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This is the August edition of the Bulletin, the member publication of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association

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Page 1: Bulletin August 2014

August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 1

Page 2: Bulletin August 2014

2 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 3

Table of Contents

President Michael cruMMitt Crummitt and Son Vault Company Martins Ferry, OH

President-elect Jerry russell Southern Ohio Vault Company Portsmouth, OH

secretary/treasurer Mark Bates Norwalk Wilbert Vault Co. Bridgeport, CT

iMMediate Past President huBert McQuestion Lake Shore Burial Vault Company Brookfield,WI

directors edwin Bruns Bruns Norwalk Vault St. Louis, MO

Paul cooPer Cooper Wilbert Vault Co. Barrington, NJ

steve handley Handley Precast Systems Glendale, AZ

GreG tilley IdealBurialVaultCompany Depew, NY

affiliate directors dave lonG Eagle Burial Vault Association Joliet,IL

Blake swinford Trigard/Greenwood Plastics Danville,IL

steve vincent DoricProducts,Inc. Marshall,IL terry whitlock WilbertFuneralServices,Inc. Broadview,IL

association ManaGeMent Kimberly A. Fantaci Executive Director Ric Kirchner Association Executive Donald A. Mounce, APR The Bulletin Editor Richard L. Martin Magazine Production Manager Poul Lemasters, Esq. Legal Counsel

4

6912151921

Legal Focus Copyrights – New Ways to Print and Old Ways to get Sued By Poul Lemasters, Esq., NCBVA Legal Council

Safety Focus OSHA/ASME Interpretations By Ron Overton, Overton Safety Training, Inc.

Business Focus 10 Ways to Lose Money in Your Business By Pam Lontos

Product Focus Find New Uses for Your Miniature Samples By Julia Sullivan

Social Media Focus The Importance of Brand Cohesiveness Across Social Media By Ben Laube

Association Matters

Industry News

Accurate ...............................................13

ACS ........................... Inside Front Cover

Axis ..................................................... 10

Crescent Bronze .....................................8

D & C Supply ..........................................8

Doric ......................................................8

Edgmont ................................................7

FAMIC ..................................................16

Holland Supply .................................... 18

Long Machine Co. .....Inside Back Cover

Overton Safety Training ..........................8

Paws & Remember ...............................16

RoMix ..................................................16

Rostine .................................................17

Trigard ..................................................14

ADVERTISING INDEX

National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA)136 South Keowee Street | Dayton, OH 45402(888) 88-NCBVA | Fax (937) [email protected] | www.ncbva.org

ON THE COVER Chesapeake Burial Vault in Barclay, Maryland, shows off a truckload of Trigard Aegean burial vaults for shipment.

Casket & Vault Lowering Devices Chairs Roller Bars Casket Stands Drapes Tarps Skid & Grave Boards Cocoa Matting Vault Emblems Vault Hardware Monument Yoke & Slings And Much More !

Phone: 800-515-0400 Fax: 757-488-1589 www.acsupplies.com

CEMETERY SUPPLIES AMERICAN

Manufacturer & Distributor of :

Cemetery, Funeral Home, Burial Vault, and Cremation Supplies

Page 3: Bulletin August 2014

4 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 5

it becomes infringement. Typically there are two items considered in a fair use versus infringement case. Courts will look at the reason the work was used, weighing commercial versus educational; and the Court will also look at the amount of the work used.

The more educational and more limited the amount of material used, the more likely it is fair use. Keep in mind that fair use typically does not allow the reproduction of an entire piece. And anytime the work is used for commercial use it is more likely to be a violation.

The second exception is a religious use exception, but it is more limited as well. The religious services exception allows almost any material to be read or performed in a religious or worship service without the permission of the copyright holder.

However this exception does not apply if you want to reproduce the materials. So not only do you have to be using the materials in a religious setting, you are limited to playing or saying the copyrighted works and without permission, you cannot print, duplicate, or hand out any of the material.

The third, and most fun exception is a parody exception. Any work can be used in a parody setting without any risk of violating copyright.

This can easily be seen in the wonderful works created by Weird Al Yankovic. Based on this exception it would be possible for someone to make an ad that “pokes fun” of someone else’s ad and not be a copyright violation.

Copyright Protected?Lastly, don’t forget that copyright protection only applies to copyrighted material. There are numerous photos that are not copyright protected – sometimes referred to as “royalty free” materials. By using royalty free works, you can assure yourself the utmost protection and freedom of

use.The avenues available for media are changing.

While it may be easier to provide media, the laws are not easier. Remember that the safest and easiest way to avoid an infringement claim is to just get written permission anytime you use something that isn’t yours!

It is important that providers understand the boundaries of copyright laws so that they can fulfill the wishes of those they serve and still avoid the potential risk of liability. For a detailed reading of Copyrights, what you can do, and what to do if you get sued – download a copy of “Copyright Infringement Primer” at http://lemastersconsulting.com/product/copyright-infringement-whitepaper/. n

Does anyone read the newspaper anymore or listen to music? Let me ask that a bit more specifically. Does anyone read the paper version of the newspaper or buy a CD and play it anymore?

The truth is that technology has us doing the same thing but in just different ways. More people read the newspaper on the computer than buy a copy; and more people download a song instead of buying a CD.

And the change affects more than the local newspaper. It changes every business because businesses must adapt what they do. With all the changes, it gives businesses more options – and more ways to get in trouble.

While technology affecting media is going a hundred miles an hour and changing daily, the copyright laws covering media is still the same. Businesses must adhere to the same copyright laws now, as they did years ago.

Copyright UsageFor most businesses, the biggest copyright issue is improper or unauthorized use of a copyrighted piece and then facing copyright infringement. I see several companies each year get in trouble over items like using a photo they found on the internet; using a tag line from another company; or even trying to use an ad that someone else created.

It seems so simple – pull a picture from the Internet and then print it in an ad or put it on your website. But, beware of the potential liability.

As far as copyright laws, it’s pretty simple. Without permission, you run the risk of facing a copyright infringement claim.

All written materials, whether marked with a

copyright notice or not, have copyright protection. Federal copyright laws provide protection to any material published.

This means that this article is protected; even though I haven’t done anything other than publish it. There is no requirement to file anything with any agency – copyright protection is automatic.

Reproduction RestrictionsOne of the broadest protections granted under copyright laws is that no one can reproduce material without permission from the original creator. If a work is reproduced without permission, then the creator has a right to damages, set forth by law, which range from $700 to $30,000 per occurrence of violation.

In addition you may also recover attorney fees and court costs. In order to obtain permission, the person who wants to reproduce the work should get written confirmation from the author and get specific language as to when and where the work can be used.

As with any great and simple law, there are always exceptions, and it’s no different with copyright laws. However, keep in mind these limited exceptions and understand that in advertising, they rarely fit.

Usage ExceptionsThe first exception, fair use, is thought to be an easy work around, but actually the exception is very limited. Fair use refers to the use of someone’s copyrighted material but on a limited use.

Typical limited uses that are accepted include: news reporting, research, and education. There is no clear line of when it is fair use and when

FOCUSLEGAL

Copyrights – New Ways to Print and Old Ways to Get Sued

By Poul Lemasters, Esq.NCBVA Legal Counsel

LEGAL FOCUS

About the Author Poul Lemasters’ professional career covers both funeral service and law. He now operates and is principal of Lemasters Consulting, Cincinnati, Ohio, a consulting business specifically for the funeral industry.

He works with funeral home owners, funeral directors/embalmers, cemeteries, and crematory owners and operators, and assists in areas of legal, compliance, regulatory, and business solutions. Lemasters also serves as ICCFA’s (International Cemetery, Crematory and Funeral Association) special cremation legal counsel and GPL compliance advisor.

Working in the funeral industry for over 20 years and holding a funeral director’s license and embalmer’s license in Ohio and West Virginia, Lemasters’ experience includes managing both small and large funeral homes, as well as working with both independent and corporate owned funeral homes. And he is actively involved in local, state, and national funeral and cemetery associations.

Lemasters attended Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1996, and also went on to attend Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law, graduating in 2003. As an attorney, he is admitted to practice law in both Ohio and Kentucky.

His law practice began in the area of civil defense work and includes serving as corporate counsel for Alderwoods during 2005-2006. As its corporate counsel, he advised on funeral home, cemetery, crematory, and insurance issues.

He can be reached by phone at (513) 407-8114 and via email at [email protected]. Visit his website at www.lemastersconsulting.com.

Page 4: Bulletin August 2014

6 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 7

By Ron Overton

I doubt there is a week that goes by where I do not receive a phone call or question about interpreting the Federal Law, and how a specific situation should or would be interpreted. The interesting thing about interpretations is that the only one that matters is how OSHA or ASME interprets the law, regulation, or national standard.

Asking for a letter or interpretation from Federal OSHA or ASME?Of course, Federal OSHA and ASME do have a forum and provides employers with an avenue to ask for an interpretation on a specific question as it pertains to a specific issue. This process may take weeks or even months to get an answer.

During this time, the employer may be left in limbo, so to speak, without getting their question answered. I do not profess to have all the answers, nor do I recommend you accept interpretations from anyone--other than Federal OSHA or ASME directly--when inquiring about variances or exceptions in Federal Law or Regulations.

Finding the prior OSHA/ASME Letters of Interpretation for Hoisting and Lifting I am on the Board of Directors and the Chairman of the Board of the Association of Crane and Rigging Professionals (ACRP at www.acrp.net), an organization dedicated to training and hoisting/lifting safety in industries. One of our committees is tasked with regulatory updates and such issues that employers should be aware of, or to provide employers with avenues to get information, in the easiest manner possible.

Recently the ACRP Rules and Regulations Committee provided our members with the website links for all OSHA/ASME letters of interpretation for all manner of hoisting and lifting. I feel this type of information and sources would benefit the NCBVA member employers, and

may provide an avenue to possibly get questions answered by reviewing prior OSHA/ASME letters of interpretation about hoisting and lifting applicable to their industry and use.

OSHA Letter of Interpretation General Industry Hoisting and Material HandlingGeneral Industry – Powered Industrial Trucks 29CFR1910.178 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.178&p_status=CURRENT

General Industry – Overhead and Gantry Cranes 29CFR1910.179 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.179&p_status=CURRENT

General Industry – Crawler, Locomotive and Truck Cranes 29CFR1910.180 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.180&p_status=CURRENT

General Industry – Derricks 29CFR1910.181 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.

FOCUSSAFETY

OSHA/ASME Interpretations

SAFETY FOCUSsearch_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.181&p_status=CURRENT

General Industry – Slings 29CFR1910.184 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1910.184&p_status=CURRENT

Rigging Equipment for Material Handling 29CFR1926.251 https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=INTERPRETATIO NS&p_toc_level=3&p_keyvalue=1926.251&p_status=CURRENT

ASME B30 Letter of Interpretation General Industry Hoisting and Material Handlinghttp://cstools.asme.org/csconnect/CommitteePages.cfm?Committee=L01200000&Action= 19810

I hope these links will provide the NCBVA employers with a source to get their questions answered. Viewing Federal OSHA or ASME prior

letters of interpretation in general industry hoisting and lifting may answer a lot.

Remember, there is no such thing as a bad question, only bad answers! If we can be of assistance to the NCBVA employers or answer further questions you may have about hoisting and lifting, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Take care and work safely! n

ABOUT THE AUTHORRon Overton, a NCCCO Certified Mobile Crane Operator and Accredited Practical Examiner, is the President, Owner, and an Instructor for OVERTON Safety Training, Inc. of Beaverton, Oregon. OVERTON Safety Training has been providing professional services and materials for the safe operation of forklifts, heavy equipment, aerial/scissor lifts, rigging and signaling, personnel lifts, loaders, and cranes on a worldwide basis since 1991. For additional information, contact Ron at (866) 531-0403 or [email protected], or visit the company website at www.overtonsafety.com. These insights are the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of the NCBVA.

I (do not) recommend you accept interpretations from anyone--other

than Federal OSHA or ASME directly--when inquiring about variances or exceptions in Federal Law or

Regulations.

Edgmont Metallic Pigment Inc.

Phone: 800-610-1490 Fax: 610-429-4457 Email: [email protected] www.edgmontmetallic.net

Metallic Powders & Pastes

Bronzing liquids Color Matching

Spray Cans Glitter

Need help with Water-Base Paint? Call the experts.

Best product. Best service. Best technical support. 15 Shades of Water-Base Vault Paint

Page 5: Bulletin August 2014

8 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 9

Providing professional operator safety training, qualification and certification services since 1991.

OPERATOR AND TRAINER PROGRAMS FOR:Mobile Cranes • Tower Cranes • Overhead CranesRigging & Signaling • Forklift Trucks • Vault Carts

Loaders • Personnel Lifts • NCCCO Preparatory Training

P.O. Box 6297 Aloha, OR 97007-0297 (503) 356-0403 • Fax (503) 356-0401 • Toll Free (866) 531-0403

www.overtonsafety.com

National Certification Prep Training & TestingRigging & Signaling Classes

Courses meet WA & national requirements7 accredited NCCCO examiners

Specializing in the Burial Vault and Precast industries

OVERTONSafety Training, Inc.

TRAININg & CeRTIfICATIoN AVAIlABle ThRough:

On-site ClassesOpen-Enrollment Classes

Materials for In-House Training

Chances are that you’ve read numerous books and articles on what to do to succeed in business. But often, knowing what not to do is even more important. In order for your company to make more money, be sure you’re not inadvertently making any of these top 10 business mistakes.

Mistake #1: Prejudging your customers.They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but all too often business owners prejudge their prospects and customers before ever talking with them. How many times have you met someone and thought, “I doubt he can afford my product,” “She looks like she’d be impossible to work with,” or “This person isn’t my ideal client”? Rather than prejudge and dismiss what could be your next best customer, suspend judgment and take the time to get to know each prospect and client.

Mistake #2: Taking too long to follow up.If someone calls or emails to inquire about your products or services, how long does it take you to get back with them? While many business owners think it’s okay to reply within three days, you really need to get back with people within 24 hours or less. After all, if they’re contacting you for information, they are likely contacting your competitors as well.

Mistake #3: Not working with someone because of imagined slights. If someone is having a bad day or is not feeling well, they may say or do things that you think are meant in a mean way. For example, a prospect may ask, “How did you get into this business?” But because of their demeanor that day, or because they’re rushed, or because of any number

of other reasons, their question might come across to you as though they asked, “How did you of all people get into this business because you certainly don’t look smart enough to do this?” Never take anything a customer says or does as a personal attack. It usually isn’t.

Mistake #4: Making prospects and customers feel unimportant. People want to know that they’re more than just another sale to you. They want to feel that you really care. For example, one business owner was stumped as to why one of the company’s best customers stopped buying. Finally she asked the customer what happened, and the customer explained that in the past the business owner had had always taken her out to lunch once per quarter, and they hadn’t done that for nearly six months. As a result, the customer felt that she no longer was important. Upon hearing this, the business owner promptly took the customer out to lunch, and she got a sale. Therefore, take an active interest in your customers. Remember their birthdays. Send them a small gift on the anniversary. Do whatever you can to make each customer feel special.

Mistake #5: Not letting your staff handle important issues. When there’s an issue with a customer, can your staff take care of most of the situations? Or must everything wait for you to resolve it? When you make customers wait for you to get an issue resolved, you’re giving them extra time to stew over the situation and get angrier. Instead, give your staff the training and tools to handle whatever situation arises so they can make the customer happy right away. Remember, you want your customers to always

FOCUSBUSINESS

10 Ways to Lose Money in Your Business

By Pam Lontos

Page 6: Bulletin August 2014

10 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 11

leave your store or office happy and with all their issues resolved. That’s the best way to ensure repeat business.

Mistake #6: Being inflexible with your hours. We all want life balance, but sometimes work is not a 9-5 job. You have to be flexible if you want to get the sale. That means if you have a good lead or a customer who is ready to spend money with you now, you may have to work outside your normal business hours. So be open to returning phone calls after business hours or even meeting with a client on a weekend. You can always balance out the extended hours you put in one day by taking time off another day.

Mistake #7: Waiting too long to make an important decision.In business, the speed at which you can make an important decision is critical to your success. Opportunities won’t wait until next month, next week, or even the next day. To prosper, you have to take action quickly. For example, if you interview someone who seems perfect for your open position, make an offer immediately. If you wait, another company will also think the person is perfect and hire them. Or, if you have an opportunity to sponsor an event at a good price, secure your spot. When you hem and haw over the ROI of the decision, by the time you make up your mind all the sponsorships could be bought. Trust your gut when it comes to decision–making; it’s usually right on.

Mistake #8: Making it impossible to find your contact information. Make sure your contact information is easy to find. On your website, your phone number and email address need to be prominent on every page. Nothing frustrates customers more than wanting to contact you but not being able to because they can’t locate your phone number on your website or in your email signature. Even the most loyal customer will eventually give up and call your competition simply because they made their contact information visible and easy to find.

Mistake #9: Using cheap marketing materials that make you look bad. Your marketing materials tell a lot about your company—not just in the words on the page, but also in the overall look and feel of the piece. Take a good look at your current marketing materials. Do they look professional? Are there misspellings? Do they properly represent you? When your marketing materials look like an amateur created them, or when they’re riddled with errors, you send the message that you’re unprofessional and incapable of delivering quality work. Make sure your marketing materials present you in the best light.

Mistake #10: Being rigid with your contracts.If your business uses a contract with customers, it’s definitely an important part of the transaction. However, just because it’s important doesn’t mean it can’t also be flexible. If someone requests a change to the contract, consider it. If it’s something small, give in to it. Realize that sometimes people just want to feel as though they’ve won—that they negotiated a good deal. So if the item they want to change is small and not that important to you, let them have it. And rather than give them more time to think about it while you reissue a new contract, allow them to simply handwrite in the change and initial it. The quicker the contract is executed, the sooner you’ll get the sale complete.

Jump Start Your SuccessOf course, taking advice from others can be hard for any business owner. But why repeat the mistakes others have made? Why not learn from them so you can shorten your learning curve? When you take the steps to avoid these top 10 mistakes, you’ll be on the fast track to long term success. n

BUSINESS FOCUS

ABOUT THE AUTHORPam Lontos is President of Pam Lontos Consulting. Pam consults with businesses, speakers, authors, and experts in the areas of marketing, publicity and speaking. Pam is a past Vice president of sales for Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting where she raised sales 500% and she founded PR/PR Public Relations. She is the author of I See Your Name Everywhere: Leverage the Power of the Media to Grow Your Fame, Wealth and Success. She is also a former professional speaker. For more information on her consulting services, call (407) 522-8630 or email [email protected], www.PamLontos.com.

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12 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 13

It might be difficult, but it’s time to step away from miniature vault samples. I have talked to many experienced funeral professionals who insist

that miniatures work for them; it’s what they’ve always used to help families make arrangements. But the families that make funeral arrangements today are not the same as the people who made arrangements twenty, ten or even five years ago.

Using outdated selection room tools, like miniatures, puts your funeral home customers at a major disadvantage. While they may be used to miniatures, familiarity doesn’t make them the best tools for the job.

My old flip phone worked just fine when I traded it in, but I still let it go. It did everything I needed it to, but I wanted to be able to do even more with my phone.

It was time to get a current model. The same goes for these selection room tools.

If your customers are still arranging with an outdated display, it’s as if they’re using an old flip phone. Technically it might work, but it would be so much easier if they used the current model.

Upgrade the InvestmentI know you might be thinking about the money you’ve already spent? I understand that you likely made a significant financial investment in miniatures for your customers.

Or maybe you asked them to have some “skin in the game” and share costs. Either way, it’s easy to look at a wall of miniatures and see a big check for $3,000 – or more – that you’re not willing to

throw away.Instead of replacing an existing customer’s

miniatures, start upgrading when you acquire a new funeral home customer. Don’t offer a new customer old solutions. Give them something new to set them apart from their competitors.

Bringing them new sales tools for the selection room is part of the value that you can bring to them as a supplier. No new customers on the horizon for you?

Maybe one of your existing customers is planning to renovate. Instead of moving the old miniature samples, design a new display specifically for the new layout of their selection room.

Maintain the TrainingBut remember, the upgrade doesn’t end once you have new materials in place (and the miniatures are out). Continual training is required to make any change stick. Imagine if you got your new phone, you spent a few minutes with the guy at the store, and that was it. No access to tips, manuals or someone to ask for help.

You’d instinctively look for the same buttons that were on your flip phone, but when they’re not on your new device, you’d likely get frustrated very quickly. It wouldn’t take long for you to start hating the new phone, and you’d wonder why you upgraded in the first place.

The same goes for new displays. Whether the new selection room tools are videos, wall displays, interactive software, touch screens or digital catalogs, if you aren’t providing continual training for your customers, they’re going to start getting frustrated and longing for their old miniatures.

What if you aren’t ready to provide that kind of selection room and arranger training? What if you feel like you’re too busy in the vault plant pouring to spend time answering questions about the selection room?

Ask your supplier for help. Just like your customers depend on you, you must be able to depend on your supplier for support and solutions.

Successful TransitionNow, how will you know if the transition is successful? You’ll know when you start seeing your customer’s average vault sale increase, and your customer should see it too.

Reach out to congratulate them, and then ask if you can share their story with your other customers. Once one customer experiences success with new display systems, it easily begins to snowball.

Then you can start working to upgrade your existing customers, sharing concrete data about the benefits of modern selection room tools. And that’s when you can start moving out the miniatures.

We are on a campaign to find new uses for miniatures. I’ve joked about turning them into flower boxes or donating them to dog parks as water bowls. But could they be used for something else?

I’d love to hear your ideas. Because once we all start moving the miniatures out of selection rooms, we’re going to have a surplus of them. n

ABOUT THE AUTHORJulia Sullivan is Creative Director for Trigard and Trigard Memorials, and has more than thirteen years of marketing and public relations experience. Email her at [email protected].

By Julia Sullivan

Page 8: Bulletin August 2014

14 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 15

By Ben Laube

Developing and representing your brand effectively on social media is one of the most important tasks to consider when jumping into social media marketing. By doing so, you bring brand awareness and cohesiveness to your audience to build familiarity and trust.

Representing your brand on social media is fairly simple as long as your business has its ideals and image secured. On multiple platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, you’re able to upload cover photos.

It’s important to use the same concept of design in each cover photo for visual brand cohesiveness. Though some dimension variations of the photos have to be taken into consideration due to the sizing limitations of each network, having the same graphic concept will help people remember your brand. It’s called “Social Branding.” Make sure your logos are consistent across the profiles as well.

Voice ClarificationThe next step is ensuring your brand’s “voice” is heard throughout the text of the page, as well as in the posts. If you’re a financial brand, you shouldn’t be using slang terms and Internet abbreviations such as “LOL and “JK”.

Establish a voice that clearly defines who you are and the culture of your company. Remember, social media is essentially your online persona and face; let it represent who you are.

Having a cohesive social content strategy is another facet to strongly consider. What are you posting? How often are you posting? Are you posting the same content to specific profiles?

Take a step back and decide how and what you want to post. Social media is about being social. You never want to bombard followers with promotion after promotion after promotion.

Ask them questions; find out their opinions. Engagement is key: talking at your followers rather than talking to them is the quickest way to lose your following.

Social NetworksWith the vast array of social networks out there, it can be a bit confusing as to which ones your brand should be on. You have to think strategically, and find the best fit to represent your brand.

Many companies now believe they have to be on every single platform, but not every platform is right for every business. Here’s a quick rundown of the top platforms, what they do, and how they can be utilized by all brands:

Facebook: Facebook is basically the home base of all social media today. No matter the industry, your business needs a Facebook Page to interact with your customers and build a relationship.

Twitter: Twitter is the popular microblogging (140 characters or less) platform that allows users to reach out to others and find people with the same interests easily. It’s also a fantastic news outlet to syndicate your brand’s press, ideas and thoughts to the world.

Google+: Google+ is essentially the Google version of Facebook, but does have great collaborative abilities such as Google hangouts. Google Hangouts is a new messaging, video, chat, file sharing platform created by Google which is great for collaboration. In addition to being free unlike other services (Skype), Google Hangouts integrates well within your other Google apps and allows you to easily share information. Also, all Google+ posts are indexed by Google and show up in their search results.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the professional social media hotspot. This is where you can represent

FOCUSSOCIAL MEDIA

The Importance of Brand Cohesiveness Across Social Media

Page 9: Bulletin August 2014

16 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 17

Expand Your Business . . . Increase Your Revenue Stream

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Contact us today to learn more about how to get involved inthe pet care industry and expand your business capabilities.

SOCIAL MEDIA FOCUS

yourself and your business in a professional manner, building connections and further expanding your company’s outreach. With those four main social networks being utilized by all brands, there are other popular platforms that many not suit every brand.

Pinterest: Pinterest is a fantastic way to share and explore creative ideas and visuals. However, if your brand isn’t a visually heavy concept; Pinterest may not work for you.

Instagram/Vine: Instagram and Vine are the mobile social network sensations that rely strictly on pictures and videos. If your brand doesn’t produce images, products, etc - these networks may leave you with lackluster results.

Channel UtilizationNow that you’ve chosen your networks, your social strategy, and how to represent your brand online, here are few tips to ensure a positive social environment for your audience.

Do:

1 - Engage your followers with contests, questions, comments or provoking thoughts.

2 - Post on a regular basis.

3 - Choose what type of content is most appropriate for your brand, and limit the confusion of posting anything and everything.

Don’ts:1 - Over promote yourself. Remember, if you were talking to someone face to face and all they did was promote their business to you, it wouldn’t go over well. The same goes for social media. There is a healthy ratio we like to follow of 60 percent Conversation/Engagement and 40 percent Promotion. A healthy balance to keep your followers interested.

2 – Over-post. It’s great to share quality content on a regular basis, but don’t post every hour. Remember, these posts show up in people’s news feeds and can be seen as “spam”.

3 - Don’t trash/criticize other brands on social media. It’s important to keep your brand’s online reputation and image seen in a positive light. Trash talking your competitors will only hurt you and turn your followers away.

Now go be social with social media! n

ABOUT THE AUTHORBen Laube is President and Founder of POLR Marketing, a growth marketing technology company. Through the use of content writing, pay-per-click, ethical SEO practices, web design & development graphic design, and strategic planning, POLR Marketing offers the services you need to help grow your business to the next level. To learn more about POLR Marketing, visit www.polrmarketing.com or call POLR Marketing at (407) 712-4836.

Page 10: Bulletin August 2014

18 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 19

Abel Vault & Monument Co. Pekin, IL

American Concrete Industries Bangor, ME

American Vault Company Cleveland, OH

American Wilbert Company Bridgeview, IL

Arnold-Wilbert Company Goldsboro, NC

Arrow Vault Company Lafayette, IN

Atlas Concrete Products, Inc. Orlando, FL

Babylon Vault Company New Windsor. MD

Badger Burial Vault Co. Eau Claire, WI

Baumgardner Products Company Akron, OH

Baxter Burial Vault Service, Inc. Cincinnati, OH

Baxter Vault Company Baxter Springs, KS

Beck Vault Company Rome, NY

Bell Burial Vault Co. Hamilton, OH

Bell Vault & Monument Inc. Miamisburg, OH

Brewster Vault and Monuments Millville, NJ

Bruns-Doric Vault Company St. Louis, MO

Brutsche Concrete Products, Inc. Benton Harbor, MI

Brutsche Concrete Products, Inc. Battle Creek, MI

Buckeye Vault Service Mansfield, OH

C & M Precast Kerrville, TX

Carolina Doric, Inc. Florence, SC

Cemex Callaway R/M Precast Lake Worth, FL

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Tulsa, OK

Century Burial Vault Oxford, MA

Charleston Wilbert Vault Co. Summerville, SC

Cheboygan Cement Products Cheboygan, MI

Chesapeake Burial Vault Company Barclay, MD

Christy Vault Co. Daly City, CA

Concrete Vaults, Inc. Newton, KS

Cooper Wilbert Vault Company Barrington, NJ

Cordeiro Vault Co., Inc. Vallejo, CA

Costello and Company Smiths Falls, ON

Creter Vault Corporation Flemington, NJ

Crummitt & Son Vault Corp. Martins Ferry, OH

D of K Vaults, Inc./Gray Brothers Columbus, OH

D of K Vaults, Inc./Gray Brothers Iola, KS

D. G. Robertson, Inc. Williston, VT

Dardanelle Vault & Monument Co. Dardanelle, AR

Deihl Vault & Precast Inc. Orangeville, PA

Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp. Detroit, MI

Doody Burial Vaults, Inc. Winchendon, MA

Doric Manufacturing Company Boaz, AL

Doric Mississippi Inc. Clinton, MS

Doric of Northeast Arkansas Jonesboro, AR

Doric of Tennessee, Inc. Nashville, TN

Doric Vault Co. of Central GA Griffin, GA

Doric Vault of Eastern New York, Inc. Hudson, NY

Doric Vault of Western New York, Inc. Buffalo, NY

Doric-South, Inc. Demopolis, AL

Esterly Burial Vault Company West Reading, PA

Evans Eagle Burial Vaults Leola, PA

Everlasting Vault Company Randallstown, MD

Fond du Lac Wilbert Vault Corp Fond du Lac, WI

Forsyth Brothers Concrete Products, Fithian, IL

Forsyth Brothers Concrete Products, Terre Haute, IN

Gettysburg Burial Vault, Inc. Gettysburg, PA

Golden Eagle Vault Services, LLC Rocky Mount, VA

Grable Burial Vault Service Logansport, IN

Hairfield Vault Company Morganton, NC

Hardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Harn Vault Co. Massillon, OH

Harris Precast, Inc. La Porte, IN

Hicks Industries, Inc. Mulberry, FL

Huntingburg Vault Company Huntingburg, IN

Ideal Burial Vault Company, Inc. Depew, NY

Jacson, Inc. Henderson, TX

James Co., Inc. Waycross, GA

Jefferson Concrete Watertown, NY

Josten Wilbert Vault Co. Sioux Falls, SD

Lake Shore Burial Vault Company, Brookfield, WI

Lindquist Concrete Products Ogden, UT

Lycoming Burial Vault Company, Inc., Montoursville, PA

Master Grave Service, Inc. Bogart, GA

McDowell Vault Co. Fletcher, NC

Memphis Vault Company Memphis, TN

Mercer Vault Company Fredericksburg, VA

MG Vaults LLC Worthington, MN

Milan Vault, Inc. Milan, MI

Minchew Sand & Concrete Products, Inc. Waycross, GA

Minnick Services, Inc. Fort Wayne, IN

Montgomery Vaults Rockville, MD

Neher Burial Vault Springfield, OH

NOR-DON Vault Company, Inc. Strafford, MO

Northern Precast Hudson Falls, NY

Northwest PA Burial Svc., Inc. Cochranton, PA

Norwalk Vault Company Bridgeport, CT

August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 19

Page 11: Bulletin August 2014

20 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2014 | NCBVA.ORG 2120 NCBVA.ORG l December 2012

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 SectionalsOther________________________________________________

Please return this application with full payment to:

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.P.O. Box 917525Longwood, FL 32791(888) 88-NCBVAFax (407) 774-6751

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, MI Williams Wilbert Des Moines, IAWilliams Vault Company Emporia, VAWillmar Precast Co. Willmar, MNZeiser Wilbert Vault Co. Elmira, NY

136 South Keowee StreetDayton, OH 45402(888)88-NCBVAFax (937) 222-5794

Odon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, IN

Omaha Wilbert Vault Omaha, NE

Ostwalt Vault Company Concord, NC

Palm Vault Co. Ada, OK

Panhandle Vaults Amarillo, TX

Patriot Vault & Precast Park Hills, MO

Pennsylvania Concrete Vault Company, Johnstown, PA

Perfection Concrete Vandalia, IL

Phenix Vault Phenix City, AL

Pioneer Vault Co, Inc. Doylestown, PA

Precast Concrete Products, Inc. Blissfield, MI

Precision Precast Inc. Pittsfield, MA

Rex Vault & Mausoleum Service, Inc., Newton, IL

Rocky Mountain Monument & Vault, Sandy, UT

Roland Wilbert Vault Co., Inc. Marion, IA

Rooks Vault & Monument Fort Valley, GA

S.E. Cemeteries of West Virginia, Inc., Prosperity, WV

Saginaw Saginaw, MI

Saline Vault Company Sweet Springs, MO

Sam Green Vault Company Lynchburg, VA

Santeiu Vaults, Inc. Livonia, MI

Shore Vault & Precast Company Exmore, VA

Simerly Concrete Products, Inc. Bristol, TN

Simerly Vault, Inc. Knoxville, TN

Southern Ohio Vault Company Portsmouth, OH

Southern Vault Services, Inc. Blakely, GA

Spoerr Precast Concrete, Inc. Sandusky, OH

St. Louis Wilbert Vault Company St. Louis, MO

SI Funeral Services Cedar Hill, TX

Sunnycrest Inc. Auburn, NY

Superior Vault Company Bryantown, MD

Superior Vault Company Charlestown, IN

Superior Vault Company, Ltd. Mississauga, ON

Temple Vault, Inc. Central City, AR

Temple Vault, Inc. Harvey, AR

Tim White Vaults and Monuments Crestview, FL

Turner Vault Company Northwood, OH

Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc. Appleton, WI

Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults, Inc. Kronenwetter, WI

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

Warga Concrete Products Fort Wayne, IN

Washington Wilbert Vault Works, Inc., Laurel, MD

Watts Vault & Monument Company, Des Moines, IA

Wayne Burial Vault Company Indianapolis, IN

Welte Vault Company, Inc. Danbury, IA

West Plains Vault & Mfg. Company, Pomona, MO

Whitman Vault Co. Whitman, MA

Wicomico Vault Company, Inc. Salisbury, MD

Wieser Doric Vault Co. La Crescent, MN

Wieser Precast Stewartville, MN

Wilbert of North Texas Grapevine, TX

Wilbert Vaults of Houston, Inc. Houston, TX

Williams Vault Company Emporia, VA

Willmar Precast Company Willmar, MN

Wimmer Manufacturing New Castle, IN

Youngstown Burial Vault Company, Youngstown, OH

Doric Products’ Spring MeetingDoric Products, Inc., a leader in the burial vault industry, twice a year gathers its dealers for a meeting, held this past spring in Terre Haute, Indiana. The meeting allows Doric dealers the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the plant operations. Several employees were recognized for their years of service and dedication. Jim Hills received special recognition for 25 years, and others honored included: Veronica Shumaker (10 years); Kelly Grooms (5 years) Lee Hagen (5 years); Darrell Horsley (5 years); and Tommy Padgett (5 years).

Doric Products’ Revamps WebsiteThe website for Doric Products’ has gotten a complete overhaul. The website, www.doric-vaults.com, was designed to be consistent with other media channels.

It has many new features, including personalized selection of vaults with metal nameplates, metal emblems, and vinyl military emblems so that the family knows what to expect at the service. The dealer locator tool is much more user friendly and easier to navigate.

Doric’s most recent videos are also available right from the site homepage. This is a great educational piece to help families make a more informed decision.

A downloadable Vital Information Chart gives families a single place to list out all of the pertinent information that might become important at the time of need.

For more information, please visit the recently redesigned Doric website, www.doric-vaults.com, or call 1-800-457-0671. n

NEWSINDUSTRY

Page 12: Bulletin August 2014

22 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014 August 2013 | NCBVA.ORG 23

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 _____________________ State _______________ Zip __________________Phone ___________________________ Fax ______________________________E-mail ____________________________________________________________Company Web Site ___________________________________________________

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 Burial Vault Manufacturer Funeral Director Crematory Cemetery

Doric Wilbert Eagle Trigard Con-O-lite Other Provide Graveside Services

Metal Vaults Plastic Vaults Fiberglass VaultsOffer sizes for Children Adults Oversize

Associate Member: Tell us in 25 words or less about your product/services

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

_________________________________________ ___________ (Signature) (Date)

Dues Schedule

Manufacturer MemberDues are based on total units sold at this location.

Please check appropriate level: 1-999 Units .........$225 1000 - 1999 .........$350 2000 - 3499 .........$430 3500 - 4999 .........$580 5000 and more ....$700

Associate Member .....$300

Franchise Group .......$1000

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

Check is enclosed

Please charge my Visa

American Express

MasterCard

Account #_____________________

Expiration date _________________

Mailing Information

NCBVAP.O. Box 917525

Longwood, FL 32791(888) 88-NCBVA

Fax: (407) 774-6751

www.ncbva.org

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 dispar-age. 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 cemetery’s management. We will abide by the rules and regulations of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc., thereby contributing to a stronger and greater national industry.

CODE OF ETHICS

18 NCBVA.ORG l December 2012

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 _____________________ State _______________ Zip __________________Phone ___________________________ Fax ______________________________E-mail ____________________________________________________________Company Web Site ___________________________________________________

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 Burial Vault Manufacturer Funeral Director Crematory Cemetery

Doric Wilbert Eagle Trigard Con-O-lite Other Provide Graveside Services

Metal Vaults Plastic Vaults Fiberglass VaultsOffer sizes for Children Adults Oversize

Associate Member: Tell us in 25 words or less about your product/services

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

_________________________________________ ___________ (Signature) (Date)

Dues Schedule

Manufacturer MemberDues are based on total units sold at this location.

Please check appropriate level: 1-999 Units .........$225 1000 - 1999 .........$350 2000 - 3499 .........$430 3500 - 4999 .........$580 5000 and more ....$700

Associate Member .....$300

Franchise Group .......$1000

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

Check is enclosed

Please charge my Visa MasterCard

Account #_____________________Expiration date _________________

Mailing Information

NCBVAP.O. Box 917525

Longwood, FL 32791(888) 88-NCBVA

Fax: (407) 774-6751

www.ncbva.org

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 dispar-age. 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 cemetery’s management. We will abide by the rules and regulations of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc., thereby contributing to a stronger and greater national industry.

CODE OF ETHICS

136 South Keowee StreetDayton, OH 45402

(888)88-NCBVAFax (937) 222-5794

Page 13: Bulletin August 2014

24 NCBVA.ORG | August 2014

The BulletinThe Bulletin is the bi-monthly publication of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association. We would very much be interested in hearing from you!

Make sure to add us onto you mailing list for news releases about your company, special events, staff promotions or additions, and new products and services that would be of interest to the association and its members.

We would also look forward to receiving any photos of products or installations you have, either color or black & white. If they are at least 300 dpi and 1 mg at 8 x 10 inch format, we will even consider them for the cover!

And, we are also interested in receiving any thought leadership articles on industry trends and techniques, along with case study stories that promote the high standards of the association. (Or, if you just have an idea, let us know and we can write it for you or with you!)

Please contact me at any time!

DonDonald A. Mounce, APR | The Bulletin Editor National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA) 136 South Keowee Street | Dayton, OH 45402 (888)88-NCBVA | Fax (937) 222-5794 [email protected] | www.ncbva.org

NCBVA|136 South Keowee Street|Dayton, OH 45402-2241