01/19/2009

Young Funeral Directors Committee Guest Column

by Jill Pugh, Schoedinger Funeral Service, Columbus

Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my, mentor?

As Peter Parker's Uncle Ben once told him, "With great power comes great responsibility." The same can be said of great knowledge. We have a responsibility to pass on what we have learned with others in our field.

As you may know, the OFDA put the Young Funeral Directors in charge of starting a mentoring program with the goal that we can share what we have learned, as well as learn from others who have been where we are. I know, personally, there have been numerous times that I would have liked to talk to someone a little wiser and more experienced than myself. Conversely, I would like to think that now that I have been doing this for almost 13 years, there is information I have that would be helpful to those just starting out.

OFDA is giving us this opportunity now by starting a mentoring program. The purpose of this program will be to match up a member who chooses to be a mentor with a funeral director who may be looking for advice, encouragement or wisdom in any number of areas. Some of these areas may be: how to balance your work and personal life, technical questions, how to buy a funeral home or maybe just to provide an outlet to vent (confidentially, of course).

I know there are a huge number of you who have a wealth of information to share. Signing up to be a mentor or to find a mentor is quick and easy. Simply go to www.MyOFDA.org/mentor and fill out the online form. If you need further assistance, you can contact any member of the Young Funeral Directors committee, or call the OFDA.

As Steve Gehlert said, "Let's work together to raise the profession of funeral service to awesome heights."