Veterans and First Responders
Salute Program
The OGR Salute Program is an exclusive benefit for OGR members, serving as a comprehensive, centralized resource for managing funerals of veterans and first responders. This program provides members with a wide array of tools, resources, and innovative ideas to enhance their service to these honorable individuals and their families.
Veterans Training and Resource Center – OGR offers a 4-hour online training to help members engage and serve veterans in their communities. It is filled with proven methods to grow your business by getting more veterans to choose your funeral home. We also have our new Salute online resource center. This has valuable information for veteran and first responder funerals.
Grief Support
Support Group
Don't have the staffing necessary to provide grief support for your families? OGR Member Resources Director Nancy Weil is a Certified Grief Management Specialist and hosts a virtual grief support group called Hope After Heartache. Golden Rule funeral homes can offer the families they serve access to this monthly group meeting at no cost to the funeral home or family.
A Virtual Hug
OGR offers the opportunity for family, friends and loved ones to offer "A Virtual Hug." They record a voice message of comfort along with a memory or two that your bereaved families can listen to again and again. Tribute walls and social media posts can let them know they aren't alone, but hearing someone's voice goes that extra step to offer connection and is accessible to people of all ages.
Brochures and Funeral Home Supplies
OGR offers its members a variety of brochures, printed material and supplies such as flag and dove pins to help the families they serve navigate the funeral planning process, grief and other critical topics.
MARKETING RESOURCES
OGR Logo & Membership Plaque
Golden Rule funeral homes are encouraged to add OGR's logo to their website and marketing materials to show that you are a funeral home that offers service "measured not by gold, but by the Golden
Rule." Members also receive a membership milestone digital badge and certificate indicating their length of membership in OGR.
Community Outreach Programs
OGR offers our members templated, ready to go, programs including Community Remembrance Services (including a pet remembrance service), unique events and other ways to bring the community in your door. Many of these can also generate media attention.
'Have the Talk of a Lifetime'
OGR is proud to partner with the "Have the Talk of a Lifetime" campaign. It offers families practical advice and tools to help them have conversations about the things that matter most and how they hope to be remembered when they die and for generations to come.
'Do Funerals Matter?' Community Presentation Kit
Fight the declining value of funerals in the public’s mind by presenting solid reasons that funerals matter and dispelling common myths many people believe to be true with OGR’s exclusive PowerPoint presentation "Do Funerals Matter?" This professional-quality program with PowerPoint offers a suggested script that covers how families benefit from funerals and explains the importance of sharing one’s final wishes in advance with loved ones and funeral professionals.
'Opioid Epidemic' Community Program
OGR's 'Opioid Epidemic' program includes presentations for both funeral home employees and the public. The presentations provide insight, tools and resources for dealing with the epidemic of drug addiction leading to deaths.
Press Release Templates
Want to send out a press release to your local media for a significant event, but aren't sure where to start? We have created templates you can use for five common announcements: being accepted into OGR membership, a landmark anniversary, new activity or program, opening a new location and years in business.
Music Licensing
Through a partnership with the National Funeral Directors Association, OGR offers the lowest in-house and webcast licensing fees in the industry, allowing you to keep a song in the heart of your funeral services.
PROFRESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
OGR provides diverse educational opportunities tailored to its members, including:
- Quarterly Webinars: Covering topics vital to independent funeral homes.
- Podcast Series: Featuring insights from thought leaders in the funeral profession.
- Virtual Roundtables: Offering a platform for members to exchange ideas and gain fresh perspectives.
- Future Leaders Forum: Designed for emerging professionals advancing in the field.
- Study Groups: Intimate, in-person peer-to-peer learning sessions for funeral home owners.
- Veterans Funeral Care Workshop: Learn to connect with the veteran community through excellence.
- PROGRESS: OGR’s signature annual event, featuring engaging programming, awards, and more.
Online Learning Library
OGR’s 24/7 Online Learning Library offers a gateway to high-quality content sourced from webinars and various other educational channels.
Continuing Education Credits
Continuing education credits are available for much of our educational programming.