Past FOCUS

Greetings, my friends,

It feels like the calendar this year has been on fast forward, we are into the middle already. Here at OEA we have been working on our programs for the fall and hope to give you a few opportunities for more CEUs before the end of this compliance period.

First up will be our September meeting at Castle and Key Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. This will give us all an opportunity for a little travel and to meet with some of our fellow professionals in the great state of Kentucky. Plus, if you've attended one of these events before you'll know we will have time to sample some of the fine spirits the folks at Castle and Key craft. As William Faulkner once said, “There is no such thing as a bad whisky. Some whiskies just happen to be better than others.” I could say the same for our featured speakers at this event as well. They are some of the best practitioners/speakers around. I hope you will join us for a great day at the Castle.

Keep an eye out for more news to come on other programs in the works for the fall. We want to give everyone opportunities for your CEUs and great information to assist in the work we do everyday. Hope to see you all this fall at one of these events.

All the best,

Jay Moffett,

President OEA 

Accommodations - rooms are being held at the Home2 Suites 105 Allen Way, Frankfort KY 40601

502.234.2450 

OEA & OFDA are Co-Hosting a 4 hour seminar Oct 14, 2026. This will be held at OFDA Offices in Columbus OH. 

Presidents Message

Greetings my friends,

Ohio so far this year has been a meteorologist's fever dream. Snow, arctic temperatures, tornadoes, extreme winds, hot sun, torrential rain, and even a meteor! Hopefully, we won't have another meteor event at our next meeting in Cleveland with the Embalmers Association of Cleveland. I always look forward to this joint meeting, a long held tradition between OEA and EAC for over 85 years. 

As many of you may recall, this is a compliance year for our license requirements. This meeting will be offering all the required in person hours in one day, plus good food and friendship at Brennan's Party House. I hope you will come up to Cleveland and spend the day with us. 

All the best,

Jay C Moffett 

OEA President 26-28

Greetings all,

Welcome to 2026 and the 95th year of the Ohio Embalmers Association.

Thank you to Woody Wilson for his great service as president these past two years. Also thank you to the board and the "always on the job" Secretary David Hicks for all their good work for OEA.

I am proud to be a part of OEA and all that we do to further continuing education and fellowship in our profession. In our daily work there are times we need to be open to new ideas and information.  New ideas and techniques, sharing information, meeting other professionals from around the state, all occur at OEA meetings. Hopefully by participating in these seminars you will take home some new ideas and strengthen your own practice whether it has been two or forty-five years of service. 

OEA has some great programs planned for this year and I look forward to seeing you all there. 

Best regards,

Jay Moffett

Greetings All,

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer. With fall just around the corner so is the OEA’s Fall Seminar October 8th in Marietta. We have a great lineup of speakers slated, hope to see a great turnout. It will also be my last one having the honor to serve as president, it has been a privilege. I want to wish whoever our newly elected president might be all the best. I look forward to continuing to serve this great association. 

Best Regards,

Woody Wilson

Greetings,

May is almost here along with one of the long-honored traditions for OEA. Our combined spring seminar with EAC, a partnership of over 80 years. The Spring Seminar in Cleveland is such a time-honored tradition, Bob always knows to “turn here.”

Woody Wilson,

President OEA 24-26

Another year of great CE is coming together. Join us at CCMS for another great day of learning, comraderie and fellowship.

TIme is running out! However, OEA has a great 6 hour seminar planned for all you Procrastinators in Hilliard OH Nov 13, 2024.

We have a great event planned at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort KY. Gorgeous venue in the heart of the Bourbon Trail. 

Just like the buzzards returning to Hinckley, the buzzards... I mean OEA returns to Cleveland to co-host the Spring Seminar with EAC.

Get all your required hours at this meeting!

This an actual photo of some of the OEA Board Members in a meeting.

OEA has a great Seminar set up for you at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. March 6, 2024. FOCUS will be in the mail soon. Hrs have been appiled for in OH and KY. 

Dues notices are being sent by Thanks Giving. You should also be able rto access the member portal and use your email or member No (located next to address on FOCUS) to update info. 

Dates for 2024 are:

Mar 6 CCMS

May 8 Cleveland

Sept 18 Castle & Key Distillery

Nov 13 Procrastinator Special

This is my “swan song”. From the day when you ran into me wandering around the Ohio Funeral Director’s convention. Honestly, it has been a tremendously wonderful experience and a joy being part of the Ohio Embalmers Association. After my Army years, YSU and PIMS I have been an active Ohio Funeral Director and Embalmer for 56 years. Although I have not been that active in the preparation room recently. However, I know of no finer group of men and women I’d rather be with then you. Our profession and all the success we have had is based on the professional work (I should say art) that you do.

Respectfully,

Dan Becker,

President OEA 2022-24

For well over 80 years OEA has co hosted the Spring Seminar with the EAC. Join us this year for another great day of Education and Fellowship. May 10, 2023 at Brennans Party Center, Cleveland OH. 

I always like when I see the FOCUS for the Winter Seminar. For several years it has been held in mid to early March and while still technically Winter, warmer weather and Spring are soon to follow. Get an early start on your hours needed to maintain your license and plan on attending this great seminar and the many others we have planned for 2023. Safe travels and health in 2023.

Respectfully,

Dan Becker,

President OEA 2022-24

Join OEA at the Eldorado Casino in Columbus OH for 6 hours of education. I'll bet you have fun.

Dan Becker

Join OEA as we venture to Kentucky for Bourbon and History at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Beautiful Frankfort KY. Click on the link below to read more. 

Presidents Message

Spring is here so it’s time to gather in Cleveland for the annual Spring Seminar hosted jointly by the Embalmer’s Association of Cleveland. This meeting has been taking place for over 75 years! The OEA is providing an excellent opportunity to attend one meeting and obtain mandatory requirements to maintain your license. I hope to see you at Brennans May 11th.

Cordially,

Dan Becker,

President OEA 22-24

Greetings to all. The OEA Winter Seminar is always a sure sign that warmer weather is on the way. While technically still winter we all know that spring is just around the corner. Bring a coat just in case and join the other members for a 6 hour seminar that will certainly be a great one. Keep in mind too that this is the year that all 18 hours must be obtained -13 general and 5 specialized. The OEA Spring Seminar in Cleveland will have you covered on the 5 special hours. 

Keep warm and don’t forget to sign up for the seminar. 

Cordially,

Dan Becker, 

OEA President 22-24

We have a great program scheduled for September in Marietta, we hope to see many of you there. The area around Marietta and the Ohio River is beautiful in the fall so come and enjoy the meetings and explore the area.

Sincerely,

George Eastman

It was great to see so many attendees at the Dayton seminar. The programs were very interesting and everyone seemed to enjoy them. The meal was good so all in all it was a big success.

The Cleveland seminar is coming up soon. It is always a good program and I don't expect this year to be any different. We are still encouraging everyone to be safe and wear masks and distance. The number of cases of Covid are decreasing but we are not out of the woods yet. I would like to say a big thanks to our secretary David Hicks for all his hard work, and to our members for their support of the OEA through these challenging times.  

OEA’s Fearless leader

George

Additional note: If you receive a post card instead of the FOCUS and want to attend the Cleveland seminar please submit $160 for Dues and Seminar fees. Thank you.

Since we have changed dates a bit it really isnt the Winter Spring and Fall Seminars. May 5 is our 1st Semianr of 21. Covid has changed how we in Funeral Service do business. The OEA will adhere to current guidelines  dictated by the venues and health authorities for this and future seminars. We feel it is important to meet in person to learn from each other and the speakers. We have a great line up starting with this seminar in Dayton. See you soon!

George Eastman, 

President OEA

Read important information about license renewal for the 2021 compliance period. 

OEA Extra C19 Seminar. To allow as many possible to earn in person hours we are excited to offer 6 hours Nov 11 and Nov 12. Both days will fullfill the 5 required hours and 1 hour of general education. Click on th link to see more. 

Update

Due to Covid19restrictions on crowd size, the registration is closed.

There is another seminar Nov 11 and possibly an encore Nov 12. Stay tuned.

I hope to see you at the Seminar at Brennans, Click on the link to see the PDF of the FOCUS Newsletter that is on the way...

George Eastman

As my term as President of this fine organization comes to an end, I'm filled with many thoughts-too many to share in the confines of this column. First and foremost, though, I would like to acknowledge, with great appreciation, the very competent and consistent contributions of two of our OEA board members: our Treasurer, Bill Peoples, and our Secretary, David Hicks.

Through the years I've seen many changes, but one thing that has remained a constant is the proud tradition of the OEA providing first-rate educational seminars at a price that won't break the bank. I have enjoyed being a part of that tradition.

In closing, I would like to say that it has truly been an honor to serve on this board, in many different capacities, for the last 31 years.

Sincerely,

Don Kincaid 

President

Ohio Embalmers Association

Spring is here once again and as winter lets go and a new season of warm weather, green trees and flowers pop it is time for our biggest seminar of the year.     Just as swallows return to Capistrano, and,  more aptly, the buzzards return to Hinkley, OEA  returns to Cleveland to join our sister organization, The Embalmers Association of Cleveland for the Spring Seminar.     An added incentive this time is the opportunity to earn, in one fell swoop, the 5 subject-specific hours which the State Board now requires for each compliance period. How convenient. I hope to see you there. Don Kincaid President, OEA 

 The 100 year anniversary of the 1918 Flu Pandemic, which killed between 70 and 100 million people worldwide, just passed last year. And while we haven't experienced anything of that magnitude lately, that's not to say that something as bad, or worse, isn't just around the corner. 

Don Kincaid

The softened light, the veiling haze, the calm repose of autum days, steal gently o'er the troubled breast, soothing life's weary cares to rest.

Phebe Holder

October, 1890

Summer means happy times

         and good sunshine.  It means

         going to the beach, going to

         Disneyland, having fun.

                                     Brian Wilson 

     Brian Wilson's reflection on summer also serves as an apt description of what awaits us at the OEA Summer Seminar.

     While I can't promise you Disneyland, what awaits us is a varied and informative program in a relaxed setting.  

     I hope everyone is having an enjoyable summer, and I hope to see you at Sawmill Creek Resort in August.

                          Sincerely,

                                       Don Kincaid 

 While the location of other OEA Seminars Changes, there is a long standing tradition of the Spring Seminar being held at Brennans, in conjunctionwith the Embalmers Association of Cleveland.

I look forward to this every year.

Don Kincaid, Pres OEA