Golden Circle Awards Celebration recognizes outstanding achievements in the funeral profession. 

OGR Installs New Board of Directors
Jamie L. Wieting of Wisconsin to serve as association's 2024-2025 President

OGR Member Resources Director, Nancy Weil, recently spent time with the Kansas Funeral Directors Association as the speaker at their four regional meetings. Read some of her main takeaways in the blog below!

OGR Emeritus member, Bob Shelby, celebrated his 95th birthday on February 4. Throughout most of his life he has been involved in the funeral service. While some things have changed over time, there are some absolutes that remain consistent, and one of those is his love of serving the people in his community of Covington, Indiana. 

The Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is thrilled to unveil the distinguished lineup of speakers for its 2024 Annual Conference, set to take place from May 7-9th at the historic DeSoto Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.  Among the esteemed speakers are industry leaders and experts who will offer valuable insights, expertise and successful strategies to help attendees grow their businesses. The speakers include:

This year, the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is focusing its podcast series on “The Changing Consumer,” — exploring consumer needs in deathcare and how they have shifted in recent years. How are consumers finding and choosing their funeral homes? What services are they looking for? Which aspects of the funeral are most important to them? The 2023 season investigates questions such as these to provide insight into modern consumers. 

OGR Wins Award for Grief Support Program
The Indiana Society of Association Executives recognized the association for its membership program. 

The application window is NOW OPEN for the International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) Award of Excellence Scholarship Program. What is this program and how can you get involved? Here is everything you need to know: 

The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) hosts a Virtual Roundtable series for members to connect and share their expertise, ideas and questions around common challenges facing the funeral profession. The June 2023 roundtable discussion centered around service pricing and how to best get that information to consumers. Topics included how to present pricing information, training staff to discuss pricing and what to be aware of regarding Federal Trade Commission (FTC) pricing regulations. Key points of discussion include: 

Chris Miller, current president of Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) and owner of Thomas Miller Mortuary in Corona California, recognizes how important the next generation is to a stronger future.

Funeral directors play a vital role in providing compassionate and dignified services to families during their time of loss. When it comes to honoring veterans, it is essential for funeral directors to be knowledgeable about the benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits not only assist families in arranging meaningful funerals for their loved ones but also ensure that veterans receive the recognition and respect they deserve for their service. There are key aspects of VA benefits that funeral directors should be aware of, enabling them to guide and support families in navigating the process.