The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is pleased to announce that Adam Thielen, licensed funeral director and owner of Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Crematory, has been elected to the OGR Board of Directors as a Board Member-at-Large. He will serve a two-year term through May 2028.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) brought together the next generation of independent funeral service professionals during the 2026 Future Leaders Forum, sponsored by Full-Circle Aftercare, held August 23-25 at George Irvin Green Funeral Home in Munhall, Pennsylvania.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is pleased to announce Johnson Consulting Group as the exclusive sponsor of OGR's Succession Planning Resource, supporting independent funeral home owners as they prepare for one of the most significant transitions in the life of their business.
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
The Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is pleased to announce the newly elected leadership and members of its Foundation Board for the 2026–2027 term.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) will bring together emerging leaders from independently owned funeral homes for the 2026 Future Leaders Forum, taking place August 23-25 at George Irvin Green Funeral Home in Munhall, Pennsylvania.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is pleased to announce S&S Coach as the exclusive sponsor of the OGR Supplier Network, a key resource connecting independent funeral homes with companies serving the funeral profession.
For the latest issue of The Independent magazine, OGR caught up with Todd Green from Snyder-Green Funeral Home, George Irvin Green Funeral Home, and Green Pet Funeral Home & Crematory in Munhall, Pennsylvania to talk about his career, the latest trends in funeral service, and much more. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is now accepting speaker proposals for its 2027 educational programming and is seeking engaging experts who can provide practical, relevant education that helps independently owned funeral homes thrive.
At PROGRESS 2026, OGR members participated in a roundtable discussion focused on real world "what if" scenarios that many independent funeral homes could face:
This article was contributed by Johnson Consulting Group for the Spring 2026 edition of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read the full magazine now in our Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) has been honored with a 2026 Indiana Society of Association Executives (ISAE) STAR Award in the Golden Shoestring category for its successful rebrand of Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast.
The following Presidential Viewpoint article first appeared in the Spring 2026 edition of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read the full magazine now in our Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) has launched the Global Circle Club, a strategic international membership initiative designed to strengthen relationships among independent funeral homes worldwide as the organization approaches its 100th anniversary in 2028.
For the latest issue of The Independent magazine, OGR caught up with Patricia Longworth from John J. Ferry & Sons Funeral Home in Meriden, Connecticut, to talk about her career, the latest trends in funeral service, and much more. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of The Independent magazine. OGR members can read full versions of previous magazine editions in the OGR Digital Magazine Archive.
The International Order of the Golden Rule, the world's leading professional association dedicated to making independent funeral homes exceptional, is pleased to announce the installation of Peter Urban, Jr. as the new president of the organization. Urban is a third-generation licensed funeral director of Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, Inc. in Ambler, PA.
The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Professional Service Awards. The awards were presented on May 6, 2026, at the Golden Circle Celebration Dinner held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. These awards honor individuals and funeral homes that have displayed exceptional dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence int he profession.
