The following article touches on information that comes from the fifth module of the online Green Burial Masterclass for natural burial cemetery operators regarding major issues in communications. This module highlights RHCC’s need for additional volunteers or professionals in the area of web design, marketing, graphic design, landscaping, and policy development to name a few.
Module 5: Communications
Lee Webster reminds us: “How we speak, what we write, how we convey the facts and the purpose of our work-it all matters. It’s all about building a community of informed participants. And it bears remembering that community stems from the root word commune, which means ‘to communicate intimately’. If there is any greater mission in this work, I don’t know what it is.”
Communicating effectively about the people involved in natural burial is crucial for setting expectations, ensuring safety, and building community trust in sustainable practices. This module covers the following areas of communication:
- A website is probably the first place someone looks for information online and it sets the tone for the kind of image we want to convey. It should offer a warm and welcoming presence, describe the basics of natural burial, include maps, photographs, downloadable PDFs of printed materials, and a FAQ page. Information must stay current and accurate. There must be an easy path to reach out through an email link and a phone number.
- Good signage on the grounds that includes clear, concise messaging with congruent color schemes, font selection and size is necessary. The location of signs is of paramount importance.
- Printed pamphlets with information about the cemetery should have a consistent format and vocabulary.
- Educational programs can be offered through local mortuaries, hospice, end-of-life doulas, home funeral guides and more.
- Policy guidebooks are a simple way to familiarize families, professionals such as funeral directors and clergy, employees, and volunteers with the inner workings of the cemetery. They should lay out clear rules, regulations, and expectations for what can and cannot happen in the cemetery.
Lee Webster leaves us with this thought: “This all may sound like a lot of writing and a lot of effort that may have to be tended carefully. It is. But it beats mistakes, misunderstandings, poor communications with associates, lawsuits, or other worse outcomes.”