bulletin 2011 august

of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association

B U L L E T I NTHE

August 2011

Making New Technology Work for You

Also inside:2012 Convention Meets

World of Concrete

OSHA’s New Standard on Cranes May Cost You!

2 NCBVA.ORG l August 2011

August 2011 l NCBVA.ORG 3

TABLE OF CONTENTSA Message fromthe President ............................... 5Reliability of Cost of Doing Business StudyDepends on You

Tax-saving TipsFor Summer Trips & More............ 4By J. Scott CalkinsNCBVA Legal Counsel

NCBVA Meets WOC ................... 8Concurrent ConventionsIn January 2012

OSHA’s New Standardon Cranes May Cost You ........... 10

Risk, Hard WorkYield Rewards............................ 12Cooper Vault Company

Making Technology Work For You ............................. 15Can New ApplicationsHelp Your Business?

NCBVA Certified Plants............. 20

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 917525Longwood, Florida 32791

http://www.ncbva.org

PresidentHubert McQuestion

Lake Shore Burial Vault Co.Brookfield, WI

President-Elect Michael Crummitt

Crummitt & Son Vault Co.Martins Ferry, OH

Secretary/TreasurerJerry Russell

Southern Ohio Vault Co.Portsmouth, OH

Immediate Past PresidentStephen Hatfield

Hicks Industries, Inc.Mulberry, FL

Directors

Mark BatesNorwalk Wilbert Vault Co.

Bridgeport, CT

Wendy Bott BrownMark H. Bott Co.

Ogden, UT

Paul E. CooperWilbert Funeral Services, Inc.

Forest Park, IL

Doug EvansCarolina Doric, Inc.

Florence, SC

Steve HandleyHandley Precast Systems, Inc.

Glendale, AZ

Dave LongEagle Burial Vault Association

Joliet, IL

Dennis SchultzDoric Vault of Western N.Y., Inc.

Buffalo, NY

Blake SwinfordTrigard Vaults / Greenwood Plastics

Danville, IL

Steve VincentDoric Products, Inc.

Marshall, IL

Executive DirectorThomas A. Monahan, CAE

Certified Association Management Co.Longwood, FL

Legal CounselJ. Scott Calkins, Esq.

Our AdvertisersAmerican Cemetery Supplies, Inc. .... 7Accurate Wire & Strip Forming ........ 10Axis Corporation.............................. 23Crescent Bronze Powder Co.............. 6D & C Supply Co., Inc........................ 6Doric, Inc.......................................... 22Edgmont Metallic Pigment Co.......... 22Holland Supply Inc........................... 11Long Machine Co............................. 18RoMix Chemical & Brush................. 14Rostine Manufacturing & Supply ....... 4Trigard Vaults ..................................... 2

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By J. Scott Calkins, Esq.NCBVA Legal Counsel

If you haven’t yet embarked on your summer vacation, here are a few tax-saving ideas to make your summer more enjoyable.

Business & Pleasure––Most of you know the tax benefit for coupling travel plans with a business trip. When combining busi-

ness with pleasure, you may deduct all the travel costs to and from your business destination and all other business-related costs, even if you add on a few extra days for pleasure. (Of course you can’t deduct costs related to the pleasure portion.) Including a spouse or friend on your trip is permissible, but you can’t deduct the additional costs for that person.

Summer Camp as Childcare––If you and your spouse work, the cost of sending your children to a summer day camp may qualify for the childcare credit. If your children are already grown and have families of their own, please pass this tip along to them.

Give a Child a Job––Consider hiring your child (or grandchild) for the summer. I have known many members over the years who have taken advantage of this arrange-

entitled to a deduction for the wages paid. You must pay the child a reasonable wage for the work performed.

Other possible fringe benefits––Hiring your child teaches him/her about the busi-ness, thereby fostering a possible interest in a career in the industry. It also gives him/her a sense of responsibility. Many an adult working in the burial industry today got his/her start in this way.

Vacation Home Credits––Mortgage interest and property taxes paid for your vaca-tion home are deductible. A boat or RV can qualify as a vacation home if it has sleeping quarters, cooking facilities and a bathroom. If a retreat also serves as rental property, you can control your tax deductions by changing the number of days you use it for vacation.

$100,000 Payroll ReminderHere’s a serious reminder that if your company accumulates a payroll tax liability

must deposit the tax by the next business day, whether you are a monthly or semi-weekly depositor. Important alert: Be aware that if your company is a monthly depositor and

on the next day and remain so for the rest of that year and the following year. I pass this information along to you at this time because many businesses provide bonuses in the summer to assist employees in their vacation planning and expenses.

In Canada & Illinois:Arranging Funeral Services On LineRecently my wife and I spent a week in Toronto visiting tennis friends from our com-munity in Florida. A little personal history: It was a great feeling to return to the Toronto

Tax-saving TipsFor Summer Trips & More

Continued on page 6


A-

ing Business” survey, NCBVA is now ready to roll it out to the membership. The study will be the first of its type ever done by a concrete burial vault organization. It may take several months to evaluate the data and prepare the

findings, but the results will be worth it.So why is this study so important? If your company status is similar to mine, none of

us has unlimited resources to invest in all aspects of our operations. Each year we own-ers and managers must make tough resource allocation decisions. NCBVA’s benchmark-ing study can provide information on the performance factors that have a great impact on our profitability. The resulting report will be a tool we all can use to analyze best industry practices and build them into our own business plans. Our survey information will prioritize for us––the decision-makers––where to focus our company resources for the greatest impact on improving performance.

The benchmarking information you’ll be asked to provide includes areas that we, as owners and manag-ers of closely-held businesses, are usually reluctant to share with anyone except the highest officers in our companies, our accountants, and the IRS. I understand anyone’s reluctance to share this information, but I be-lieve it’s important.

We know we’re asking you to provide highly confiden-tial information on your company, but let me reaffirm the

been put into place to safeguard the privacy of your com-pany’s response. First, NCBVA has hired Mackay Research Group to collect the data and compile the study. Second, no member of NCBVA will ever see the raw data. And finally, no NCBVA staff member will ever see the data.

I personally want to thank Director Wendy Brown of the Mark H. Bott Company and Director Blake Swinford of Trigard who worked closely with me and Executive Director Tom Monahan to develop the survey questions that will provide the information that will be most useful to our members.

The NCBVA Board of Directors believes that the results will be a significant member benefit. The validity of the results, however, will depend completely on member par-ticipation. We must have a strong response or the results will not be statistically valid enough for compiling a report. We’re relying on you and all the NCBVA member com-panies to help each other by sharing vital information. Thanks for your support.

Editor’s note: The two-page survey, along with a letter from President McQuestion, will be in the mail soon.

A Message From the President

2011CALENDAR

September 18-20Int’l Order of the Golden RuleFall ForumLoews Coronado BaySan Diego, CA

September 21-24Selected Ind. Funeral HomesAnnual MeetingWestin Kierland Resort & SpaScottsdale, AZ

October 23-26NFDA & CANA Joint Intl. Convention & ExpoMcCormick PlaceChicago, IL

November 14-15Casket & Funeral Supply Assn.Fall Conference & Trade ShowCrowne Plaza HotalIndianapolis, IN

2012

January 23-25*NCBVA Annual Convention& ExpositionLas Vegas HiltonLas Vegas, NV

* Attend WOC’s exhibit free by registering for NCBVA

January 23-27*World of ConcreteLas Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NV

By Hubert McQuestionPresident, NCBVA

Reliability of NCBVA’s “Cost of Doing Business Study”Depends on You


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Lawn Tennis Club where my partner and I won the Canadian National Tennis Doubles Championships in 1987. We had won the same event two years earlier in London, Ontario.

While in Toronto, I read in the local -

als” that had started to offer its web-based services in Illinois (www.basicfunerals.com). This is an e-commerce company that is catering to the younger generation––a de-mographic group you will read more about in this issue that likes to use communica-tions technology wherever possible. Basic Funerals employs licensed funeral directors in each of the locations it serves. The bulk of the services it provides are arranged through existing companies and facilities in the re-spective communities. The company claims it is saving consumers about half of what they would pay a funeral home.

I’d be interested to know what our members think about this. If anyone has knowledge of this company operating in his/her state, I would appreciate hearing from you by phone or e-mail.

Have Bugle, Will TravelTaps. He learned the solemn tune at the age of six. Now 92, Madden has traveled all over

In an article in the AARP Bulletin

-ing their survivors. They deserve the same respect."

When Madden was four, he was intro-duced to brass instruments by a neighbor. Later, that neighbor gave him a coronet. It was love at first note.

and after four years transferred to the Army. Throughout his 27-year military career, Madden played Taps at hundreds of war casu-

invited to play during a memorial honoring the 3rd Infantry at Arlington National Cemetery.

adding, "I was the oldest bugle player playing on the oldest bugle."Madden vows that he will play Taps "as long as I can breathe." Because there are fewer

and fewer volunteers to play at ceremonies, he occasionally wonders who will play those soulful notes for him when he passes on. Not to worry, he says. "I plan to live to 125."Source: AARP Bulletin | May 27, 2011

92-year-old bugler, Albert Madden

Calkins, continued from page 4


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One of the most well-attended NCBVA Conventions was held in 2010 when it partnered with the World of Concrete (WOC)

meeting in Las Vegas. If you missed it, you’re getting another chance.

-tion has been scheduled to again coincide with the huge WOC event that draws thou-sands to its concrete construction and ma-sonry business sessions and trade show. By holding a concurrent meeting, members and suppliers don’t have to choose one conven-tion or the other: You can attend BOTH!

A block of rooms at a special rate has been secured for NCBVA attendees at the lavishly renovated Las Vegas Hilton. The Hilton is the closest hotel to the home of WOC––the Las Vegas Convention Center. A short walk to the adjacent center eliminates those pricey cab fares to get back and forth. NCBVA meetings are scheduled to allow ample time to see all that WOC has to offer, AND, all registered attendees will receive free admittance to the WOC Trade Show floor, along with the benefits of the NCBVA meeting and its own exposition.

World of Concrete was first introduced to the commercial construction industry 33 years ago in Houston, TX. It now attracts

indoor and outdoor exhibit space.In an interview in this issue of The Bul-

letin (page 12), NCBVA Board Member Paul Cooper stressed that the future of the burial vault industry is tenuous and the best chance for business security is diversification. If your company is looking for better ways to operate or new resources for innovative products, the answer might be at WOC.

Recognized by Tradeshow Week as

industry’s only annual international event dedicated to the commercial concrete and masonry construction industries. It show-cases leading industry suppliers featuring innovative products, technologies, tools and equipment and unlimited networking op-portunities to give you new ways to sustain and grow your business in today’s changing economy.

WOC offers a great overview of the con-crete industry, but the NCBVA Convention and Exposition is the only meeting designed specifically for burial vault manufacturers. There will be business sessions addressing current topics and issues, social events of-fering opportunities to network with peers, special seating at a popular Las Vegas show, and tabletop displays showcasing NCBVA suppliers in NCBVA’s main meeting room (not affiliated with WOC). Watch your mailbox, the web site (www.ncbva.org), and future issues of The Bulletin for more detailed information.

Even Las Vegas, with its mega hotels, can be put to the test when WOC’s 50,000 attendees hit town. To secure a room in the NCBVA block, you MUST register before October 23. After this date we cannot guar-antee the low rate or availability of a room.

lodging during this time is handled though the WOC housing bureau. When you call the phone number on the accompanying registration form, you will be routed through WOC’s housing bureau. Be sure to specify the Las Vegas Hilton and identify yourself as part of the NCBVA group.

Don’t procrastinate. Book your hotel reservation now. We look forward to seeing

Try Hotel

About the Las Vegas HiltonThe Las Vegas Hilton, the largest Hilton hotel in the world, has recently received

in the revamped elegance of the sophis-ticated guest rooms. Just off the Strip, the fabulous Las Vegas Hilton features something for everybody! Court Lady

Play a hunch on today’s and tomorrow’s games at the world’s largest sports book. Delight in exquisite restaurants––including a three-story Japanese Hibachi at the world’s largest Beni-hana. Pamper yourself with a soothing treatment at The Hilton Spa. Spend an unforgettable evening with a headline act in the intimate Hilton Theater.

Convention Center

Moments from the glitz and glitter of the Las Vegas Strip

Monorail stop outside the door, connecting the hotel with the Strip

Adjacent to the Las Vegas CountryClub golf course

NCBVA Meets World of Concrete in 2012


Name of Company_________________________________________________________

Mailing Address __________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code _______________________________________________________

Telephone Number _________________________ Fax Number____________________

E-Mail Address: ______________________________________________

Registration fees per person (Indicate number of registrants per rate.Use adult rate for children 12 and older.) Each registrant receives a FREE

floor pass to WOC Exhibit Hall!

On or before Oct. 23, 2011 After Oct. 23, 2011Member Adult _____x $595 _____x $695Member Spouse/Guest _____x $595 _____x $695Member’s Child (under 12) _____x $150 _____x $150Non-member* Adult _____x $695 _____x $795Non-member Spouse/Guest _____x $695 _____x $795Non-member’s Child (under 12) _____x $150 _____x $150

*Note: Non-members who join NCBVA within 30 days of the convention may apply the $100 non-member difference toward their annual dues. Or join now by requesting a membership application, and use the member rate.

Exhibit Table ____ $495Any registered attendee may request an exhibit table in the NCBVA main convention hall.All personnel in the booth must also be registered. Includes a 6-ft draped table and two chairs (tabletop displays only––no booths). Displays are NOT connected with World of Concrete.

Total Amount, Registration Fees $_____________

Registrants: (Please indicate with ** any children under 12).

First Name Last Name Nickname (for name badge)

________________________ _________________________________ ____________________

________________________ _________________________________ ____________________

________________________ _________________________________ ____________________

________________________ _________________________________ ____________________

Registration Form

NCBVA Annual Convention & ExpositionConcurrent with World of Concrete

January 23 - 25, 2012 LAS VEGAS HILTON HOTEL The Las Vegas Hilton, host hotel for the NCBVA Convention, is the closest hotel to World of Concrete.

Hotel reservations must be made through the

WOC Housing Bureau

1-800-221-35319 a.m. - 7 p.m. M-F, ET

NCBVA ROOM RATE: $123 per night (single/double)

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 23, 2011

Remember, the NCBVA conven-tion is being held in conjunction with the World of Concrete and rooms will fill quickly. NCBVA cannot guarantee availability or rates after this deadline.

Be sure to mention you are attending the NCBVA Conven-tion in order to receive this rate.

Las Vegas Hilton Hotel3000 Paradise Rd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109

PAYMENT INFORMATION –– NCBVA cannot invoice for registration fees. Please include a check for payment in full or provide credit card information.

Check enclosed (Make check payable to NCBVA, mail with this completed form)

I hereby authorize NCBVA to process my registration for the NCBVA 2012 Convention on the credit card listed below.

MasterCard Visa American Express

Card Number __________________________________Expiration Date: _________

Print Name (As It Appears on Card)________________________________________

Signature ___________________________________________________________

If paying by credit card, you may fax this form to NCBVA’s secure FAX at 1-407-774-6751

Special Needs (dietary, physical, etc.)It is important to us that you enjoy NCBVA’s conference. If you have any special needs, please contact us and we will do our best to assist you.


Types of Cranes CoveredSome but not all of the types of cranes covered are:

Mobile cranes, including crawler-mounted, wheel-mounted, rough-terrain, all-terrain, commercial truck-mounted & boom-truck cranesTower cranesArticulating cranes, such as knuckle-boom cranesDerricksSpecialized types of equipment (multi-purpose machines when configured to hoist and lower by means of a winch or hook and horizontally move a suspended load; service/mechanic trucks with a hoisting device, and more)

Note: Overhead & gantry cranes that are permanently installed in a facility are

OSHA’s new rule on cranes and derricks in construction

-erated equipment used in construction work that can hoist, lower and horizontally move a suspended load. This would cover most,

if not all, of the burial vault industry even if they are not tradition-ally involved in the construction industry. A requirement that will have the most impact on owners of burial vault manufacturing companies specifies that operators of most types of cranes will have to be qualified or certified under one of the methods set forth

When does a burial vault company become involved in construc-tion? The answer is when they set the outer

burial vault container into a grave opening. More on that farther down in this article.

At the time of publication of the rule

four years to ensure that their operators are qualified or certified, but the clock is ticking. Now, slightly more than three years remain for training, and smart owners will not delay in initiating the certification process. Just in case an OSHA inspector pays your company a visit any time soon, it will be in your favor to show that you have good intentions to begin compliance.

The cost of training is the responsibility of the employer even though the accredita-tion stays with the employee and leaves your firm when they do. The charge for instruc-tion and time away from the job in order for an employee to become certified will likely take a substantial bite out of the company’s budget. NCBVA staff contacted one of the training agencies listed on the Internet to get an estimate of costs. Ballpark figure obtained, per employee, was approximately

The time required from your firm for compli-ance will be about a week for the training.

What is Required for Certification?Certification from an accredited testing or-ganization has two parts: (1) a written exam that includes safe operating procedures for the particular type of equipment the ap-plicant will be operating, and a technical understanding of the subject matter criteria

exam demonstrating that the applicant has the skills needed to safely operate the equip-ment. This includes the ability to properly use load chart information and recognize items required in the shift inspection.

Member Alert:

OSHA’s New Standard on Cranes May Cost YouIn a broad-brush attempt to reduce fatalities in heavy construction involv-ing cranes and derricks, OSHA’s recent final rule on cranes and derricks in construction extends downward to include a certification requirement for operators of equipment with a rated hoisting/lifting capacity of 2,000 lb or more. This covers the delivery trucks of most burial vault manufacturing companies. How will this final rule, published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2010, affect your company?

If you have one of these....read this article!!

Photo courtesy of Axis Corp.

Continued on page 19


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In high school, Paul E. Cooper set his sights on becoming a funeral director and wasted no time in realizing that ambition. After graduating from the

American Academy McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in New York City, he spent

three well-known funeral homes in Philadel-phia and New Jersey. But the desire to have his own business was strong. In 1979 he and his wife Joanne took their first big risk and opened Cooper Burial Vault Co. They were a distributor for Belmont Wilbert Vault out of Philadelphia until 1981, when Belmont Wilbert went out of business. Taking another giant step, Paul and Joanne then opened their first manufacturing plant in Barrington, NJ. A big opportunity presented itself: Wilbert Inc. asked if they were interested in buying the Belmont Wilbert franchise license. The Coopers had a very young family at that time and were hesitant to stretch themselves as well as their budget. They carefully weighed all the challenges and benefits that such

an opportunity offered, took another risk, bought the franchise, and put their hard work and determination on the line.

Their risk-taking proved to be very successful, and other acquisitions and ex-

When the husband/wife team started out in 1979, they had just two employees––them-selves. Paul ran the day-to-day operations and Joanne handled the accounting out of their home. Today their burial vault busi-ness covers the New Jersey/Pennsylvania territory, the state of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Their funeral supply company is nationwide, as is their monument company. The Cooper Team has grown to 35 employees, which includes fam-ily members in key management positions. Joanne is Chief Financial Officer. Daughter Faith is Manager of Cooper Monument Co., and daughter Beth is Vice President of Operations at Cooper Vault. Daughter-in-law Zayan is Manager of Sales for P&J Cooper Supply.

Paul Cooper’s success may be enviable. He and his wife own three businesses related to the deathcare industry: a burial vault manufacturing facility, a monument company, and a funeral supply business. But their assets were not acquired quickly. They were gained over time through calculated risks and hard work. Behind the success is their business and life philosophy: “If you never take any risks, you’ll never get anywhere.”

P a u l a n d Joanne are right-fully proud of t h e i r f a m i l y members who are working beside them in business, but they value all their employees.

companies are our employees. They work with our customers every day,” says Paul.

the gravesite, meeting funeral directors or families face to face, or talking with them on the phone, they represent us well. If they didn’t do a good job for us, our business would not, could not succeed.”

Embraces Technology

The Bulletin) provided documentation that the funeral industry must make some in-dustry shifts in order to accommodate and

demographic group utilizes the Internet and new technologies (such as smart phones, Facebook, etc.) more than any other demo-graphic group. Beth urged Paul to kick up his technology skills a notch to embrace communications technology. She bought

Risk , Hard Work

YieldRewards

When he has time for a real vacation, Paul Cooper enjoys riding the range and hunting in Montana with

former NCBVA Executive Director Jerry Brown.

By Sylvia HeidemannNCBVA Staff Writer


got to use this to keep up with the younger generation.”

Paul reports that he uses his Blackberry all the time now, and likes the convenience of being able to conduct business while out

time––and I look at it as the customer’s time––by having to wait to return to the office or to my hotel while on the road to send an e-mail. I can e-mail from my Blackberry.”

Beth is responsible for managing one sophisticated website (www.coopervault.com; check it out) that allows users to visit all three of the Coopers’ businesses. On-line ordering is incorporated, and Paul says that

line in the year that customers have been

able to use that service. That service is par-ticularly desirable for funeral home directors nationwide.

WalMart philosophy of one-stop shopping,”

our funeral products supply company, to offset the challenge of cremation. The cre-mation trend is not going to go away; it’s growing. Of course, its growth rate is faster in some areas than others. The cremation

while Delaware is about 25 percent.”

Diversify or ConsolidatePaul firmly believes that diversification is the key for burial vault manufacturers who want

-

is only so big. If a company remains strictly a burial vault manufacturing facility, I don’t

years. There’s a need for concrete products in construction areas, for example. Owners and managers today must creatively think of other niche areas where they can use their plants to begin production of items outside the funeral industry––items such as parking lot blocks, ornamental blocks for landscap-ing, etc. We made the choice to diversify into providing funeral service products, primarily because I spent many years as a funeral director and know what they need. As I stated before, this area of the business was also a hedge against cremation.”

Paul also sees consolidation of burial vault companies as a growing trend because of the shrinking market.

The Cooper Vault team. Shown above (back row, L - R) are George B., Gary W., Walt R., Kyle B., Leo O., Brian S. (Operations Manager), Victor L., Jim L. & Pablo R. (Front row, L-R) Keith C., Anthony C., Howard S. and Brian R. Not shown are Glenn D., Xavier R. & Keith K.

More of the Cooper Vault team. (L-R) Lucas F., Alec T., Mike S., Victorio D., Vincent V., Santos M., Claude H. & Curtis T. Not shown are Albert D., John S., Jason M. & Steve H.

History of Cooper Vault Company

1979––Paul and Joanne open Cooper Vault Co. and later, Cooper Monument Co. because Paul wanted to interact with families again rather than deal solely with funeral directors.

1981––The Coopers buy the Belmont Wilbert franchise and begin manufactur-ing burial vaults in Barrington, NJ (their main production plant). Through this purchase they also acquired Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, as well as New Castle County.

1991––P&J Cooper Supply was estab-lished to provide supplies and services to funeral directors throughout the U.S. Products include funeral apparel, flags, caskets, plastic goods and more.

1993––The Coopers acquired the territory that included the rest of the state of Dela-ware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After that, they decided to build a second manufacturing and distribution plant in Middletown, DE. They have since added a third distribution location in Selbyville, DE.

Cooper Vault provides burial vaults and cremation products to 11 counties in New Jersey, four counties in Pennsylvania, three counties in Delaware, nine counties in Maryland, and one county in Virginia.

Continued


Affiliate Director of NCBVAAs owner of Cooper Vault in Middletown, DE and Barrington, NJ, Paul is a long-time member of NCBVA, and values this associa-

meeting, he was appointed as affiliate direc-tor to represent Wilbert Funeral Services. He

takes his duties seriously because he believes in the strength of the organization.

for the entire burial vault manufactur-ing community––not just Wilbert, Doric,

cannot represent themselves effectively, but I believe NCBVA represents us all very well.”

Paul is supportive of NCBVA’s recent partnering ventures with the World of Con-crete because it optimizes travel budgets.

to make one business trip count for attending two important conventions, we’re helping them stretch their dollars in a still-tight economy. The NCBVA provides inter-industry networking and management ideas specific to our business, and the World of Concrete provides a huge exhibit and ideas for diversifying into manufacture of other concrete products,” he states.

Recreational Risk-takerFamily ownership is predominant in the burial vault industry, and family ties are

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valued. The Coopers are proud of their daughters and enjoy four grandchildren.

-

Elizabeth is seven months old.Even with the help of his wife and family

members in the business, Paul still remains

very hands-on. When he takes time off, he likes to golf and fish. When he can squeeze in a trip, he looks forward to hunting in Montana with former NCBVA Executive Director Jerry Brown. At the time of this interview, Paul was planning to fly west and fulfill a long-held dream: exploring the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon while on a family vacation. I was absolutely awestruck by its beauty and never forgot it. All the years since then I’ve dreamed about going back there and somehow getting a closer look than just peering over the edge. I recently decided on whitewater rafting the Colorado River–– which seems more reliable than riding a mule down the canyon trail––and am really excited about it. It’s going to take me out of my comfort zone, I know.”

Sounds like another risk-taking event, but Paul Cooper seems wired for such ad-ventures. His career history has proved that he’s ready for almost any challenge.

"Our business mission is to provide a quality product and superior burial service. We work hard each day to fulfill that mission."––Paul Cooper

Daughter-in-law Zayan, Beth (with daughter Evelyn), Paul & daughter Faith.


According to its definition by Wikipedia, the free on-line encyclopedia,

global system of interconnected computer networks that use [a com-mon system] to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technolo-gies.”

Space does not permit us nor is it really necessary to go into the Internet’s development (dating back

-tant is that, once introduced to and endorsed by the public in the early

-

to” source for all kinds of information, as well as a social communications media. And that’s not just in the U.S. That’s globally. (See the sidebar for the top nine countries in which Internet use has penetrated more

percent penetration, the U.S. is number 5 in Internet usage.)

Are Vault Manufacturers Behind the Times?Websites & Electronic MailOnce websites were perceived as a poten-tially good thing, there was a scramble for

(for businesses), dot orgs (for associations),

dot govs (for government) and dot edus (for education) emerged rapidly. Whenever a new technology is introduced, tapping into it often is expensive, requiring a so-phisticated system and an expert overseer

such a system.With the Internet came electronic mail

(e-mail) and eventually a plethora of e-mail services, some free, some not. E-mail intro-duced yet another new way to do business or connect socially. Instant gratification was––and still is today––the watchword.

Communications technology has become more cost-effective. For websites, programs are offered by e-mail service providers that empower virtually any determined person to become his own webmaster. Software

programs are continually being developed to be more user-friend-ly and allow businessmen and individuals to be more creative in website design.

Burial vault manufacturers, however, seem to be lagging be-hind in taking the opportunity to use websites to promote their busi-nesses. To verify web presences for this article, 51 companies out

plants were randomly selected and

because they were not obviously, by name, Wilbert franchisees or Doric licensees. Of those 51 randomly selected companies,

Facebook pages. (More on Face-book later.)

Regardless of whether they had a company website, most of the 51 burial vault companies were listed on free or relatively inexpensive services (such as local Chambers of Commerce, DexKnows.com, yellowpages.com, manta.com, mac-raesbluebook.com, powerprofiles.com or hoovers.com). It’s good to be listed in these sources to make your company easier to be located, but is it enough?

Because owners and managers of burial vault companies deal directly with funeral home directors rather than the general pub-lic, do they really need websites of their own? If you want to help educate the general public about the industry and your particu-lar role in it, however, websites are worth considering.

Thanks to the Internet and the explosion of applications that have been de-veloped to optimize communications technology, smart business owners and managers should at least be aware of what’s out there and how it can help or harm your business. Communications technology is not going away. It’s only going to get more sophisticated. Get familiar with some of the most widely used technologies now and make them work for you.

Making New TechnologyWork for You

By Sylvia HeidemannNCBVA Staff Writer


What about e-mail users? A few clicks

will show that burial vault manufacturing companies also seem to be lagging behind in using this technology. It raises two ques-tions: Do some companies really not have an e-mail address or do they choose––for whatever reason––not to display them? Similarly, when viewing burial vault com-pany websites (of those that have websites and surely, e-mail capability), e-mail ad-

us” page. Instead, there’s a template that requires the site visitor to provide contact information, fill out a request box and wait for a reply. Why put up a roadblock to instant gratification?

Alert: Company e-mail is not personal e-mail. It pays to be professional at all times. One never knows when an e-mail is going to be forwarded to someone other than the original party. Having to eat one’s words can result in lost business.

Cell Phone vs. Smart PhonesAs they became more affordable––and easier to carry––cell phones changed our lives. We can be out of the office or home and still be able to make and receive calls. Smart phones (Droids, Blackberrys, etc.) offer complete mobile operating systems. Depending on the

be portable computers capable of accessing files from an office computer, including

sending and receiving e-mail; they can be used as camera phones or media players; and they can allow GPS navigation and WiFi connections. The keyboard of a smart phone is similar to a computer keyboard, not alpha-numeric. Their high-resolution touchscreens can display one’s favorite photos. They are extremely popular with the age group

This group likes to use technology and the

issue of The Bulletin.)

Advertising on Smart PhonesWhen a business medium is recognized as a valuable resource, advertising packages for that medium begin to appear. Smart phones are no exception. It’s now possible to ad-vertise to target audiences who are on the go. According to thefranchisehound.com, responses are higher to ads on smart phones than to traditional ad media. It’s the instant gratification thing again. Some of the simple services thefranchisehound.com states may be worth looking into are Jumptap, Chalk-board and Moolah Media.

QR CodesA QR code is a two-dimensional barcode that can be scanned by a smart phone’s camera. The code may take a viewer to a website, provide a vCard or whatever.

Trigard Memorials is one company that’s

using QR technology to enhance gravesite value for families. Ground memorials or urns they offer may include a QR code. Smart phone users can scan the code at the gravesite, and the code takes them to any web page specified by the family. As a result, it links the physical gravesite with a virtual guestbook and connects visitors to that gravesite with another place to share memories.

According to COO Rich Darby, Trigard has seen a positive response to the QR codes

visit their loved ones and find flowers at the grave without a note. They want to say ‘Thank you’ and know who has visited,”

solution.”For ideas on different ways to use QR

codes to promote your company, fastcom-pany.com offers some suggestions in a Janu-

Social Communication NetworksFacebookAccording to its own definition on face-

helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and co-workers. . . . Anyone can sign up for Facebook and interact with the people they know in a trusted environment.” Facebook currently

worldwide.Trusted environment or not, some people

are using their pages to vent about their experiences with restaurants and other busi-nesses and the personnel they encounter. A

-

button and that comment becomes posted on their page as well. Likes or dislikes can be promulgated exponentially.

Facebook offers advertising opportuni-ties, too, and provides tutorials, testimoni-als and services to help novice advertisers create ads suitable for this social media. In its on-line video concerning advertising, Facebook’s voice-over makes compelling

Top Countries for Highest Number Of Internet Users* Users % Population Penetration

This crazy pattern of bars and boxes is a QR (quick re-sponse) code and if you are observant, you’re now see-ing them everywhere. They link smart phone users to a company web site where more information is provided.


social. . . be part of the conversation. . . empower your customers to spread the word for you. . . foster a strong community around your brand. . .” and so on.

In order to sign up for Facebook, a user has to provide some pertinent demographic information about themselves. Imagine being able to use that information from

target your company’s message according to location, age and interests. Or, instead of advertising, your company could have its own Facebook page and invite people to become your friend.

What this means to anyone in the death-care industry is that your business and the way your employees conduct themselves may be commented on in Facebook pages. Venting is not usually polite.

LinkedInThis is a networking system of reportedly

to connect business professionals and help them help each other. LinkedIn can be used

Idea: A burial vault manufacturer could sign

and help your network,” as the website says. A visit to the site shows some of the questions that are being asked and how the experts are responding.

Twitter

constantly changing streams of real-time information they find interesting. (For ex-ample, one can follow a celebrity or even a member of the deathcare industry and find out what he/she may be doing at that

users may make and send out through the Internet. Although the Tweets are limited

can be said in that bite. As Twitter.com says, a tweet can be a headline, taking a follower

information. Twitter has recently expanded its capabilities to provide subsequent mind-boggling levels of information.

YouTubeImagine being able to upload a video on your company or a customer testimonial for free, with the potential of having it viewed by millions of people––and passed along by

those viewers through weblinks on e-mail to others. YouTube describes itself as the

It is definitely uncensored entertainment and education, so one should be cautious about clicking on some videos.

Credit Reporting ServicesFor BusinessesCortera.comA burial vault manufacturing company owner may or may not be aware of the information cortera.com holds about his/

the power of the Internet to make business credit info and financial intel free or nearly

in credit reporting, particularly for small business owners so they can provide their own ratings on businesses with which they deal. One doesn’t have to register on Cortera.com in order to have company information posted, however, but by doing so, accuracy is insured. Cortera uses a number of sources that are now considered public information to gather data on a company. Are you curious enough to find out if your company is listed? If you find that it is, is your data accurate? What about the funeral homes with which you do business? If you decide to check out this site, be sure to read all the frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Face-to-Face Meetings: Use the Internet to “See” Each OtherSmall but high-tech cameras (webcams) that attach to a monitor and plug into a USB port in the computer make it possible to have

face-to-face contact with family, friends and business contacts out of state or even out of the country. By registering with Skype.com (Skype’s headquarters is located in Luxem-bourg), individuals enter their Skype names on the computer keyboard and talk to each other for free, if qualified. Skype also offers low-cost plans for business use.

Because of current economic condi-tions, larger face-to-face meetings (such as Board meetings) can be cost-prohibitive for individuals. In addition, dates may not be convenient for all participants, who may be traveling, for example. Video conferencing through the Internet makes meetings more

NCBVA Board conducted business through use of a website called megameeting.com. Directors had the option of participating by audio only (if they were out of the office, for example) or by video through a webcam. There were no problems with audio or video, so the meeting medium was a success as a timesaver.

Curious About Communications Technology?Go-to Industry ExampleNCBVA affiliate member Trigard is recog-nized as a leader in the deathcare industry. As mentioned above, Trigard has introduced the use of QR codes on memorials. The company is also using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as a way to encourage its families and potential families to communicate with them and thereby build up their businesses. If you don’t want to join Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn at this time but would like to see

how one industry repre-sentative uses them, go to Trigard’s home page (www.trigard.com) and click on those icons at the top right. You won’t get the complete picture of how these technolo-gies work without regis-tering for each of them, but you can get a pretty good idea, then you can decide for yourself which social technolo-gies might work for your company.

Trigard’s new memorial design includes a QR code (upper right corner) that takes smart phone users to any web page a family specifies.


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We set the standards for vault handling equipment. We DO NOT copy anyone.We are always looking to the future.

LET US CUSTOM BUILD YOUR NEXT VAULT TRAILER


Four Ways to Be CertifiedEquipment operator certification to meet OSHA requirements can be achieved in one of four ways:

(1) A certificate may be obtained from an accredited crane operator testing organization. The testing organization itself must have its accreditation reviewed every three years. Certifi-cates are portable from employer to employer and are valid for five years. (2) Qualification from the employer through an audited employer program is valid for up to five years, but is only valid while the operator is an employee of the employer and operating a crane for the employer. (3) Qualification by the U.S. Military only applies to employees of the DoD

from a city, state or local government that has a required certification program that meets OSHA’s minimum requirements. The license is not portable outside the boundaries of the issuing government entity, and is valid for a maximum of five years.

What Agency Enforces Compliance?City, State or Federal?

reading” section), in 21 states and one territory, occupational safety and health standards are enforced by the state agency responsible for the OSHA-approved state plan. Those states are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. The Guide says New York, Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey and the Virgin Islands also operate OSHA-approved state plans limited in scope.

State plans must meet the OSHA rule, but they may also exceed them. That means burial vault company owners in those states might possibly have an earlier compliance

Industry CommentatorsPrecast Inc.

in which Donald Graham, a certified safety manager with Jensen Precast in Sparks, NV, and Julie Pace, senior member of the Cavanagh Law Firm in Phoenix, AZ, were questioned

producers with knuckle-boom cranes will be affected if they set products into the customer’s excavations. . . . Many precasters . . . do set their products in a customer’s excavation.”

A key word there is excavations. Burial vault manufacturers deliver to cemeteries where there are open excavations.

Where Do You Start to Comply?Any regulation promulgated by any government agency includes many pages of applica-tions, exclusions and training requirements. This overview article is not intended to pro-vide all the information NCBVA members need concerning the new standard. It behooves company owners and managers to begin searching out information for themselves to see

NCBVA will continue to monitor this new standard and pursue options for burial vault manufacturers. More next month.

Suggested Reading1. The complete rule is available at http://www.osha.gov/FedReg_osha_pdf/

2. The regulation text is available at http://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/index.html3. OSHA Small Entity Compliance Guide for Final Rule for Cranes & Derricks in

Construction, available at www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/small_entity.html

faq.html

Precast Inc.

Continued from page 10


A D & Sons Vault Co. Suffolk, VAAbel Vault & Monument Co. Canton, ILAmerican Concrete Industries Veazie, MEAmerican Vault Co. Cleveland, OHAmerican Wilbert Vault Corp. Forest Park, ILArnold-Wilbert Corp. Goldsboro, NCArrow Vault Co., Inc. Lafayette, INAtlas Concrete Products, Inc. Orlando, FLAustin Concrete Products Dover, NHBabylon Vault Co. New Windsor, MDBadger Burial Vault Co. Eau Claire, WIBailey Monument & Vault Co. Waycross, GABaumgardner Products Co. Akron, OHBaxter Burial Vault Cincinnati, OHBaxter Vault Co. Baxter Springs, KSBeck Vault Co. Rome, NYBell Vault & Monument Miamisburg, OHBrewster Vaults & Monuments Millville, NJBrown-Wilbert, Inc. Morris, MNBrown-Wilbert, Inc. St. Paul, MNBruns Norwalk Vault Co. St. Louis, MOBrutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek, MIBrutsche Concrete Products Benton Harbor, MIBuckeye Vault Service, Inc. Mansfield, OHC & M Precast Kerrville, TXCalumet Wilbert Vault Co. Inc. Gary, INCapital Precast, Ltd. St. Johns, NL, CanadaCarolina-Doric, Inc. Florence, SCCarolina-Doric, Inc. Snow Camp, NCCentral Burial Vaults, Inc. Marlow, OKCentral Burial Vaults, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Tulsa, OKCentral New York Vault Co. Cortland, NYCentury Vault Co., Inc. West Barnstable, MACharleston Wilbert Summerville, SCCheboygan Cement Products Co. Cheboygan, MIChesapeake Burial Vault Co. Barkley, MDChristy Vault Co., Inc. Colma, CAColumbus-Beier Vaults Columbus, WICooper Wilbert Vault Co. Middletown, DECordeiro Vault Co., Inc. Vallejo, CACostello & Company Vaults Smith Falls, Ontario, CanadaCreter Vault Corp. Flemington, NJCrummitt & Son Vault Corp. Martins Ferry, OHD.G. Robertson, Inc. Williston, VTDardanelle Vault & Monument Dardanelle, ARDeihl Vault & Precast Co. Orangeville, PADelaware Valley Vault Co. Blackwood, NJDePue Wilbert Vault Savannah, GA Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp. Detroit, MIDoody Burial Vaults, Inc. Winchendon, MADoric Concrete Vaults Inc. Garden City, KSDoric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Great Bend, KSDoric Concrete Vaults Inc. Osage City, KSDoric Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, INDoric of Kansas Vault Iola, KSDoric of Nashville, Inc. Nashville, TNDoric of Northeast Arkansas Jonesboro, ARDoric of Tennessee Cowan, TNDoric Concrete Vaults Limon, CODoric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Newton, KSDoric Manufacturing Co. Boaz, AL

Doric Mississippi, Inc. Jackson, MSDoric-South, Inc. Demopolis, ALDoric Vault of Connecticut North Haven, CTDoric Vault of Eastern NY, Inc. Hudson, NYDoric Vault of Western NY, Inc. Depew, NYDoric Vault Co. Griffin, GADura Vault North Bend, OHEagle Burial Vault Co. of LA Ruston, LAEagle Burial Vaults Perry, GAEsterly Burial Vault Co. West Reading, PAEvans Eagle Vaults, Inc. Leola, PAEverlasting Vault Co. Randallstown, MDFlagg-Palmer Precast, Inc. Oxford, MAFlorida Wilbert, Inc. Jacksonville, FLFond du Lac Wilbert Vault Fond du Lac, WIForsyth Bros. Concrete Prod. Terre Haute, INForsyth Bros. Burial Vaults Fithian, ILFort Myers Wilbert Vault Service Fort Myers, FL Gettysburg Burial Vault Co. Gettysburg, PAGolden Eagle Vault Co. Rocky Mount, VA Grable Vault Co. Logansport, INGraffius Burial Vault Co. Sinking Springs, PAGranite State Doric Newport, NH Gross Vault Co. Thomasville, GAHairfield Vault Co. Hickory, NCHardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MAHarn Vault Service Massillon, OHHarris Precast La Porte, INHicks Industries, Inc. Davie, FLHicks Industries, Inc. Mulberry, FL Horton Precast Girard, PA

Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, INJacson, Inc. Henderson, TXJefferson Concrete Corp. Watertown, NYJosten Wilbert Vault Co. Sioux Falls, SDKansas City Wilbert Grandview, MOLake Shore Burial Vault Co. Brookfield, WILavaca Vault Co. Lavaca, ARLindquist Concrete Products Ogden, UTLouisell-Davis Vault Service Chattanooga, TNLycoming Burial Vault Co. Inc. Montoursville, PAMarion Vault Works Marion, INMark H. Bott Co. Ogden, UTMaster Grave Service Athens, GAMcDowell Doric Vault Co. Fletcher, NCMemphis Burial Vault Co. Memphis, TNMercer Vault Company Fredericksburg, VAMilan Burial Vault, Inc. Milan, MIMinchew Concrete Products Co. Waycross, GAMinnick Services Corp. Fort Wayne, INMontgomery Vault Co. Woodsboro, MDMontgomery Vault Co. Rockville, MDMoore Wilbert Vault Co. Evans, GANeher Burial Vault Co. Springfield, OHNor-Don Vault Co. Inc. Strafford, MONorth Central Mich. Vault Srvc. Cadillac, MINorthwest PA Burial Service Cochranton, PANorwalk Vault Co. Johnstown, PAOdon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, INOmaha Wilbert Vault, Inc. Omaha, NEOstwalt Vault Co. Concord, NCPalm Vault Co. Ada, OKPatriot Vault Co. Park Hills, MOPanhandle Vaults Amarillo, TX

For information on NCBVA’s exclusive Plant Inspection and Certification Program, please contact NCBVA Headquarters at 1-888-88-NCBVA or use application form on the next page. continued . . .

NCBVA proudly recognizes the following companies that have a current standing in the

Plant Certification Program

NCBVA Certified Vault Manufacturing Plants


Name of Plant ___________________________________________________________________________

Plant Mailing Address______________________________________________________________________

Plant Street Address_______________________________________________________________________

Plant Telephone_________________ Fax Number_______________________________________

Owner’s Name_____________________________ Evening Phone______________________________

Plant Manager/Contact Person__________________ Evening Phone_______________________________

Types of Outer Burial Receptacles Produced Top Seals Air Domes Sectionals

Other________________________________________________

Please return this application with full payment to:

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.P.O. Box 917525Longwood, FL 32791(888) 88-NCBVA

For a NCBVA member in good standing, the Plant Certification Inspection fee is $1295.

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

NCBVA Certified Vault Manufacturing Plants(Continued)

Pennsylvania Concrete Vault Co. Greensburg, PA Perfection Vault Woodson, ILPhenix Vault Phenix City, ALPioneer Vault, Inc. Doylestown, PAPoplar Bluff Doric Vaults, Inc. Poplar Bluff, MOPrecast Concrete Products, Inc. Blissfield, MI Precision Precast Inc. Pittsfield, MAQuality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TXRex Vault Service Newton, ILRocky Mountain Monument/Vault Sandy, UTRoland-Wilbert Vault Co. Clinton, IARoland-Wilbert Vault Co. Marion, IASaginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MISam Green Vault Corp. Lynchburg, VASt. Louis Wilbert Vault Co. St. Louis, MO

Saline Vault Co. Sweet Springs, MOSanteiu Vaults Inc. Livonia, MISexton Wilbert Corporation Bloomington, INSheldon Vault Co. Sheldon, IAShore Vault & Precast Co. Exmore, VASimerly Concrete Products, Inc. Bristol, TNSimerly Vaults, Inc. Knoxville, TNSouthern Ohio Vault Co. Portsmouth, OHSouthern Vault Service Blakely, GASpoerr Precast Concrete Sandusky, OHSI Funeral Services Cedar Hill, TXSI Funeral Services Gerard, PASI Funeral Services Parsons, KSSI Funeral Services San Antonio, TXSunnycrest, Inc. Auburn, NY

Superior Burial Vaults, Inc. Salt Lake City, UTSuperior Vault Co. Bryantown, MDSuperior Vault Co. Charlestown, INSuperior Vault Co., Ltd. Mississauga, Ont., CanadaSwan’s Concrete Products Westbrook, METurner Vault Company Toledo, OHVanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc. Appleton, WIVanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc. Wausau, WIVincent & Son, Inc. Galena, ILWashington Wilbert Vault Works Inc. Laurel, MDWarga Concrete Products Inc. Fort Wayne, INWatts Vault & Monument Co. Des Moines, IAWayne Burial Vault Co., Inc. Indianapolis, INWelte Vault Co. Danbury, IAWest Plains Vault & Mfg. Co. Pomona, MO

Whitman Vault Co. Whitman, MAWicomico Vault Co., Inc. Salisbury, MD Wieser Precast Stewartville, MNWieser Doric Vault Co. LaCrescent, MNWilbert Burial Vault Co. Atlanta, GAWilbert Burial Vault Co. Waycross, GAWilbert Burial Vault Co. Muskegon, MIWilbert Burial Vault Co. Traverse City, MIWilbert Services Lancaster, NYWilbert Vaults of Houston, Inc. Houston, TXWillbee Concrete Products Jackson, MIWilliams Wilbert Des Moines, IAWilliams Vault Company Emporia, VAWillmar Precast Co. Willmar, MNZeiser Wilbert Vault Co. Elmira, NY


Next month, 10 years to the day, the memorial honoring all those killed in the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City will be dedicated. The memorial will be dedicated on September 11 in a special ceremony for families who lost loved ones during the attack and in rescue/recovery operations. On September 12 the memorial will be open to visitors from the general public who have reserved passes. If you have a smart phone, use this QR code to take you to 911memorial.org for a preview visit.

In Memoriam9/11

NCBVANational Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.

Presorted StandardUS POSTAGE

P A I DMID FL, FL

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Remembering 9/11

In Memoriam –– 9/11/01(See page 22)

Artist’s rendering of aerial view of 9/11 Memorial

bulletin 2011 august

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