The pandemic has been especially challenging for professionals working in healthcare. Nursing homes, hospices and hospitals have all had the stress of handling the unknown while trying to maintain their own health and wellness.

2020 brought new challenges and course corrections we had not anticipated. As we start 2021, OGR is committed to providing you with the professional development opportunities that address the challenges that independently owned funeral homes face and prepare you for the next stages of funeral service. After all, we have had over 90 years of experience serving professionals just like you.

Last fall I had the privilege of joining the International Order of the Golden Rule as your new Executive Director/CEO. A lifetime of association and non-profit work has prepared me for this role, but I also know I have the advantage of having the Big 4 (family, staff, volunteers and members) by my side as OGR enters 2021.

2020 was a year of change, in more ways than one. OGR transitioned to a new management team led by Raybourn Group International in Indianapolis; funeral homes adapted to serve their families without traditional connection and service opportunities; and associations like ours – across all sectors – have learned they can’t rely on their annual conference as their primary means of networking and growth.

OGR is hosting a series of roundtable discussions to provide a networking platform for members to share their best practices, ideas and questions around common challenges facing funeral service today. These informal discussions will be your opportunity to connect with other members, share your expertise and learn from their experiences.

This fall, OGR’s board of directors will embark on the development of a new three-year strategic plan for our great organization. Arguably, there has not been a time in our 92-year history when purposeful and thoughtful planning has been needed in our industry more than it is now, and OGR is ready to do its part to help us all ensure we are able to continue to be the best of the best when it comes to providing exceptional funeral care.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of the The Independent® magazine.

The complete interview originally appeared in the spring issue of OGR’s quarterly magazine The Independent.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2019 issue of The Independent® magazine.

Contact: Mark Allen
Executive Director
512-334-5504 
[email protected]

Learning what families appreciate about your service is an important part of your funeral home business. Positive feedback can help you figure out what not to change about your funeral home and what families appreciate most. Good feedback can also lead to return business and referrals.