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OGR's 80th anniversary!
National Family Appreciation Month
OGR celebrates 80th year of service to the independent funeral home!
• Be the 80th caller each month throughout 2008 and win a free supply of OGR booklets/pamphlets (members only).
• Look for the Jan/Feb anniversary edition of The Independent® showing why at OGR - "It's Members That Matter."
• Celebrate with fellow members at the 2008 Annual Conference in April.
• Place a "congratulations" ads in The Independent® during 2008 and save 50% - while supporting the Awards of Excellence Scholarship Fund (members only). Click here to download a pdf of the rate card. Be sure to note your member discount.
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Did you know that...
In 1927...A Springfield, Ill., advertising agency provided a variety of advertising programs to funeral directors. That year, an executive in the firm develops the idea of grouping the agency’s funeral director clients into an association in order to better serve their common interests.
In May 1928...The “Order of the Golden Rule,” as the organization was then called, was officially established, adopting The Golden Rule credo (Service measured not by gold, but by the Golden Rule) as the cornerstone of the organization and its members. During the early years, the advertising agency controlled its activities.
In the mid-1950s...Plans were made to reorganize the Order to emphasize its potential as a professional association. The reorganization enabled members to make good use of a great many business and promotional services not being provided by any funeral service organization. As a first step, the Order of the Golden Rule was organized as a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the state of Illinois. The service organization was incorporated as a separate, for-profit entity in 1956 to control the activities of the association. The Order grew steadily under this arrangement through 1970.
In 1960...The Knight Letter, focusing on OGR-related news and events, took a new form after 30 years, evolving from a one-page format to a printed, illustrated publication mailed monthly to members. The Knight Letter retired in 1999 when The Independent was introduced, incorporating bylined articles from death care experts into its editorial format.
In 1974-75...OGR hired its first executive director. At its Annual Meeting in New Orleans, 29 of the founding members raise $146,000 to form a new company—the OGR Service Corporation (OGRSC), owned entirely by members of the International Order of the Golden Rule. The new service company commenced operations on Jan. 14, 1975.
In 1996-97...In March 1996, the Board of Directors announced its decision to move the OGR headquarters from Springfield to St. Louis. The move was completed in March 1997.
In 1998...The boards of both OGR and OGRSC embarked on a legal reorganization whereby OGR was designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. This process was completed in June 1999.
In 2003...OGR instituted numerous celebratory activities in honor of its 75th anniversary, including an anniversary logo, special edition of The Independent, Awards of Excellence Scholarship Fund contributions, and Annual Conference activities centering on a “Family Reunion” theme.
In 2004...The Golden Services Group, a new, wholly owned, for-profit entity, was created to provide products and services to members, retiring OGR Service Corporation. OGR reinforced its image within the funeral industry and the public. A new industry-oriented OGR logo and trademarked tag line (“The Voice of the Independent Funeral Home”) was adopted, reflecting the association’s leadership position and commitment to the locally owned funeral home.
In 2005...OGR continued its challenge, begun in September 2003, to cancel SCI’s supplemental registration trademark of FAMILY FUNERAL CARE. Collaborating in the effort were the Network of Independent Funeral Director Associations and hundred of individuals, funeral homes and organizations, which submitted documentation and donations to a fund established by OGR.
In 2006...Members embarked on a nationwide, grassroots campaign to reach students and communities about “family appreciation.” The fight to cancel the SCI trademark entered the testimony phase.
In 2007...Following 14 months of planning, the Board and staff identified critical strategies, goals and initiatives designed to meet the changing needs of the membership and the funeral profession.
And in 2008...OGR is currently celebrating its 80th year, incorporating an anniversary logo on association stationery and on the OGR web site, publishing a January/February anniversary edition of The Independent, and conducting anniversary-related activities at onsite meetings and conferences. Testing of a new web-based database is being conducted, with plans to unveil the system within the year. When completed, the system will allow members to view/edit their own records and various association documents, register for meetings, and perform other online functions. |
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For information, contact Janet Protzel, director of communications, (800) 637-8030, x108.
Get set for 2008 National Family Appreciation Month and create community awareness of "family appreciation" this October
Download a fact sheet and get started. Details in the May/June Independent and June mailing
 Now is the time to start planning your 2008 National Family Appreciation Month awareness campaign. This unique program, beginning its third year, offers members a variety of ways to heighten community awareness of your Golden Rule funeral home, while bringing to light the importance of “family appreciation.” You’ll be surprised at the good will and positive publicity you will generate through this OGR-only program.
Although NFAM is observed in October, we recommend you contact teachers or principals before the end of this school year about scheduling your 2008 student writing contest for the next school year. Present the NFAM 2008 Fact Sheet explaining the program and the $5,000 college scholarship being sponsored for the third consecutive year by Aurora Casket Company. Whether you involve one class or an entire school district, you will be helping to create awareness about "family appreciation."
Helpful Hints
1. Designate a Point Person to coordinate your campaign and activities.
2. Tet in touch with local high schools before they adjourn for the summer:
- Arrange to meet with the principal or the head of the school’s Language Arts department.
- Explain the purpose of the program — to advocate “family appreciation” and to help strengthen family relations.
- Present an NFAM 2008 Fact Sheet outlining the specifics of the program.
- Note that only seniors are eligible for the $5,000 national scholarship (although members may include other grade-levels in their local contests).
- Explain how your firm will be conducting your local contest and recognizing local winners.
Look for your NFAM Instruction Packet this June with guidelines, student entry form and PR toolkit. For questions, contact Janet Protzel, director of communications, (800) 637-8030, x108.
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Another OGR-only member benefit!
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Participation in NFAM '07 Grew in Second Year;
Zaharia Submits Winning Student Writing Contest Essay
 National Family Appreciation Month (NFAM)2007 concluded its second year, and momentum is clearly building for OGR's community awareness program, conducted each October.
A major focus of NFAM has been the Student Writing Contest, which saw a 20 percent increase in participation over last year. The 2007 contest offered a $5,000 college scholarship to the high school senior who best expressed the theme, “Why families matter.” Submissions are sent by participating Golden Rule funeral homes. The scholarship was sponsored for the second consecutive year by Aurora Casket Company.
This year’s contest was won by Dawn Wille, a senior in the Truman, Minn., public schools, for her essay, "Love After Disagreement,” submitted by Zaharia Family Funeral & Cremation Service. (See essay.) Wille, an A student, senior editor of her school’s yearbook and the prop master of her high school’s plays, will be honored April 17 at OGR's Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in Chicago. The essay will be published in the January/February 2008 issue of OGR's magazine, The Independent®. (Photo shows Dawn Wille with Teresa and John Zaharia.)
"Aurora is again proud to be associated with this fine program that affirms family appreciation," notes Jason Barrott, Aurora’s director of marketing development. "By sponsoring the scholarship, not only are we able to express our appreciation to OGR for its important service to the funeral industry, but to thousands of students and their families across the U.S. and Canada who are touched by the program’s message."
“I’m very grateful to everyone who helped me for their support,” says Wille. “I’d like to thank OGR for sponsoring the contest; Aurora Casket Company for funding the scholarship; John and Teresa Zaharia for offering the contest locally and for submitting my essay; my English teacher, Mrs. Kathy Krumwiede, for proofreading my essay; and my senior class for believing in me. Most important of all, I’d like to thank my family for tolerating my imperfect depiction of them and continuing to love me asI know they always will.”
 In addition to Aurora’s support, NFAM 2007 received a grant from the Funeral Service Foundation to defray costs of the instructional materials sent to members.
For information, contact Janet Protzel, director of communications, (800) 637-8030.
See Dawn Wille's essay, "Love After Disagreement."
See NFAM in Action - results of members' 2007 "family appreciation" campaigns.
Thank you to our 20076 sponsors:
“Love After Disagreement”
By Dawn Wille
Opening your heart, showing your weaknesses and being vulnerable are qualities usually not shown to just anybody for fear of being hurt. Nevertheless, everyone needs a safe harbor, and my safe harbor is my family. They stick with me through the good and the bad, will never abandon me and will always love me. This does not mean they are perfect or free from problems. In the end, it is the love that remains after a disagreement that defines why my family matters to me.
My dad grew up in a family where you did not complain, never stopped working and did not show your love verbally for others. Also “the way it was” was the correct way, and any other way was wrong, which aided my dad in developing a quick temper. Sadly, my dad’s quick temper has created a rift between us I fear we cannot bridge. I am unable to discuss my problems with him because he sees it as whining and complaining, and it will often end in him yelling or storming from the room. On the other hand, he has shown improvement in speaking his love, saying “I love you” when it is said to him first, and even initiating it every once in a while. Hugs are more acceptable and are tolerated with less grumbling. In return, he has helped me to realize and appreciate other ways of expressing love for others.
My mom and I are probably the most similar of anyone in our family. She understands who I am the best; she is always willing to lend a hand or listen to my problems. She stays home to help raise my brother and me, so I have spent more time with her than with my dad. She is also fairly creative in keeping me preoccupied with the little things in life: caterpillars, blue skies, a used book or laughter. Being creative may have been what kept me from becoming spoiled or noticing the lack of considerable funds from my dad’s dairy farming job. She helped to keep me grounded. My mom continues to help me by encouraging me in scholastic activities such as homework and more leisurely interests like reading and writing. But she does not discourage me from my love of archery or photography. She lets me be who I am. Life is not always a walk in the park though. The near constant togetherness sometimes creates friction. We do not always communicate well; our senses of humor clash; and she is overly strict on occasion. But it is always temporary because our relationship goes deeper and stronger — it will hold tight through anything we throw at it.
We may not look, sound or act alike, but that does not change the fact that my brother and I are related. Our relationship is different from any other in the family because he has special needs, including a mental disability. He shows his love for me by openly staring, misplacing or destroying my things, screaming, throwing my glasses, and pulling my hair. Although he knows right from wrong, he has fun doing naughty things for the negative attention he receives from his actions. It riles him up; he laughs and thinks it is quite hilarious. It takes a lot to calm him down, and I wonder if the process is even worth the effort sometimes.
Then again, having a brother with disabilities has had a few advantages. I have been able to become friends with an awesome group of kids from my Teen Siblings of Children with Disabilities Support Group and to get to know community members who are in the same circumstance I am. I have learned to be more patient and to not judge so quickly by how they look or act. I have gotten to know the person inside.
Diversely, I am like an only child in a lot of ways, with all the positive and negative aspects that accompany it. My parents know they only have one regular experience to raise a kid, so they are easier to negotiate with than other parents. I also am more likely to have the little things go my way because, most of the time, my brother does not know the difference. That does not mean that I get everything I want, especially when it comes to my parents’ time and attention. My brother is an expert at obtaining their attention, leaving me to scramble to acquire any myself.
My theory is thus: Because my brother has such a good reign over the negative attention (bad “kingdom”), I had two choices — go without attention or take control of the other side of the spectrum, the positive behavior (good “kingdom”). I chose the attention route and perfected my tactics of good grades, polite manners and happy smiles. My plan works sometimes, but it is still second rate. He gets the majority of the attention. Also, if he feels he still is not getting enough, he will do something to upset the balance and he will win, too. Finally, my relationship with my brother is quite normal in that we argue. Unusual, I presume, is our ability to love by fighting. He admires me, and I would defend him until the end of the age. We love, we fight, but it is the combination of the two that describes our different, yet ordinary, relationship.
As you can see, my family and I do not always get along, but I think we are okay with that. We know that after any obstacle — a fight, a misunderstanding or a disagreement — that we will still be there for each other, loving, caring and simply being there for the good of the whole. We are and always will be our own safe harbor. It is not so much my family that means a lot to me, as it is the love that we all have for each other, no matter what happens between us.
Dawn Wille, a senior in the Truman, Minn., public schools., was selected as the winner of the International Order of the Golden Rule’s 2007 National Family Appreciation Month Student Writing Contest. She plans to attend Augustana College in
Sioux Falls, S.D.,
this fall to study creative writing and to minor in archaeology. Her essay was submitted by Zaharia Family Funeral & Cremation Service, Truman, Minn.
NFAM in Action - 2007
See how OGR members used NFAM to reach out to their communities during 2007 National Family Appreciation Month. How will you use the program to connect with your community in October?
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“We are so pleased that we belong to the International Order of the Golden Rule, which has given us the opportunity to take part in NFAM,” says John Zaharia of Zaharia Funeral Home, who submitted the winning student writing contest essay by Dawn Wille. “We are extremely proud that the national winner has been chosen from our small community. This shows that — much like in funeral service — being the biggest doesn’t necessarily mean being the best. “Dawn wrote a great essay, and this scholarship will give her the chance to develop her talents at a higher level.”
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 On Oct. 1, 2007, Jon Cozean, Cozean Funeral Home, Farmington, Mo. (front row far right), joined OGR staff at the NBC-affiliate television station to announce NFAM 2007 to the St. Louis viewing area. |
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Misiuk Funeral Home, Chesaning, Mich., received media coverage in The Tri-County Citizen, showing winners of their local student essay contest. All the students attend Chesaning Union High School. The firm awarded $150 to the winner, $75 to the first runner-up and $50 to the second runner-up. Their remaining 18 entries received a $5 gift card to McDonald’s. |
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 Rick Rega, Saloom-Peterson Funeral Home, Youngwood, Pa., utilized NFAM to initiate and sponsor a variety of community events in Mt. Pleasant, centering on “Family Appreciation Month.” Activities included holding a child safety program, distributing DNA kits to parents along with a DVD titled “Mouse Trap,” an instructional guide to protect children from Internet predators; Family Appreciation Month Essay Contest kick-off at the Mount Pleasant Area High School; Funeral School educational seminar, providing facts to know when planning a funeral, selecting a casket, vault and services, along with in-depth discussions on funeral and cremation options and a funeral home tour; a community Halloween parade, with a strobe light giveaway to children, a device used to protect and identify children as they trick or treat.
"Thank you for allowing me to participate, we plan to make this an annual event." |
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 K.L. Brown Funeral Home, Jacksonville, Ala., received a Proclamation from the city and provided flyers to a local outreach center that serves the needy. The flyers were placed in food bags during the month of October as volunteers stressed the importance of positive family relationships. In January, Koven Brown and Billie Humphrey held an awards luncheon on the funeral home grounds, inviting the students, family members and school counselors as guests. A $500 prize was given to the winner and honorable certificates were presented to the other students who submitted entries. The contest, with photos of the award presentation, was reported in The Jacksonville News and ran in the Piedmont Journal. |
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 Linnemann Funeral Homes, Erlanger, Ky., received a Proclamation from the city in celebration of Family Appreciation Day. |
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 Nelson-Martin Funeral Service, Redwood Falls and Morgan, Minn., conducted a student writing contest at Redwood Valley and Cedar Mountain High Schools. They awarded $250 for the first-place winner, $125 for second place and $100 for third place. After presenting the awards, owner/director Phil Martin planned to submit a photo to the local newspapers. And in advance of October, Nelson-Martin used a new advertising campaign by the local paper, the Redwood Gazette, as the main venue to launch the writing contest and to showcase the funeral home as one of only a handful of Golden Rule homes in its part of the state. The paper ran a story, “A celebration of love and family,” a full tabloid size ad and photos. |
Note to members: You can help spread the word about NFAM during October of each year by adding a link from your web site to www.nationalfamilyappreciatonmonth.org. The site includes a link to www.golden-rule.com, where visitors can locate the closest Golden Rule funeral home. Download NFAM logo (gif)
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