The 2013 Tri-State Funeral Convention | An Update

I spent part of this week in Overland Park, Kansas for the 2013 Tri-State Funeral Convention. This was a convention cosponsored by Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska Funeral Director's Associations.

I spoke twice at this convention:

One talk was on Cremation Liability and the second was What's New That Can Get You Sued.

Both topics of interest to anyone in the profession!

One of the things we talked about during the What's New That Can Get You Sued talk is if and when do you have the right to refuse to serve a family? This was all tied to the Boston Bombings. The short answer here is that you can refuse to serve a family as long as you are not discriminating and you have a legitimate business reason.

Overall, great conference!

2012 Coat Drive Results

Our fourth annual coat drive was a huge success and we're proud to say that more than 500 brand new coats were donated to kids and adults this season. ====

500 Brand New Winter Coats,  200+ Pairs of New Gloves, 100+ New Hats Donated to Cincinnati-area Adults and Children

30 January 2013—CINCINNATI—Imagine you are a fourth grader stuck outside at recess in a coat that is too small and not very warm. Unfortunately, that’s a reality for many Cincinnati-area children, and adults as well.

“This is our fourth year doing this, and our biggest success yet,” said Poul Lemasters, Owner of Lemasters Consulting and Attorney. “Coats get worn and kids grow every year, so the need continues to be present. Everyone should have a new, warm coat to carry them through the winter months, and this is why we do this coat drive.”

Lemaster’s Consulting, a Cincinnati-based business, partners with Old Navy’s Blue Ash, OH location to purchase the new coats and winter wear at a discount and with St. Vincent De Paul, Cincinnati Chapter who distributes the coats and winter wear.

This year, 500 new coats, 200+ pairs of gloves and 100+ new hats were distributed. The retail value of these items is more than $22,000.

“We are grateful to Poul, his family, Old Navy and Poul’s clients for their support, but not as grateful as the many struggling families who are touched by their generosity. Somewhere this morning, a little girl stood proudly at a cold bus stop showing off her new coat while her mother took comfort in knowing her daughter would be safe and warm this winter,” said Elysa Hamlin, Donor Communications Coordinator, Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “The generous spirit of Poul and everyone who contributed to purchasing over 500 new coats has given comfort and hope to many local families and we can’t thank them enough.”

The coats were distributed by St. Vincent de Paul on December 10, 2012.

“While the coats and winterwear are distributed here in Cincinnati, we get support from my clients all over the country,” said Lemasters. “Two well-known Cincinnati establishments have supported us every single year of the coat drive: Gwen Mooney Funeral Home and Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum. I am always so grateful to these businesses; both local and not-so, who contribute to keep residents of our city warmer.”

Supporting companies in this year’s coat drive include:

—Rebecca Ehlert, Wauwatosa, WI —Michael and Victoria Uselton, Palmetto, WI —Gwen Mooney Funeral Home, Cincinnati, OH —Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH —Legacy Funeral Group, Houston, TX —Legacytouch / Cremation Safeguard, Lee's Summit, MO —Live Oak Banking Co., Wilmington, NC —NGL Insurance Group, Madison, WI —Paxus Services, Inc, Boerne, TX —Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH

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Download a PDF of the press release here.

126 Brand New Winter Coats Donated

Wintertime without a coat can be unbearable, especially for a child. Lemasters Consulting, a Cincinnati-based law firm, completed its third year of raising money to purchase brand new coats for Cincinnati-area adults and children.

“Something as simple as a new coat can really take the edge off of a family that is struggling,” said Poul Lemasters, Owner and Attorney, “Each year, my goal is to donate more and more coats so that more and more people are warm this winter. And this year, we really did well,”

Lemasters Consulting teamed up with other companies both here in Cincinnati and around the country. A total of 126 brand new winter coats for boys, girls and adults were donated along with 50 brand new hats and 200 pairs of brand new gloves. All of the garments were purchased through a Cincinnati-area Old Navy store.

“Thanks goes out to the companies that participated and to Old Navy. They provide us with great deals so we can buy the most new coats as possible. A special thank you to Bill and Missy from the Old Navy Store in Blue Ash for all their time and assistance,” said Lemasters.

The coats were distributed through St. Vincent De Paul.

“Many of the children we help have never had a new coat. They often wear hand-me-downs that are too large, too small, too thin, or just worn out. Seeing their excitement as they picked out a brand new coat from Old Navy was unforgettable. We're extremely grateful to Poul and all who worked with him to give the gift of warmth to our neighbors in need this year," said Liz Carter, Executive Director, St. Vincent De Paul—Cincinnati Council.

Supporting companies in this year’s coat drive include: Paxus Services, Inc, Boerne Texas Cremation Safeguard, Tulsa, Oklahoma Foundation Partners Group, Tampa, Florida Legacy Funeral Services, Houston, Texas The Outlook Group, Franklin, Ohio Anderson Funeral Homes, Franklin, Ohio Serenity Funeral Home and Memorial Gadens, Mobile, Alabama ICCFA, Sterling Virginia Havenbrook Funeral Home, Norman, Oklahoma Nelsen Family Funeral Services, Inc, Richmond, Virginia

To download a complete copy of the press release, click here.