In this issue of ADEC Connects

This issue of ADEC Connects includes a congratulations to the 2022 ADEC award winners; a thank you to our conference sponsors and exhibitors; articles written by ADEC members to celebrate June as LBGTQ+ Month; member comments on the tragic mass shootings; a report on the activities of the Students and New Professionals Committee; our regular Featured Member Profile, Student Profile, What's New: New Books from ADEC Members, and Members Corner; and other interesting tidbits to help our Association connect together.

We encourage you to read it all! 

Dear Membership, 

What a year we have collectively experienced as a global community. From gradual adjustments to the many pandemic losses that we had faced, the easing of physical distancing and social restrictions around the globe, and the most recent reignition of domestic and international travels; it appears that we are finally able to resume a higher degree of normalcy as we launch into a new endemic world. 

As the world evolves rapidly under the shadow of COVID-19, ADEC is also finding itself at the precipice of a paradigm shift. I shared with you in my conference Closing Address that our association is undergoing the greatest transition of its history, from a longstanding dependency on Association Management Companies to execute its operations, to the long-aspired position of independent self-management. This dramatic shift in our governance stems not only from our continuing aspirations but also out of necessity. Like many other professional organizations, ADEC has suffered significant financial losses from the pandemic. One of our core pillars of income, the annual conference, was devastated due to cancellation in 2020. This negative trend continued with minimum net income in 2021, and in 2022, high implementation costs had unfortunately accrued when we were contractually obliged to enact a conference hotel agreement that was signed before COVID and based largely on pre-COVID terms despite numerous attempts at re-negotiations. The lack of conference income which forms a substantial part of our operations budget, together with an unsustainable fixed management fee agreement signed before COVID not adjusted to actual needs and the status of an economy tarnished by a global pandemic, made the decision for self-management even more prudent and urgent. 

Since taking office as your President at the end of April 2022, and together with the support of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, I have initiated and implemented numerous changes to our association’s operations for cultivating a smooth transition. I would like to share with you these important updates and developments. 

Changes in Association Leadership

Worth Kilcrease, ADEC’s Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee with an elected term from 2020 to 2023, submitted his resignation due to personal health reasons to me on the morning of 23 May 2022. While I expressed my sincere gratitude to Worth for his service to ADEC, I also recognized that a replacement was needed immediately to avoid any disruption to our operations. Having carefully considered this critical development and consulted my Executive Committee, I approached Dr Janet McCord – ADEC’s Past President of 2016-17 who has in-depth understanding of ADEC’s operations – and invited her to consider taking on the role of Interim Treasurer for remainder of the current term from 2022 to 2023. Janet accepted my invitation with enthusiasm, expressing to me that she is ready to work in tandem to do what is needed for the betterment of ADEC. Under ADEC By-Laws Article IV, Section 5, item 8, I brought this proposed appointment to the Board of Directors and called for an emergency vote. A unanimous decision was reached late in the evening of 24 May 2022, to appoint Janet as ADEC’s Interim Treasurer and Chair of the Financial Committee until the end of the current presidential year. Janet and the Finance Committee will very soon begin the important work of developing a sustainable financial plan for ADEC in the long term, while launching a series of fundraising activities to maintain and enhance our operations in the immediate short term. I sincerely encourage all of you to support these initiatives as they begin to roll out over the next couple of months. Your contributions will ensure the future viability of our Professional Home.

Appointment of Organization Transition Consultant

Our Immediate Past President, Dr Peggy Whiting, had put together the Management Taskforce in 2021-22 to explore ways to better support ADEC’s transition towards self-management. Led by Chris Hall (Past President 2016-17) and Melanie Wright (Vice President 2022-23), the Taskforce worked purposefully and diligently in identifying the best course of action for our association to find stability amidst uncertainties. On the week of 24 May 2022, the Taskforce recommended the hiring of a professional organization transition consultant, the Van Petten Group (VPG), to assist ADEC in our imminent transition. After reviewing the recommendation, I called an emergency Board meeting to thoroughly discuss and vote on this proposal on 26 May 2022. A unanimous decision was made on the same day to appoint VPG as ADEC’s organization transition consultant. On 1 June 2022, a formal agreement was reached between ADEC and VPG. Since then, the Executive Committee and I have been meeting with the core leaders of VPG including Megan Van Petten (CEO), Sharon Gill (Chief Business Strategist), and Lindsey Heatley (Account Manager Executive) on a weekly basis to initiate the preparatory works for commencing a formal transition protocol with MHQ. I have also introduced and connected Dara Ruddick, CEO of MHQ, with Megan Van Petten so that they can work collaboratively and effectively to ensure a successful transition. Our goal is to complete all handover procedures with MHQ on or before 31 July 2022, while at the same time, working closely with VPG to set up a new and robust foundation that enables ADEC to exercise full self-management by the end of 2022. This will involve, among others, the hiring of our own management team through an impartial, objective, and carefully curated process.

Hiring of Interim Operation Coordinator

With the appointment of VPG, the next urgent task is to identify a strong candidate with ample organization management experience and solid knowledge of ADEC to support the transition as well as to execute daily operations and functionalities of our association. On 12 June 2022, I issued an email to be sent out to the membership to call for applications for the position of Interim Operation Coordinator (IOC). Upon the job posting’s closing date on 17 June 2022, a total of two applications were received, and one was shortlisted for an interview based on our required qualifications, competencies, and work experience. The shortlisted applicant was our Board member, Dr Joy Berger.  Over the past few days, Megan and Sharon from VPG conducted an impartial and in-depth interview with Joy; they found Joy to possess the competence and character fit to our association’s needs during our imminent transition. A second technical interview was conducted by Lindsey from VPG to assess Joy’s knowledge and skillset in operating ADEC’s electronic membership management platform – YourMembership, and Joy excelled in the assessments. Based on their interview results, VPG has recommended to the Executive Committee to hire Joy for the role of IOC to formally initiate our transition protocol. Upon reviewing the recommendation, the Executive Committee called for an urgent Board vote on 18 June 2022, and a unanimous decision was reached on 20 June 2022, to formally hire Joy to serve as ADEC’s Interim Operation Manager. Joy had since accepted this position, resigned from her Board membership to eliminate any conflict of interest, and will soon begin the handover procedures with MHQ while being supported by VPG. Among others, this will include the transferal of access to our membership database as well as Board and committee training on utilizing our technology infrastructure. Not only will this foster greater preparation and fluid transition to self-management, it will also facilitate a more seamless delivery of our membership services. As ADEC continues its journey towards self-management, a full national search for a permanent Executive Director will be launched later in the year, together with the search for other supporting staff. 

Continuous Growth and Transformation

While much has transpired and changed since having taken on the honour to serve as your president, the turbulence that accompanies a paradigm shift has not deterred me from planning and working on the major goals that I had set out to achieve since the beginning of my presidency. Firstly, the aspiration for ADEC to build a much more prominent international presence through the establishment of the International Thanatology Alliance for promoting greater death literacy and grief literacy around the globe is very much in the works. More detailed updates can be expected in the later part of the year. Secondly, I am working closely with our Communications Committee and Professional Development Committee to develop and launch a series of creative life and death education materials for people of all ages and diverse backgrounds through our website and social media platforms. The first of such efforts will be published through an interview with the American Funeral Director Magazine in the coming month. Thirdly, the goal to build a more compassionate community in ADEC through the promotion of self-care and authentic kindness among our membership is underway. I am in the process of developing a content series of mindful self-compassion meditations and reflective activities to be freely distributed to our membership, and this program will be rolling out in the months of October and November of this year. Finally, I will begin to document my empirical observations of the fascinating fields of Arts and Science in Thanatology, while sharing them with all of you through a personal letter every other month starting July 2022. I hope this will not only serve as a source of inspiration for us in our clinical or professional work and research endeavours, but also bring our membership closer to our leadership with more regular updates on our transition and happenings. 

To launch off the precipice of a paradigm shift in the wake of an endemic world is by no means an easy feat – it is filled with challenges, adversities, and uncertainties. Change is hard and often frightening, but instead of being consumed by fear and stuck in stagnation, ADEC leadership is facing these trials head on with accountability, transparency, and collaborative decision-making; together with timely and efficient actions driven by the absolute intention of bettering and strengthening our association. With every change comes opportunity. I greatly look forward to an exciting new beginning as we strive towards self-management and self-determination with Solidarity, navigate complexities with Wisdom, exercise Autonomy in our development, and experience transformative Growth as a united collective. ADEC is our professional home, and I am filled with gratitude that I have the privilege to walk this journey with you every step of the way. With your support and contributions, we will thrive forward with much, much SWAG!

Sincerely yours,

Andy Ho
ADEC President

Civilians of the United States of America own more guns than civilians of any other country in the world, possessing 120.5 firearms for every 100 residents, with a total of approximately 390 million guns in circulation according to 2018 estimates (Small Arms Survey, 2018). Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children in the United States (Goldstick et al., 2022), and in 2020, the United States lost 45,222 individuals to fatal gun-related injuries (Centers for Disease Control, 2020). Individuals who pose danger to themselves or others can readily access guns in the United States. And we are repeatedly bearing witness to the consequences.

Surviving while constantly surrounded by this vicarious and collective trauma is exhausting, even for those who are not personally experiencing bereavement. It is despairing to constantly fear for your safety, the safety of your loved ones and your community, and for the future generations who will succeed you. The lack of tangible action, intervention, and prevention by those who hold the power to do so is debilitating. Moreover, as a person of color, reflecting on this violence with respect to our nation’s history of brutality towards communities of color exhumes crippling intergenerational trauma. Despite our organizing, our protesting, our supporting and loving one another, and survivors’ and loved ones’ courage in sharing their stories, this will likely happen again tomorrow (Gun Violence Archive, 2022), because we uphold systems which enable the exploitation of human beings’ inalienable right to safety for the sake of advancing political agendas and ensuring the reification of white supremacist and patriarchal power structures (Everytown, 2022; Glick, 2020; Kennedy, 2021; O’Brien et al., 2013).

The seemingly interminable gravity of it all can be exhausting and consuming. Here are a few of the questions I continue to ask myself in my efforts to remain grounded: Who has begun this work? Who are the experts? (Hint: “expert” does not necessarily equal academic or publicly celebrated.) How can I support their efforts and learn how to effectively support those who are hurting? How can we, as members of an organization centered on grief education and counseling, support prevention and intervention efforts and healing from gun violence and hate crimes, allocating specific attention to incidents targeting individuals and communities of marginalized identities? And, if not us, then who?

Unfortunately, violence has become a common story we hear or read about in the news or social media every day in the United States. These violent acts cannot be attributed to acts of war either. The insolent debating continues about what this increase is caused by. As professionals in bereavement support, the ability to advocate is sometimes difficult because supporting impacted victims usually happens behind the scenes and apart from the political or civic platforms.

Just in the last two months, the United States experienced the loss of life to several sudden, unexpected murders due to gun violence in Buffalo, NY (10 lives taken), Laguna Woods, CA (1 life taken), Tulsa, OK (5 lives taken), Philadelphia, PA (3 lives taken), Uvalde, TX (21+1 lives taken), Centerville, TX (5 lives taken).

There are always concrete, physical losses that immediate families and close family and friends instantly experience. The death loss is always followed by secondary losses as well as the long-term existential loss to a community’s sense of safety and naivety. This loss impacts not only those most closely impacted but an entire community and those who learn of the loss through news or social media or knowing “someone who knows someone.”

Hearing it impact an elementary school where 2nd – 4th graders in a small South Texas town attending school, a grocery store where people are doing what people do every day: shopping, a grandfather with 4 grandchildren just being at home where you feel you are in no danger, attending church, seeing your doctor and just celebrating in the city a special occasion.

The one thing in common, aside from the violent nature of the murders due to gun violence, is that the path to healing by those most impacted is a very long one that will require trained professionals to help through the devastating effects of trauma, empathetic peer support by those who have been there, patient support networks and employers.

Tragedy can bring out the “best” and “worst” of those impacted as well as those secondarily impacted or introduced to the tragedy through media, personal accounts, or hearsay.

What we find immediately following a tragedy can contribute to creating a supportive environment for those victimized or impacted or add additional stress or conflict:

I have supported the Children’s Bereavement Center as a volunteer as well as collaborated with them in some of my other bereavement work roles in the past.

Through UT Health Science Center Allograft resources donor family bereavement program, I was able to advocate and serve on the initial steering committee of the Children’s Bereavement Center in Rio Grande Valley. The center launched its RGV center in 2017.

So having had a history and personal experience in working with the Center and since my dad was raised in Knippa/Uvalde and I still have many family members still living there and am very much engaged in this community still, my heart was drawn to help. I will be helping with outreach in support of the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas’ long-term efforts to support the Uvalde community.

I believe there are many things bereavement professionals can do to advocate on behalf of safer communities and victims of violence.

A member of ADEC since 2014, Becky proudly serves on the Board of Directors and as the board liaison for the Students and New Professionals Committee. Becky holds a deep belief that education is our most powerful tool in our efforts to help the community learn how to cope with death and the journey of grief after loss. Through her work, Becky is spreading awareness and changing grief-care for the better. Her true passion lies in normalizing the grief experience and helping to create a world in which grief is embraced, understood and respected.

Do you have a mentor/role model who has significantly affected your career path in thanatology? Tell us why you chose this career path.

Dr. Bill Hoy is my mentor and role model. Bill serves as the educational consultant for O’Connor Mortuary, and I have had the unique pleasure of working with him on a quarterly basis since 2013. He is the one who got me involved in ADEC and encouraged me to sit for my thanatology certification exam. Bill has helped me grow as an educator through his depth of expertise in the field of thanatology and as an authority on the role of social support in death, dying and grief.

After spending nearly two decades in private practice counseling and in non-profit senior care, I took the role of director of grief support and education at O’Connor Mortuary to help normalize the grief experience and create a world in which grief is embraced, understood and respected.

What advice would you offer a more junior professional in the field on growing their career or keeping their work fresh?

My advice is to get involved in ADEC beyond your membership. Join a committee, volunteer, embrace ADEC as your professional organization and home. Take advantage of the many significant benefits of your membership. Find a mentor within our organization and continue to learn and grow within the field. Most importantly, believe in your calling to this field; there are so many paths within thanatology and so much work to be done.

What do you think the future holds for your work and that of others like you? How will that impact what you do?

Our work will continue to be significant and meaningful. We, collectively, have the ability to humanize dying, death and grief.

For me, personally, holding that sacred space as people navigate grief when a loved one dies and guiding healthcare and end of life care professionals to be more present and aware of how they impact the bereaved is my lifelong passion and purpose.

Tilly is a student counsellor with Manukau Institute of Technology, a trained End of Life Doula and Family Death Care Advocate, student member of the Association of Death Education and Counseling and a Compassionate Communities Supporter (Public Health Approach to Palliative Care), integrating a positive (holistic) approach to health and wellbeing using end of life planning and education.

Do you have a mentor/role model who has significantly affected your career path in Thanatology? Tell us why you chose this career path.

I feel I have had many mentors and role models starting with a significant life event that I believed influenced my curiosity and pathway into thanatology without really knowing it.

When I was 14 my grandmother died suddenly right in front of me. She had had a couple of small heart attacks during the day and was on the cardiology ward in the hospital. My parents and an uncle had left the room leaving me alone with my grandmother. I found out later on that a nurse had asked them into her office to talk about what approach they should take should my grandmother’s condition worsened.

When all the machines started to go off they all ran back into the room, the nurse telling us to hold hands and support my grandmother as she died. We did this and I considered it a life changing experience even at the age of 14. I wanted to talk about it with anyone and everyone, but had very little enthusiasm for the topic from my peers or elders.

Since then I have cared for my grandfather and my own father at end of life. I think these experiences have influenced me the most and shaped my chosen path considerably.

What advice would you offer a more junior professional in the field on growing their career or keeping their work fresh?

I feel quite junior in this field. I have so much to learn so if anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears! One thing I have learnt though after 20 years of studying and enrolling in papers that interested me, is to figure out what your end goal is and just go for it. I have spent too many years procrastinating. At the age of 48 I could have done a Bachelor’s Degree about four times over by now. Instead, I am studying part time around family and other commitments and am still in what is essentially my first year of the degree.

What do you think the future holds for your work and that of others like you? How will that impact what you do?

This may lead to an increased understanding, or interest in, the benefit and need for end of life planning. If so, this could influence interest in my qualifications, experience and the services I offer.

Many areas relating to end of life are changing rapidly. The leading cause of death in New Zealand by 2038 is predicted to be dementia related. The effects of this are likely wide ranging and will impact the health system, families, and the communities we live in.

I actively advocate for the role of an End of Life Doula to be accepted within the palliative care multidisciplinary team; I believe this role provides a necessary and positive resource for people at the end of life.

ADEC Members’ Corner is a regular column in ADEC Connects that highlights one or more members’ activity as an ADEC professional. Members’ Corner is open for contributions from all ADEC members; to be included, please send your article to Amanda Brace or Beverly Rollins.

Melissa Flint, PsyD, was quoted in the article, ‘We Had Things Planned’: Losing a Loved One — and Your Future — to COVID 19” in the May 12 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Dr. Flint noted that “A lot of the helplessness, anger, and frustration comes in because none of this fits in our storyline. Obviously, we know we need to make turns when life throws us curveballs, but who asks a 20 something year old to adjust to having a dead spouse or a dead fiancé? And COVID demanded that with no preparation, in a society that’s already death phobic.”

Janet McCord, PhD, FT is working with Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin to launch a new Master of Science in thanatology program in the Fall of 2022.

Rebecca Morse, PhD, MA recently wrote an article that appeared in Medpage Today that explored how COVID has changed both dying and grieving processes and warned of long lasting repercussions. Deaths from COVID have violated “our basic assumptions about what makes a ‘good’ death,” says Morse. Due to this, Morse believes, there are higher risks for prolonged grief disorders and higher demand for mental health resources.

Congratulations to Julie Olds for her chapter, “Emily and Sue: A Story about Preparing for Death,” which is included in the recently published book, Pride in the End: Stories About Allyship and LGBTQIA+ End of Life Care (2001), edited by Megan Perkins. The book highlights stories and issues in end-of-life care to enable stronger allyship for those both in and outside LGBTQIA+ and healthcare communities.

Beverly Rollins, MGA, MA, a member of the Montgomery County, Maryland Commission on Aging, recently met by Zoom call with NPR host, Diane Rehm, to discuss end of life choices for the Commission’s public access program, 50+ in Montgomery County.

Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD recently published a paper stating his position on the new “Prolonged Grief Disorder” diagnostic category in the DSM. His paper can be found here: Grief Is Not a Disorder - Center for Loss & Life Transition.

In addition, Dr. Wolfelt’s Center for Loss and Life Transition has created a focus of their training of clinicians on “companioning” people in grief as it relates to the natural complications that often result from the death of someone. These training efforts are in response to  concern surrounding the new diagnosis of Prolonged Grief Disorder.

Connects is interested in your thoughts and work. Please reach out to us with content submissions, suggestions or ideas.

For consideration in the August 2022 issue of Connects please submit your ideas/content by Friday, July 29, 2022.

Contact Us
Editor – Amanda Brace Ed.S, LSC, PCC-S
Assistant Editor – Beverly Rollins BSW, MGA, MA