The International Order of the Golden Rule will bring together emerging leaders from independently owned funeral homes for the 2026 Future Leaders Forum, taking place Aug. 23-25 at George Irvin Green Funeral Home in Munhall, Pennsylvania. Designed for growing professionals, second-career staff and emerging leaders, the Future Leaders Forum provides…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule is now accepting speaker proposals for its 2027 educational programming and is seeking engaging experts who can provide practical, relevant education that helps independently owned funeral homes thrive. OGR invites funeral service professionals, business leaders, consultants, educators and innovative thinkers to share their…
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The International Order of the Golden Rule has been honored with a 2026 Indiana Society of Association Executives STAR Award in the Golden Shoestring category for its successful rebrand of Rest Assured: The Funeral Profession Podcast. The Golden Shoestring Award recognizes associations that achieve exceptional results while working with a…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule has launched the Global Circle Club, a strategic international membership initiative designed to strengthen relationships among independent funeral homes worldwide as the organization approaches its 100th anniversary in 2028. The campaign focuses on reinforcing OGR's commitment to fostering innovation, leadership development and business…
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The International Order of the Golden Rule, a leading professional association dedicated to making independent funeral homes exceptional, is pleased to announce the installation of Peter Urban Jr. as the new president of the organization. Urban is a third-generation licensed funeral director of Anton B. Urban Funeral Home, Inc. in…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Professional Service Awards. The awards were presented on May 6, 2026, at the Golden Circle Celebration Dinner held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky. These awards honor individuals and funeral homes that have…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule welcomed funeral professionals from across North America and beyond to Louisville, Kentucky, for PROGRESS 2026, held May 5-7. The association’s signature event brought together independently owned funeral homes and supplier partners for three days of education, networking, leadership development and celebration of excellence…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule Foundation has named the 2026 recipients of its Awards of Excellence Scholarships, recognizing six mortuary students for their dedication to the funeral service profession. The foundation distributes a total of $10,000 in scholarship funding to support their continued education. The Awards of Excellence…
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The International Order of the Golden Rule is proud to announce this year’s finalists for OGR’s Professional Service Awards. We congratulate these funeral homes that have exhibited outstanding compassion for the families they serve and a commitment to their community. Nominees will be recognized at the Golden Circle Celebration on…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule is proud to announce that PROGRESS 2026, presented by Homesteaders Life Company, will take place May 5-7, 2026, at the iconic Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. OGR’s annual conference continues to bring together independently owned funeral home and supply partners from across…
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The International Order of the Golden Rule is pleased to announce Aurora Payments as its newest Endorsed Supply Partner, strengthening OGR’s commitment to providing independent funeral homes with trusted partners and innovative solutions. OGR Endorsed Supply Partners are part of the association’s broader supplier network and complete a rigorous review…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule is pleased to announce the appointment of Brenden Jacobsen of Ninness Funeral Home in New Zealand and Adam Thielen of Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral & Crematory in Dubuque, Iowa, to the OGR Foundation Board of Directors. The OGR Foundation supports the next…
Read MoreThe Order of the Golden Rule is pleased to announce Jessica MacMillan has joined the OGR team as events manager. In this role, Jessica will lead the planning, execution, and strategic development of OGR’s signature event, PROGRESS, Future Leaders Forum, virtual education, and industry events, reinforcing the association’s commitment to…
Read MoreThe International Order of the Golden Rule Foundation has opened its 2025 Awards of Excellence scholarship application period. A total of $10,000 will be awarded to six mortuary science students who distinguish themselves through academic performance, community involvement, and a commitment to serving grieving families with compassion, fairness, and dignity.…
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