January 2020

Page A24 JANUARY 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A Funeral Directors Research,Inc. AMRA INSTRUMENT, LLC 623 N. Tower (P.O. Box 359) Centralia, WA 98531 “the shorter the supply line the better off you are” WEB DIRECT GIFT & PRICING TM ® www.amrainstruments.com www.preproomdirect.com OGR selects Raybourn Group International as New Management Company OGR to Host Young Professionals Event in Clearwater, Florida News Association to win at customer service even when feeling burned out, and the art of the cremation phone inquiry. At- tendees will also have the opportunity to share in- novative service ideas and widen the services options they offer to families. OGR is pleased to have Mary Andres Russell of Matthews Aurora Funeral Solu- tions, Jim Rudolph of Veterans Funeral Care, and Nancy Weil of OGR as facilitators for these sessions. The two-day educational experience will also include a tour of OGR member firm Veterans Funeral Care, the opportunity to attend a spring training game or tour the Dali Museum, and time to explore the sights and tastes of Clearwater. Peter A. Urban, Jr. of Urban Funeral Home in Ambler, PA shared “participating in OGR and Young Professional Events has allowed me to form connec- tions with other funeral professionals. Getting to know them and learn how their businesses operate has made me grow, both in a personal and profession- al manner. I look forward to gaining new perspectives at this year’s event.” Urban was recently elected to the OGR board of directors and is the YP council chair. “Our goal is to offer a way for the next generation to come together not only to learn from experts, but also share from their own experiences,” said Riddles- perger. Registration information can be found at www.ogr.org/young-professionals-event. Attendees can earn up to eight CEs in states where approved. INDIANAPOLIS,IN— Raybourn Group International (RGI), an In- dianapolis-based association man- agement, consulting and event plan- ning firm, is pleased to have been selected as the new management company for the International Or- der of the Golden Rule (OGR). Founded in 1928, OGR’s mission to make independent funeral homes exceptional. OGR provides a wide range of programs, services and re- sources that support member inter- action, information exchange and professional business development. OGR’s Standards of Ethical Con- duct  guide members’ business prac- tices and philosophy, allowing them to provide unsurpassed care to fami- lies “by the Golden Rule.” “As we look forward, RGI’s experi- ence and expertise uniquely positions them to help us hone our value and relevance while identifying and exe- cuting on opportunities to broaden OGR’s reach and engagement with generations to come,” said Thomas L. Hemmerle, OGR president and owner of Barnett-Strother Funeral Home, Madisonville, KY. OGR’s full transition to RGI is ef- fective as of January 1, 2020. Founded in 1988, RGI is an indepen- dent small business that specializes in association management, consulting and event planning. Headquartered in Indianapolis with offices in Memphis, Chicago and Houston, RGI is one of just 15 percent of accredited associa- tion management companies world- wide. RGI serves local, state, regional, national and international organiza- tions that total 60,000 plus members in 107 countries. To learn more, visit www.raybourn.com. Digital Directory Now Available Visit www.nomispublications.com Read the Funeral Home & Cemetery News Electronic Version Search the Online Directories Download instantly at www.nomispublications.com Save on Shipping! AUSTIN, TX— The International Order of the Golden Rule (OGR) is excited to announce its 5th Annual Young Professionals (YP) Event, “Grow Your Skill Set; Shift Your Mindset”, will be held in Clear- water, FL on February 23-24, 2020. Registration is now open for this educational event. “‘Grow Your Skill Set; Shift Your Mindset’ will fea- ture sessions on getting creative with cremation fam- ilies, offering new out- reach activities to the community, and knowl- edge sharing among those in attendance,” said Jessica S. Riddlesperger, CMP, assistant executive director for OGR. “We are excited to offer the YP Event once again to funeral professionals who are not yet in a primary decision making role at their funeral homes and/ or are under the age of 40.” Participants will discuss how they can solve com- mon challenges in funer- al service; explore ways