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March 16-17, 2023 at the Sonesta Hotel in Denver
Agenda
Thursday March 16 – Conference Day 1
| Time | Type of Event | Name of Event | Topic | Presenter |
| 0900 – 0915 | Welcome | Opening | Welcome & Intro to Conference | Seth Viddal (The Natural Funeral) |
| 0915 – 1015 | Presentation | Understanding NOR | The Origin and History of NOR | Katrina Spade (Recompose) |
| 1015 – 1045 | Break & Vendor Booths | |||
| 1045 – 1145 | Panel | Meet the Operators | Vendors currently offering NOR | Recompose, Return Home, Earth & The Natural Funeral |
| 1145 – 1315 | Offsite Lunch & Networking | |||
| 1315 – 1400 | Presentation | Environmental Impact of NOR | Carbon impact of NOR versus other disposition choices | Dan Ziskin, PhD (The Natural Funeral) |
| 1400 – 1430 | Presentation | The Science of NOR and the Value of Composting | An academic perspective of human mortality composting | Lynne Carpenter-Boggs, PhD (Washington State University) |
| 1430- 1500 | Break & Vendor Booths | |||
| 1500 – 1600 | Presentation | Natural Death Care Techniques | Body preparation without embalming, chemicals, cosmetics, etc. | Lauren Carroll and Erin Merelli (The Deathwives), Ray Green (The Natural Funeral), Katey Houston (Return Home) |
| 1600 – 1645 | Interactive Workshop | Laying In Demonstration | Memorializing a world before NOR | Nicole Matarazzo (End of Life Pathways) |
| 1645 – 1700 | Day 1 Closing Remarks by Seth Viddal (The Natural Funeral) | |||
Thursday, March 16 – Independent Event
| 1900 – 2100 | In Conversation with Caitlin Doughty (The Order of the Good Death) | |||
Friday March 17 – Conference Day 2
| Time | Type of Event | Name of Event | Topic | Presenter |
| 0900 – 1000 | Presentation | Articulating NOR | Creating terminology at the intersection of funeral service and composting | Micah Truman and Katey Houston (Return Homies) |
| 1000 – 1030 | Break & Vendor Booths | |||
| 1030 – 1130 | Presentation | Advance Planning | Planning Ahead for Your Own NOR | David Heckel (The Natural Funeral) and Gail Rubin (A Good Goodbye) |
| 1130 – 1300 | Offsite Lunch & Networking | |||
| 1300 – 1400 | Panel | Families Who Have Chosen NOR | What does NOR mean to your family? | Wieser family
Davis family |
| 1400 – 1445 | Panel | Elevating Family Experiences with NOR | Adding value to your funeral home services by offering NOR | Susan Johnson (Feldman Mortuary) and Seth Viddal (The Natural Funeral) |
| 1445 – 1515 | Break & Vendor Booths | |||
| 1515 – 1615 | Panel | Land Stewardship | Land Conservation Through NOR | Eric Rooney (ReGeneration Earth), Emily Miller (Colorado Burial Preserve), Elliot Rasenick (Bells Mountain), and Susan Nemcek (Willow Farm) |
| 1615 – 1645 | Interactive Workshop | Laying Out Demonstration | Returning our bodies as a gift to the Earth | Ben Martin (Essential Ceremonies) |
| 1645 – 1700 | Closing & Call To Action by Seth Viddal (The Natural Funeral) | |||
