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In this issue. . . Industry Calendar 3

Cremation Projections 4

Life Expectancy 5

Are you are "10" 9 9

Certified Plants 12

THE

BULLETIN Vol. 16

No. 5 October 2001

Visibility and Standards at TheTop of NCBVA Member's Wish List

omotion of concrete burial vaults to the funeral professional and the development of manufacturing standards top the charts as the most important services provided to members according to a recent survey conducted by the National Concrete Burial

Vault Association. The survey was done in conjunction with the development of the association's long-range

strategic plan and nearly 25 percent of all members responded. Marketing Committee Chair Linda Darby Sempsrott of Greenwood Plastics reported the results at the NCBVA Board of Directors meeting in October

More than half of all those who responded to the survey ranked promotion of concrete vaults to the funeral professional as number one or number two in terms of important membership services. A similar percentage ranked burial vault manufacturing standards in similar fashion.

The development of member-based cooperative programs, i.e. insurance business consulting, compliance consultation, collection assistance, and substance abuse testing, came in third while providing for representation on the state and national levels came in fourth.

More than 60 percent of those responding have been members of NCBVA for more than 15 years and are producing over 1,500 outer burial containers annually. Those members whose geographical market covered local or regional in scope were almost evenly split.

The issue of time management came through in several sections of the survey. Members are doing more with their companies and do not have enough time to get it all done. When asked why they were not more involved in the activities of NCBVA, many responded that

Continued on page 10

Sculptures Stand Sentry at Cemeteries

Beautiful birds are replacing dead trees at some cemeteries in Florida where lightning, decay and disease are a problem. Turn to page 11 to see how they are created by chain saw carver Keith Carroll.

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2 NCBVA BULLETIN October 2001

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October 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN 3

President's Message By Jack Swihart

Members Stand Ready to Help

After our last Bulletin, tragedy struck our nation. We all watch the news and each in our own way feel the effect of the terrorist attack. Some members may have had family members either at the Trade Center or

the Pentagon who were lost or injured. For them, our hearts are deeply saddened. Others have a family member in the military and are concerned for their safety and well being. Our prayers are with you. If there is anything our association can do to help or support you, please feel free to contact me or any board member.

We are still looking forward to next year's annual convention in Houston, June 20-23, 2002. If there are specific issues that you would like discussed at that meeting, please let us know. Also, we invite all past presidents to come to this meeting. Please plan to attend so that we can recognize you and your contributions to NCBVA.

Your board met in November in Orlando. At that meeting we discussed the results of the Membership Survey. Those results are being covered in another article in this issue of The Bulletin. Also discussed and assigned to a committee is the possibility of the association developing trade ads to promote concrete burial vaults. I will keep you updated on those efforts.

God bless America and our association; let us all remain supportive of our President and government in their efforts to bring the terrorists to justice.

Industry Calendar of Events

November 5-6, 2001 CFSA Fall Conference Adams' Mark Hotel, Indianapolis, IN

November 29-30, 2001 Funeral and Memorial Information Council (FAMIC) Radisson Miyako Hotel, San Francisco, CA

January 8-12, 2002 World of Concrete Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

January 27-30, 2002 Monument Builders of North America Convention Kingston Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC

April 24-27, 2002 ICFA Annual Convention Orlando, FL

June 20-23, 2002 NCBVA Annual Convention Omni Houston Hotel, Houston, TX

August 14-17, 2002 CANA Convention Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. 900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite 204 Longwood, Florida 32779-2552

http://www.ncbva.org (800) 538-1423 Fax: (407) 774-6751

President Jack Swihart

Saginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MI

President-Elect Dan Hicks

Hicks Industries Mulberry, FL

Secretary/Treasurer J.C. Clifton

Quality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TX

Immediate Past President Tim Brutsche

Brutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek, MI

Directors Darren Baxter

Baxter Burial Vault Service Cincinnati, OH

Marty Begun Eagle Burial Vaults

Detroit, MI

Warren Chandler Master Grave Service, Inc.

Bogart, GA

Linda Darby Sempsrott Greenwood Plastics

Phoenix, AZ

Bob DonateIli Baumgardner Products Co.

Akron, OH

Robert Hardy Hardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Graham MacLeod Detroit Wilbert Vault Co.

Detroit, MI

Kelly Pellicano Graffius Burial Vault Co.

Reading, PA

Curt Zamec Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc.

Forest Park, IL

Executive Director Thomas A. Monahan, CAE

Certified Association Management Company Longwood, FL

Meetings Director Bonnie Leroy

Publications Director Jan Monahan

Membership & Bookkeeping Sonia Medina

Holly Baxter Bridgers First Woman President Of Wilbert Board

Holly Baxter Bridgers, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Baxter Burial Vault Services, Inc., in Cincinnati, Ohio and long-time member of NCBVA, is the new president of the Wilbert Manufacturers Association. She is the first woman to hold the position since the WMA board was founded in 1944.

In 1991, Holly joined the business that was founded by her grandfather in 1924. In addition to a long history of professional activities in the industry, she is also a past board member of Fernside, a center for grieving children in Cincinnati. The nonprofit organization offers support and advocacy to grieving children and their families and increases community awareness of children's grief issues. •

Regarding her new role coordinating WMA activities, Bridgers said, "The most important thing we can do at Wilbert is to offer our customers a complete understanding of the industry as a whole and a deep involvement in it. When we do this, we help funeral homes give the best to their families when it comes to burial vaults, graveside services or cremation."

4 NCBVA BULLETIN

October 2001

Cremations Projected to be 48% in The Next 25 Years CANA Percent of deaths cremated is expected to rise to 48 percent in the year 2025, according to statistics gathered by the Cremation Association of North American (CANA).

Cremation projections to the years 2010 and 2025 plus preliminary 2000 figures and final 1999 statistics were presented by CANA Executive Director Jack Springer at the associations' annual convention in August.

Springer reported that the projected percent of deaths cremated by year indicated that in 2000 it will be 24.48 %; in 2010, 39.98 % and 2025, 48 % which is estimated at 1,552,800 cremations compared to 603,092 in 2000.

Before 1998, the majority of the data used in the report was collected from the vital statistics department of individual states. "Unfortunately, the accumulation of a tremendous amount of data by these state bureaus can be a slow and painstaking process and CANA could not obtain all states' 2000 information nor final 1999 Canadian data by the time the report went to print. Springer further stated that if CANA was unable to get the actual 2000 states figures, the state data from 1995 through 1999 was used to make the projections.

Canada's projections were based upon 1998 figures which forecast a cremation percentage of 42.65% for 2000 and 47.39% for 2010.

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October 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN 5

Life Expectancy Hits New High; Mortality Declines For Several Leading Causes Of Death

Death rates continued to fall for heart disease and cancer; the two leading causes of death in the U.S. that account for more than half of all deaths in the country each year

L ife expectancy for the U.S. population reached a record high of 76.9 years in 2000 as mortality declined for several leading causes of death, according to preliminary figures

from a report released in mid October by HHS' Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC).

"Americans on average are living longer than ever before, and much of this is due to the progress we've made in fighting diseases that account for a majority of deaths in the country," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.

The estimates are featured in a new CDC report, "Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2000," an analysis of over 85 percent of the death certificates recorded in the United States for 2000. The report shows that age-adjusted death rates continued to fall for heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death in the U.S. that account for more than half of all deaths in the country each year. Mortality from heart disease has declined steadily since 1950, while cancer mortality has been on the decline since 1990.

Age-adjusted death rates also fell for other leading causes of death, including: homicide, suicide, accidents or "unintentional injuries," stroke, diabetes, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.

In addition, the preliminary infant mortality rate in the U.S. fell to its lowest level ever in 2000 - 6.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, down from a rate of 7.1 in 1999. The report also shows that mortality decreased by 3.7 percent for HIV infection in 2000, the fifth straight year of decline.

• Meanwhile, mortality increased for certain leading causes of death, including Alzheimer's disease, influenza and pneumonia, kidney disease, hypertension, septicemia, and pneumonitis due to solids and liquids, a condition that disproportionately affects the aging population and which emerged for the first time as one of the 15 leading causes of death.

CANA Elects New Officers Thomas H. Snyder, president of the National Cremation Society and managing director of SCI Management Corporation, Houston, TX has been elected president of the Cremation Association of North America (CANA). Involved in the death care industry for more than 30 years, Snyder has been a licensed funeral director since 1969.

Julie Burn, Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. serves as a supplier representative on the board of directors.

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6 NCBVA BULLETIN

October 2001

PROVIDING SERVICE AND REALIBILTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS

THE LOGAN VAULT HANDLERS ARE MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY NEW BRAND NAME PARTS—NOT USED OR RE-MANUFACTURED. This gives you

better dependability and longer life of your Handler. OUR NEW 3/4 TON AXLE is manufactured narrower than the standard 3/4 ton truck axle to allow for more maneuverability in the Cemetery.

The Logan Vault Handler can handle both straight and cross grave settings. The Logan is equipped with hydraulic variable speed Forward and Reverse, also a High and Low range

gearbox STANDARD.

STRENGTH IS NOT IN THE STEEL ALONE IN A VAULT HANDLER; IT IS IN THE DESIGN The Logan was designed to withstand the stress of a heavy load and yet light enough not to tear up turf in the

Cemetery. The Logan was designed over 40 years ago and has seen many improvements in maneuverability and efficiency. The Logan Vault Handler is designed to give you optimum power using reliable parts and

durable construction. It has been tested, beaten, used and abused for over 40 years. The Logan always was and still is the benchmark of Vault Handling equipment, And that is why we are the

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Facilities include four tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools, gift shop, compli-mentary town car service within three miles of the hotel, an award-winning restaurant, a bis-tro and English-style pub, and private health club. There are jogging and biking trails located nearby.

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NCBVA BULLETIN

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October 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN

9

Are you a "10"? By Earl J. Brutsche

In past issues of "The Bulletin," I have written about "quality control" referring to the concrete and product appearance. I continue to stress the importance of the highest quality in each of your price brackets and how important it is for the unit to look like a "10".

I now call your attention to how your graveside equipment and delivery vehicles should look to the funeral director and family members—these also should be a "10".

It's understandable that you can't have all new equipment all of the time, but it can look like a

"9" even if it is a couple of years old. Grass, greens, chair

covers, and mats are not all that expensive but they really stand out.

Some companies go to great effort to make sure their equipment is the

best and they also include extras on each service they set up. Extras might include blankets, umbrellas, Kleenex tissues, cold water jugs and battery powered lights in the tent.

The graveside setup and your employees are the last things a family sees as they depart the cemetery after the committal service. Are your drivers in jacket and tie? Are their boots polished and uniforms clean?

It behooves all NCBVA members to take a close look at their trucks and graveside equipment. Periodically check on your drivers, trucks and set up in the cemetery; stick around and be there when the funeral comes in. Your funeral director will not only be surprised; he'll be very impressed.

Industry News and Notes

Howard to Direct Funeral Home Drama Award winning film director Ron Howard's next project will focus on the funeral industry, according to "Variety," the trade publication of the entertainment industry. The movie is titled, "The Burial" and will follow the life of personal-injury lawyer Willie Gary, an African-American practicing in Mississippi, who defended the owner of a local funeral-home chain against a major funeral conglomerate. The film is expected to premier around Christmas.

Hillenbrand Board Transition George M. Hillenbrand and Lawrence R. Burtschy have retired from Hillenbrand Industries, effective this month, leaving nine directors. Chairman Ray Hillenbrand announced that the search for several new "outside directors" would begin soon.

If you advertise, where do you advertise?

Trade Journals

Local Medi 17%

24%

Have you ever attended an NCBVA meeting?

No 29%

Yes 71%

Do you advertise?

No

46%

Yes

54%

What is the size of your company based on annual outer burial container production?

150499 10%

10

NCR VA BULLETIN

October 2001

Survey, continued from page 1

there is simply not enough time to get involved, they are too busy or there are too many other meetings which compete for time. In spite of this, over 71% of those responding indicated they have attended an NCBVA convention at one time or another.

There was a slight correlation between length of NCBVA membership, size of company and the likelihood of a company doing any local promotion. Of those responding to the question, "Do You Currently Do any Advertising," 60 percent of those who have been members of the association over 15 years answered in the affirmative. Twenty three percent of those

who have been members of NCBVA between five and 15 years answered "Yes" and 16 percent of those who have been members less than five years answered positively.

When asked where do you advertise most firms which do any form of advertising answered that they advertise in directories or local media.

While many standard setting organizations are moving toward providing programs for individual accreditation, NCBVA members apparently feel that the current Plant Certification Program is enough. Individual accreditation was either not answered or ranked fairly low in terms of desired membership services throughout the survey.

In response to the survey, the NCBVA has asked the Marketing Committee to develop a plan to promote concrete burial vaults to the funeral profession. The plan should be available by summer, 2002.

NCBVA members may obtain a copy of the complete survey by writing to the association headquarters.

Visit the NCBVA Web Site: http://www.NCBVA.org

Our deepest sympathies and prayers go out to all those

whose families have been touched by the tragic events of

September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania and our

nation's capital, Washington, DC.

Special thanks to the the brave fire fighters, the police men and women and all

the volunteers who went to the aid of the victims. We are so proud of you.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

October 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN 11

Carver "Recycles" Trees Into New Works of Art By Jan Monahan Editor, The Bulletin

Lightning topples a tree on the grounds of a cemetery in Central Florida (top photo). But skillful chain saw sculptor,

-,--.Keith Carroll turns dead stumps into lovely bird sculptures such as the small and large herons pictured here.

T hey solemnly tour the cemetery grounds, moving between the headstones and markers with utmost respect. They notice a comforting religious statue, acluster of pink flowering shrubs, a large shade tree

dripping with moss. Yes, they agree, the shade tree is perfect—its branches spreading out like peaceful welcoming arms, its foliage offering a cool refuge from the hot summer sun.

Most families give great thought to, and carefully select, the final resting spot for a loved one. The plots beneath the shelter of trees are among the first to be selected, especially in Florida where shade is at a premium.

But in Central Florida, the "Lightning Capital" of the United States, that loving and careful choice could be undone, literally "in a flash." How devastating for the family making a routine grave visit to find the big and sturdy canopy of green that has been standing beside their plot for years has been split to the base of its trunk by a bolt from the blue!

When faced with the dilemma of what to do about a number of dying trees at his five Central Florida cemetery properties, Keenan Knopke, chief operating officer of the Northern Region, Stewart Enterprises, Inc's Southern Division, came up with a unique plan.

While driving through the upscale community of Winter Park, Florida, Knopke noticed a yard on which a dead tree trunk had been artfully turned into a bear sculpture. Could similar sculptures

be created from the dead trees at the cemeteries, he wondered? It would be an ideal solution that would not disturb the tree roots that spread like veins beneath nearby gravesites.

Knopke called upon Keith Carroll owner and operator of Artistry N' Wood located in Melbourne, Florida, just an hour from the NCBVA headquarters office in Longwood. For the past 15 years, Carroll has been "recycling" trees that have been stuck by lightning or destroyed by insects, by turning the decaying stumps into works of art. Carroll is a chain saw carver.

While he had been doing chain saw carvings of different animals and mammals since 1987, creating statues for the cemetery was a new challenge. "It was kind of experimental at first because we wanted to be sure the public was ok with the idea," he said. The sculptures needed to be something non-offensive to people of many different faiths. And so, he began with birds, mostly herons.

It was an ideal solution to the loss of the trees, which can't be pulled out because of the roots, nor can anything else be planted where they once stood.

Using large chain saws to remove large excess pieces rapidly, Carroll then switches to a smaller chain saw for detail. Occasionally a grinder, dremel and drill may be used for more intricate work. It takes approximately six to eight hours to create the larger sculptures; an hour or two for the smaller ones. They are then sealed and coated with exterior grade varnish to protect them from the sun and give years and years of service as the new cemetery sentries.

Carroll can work with most variety of trees—oak, cedar, and pine—each type yielding a slightly different look because of its color and striations. Living on the beach, he began by carving Florida fauna. Working summers in the Great Smoky Mountains and the

Continued on page 16

12 NCBVA BULLETIN October 2001

if NCBVA proudly recognizes the following companies which have a current standing in the

Plant Certification Program

Abel Vault & Monument Co. Canton, IL

Abel Vault & Monument Co. Pekin, IL

American Concrete Industries Bangor, ME

American Vault Co. Cleveland, OH

American Vault & Concrete Products

Detroit, MI American Wilbert Vault Corp.

Forest Park, IL Arnold-Wilbert Corp.

Goldsboro, NC Arrow Vault Co., Inc.

Lafayette, IN Atlas Concrete Products, Inc.

Orlando, FL Automatic Wilbert Vault

Tacoma, WA Babylon Vault Co.

New Windsor, MD Baumgardner Products Co.

Akron, OH Baxter Burial Vault

Cincinnati, OH Baxter Vault Co.

Baxter Springs, KS Beck Vault Co.

Rome, NY Brewster Vaults & Monuments

Millville, NJ Brown-Wilbert, Inc.

Fargo, ND Brown-Wilbert, Inc.

Morris, MN Bruns Norwalk Vault Co.

Saint Louis, MO Brutsche Concrete Products

Battle Creek, MI Brutsche Concrete Products

Benton Harbor, MI Buckeye Vault Service

Mansfield, OH Buck Simmons Vault Srvcs. Inc.

Roanoke, VA Bush Concrete Products, Inc.

Muskegon, MI C & M Precast

Kerrville, TX Calumet Wilbert Vault Co. Inc.

Gary, IN Carolina-Doric, Inc.

Florence, SC Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Marlow, OK Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Oklahoma City, OK Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Tulsa, OK Central New York Vault Co.

Cortland, NY

Century Vault Co., Inc. Taunton, MA

Cheboygan Cement Products Co. Cheboygan, MI

Chesapeake Burial Vault Co. Ingleside, MD

Christy Vault Co., Inc. Colma, CA

Clinton Wilbert Vaults, Inc. Clinton, IA

Columbus-Beier Columbus, WI

Cooper Wilbert Vault Co. Barrington, NJ

Cordeiro Vault Co., Inc. Vallejo, CA

Costello Vaults Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada

Creter Vault Corp. Flemington, NJ

Crummitt & Son Vault Corp. Martins Ferry, OH

D.G. Robertson, Inc. Williston, VT

Dardanelle Vault & Monument Dardanelle, AR

Deihl Vault & Precast Co. Orangeville, PA

Delaware Valley Vault Co., Inc. Chester, PA

Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp. Detroit, MI

Doody Burial Vaults, Inc. Winchendon, MA

Doric Concrete Vaults Inc. Garden City, KS

Doric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Great Bend, KS

Doric Concrete Vaults Inc. Osage City, KS

Doric Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, IN

Doric of Kansas Vault, Inc. Iola, KS

Doric of Nashville, Inc. Nashville, TN

Doric of Northeast Arkansas Jonesboro, AR

Doric of South Texas Elsa, TX

Doric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Newton, KS

Doric Manufacturing Co. Boaz, AL

Doric Mississippi, Inc. Jackson, MS

Doric-South, Inc. Demopolis, AL

Doric Vault of Eastern NY, Inc. Hudson, NY

Doric Vault Co. Griffin, GA

Doric Vault Co. of S. Illinois Marion, IL

Eagle Burial Vault Co. of LA Ruston, LA

Eagle Burial Vaults Perry, GA

Esterly Burial Vault Co. West Reading, PA

Evans Eagle Vaults, Inc. Leola, PA

Everlasting Vault Co. Randallstown, MD

Florida Wilbert, Inc. Jacksonville, FL

Fond Du Lac Wilbert Vault Fond Du Lac, WI

Forsyth Bros. Fithian, IL

Forsyth Bros. Concrete Prod. Terre Haute, IN

Gettysburg Burial Vault Co. Gettysburg, PA

Grable Vault Co. Logansport, IN

Granite State Doric Newport, NH

Gray Bros., Inc. Kansas City, KS

Gross Vault & Monument Thomasville, GA

Hairfield Vault Co. Hickory, NC

Hardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Harm Vault Service Massillon, OH

Harris Precast, Inc. La Porte, IN

Heilman — Wirtz, Inc. Cedar Hill, TX

Hicks Industries, Inc. Alachua, FL

Hicks Industries, Inc. Miami, FL

Hicks Industries, Inc. Mulberry, FL

Hydraulic Dolly, Inc. Altoona, PA

J.P. Vincent & Son, Inc. Galena, IL

Jacson, Inc. Henderson, TX

Jefferson Concrete Corp. Watertown, NY

Josten Wilbert Vault Co. Sioux Falls, SD

L-D Vault Service Chattanooga, TN

Lakeshore Burial Vault Co. Brookfield, WI

Lavaca Vault Co. Lavaca, AK

LouiseII-Davis Vault Service Chattanooga, TN

Ludlow Burial Vault Co. Ludlow, MA

Lycoming Burial Vault Co. Inc. Montoursville, PA

Marion Vault Works Marion, IN

Markham Burial Vault Services Richmond, VA

Markham-Carter Vault Service Smithfield, VA

Master Grave Service Athens, GA

Memphis Burial Vault Co. Memphis, TN

Mercer Vault Company Fredericksburg, VA

Milan Burial Vault, Inc. Milan, MI

Milwaukee Wilbert Vault Co. Milwaukee, WI

Minnick Services Corp. Fort Wayne, IN

Moore Wilbert Vault Co. Evans, GA

Neher Burial Vault Co. Springfield, OH

Nor-Don Vault Co. Inc. Strafford, MO

North Central Mich. Vault Srvc. Cadillac, MI

Norwalk Vault Co. Johnstown, PA

Odon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, IN

Omaha Wilbert Vault, Inc. Omaha, NE

Ostwalt Vault Co. Concord, NC

Palm Vault Co. Ada, OK

Peoria Vault Co. Peoria, IL

Pennyslvania Concrete Vault Co. Greensburg, PA

Perfection Vault Woodson, IL

Phenix Vault Phenix City, AL

Pioneer Vault, Inc. Doylestown, PA

Pope Concrete Products Waycross, GA

Poplar Bluff Doric Vaults, Inc. Poplar Bluff, MO

Precast Concrete Products, Inc. Blissfield, MI

Precision Precast Inc. Pittsfield, MA

Quality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TX

Rex Vault Service Newton, IL

Rocky Mountain Monument/Vault Sandy, UT

jcontinued .. . j -.11,

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. Member Application for Plant Inspection

Name of Plant

Plant Mailing Address

Plant Street Address

Plant Telephone

Fax Phone Number

Owner's Name

Evening Telephone

Plant Manager/Contact Person

Evening Phone

Types of Outer Burial Receptacles Produced CI Top Seals 0 Air Domes 171 Sectionals Other

Please return this application with full payment to:

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. 900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite #204 Longwood, FL 32779-2552

-- (800) 538-1423 Fax (407) 774-6751

As an NCBVA member in good standing, the total of your Plant Certification Inspection will be $995 (Recertification, $495). Full payment should be enclosed with your application.

October 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN

13

I(Land-Wilbert Vault Co. Marion, IA

Roosburg Vault Primghar, IA

Saginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MI

Sam Green Vault Co. Lynchburg, VA

Santeiu Vaults Inc. Livonia, MI

Shenandoah Valley Vaults, Inc. Dayton, VA

Shore Vault & Precast Co. Exmore, VA

Simerly Concrete Products, Inc. Bristol, TN

Simerly Vaults, Inc. Knoxville, TN

Southern Ohio Vault Co. Portsmouth, OH

Southern Vault Service Blakely, GA

Spoerr Precast Concrete Sandusky, OH

Sunnycrest, Inc. Auburn, NY

Superior Burial Vaults, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT

Superior Vault Co. Bryantown, MD

Superior Vault Co. Charlestown, IN

Superior Vault Co. DBA Individual Mausoleum Co.

Lawrenceburg, IN Superior Vault Company LTD

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Swan's Concrete Products

Westbrook, ME Tennessee Vault

Fairview, TN Tucker Vault Co.

Farmington, MO Turner Vault Company

Toledo, OH Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc.

Appleton, WI Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc.

Wausau, WI Washington Wilbert Vault Works Inc.

Laurel, MD Warga Concrete Products Inc.

Fort Wayne, IN Watts Vault & Monument Co.

Montezuma, IA Wayne Burial Vault Co., Inc. Indianapolis, IN

Welte Vault Co. Danbury, IA

West Plains Vault & Mfg. Co. Pomona, MO

Wicomico Vault Co., Inc. Salisbury, MD

Wieser Precast Stewartville, MN

Williams Vault Company Emporia, VA

Willmar Precast Co. Willmar, MN

Winnipeg Burial Vaults Ltd. Winnipeg, Canada

14

NCBVA BULLETIN

October 2001

DO THE MATH Death Rate x 50% Cremation Rate = 50% Less Burial Vaults

Solution = B & L Cremation Systems, Inc.

Can you survive without your own Crematory?

B & L Cremation Systems can provide you with state of the art cremation equipment with their proven design features such as:

Fully Automatic Control System Hot Hearth Design Refractory Lined Exhaust Stack Lowest Fuel Consumption And Many More Advantages

All this plus the best service and repair available.

Call 1-800-622-5411 for further details Or visit us at www.bicremationsystems.com

Sy8t'enn4 , Inc.

7205 - 114th Avenue North, Lar0, Florida 33773 USA Toll free 1-800-622-5411 or (727) 541-4666 Facsimile (727) 547-0669

e-mail: blcremsys@aol.com

October 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN

171Eagle OTrigard CIDoric 171Wilbert 171Con-O-lite ClOther 11Provide Graveside services

,00

Dues Schedule

CIManufacturer Member Dues are based on total units sold for all locations of the company.

Please check appropriate level:

01-999 Units

l000- 1999 $170 $260

O2000 - 3499 $350 03500 - 4999 $435 05000 and more $525

ClAssociate Member $150

CIFranchise Group $600

Payment Information Include payment with this completed form. We accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express

EICheck is enclosed

Please charge my OVisa OMasterCard OAmex

Account # Expiration date

Mailing Information

NCB VA 900 Fox Valley Drive Suite 204

Longwood, FL 32779-2552 (800) 538-1423

Fax: (407) 774-6751

www.ncbva.org

National Concrete Burial Vault Association "Serving the death care industry with the very best"

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Key Contact Nickname Title

Company Name

Street Address

City

Phone Fax

E-mail

Company Web Site

CI Check here if you prefer to have your mail sent to your home. Home street Address City State Zip Home Phone Home Fax

COMPANY INFORMATION CIBurial Vault Manufacturer ElFuneral Director CICrematory ICemetery

171Metal Vaults CIPlastic Vaults OFiberglass Vaults Offer sizes for 1Children IAdults lOversize

ClAssociate Member: Tell us in 25 words of less about your product/services

OPlease enroll me in NCBVA today! Signature indicates that you have read and agree to abide by NCBVA's Code of Ethics and the rules which govern the National Concrete Burial Vault Association. Signa-ture is required before this application can be processed.

(Signature) (Date)

CODE OF ETHICS We believe that concrete is an ideal material for the construction of burial vaults for the interment of human remains and that a properly constructed concrete burial vault is worthy of acceptance by the public. Our sales and advertising policies will be governed by standards acceptable by the public and the funeral profession and by principles advocated by the National Concrete

Burial Vault Association, Inc. We pledge fair trade practices to our competitor whose product we will not disparage. We shall conduct our business on sound business principles, striving to build a relationship of respect and confidence for the burial vault industry with the public, with the funeral director and with the cemeteries management. We will abide by the rules and regula-tions of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc., thereby contributing to a stronger and greater national industry.

State Zip

Keith Carroll

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. 900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite 204, Longwood, FL 32779-2552

FIRST CLASS Address Correction Requested

Annual Convention • June 20-23, 2002 • Houston, Texas

Dear Readers, We at the National Concrete Burial Vault Association Bulletin, would love to hear from you. Specifically we are looking for press releases from you so that we can continue to address issues and topics that are directly facing you.

Do you have an idea for an article of interest to other manufacturers?

Why don't you take a few minutes and send us a press release about your happenings. We're interested in details about special events, individuals who deserve recognition, awards, new ser-vices you are providing. Suppliers: let us know about your new products and services. Color or black and white pho-tos are also welcome.

If you are unsure about how to write your press release or article, don't hesi-tate to give me a call at (407) 788-1996 or e-mail me at jmona-han@assnhdqtrs.com. It would be my pleasure to assist you.

I Look forward to hearing from you.

Jan Monahan, Editor jmonahan@assnhdqtrs.com

Continued from page 11 Rockies, he started carving bears and other wildlife. It was the bears that Walt Disney World in Orlando asked him to carve peaking out of tree stumps for their Wilderness Lodge. And because he also does dolphins, Sea World has expressed an interest in his work. He has won several awards for his work and continues to enter juried events if they don't involve too much time away from his wife and three daughters.

Whether it's a piece of art, a conversation piece or a property landmark, each sculpture is unique—no two are exactly alike. The size of the stump naturally dictates the parameters of the finished piece.

What Carroll likes best about his work is that he gets to meet a lot of different people. He has found it very encouraging that the sculptures in the cemetery are having such a positive effect.

Prior to starting sculpting, Carroll was a pastor for a small church and believes that the Lord led him to wood sculpting. He tells a story about carving a large heron at one of the cemeteries and that a woman visiting her father's grave commented on how lovely it was. Her father was a woodcarver.

While carving another sculpture he met a woman who had been visit-ing the cemetery every day at noon for six years. She told

Carroll that her husband had told her that when he died he would send her a sign that he was OK. She told Carroll that one afternoon she had found a feather when she got home and knew that that was the sign. Was it coincidence, or something more unexplainable that Carroll had been carting around a two foot carved feather in the back of his trailer that he had been unable to sell. He gave it to the stranger he met at theis cemetery.

To find out more about Keith Carroll, visit his Web site at http:// www.artistrynwood.com .