Official website of the Ohio Embalmers Association
President's Message
I hope that all of you and your families are having a great,
safe summer. Our Spring seminar in Cleveland was very well attended and
very informative. Please see your edition of the FOCUS for our Fall
seminar. If you have an idea for a seminar or speaker please contact
David Hicks, OEA Secretary. Remember that scholarships are available
from the OEA to any student attending an ABFSE Mortuary College.
Lastly, as we end the compliance period, December 31, 2010, please make
sure that you have all of your hours and certificates in case the State
Board asks for proof of attendance. I hope to see you in Grove City
this fall and please enjoy the rest hot this hot summer.
Michael Patrick, President
Secretary's Report
OEA will Co-host a booth at NFDA in New Orleans October 9-14,
2010. Other participants include the BIE North American Division,
American Society of Embalmers and the Michigan Embalmers Society. This
will be the first booth in a number of years, if not the first ever to
be devoted to Embalming and the promotion of Embalmer Associations.
Just a reminder that licensees must have earned 18 CEUs by December 31,
2010. Be sure to keep your Certificate of Completion for any con-ed
event attended during the compliance period in the event that you are
audited by the state.
OEA Honors Robert J. Inman at Spring Seminar
Almost 200 were in attendance on May 12 for the joint annual Spring
meeting of the Cleveland Embalmers Association and the Ohio Embalmers
Association. At this meeting the Ohio Embalmers Association recognized
long-time member Robert J. Inman, of Cleveland, for his distinguished
service to the funeral service profession and his outstanding
contributions to the Ohio Embalmers.
The Inman name is
recognized nationally and internationally. He was a 1950 graduate of
the former Cleveland College of Mortuary Science, and a 1957 graduate
of Western Reserve University; he served in the Army Medical Corps, in
Japan, during the Korean War. In 1956 he began his career as a trade
embalmer serving the greater Cleveland area. In 1979 he started Inman
Nationwide Shipping which has grown to the largest business of its type
in America. 
Starting
in 1971 he shared his technical skills through seminars independently
and also through the Champion Company – speaking in over 25 U.S. states
and numerous foreign countries. In 1975 he served as president of the
Ohio Embalmers Association a group to which he has presented numerous
programs over the years. His lectures were always well received and
respected, Inman presented his subject material in a manner where all
present paid close attention.
His memberships include the
Georgia Academy of Graduate Embalmers, Cremation Society of North
America, National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors
Association, F.I.A.T-I.F.T.A., Cleveland Embalmers Association. He was
a co-founder of the North American Division of the British Institute of
Embalmers and in 2003 was recognized by this group as a Distinguished
Fellow. He is one of four Americans to receive this distinguished
recognition.
Currently Robert Inman services as chairman and
president of the Board of Trustees of the Pittsburgh Institute of
Mortuary Science. In addition to his many professional activities
Robert Inman has maintained a perfect attendance with Rotary
International for the past 33 years.
The presentation of the
Distinguished Service Award was given to Robert J. Inman by David G.
Hicks, secretary of the Ohio Embalmers; the introduction of Mr. Inman
was made by O.E.A. Board member Robert G. Mayer.
The Ohio
Embalmers Association is 79 years old and hosts a membership in excess
of 600. The Association provides three or four continuing educational
programs each year, throughout the state of Ohio. Mr. Michael Patrick
serves as the president of the Ohio Embalmers.