, Flanner and Buchanan and our affiliated cemeteries have made event space available to the community in a wide variety of ways. It’s not unusual for there to be a baby shower, wedding, travel lecture, Easter egg hunt, or a fishing tournament going on during the month. We have tables, chairs, media equipment, florists, musicians …. when you think about it….we’re event specialist that can make it happen in 24 to 36 hours.
What comes to your mind when you hear burial American style? In this case, I was thinking prayer sticks, ceremonial dances, feathers but that probably wasn’t your first thought.
Today as we look at our own community traditions aren’t they all redefining what “American Style” is. As we welcome a new President to the White House we are anticipating new traditions and passions. What’s “American Style” to you?