Dear colleagues and friends,
ith great excitement I am looking forward
to the FIAT-IFTA 2024 Convention in
September! The event promises to be really
inspiring
and
enriching.
The
enthusiasm
surrounding this event is palpable and I am
sure that this positive energy will stay with our
organization for much longer!
We will be meeting and networking over 300
professionals from 52 countries around the
world. We will host distinguished experts from
Japan, the USA, Germany and Poland as well as
prominent Polish athletes: Jerzy Dudek and Artur
Partyka. I am very impressed by the commitment
on the part of FIAT-IFTA members who have
volunteered to participate in working meetings of
committees working on important topics for the
funeral industry. Moreover we will visit one of the
oldest cemeteries in Poland – Rakowicki Cemetery
and one of the newest Municipal Cemeteries
Podgórki Tynieckie in Krakow. We will also have
the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of
Krakow and its surroundings, as well as to get to
know the culture and tastes of the Małopolska
region. We will dine in a restaurant that once
hosted a magnificent feast for the monarchs of
Europe in the name of the Polish King Casimir the
Great. I am sure it will be a memorable event for
everyone attending, for many different reasons.
For me personally, it will mark the end of my term
as FIAT-IFTA president. It is my humble hope that
FIAT-IFTA members will appreciate my efforts in
developing the organization so that it can flourish
under the presidency of my successor and friend
William C. Wappner. I consider it a tremendous
value of our organization to build the future on
the expertise of our forefathers.
For growth and development, inner peace and
strength are essential. In this issue of THANOS
magazine, we focus on the critical topic of mental
health, addressing the unique challenges faced
by funeral professionals, such as emotional
strain and professional burnout, as well as
the needs of families coping with grief and
seeking psychological support at funeral homes.
Compassion fatigue and burnout are huge issues
in our profession right now. We should not be
afraid to openly discuss these topics in business
meetings and public forums.
Wishing you an inspiring reading experience and
looking forward to meeting you all September
18-20, 2024 in Krakow, Poland at 17th FIAT-IFTA
Convention and 53rd FIAT-IFTA I.C.D. Annual
Meeting. See you in Krakow, one of the most
beautiful cities in Poland!
Marek Cichewicz
FIAT-IFTA President
Marek Cichewicz
FIAT-IFTA President
THANOS MAGAZINE
THANOS magazine, the official magazine of FIAT-IFTA
Editor-in-Chief: Katarzyna Supa, e-mail: fiatifta-magazine@thanos.org
Editorial Office: FIAT-IFTA – The World Organization of Funeral Operatives,
Apolloweg 325, 8239DC, Lelystad – NL
Design & DTP: PRZECINEK.studio
All materials are copyrighted. Reprinting and use of materials require
permission from the FIAT-IFTA Office. Editors reserve the right to shorten texts
and change the titles of submitted materials. FIAT-IFTA Office is not liable
for the content of advertisements and promotional materials.
Feel invited to create the Thanos Magazine together with us and advertise your products and services: fiatifta-magazine@thanos.org
Photo by Sándor Kerekes for OTEI
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
THANOS MAGAZINE | No. 107 – AUTUMN 2024