Our membership community helps shape who we are and how we support independently owned funeral homes. To gain insight into how we can continue to improve service to our members, OGR commissioned Whorton Marketing & Research to conduct a survey of members and non-members in 2022. The survey had a 28% response rate with 104 participating out of 368 who were sent an invitation. This is a typical response rate percentage for associations across the board.
Each year, we pose a question to OGR’s international members, asking them about how a trend in funeral service is playing out in their countries to offer our North American members a more global perspective on the profession. This year, we asked about “green”/environmentally conscious funerals. Several such practices are still banned in many U.S. municipalities - are they allowed in other countries? If so, how common are they? If not, do they see that changing anytime soon?
OGR is proud to offer numerous, flexible ways to learn, connect and grow in 2023. Plus many of our in-person events and webinars (both live and on-demand) will offer continuing education credits.
OGR Study Groups are one of our most valuable member benefit programs. As COVID travel restrictions eased, two of our groups met in the fall of 2022. The East Coast Study Group met at Hummel Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio, and the West Coast Study Group met at Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory in Corona, California.
How many calls are you missing out on by ranking one spot lower than your competitor on Google?
Winter is officially here, and with the winter season comes the inevitable roller coaster of weather forecasts, winter storms and energy costs.
Andi Schmidtgall is a 34-year-old funeral director and embalmer at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown, South Dakota.
One of the most important changes we’ve seen in recent years is the shift from physical to virtual events. This shift has changed expectations for what “attendance” means for a funeral service. Now, more than ever, families are looking for ways to connect with their loved ones, even if they cannot physically attend a funeral.
When you’re eligible, claiming tax deductions can be an effective way to reduce your tax burden. If you don’t know certain tax deductions exist, you can find it challenging to identify their available deductions. Surprisingly, certain costs related to your insurance and health care may lower your tax bill. Many times, there is a possibility to deduct your medical expenses, insurance premiums and other health-related costs from your taxes. There are many other things to consider for potential deductions. Working with a financial advisor is best when it comes to all the tax options to find the right strategy for your situation.
Scott L. Green is the president of George Irvin Green Funeral Home Inc. in Munhall, Pennsylvania. He shared his experiences with running a successful funeral home that has been around for more than 80 years.
OGR’s most used member benefit is the Family Contact Survey Program. For years members have relied on the honest feedback they receive from the families they serve through this program. In 2023 this program has been updated to provide better information to you and make it simpler for the families you serve to fill out the survey.
Media, PA—This year, ASD – Answering Service for Directors, the leading call support center for funeral professionals, is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, ASD will be holding a client cocktail party during the 2022 NFDA Convention. The party will take place on Monday, October 10th from 6:30 until 8:30p at the Baltimore Museum of Industry.
It’s only September and November may seem like a long time away, yet for busy funeral professionals Veterans Day will arrive before you know it, so start planning now and be prepared when November 11 arrives. Here are some ideas to get you started:
AUBURN, Ind. – The Messenger Company, the leading provider of funeral stationery, personalization solutions and insurance funding, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Thumbies® Fingerprint Keepsakes located in Woodstock, Illinois. This new addition to the Messenger family of companies will allow the Messenger team of sales reps to offer the complete line of Thumbies jewelry in their portfolio of products, supporting the needs of funeral home partners across the country.
The Order of the Golden Rule's board of directors wants to congratulate the 12 OGR members that were recognized for their excellent work by NFDA's annual Pursuit of Excellence Awards.
KINGSTON, Ontario - YourSocialStrategy.com is announcing a new brand in the funeral industry, FuneralClicks. FuneralClicks is an agency that provides marketing services to funeral homes across North America.
Starmark Cremation Products is pleased to announce that its Nature’s Way® Natural and Terra green burial and cremation containers have been certified by the Green Burial Council.
Inflation is up, the stock market is down and your 401(k) is feeling every bit of that stretch. So how do you keep calm and hold steady when everything around you is spinning out of control?
Made in the USA. American-made. Made in China. What does it mean to you? What does it mean to your business? What does it mean to your customers? And how is it impacting buying decisions?
S. Chase Lewis is a 39-year-old funeral director at Lewis Funeral Home and Crematory in Milton, Florida.
