Member Report FIAT-IFTA 2019 50th I.C.D. Meeting & Conference – 7,8 June 2019 FIAT-IFTA National, Active & Associate Members

The FIAT-IFTA 50^th I.C.D. Meeting and Conference of the National and Active Members has been held in Birmingham on Friday, June 7 during the NFE Funeral Expo in Stoneleigh, UK from June 7 to 9, 2019.

FIAT-IFTA President Hiroshi Kitajima - Japan, NAFD President David Barrington - UK, Vice President Marek Cichewicz - Poland, Vice President William C. Wappner - USA, Vice President Johan Dexters – Belgium, Secretary Emerson de Luca - UK and Treasurer Atanas Argirov – Bulgaria.

Delegates of National and Active Members from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel, Bulgaria, Turkey. Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, P. R. of China, Thailand, Mongolia, Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Croatia and Belgium. In total from 33 countries.

In his opening words President Kitajima said:

Ladies and Gentlemen, 50 years ago, a few funeral directors and initiator Jacques Marette started the FIAT-IFTA Federation in Paris. Today we are with nearly 50 National Members, 20 Active Members and 450 Associate Members in 80 countries. UNESCO and UNITED NATIONS granted FIAT-IFTA with the consultative status of International NGO.

This year, in Japan, the new imperial era is marked by the name REIWA.
This means: Order and Harmony.

I hope that in cooperation with the FIAT-IFTA Board Members, the secretariat and with you all we will shape the future of FIAT-IFTA in good order and harmony. With so many nationalities and so many different cultures it is often difficult to find a good balance. But with respect for each other and with one goal in mind, namely, to shape the best future for the global funeral industry, we will achieve.

FEATURING:

• Nomination of the Treasurer Mr. Atanas Argirov, Bulgaria.
• Approval of the application National Membership:
  Denmark, Libya, Nigeria,
  Serbia, South Africa (new association), Thailand,
  The Netherlands (new national member) and Vietnam.
• Approval of the application of Active Membership:
  Anubis International Group (France), Verband Unabhängiger Bestatter (Germany),
  UESN ( Germany), The Dodge Company (UK), Menuha Laad Repatriation ( Israel),
  Jolstad Repatriation ( Norway), CFA China Repatriation (P.R. of China) and Nordic Funerals (Denmark).
• Approval of the applications of Associate members from:
  Germany, UK, Israel, Tanzania, Egypt, Bulgaria, Spain, Poland and Canada.
• President’s Report highlighting the activities of the President and Board Members during the past Federation year.
• An impressive report by Mrs. Yuan Yuan Chen (Chair of the China Funeral Heritage Working Committee) on the work of the FIAT-IFTA Funeral Heritage Steering Committee as International NGO Consultative Status at UNESCO Convention Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.
  Presentation FIAT-IFTA Heritage Projects.
• Remarkable increase of the number of FIAT-IFTA Active Members
• Approval to initiate a FIAT-IFTA International Funeral Celebrants Platform to be established at the 16^th FIAT-IFTA Convention, Yokohama, Japan, 22 – 24 June 2020.
• Report from two young Funeral Professionals from Germany and Spain on their experiences with the FIAT-IFTA Funeral Exchange Program.
• Approval to initiate the global FIAT-IFTA Cremation Network to be established at the 16^th FIAT-IFTA Convention, Yokohama, Japan, 22 – 24 June 2020.
• National Reports from:
  Denmark, Nigeria, South Africa, The Netherlands.

Conference Speakers in Birmingham:

16^th FIAT-IFTA CONVENTION 2020

22 – 24 JUNE 2020 - ROYAL PARK HOTEL, YOKOHAMA -JAPAN

50^th ANNIVERSARY FIAT-IFTA FEDERATION 1970 – 2020

65th ANNIVERSARY ZENSOREN ALL JAPAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS COOPERATION 1955 - 2020

FIAT-IFTA President HIROSHI KITAJIMA and ZENSOREN President TOKIAKI ISHII invite all FIAT-IFTA Members and Country Delegations to participate at this eminent event to celebrate the Past and to inaugurate the Future of the International Funeral Industry.

I.C.D. Meeting and General Assembly of the FIAT-IFTA Membership

Tribute to the Founders and Past Presidents of the FIAT-IFTA Federation

Special FIAT-IFTA Funeral Heritage Presentations

Official establishment of the FIAT-IFTA International Cremation Network

Partner Program and Post-Convention tours to Kyoto, etc.

Visit to the YOKOHAMA FUNERAL FAIR – Meeting point ZENSOREN & FIAT-IFTA Booth

REGISTRATION & ACCOMODATION on Special Convention Website per December 1, 2019

VISA Assistance

Office Zensoren: Mr. Masaki Minami – ajfdc@zensoren.or.jp

LOCATION:   

Landmark Hotel: ROYAL PARK HOTEL YOKOHAMA