Do you know how to establish your funeral home as the definitive choice for veterans in your area? Participate in either or both workshops put on by Veterans Funeral Care and OGR to learn how to connect with the veteran community and become the go-to funeral home for their families.

Noted veteran’s funeral expert and OGR member Jim Rudolph of Veterans Funeral Care will explain how understanding ranking, military culture and other demographics will equip you and your staff to serve veterans better than your competitors.

“Graduates of these workshops will learn how to become the funeral home that all their local veterans use,” Rudolph said. “By the end of the series, you will learn how to ‘speak veteran’.” He further noted that, “If all it took was to put up an American flag every morning, the job would be done. That flag is the starting point; we are going to go way, way beyond that during these presentations.”

The first session, Serving Veterans and Their Families, covers the knowledge you and your staff need to facilitate a veteran’s funeral. From pre-planning steps to take, to the paperwork that needs to be filed after the funeral is held, this workshop covers it all. You’ll receive a military ranks cheat sheet so you can speak “military lingo” and learn how to read and decode DD-214 paperwork like an expert. If you think you know how to do these things, think again. Jim has a unique viewpoint and process that will allow you to raise the bar when it comes to serving veterans.

In the second session, Engaging the Veteran Market, Rudolph explores how tribal marketing is essential to reaching veterans. Establishing trust and building a relationship with both the organizations that work with veterans (VA, American Legion, VFC, etc.) and the veterans themselves is the key to success. However, this must be done with an authentic desire to serve veterans or you will lose their business quickly. This workshop covers specific examples of the types of programs that work with veterans. You will also learn strategies to making your funeral home and website more “veteran” than the standard template. By the end of this training, you’ll walk away with highly effective tools to honor and connect with veterans.

As a graduate of these workshops, you will learn the secret of how to make sure your funeral home staff can state that, “No one in our area can be more VETERAN than WE are.”

• OGR members: $125 for one session, $199 for both ($51 savings)
• OGR members that are also VFC-licensed funeral homes: FREE as long as you register by July 9
• non-OGR members: $175 for one session, $299 for both ($51 savings)
• non-OGR members that are VFC-licensed funeral homes
• FREE as long as you register by July 9
• $50 for one session, $75 for both ($25 savings) if you register after July 9

Members who attend both workshops may be eligible to join the Veterans Funeral Care Provider Network. For a fee, these licensed providers can use the Veterans Funeral Care logo, receive marketing materials, attend a yearly providers Think Tank and take part in VFC’s proprietary programs “Retire Your Flag with Honor” and “Operation Toy Soldier.” OGR members receive a 15% discount off the annual licensing fee.

Not able to join us on June 8 & 9? Both sessions will be made available in OGR's Learning Library.

For more information, call Nancy Weil at (512) 334-5504, ext. 304, or email her at [email protected].

Serving as OGR’s member resources director, Grief Support program facilitator and supply partner liaison, Nancy
brings her years of experience working in the funeral industry to our members. A national speaker and trainer with certifications as a Grief Services Provider, Funeral Celebrant, Soul Injury Ambassador and Laughter Leader, Nancy is uniquely qualified to bring new perspectives into how to best meet the needs of the families you serve. You can reach Nancy at (512) 334-5504, ext. 304 or [email protected].