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See the Future From Here

National Concrete Burial Vault Association 1999 Annual Convention

And Exposition

June 17-19, 1999 Cincinnati, Ohio

Harden Seeley

Harden, Seeley to Headline NCBVA Convention & Expo

Robert Harden, CAE, Executive Director of the National Funeral Direc-tors Association and Jeffrey Seeley, vice president of sales and marketing for the Batesville Casket Co. headline NCBVA's 1999 An-nual Convention and Expo-sition this month in Cincin-nati, Ohio.

Harden has been NFDA's executive director since 1988. Seeley has been with Batesville since 1988 and has held various posi-tions with the company. His presentation will be followed by a stop at the Batesville Casket Company during the round-a-bout tour which will also include stops at Baxter Burial Vault Services and Baxter Precast.

As the Bulletin goes to press, approximately 100 were registered for this year's convention, representing more than 52 vault manufacturing and sup-plier companies.

Grave Box Litigation Settled in Lexington For the past six years, residents bury-

ing relatives in Westview Cemetery were re-quired to buy concrete funeral grave enclo-sures from the town, and their choice was limited to one kind of burial vault and one type of grave box.

But now, following a settlement between the Town of Lexington and the Massachu-setts Burial Vault Association, MBVA, the town's monopoly on grave enclosure sales has ended for the next 16 years. That means consumers will be able to purchase grave boxes or burial vaults from any source they choose, and that includes the town.

The settlement of the lawsuit which the MBVA initiated in 1993 on behalf of three consumers distressed about the lack of choice of grave enclosures and Hardy

Doric, Inc. of Chelmsford, is being hailed by both sides as "a fair and reasonable com-promise that allows each party to achieve their primary objective."

A press release, issued jointly declares this agreement to be amicable to all parties.

In summary the agreement allows: The MBVA regained the right to sell and

install any outer container sold to families by funeral directors (from rough box to bronze). 'There will be no unreasonable or unneces-sary fees, requirements or burdens placed on products or services of members of MBVA.

*There will be no pre-burial of outer con- tainers in existing cemetery areas. (Existing

cemetery areas are those presently serviced by cemetery streets or ways.) *Any disputes of this agreement• will be re-solved by an arbitrator. All court costs and legal fees will be the burden of the party los-ing the arbitration. 'The Town of Lexington (the Town) will have the option to develop new sections and roads with pre-buried outer containers (i.e. double depth crypts, etc.) There will be no restriction on Town fees

charged for grave openings and other cem-etery-only related charges. MBVA members agree not to boycott or

discourage others from the bidding /Process for Town sold outer containers. Source: Massachusetts Burial Vault Assn.

2 NCBVA BULLETIN June 1999

IEE MAY BE THE WORLD'S LEADING MANUFACTURER OF

CREMATION EQUIPMENT... BUT WE'LL NEVER BE FIRST - ignolirn

The Reason Well Never Be First Is Because, We Pride Ourselves In Putting Our Clients First By focusing on our clients' needs, we've built an Organization based on customer sat isfact ion. From an exten-sive array of services to manufacturing the most durable, cost-efficient equip-ment on the market, we put our clients first.

Client First Dedication With all the technolc>gically advanced products we offer, we Nvouldn't con-sider a sale successful without total service to our clients. That's why wc believe our responsibilities begin by supplying potential clients complete information prior to their making

decision, and con-tinue far beyond the sale of our cremation equipment.

liner-Pk Auto-Loader

In Mexico Contact Lucas DePalacto M,-xico, tiE

Phone 598 91 11 • FAX C63-1493

Investment Analysis This free analysis will indicate if a crematory is a profitable venture for you. We consider your indi-vidual circumstances and evaluate vital information on costs, depre-ciation, tax savings and estimated profits. We also offer a space and placement evaluation for the pos-sible installation of a cremator within your new or existing facility,

Environmental Permits And Zoning Made Easy We guarantee that our equipment will comply with your state environmental regulations. We'll even assist with local zoning approvals and complete the pa-

perwork for you, If your existing C remators aren't in com-pliance, Wc

can help there too. We'll de-sign and pro-pose upgrades to modernize them to meet compliance standards.

Complete Follow Through

After your crematory is installed, we'll send a

In Canada Contact Bill .Botees The Eckels Company • Guelph. Ontario, Canada

Phone 519-824-8020 • FAX 519-824-7161

Polar-Pak Itoe4 Cooler

technician to inspect each unit and train your personnel how to operate and care for it. You'll receive a com-plete owner's manual, and we'll assign you a customer service representative who will remain your personal link to 1- 17:E. We also offer a toll-free service hotline, should you need assistance with problems on our cremation equip-ment or any other make or model.

Quality equipment, unsurpassed ser-vice before and after the sale, and our "client first" policy— IEE keeps work-ing for you.

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT & ENGINEERING CO.

P.O. Box i7'79(, • Orlando, FL 32854-7790 In Florida (107) 880-'1 5'33 • FAX (407) 880-5990

Toll Free 1-800-327-2831

June 1999

NCBVA BULLETIN 3

We are once again rapidly approaching 4. the convention time of the year. It is amazing

how quickly the days fly by when we are having a good 5. time!

This is my last letter to the member-ship as president so it is appropriate that I cover some of the 6. projects of this past

year. Some of the accomplishments of the 7. association include:

Our Bulletin is much improved. Holly Bridgers, newsletter coordinator, Tom Monahan and his staff at Certified Association Management Company (CAMCO) should be congratulated for this work. The Plant inspection program is well on its way. Earl Brutsche is doing an expert job and helping the members with their specific problems. Executive Director, Tom Monahan, Warren Chandler and I attended the

National Concrete Burial Vault

Association, Inc.

900 Fox Valle) Dri e, Suite 204

L.ong\ ■ ood, Florida 32779-2552

\ ncbv morg

i50015-1423 I ;Iv (407) 774-6751

President lugh McQuestion

Lakeshore 13urial Vault Co., Inc. Brookfield, WI

President-Elect and District 2 Director

Warren Chandler Master Gra\ c Services, Inc.

Boeart. GA

Secreta ry/Treasurer Timothy Brutsche

13rutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek. MI

Immediate Past l'resident .lim Wiens

Doric Cono -ete Vaults, Inc. Ne\‘ton, KS

Directors, District I Paul I Cooper

Cooper Wilbert Vault Co., Inc. Barrington, NJ

Robert 1 lard) I lardy Doric, Inc. Chelinstord, MA

Directors, District 2 Warren Chandler

Master Grave Services, Inc. Bogart, (IA

Dan I licks Carlton Wilbert Vault, Inc.

Miami, II.

Directors, District 3 Bob Donatelli

Baumgardner Products Co. Akron, Oki

Holly Baxter Bridgers Baxter Burial Vault Service

Cincinnati, Of

Directors, District 4 Timothy Brutsche

Irutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek, MI

Jack So ihart Saginfm Wilbert Vault Corp

Siginaw MI

Director, District 5 Richard Cooper

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Tulsa, OK

J.C. Clifton Quality Burial Vault Co.

Houston, TX

Executive Director Thomas A. Monahan, CAE

Certified Association Management Company Longwood, FL

Legal Counsel .1. Scott Calkins Harrisburg, PA

BY Jim VYEENs Past President

I am very pleased with the substantial progress that NCBVA has made in the past year. As I look forward to my last board meet-ing as past president, I also look back over my years of involvement in our trade asso-ciation. This organization has certainly helped me in my own business through in-teraction with all of you. I will miss working with the board and membership.

The NCBVA is doing well as we prepare for the annual meeting in Cincinnati. We can be proud of the plant certification program and E. J. Brutsche's efforts as he travels the country performing these inspections. I hear many positive comments about the value of this program. I would encourage all of you to participate in this program if you have not already had your plant inspected.

Our financial condition is good and our

u're Having Fun Funeral and Memorialization Informa-tion Council (FAMIC) meeting in Palm Springs in March. The Wirthlin Study is going to be issued in January or February 2000. NCBVA is a small sponsor of this study which is sponsored by FAMIC. During the convention in June, Jerry Hardy will be presenting a full report to the membership on the latest information on the National Cemetery Association reimbursement policy for burial vaults. The finances and membership for NCBVA all appear to be in good shape. The response to our press release offering free copies of our booklet, "Performance Standards and Plant Certification for the Manufacturing of Concrete Burial Vaults," to interested parties has been overwhelming.

The "young" Scott Calkins has retired from his law practice is Harrisburg, PA but with some persuasion, he has agreed to re-main the legal counsel for the NCBVA.

In closing, I wish to thank the member-ship of NCBVA for giving me this opportu-nity to serve as your president for the past year.

reserves continue to grow. President Hugh McQuestion and the board of directors have been good financial stewards of your fi-nances. I believe that reserves are very important so that the association is prepared to pro-tect our interests. In the past we have needed money for lobbying in Wash-ington D.C., Florida and Massachusetts. We have won these battles, but problems like this will come again.

I have served with many fine individuals on the board of directors. Their professional-ism and dedication to NCBVA has always impressed me. A heartfelt thanks to all of you for this experience.

BY HUGH MCQUESTION

NCBVA President

Time Flies When Yo

Association Looks Healthy

4 NC BVA BULLETIN June 1999

10 Reasons Why You'll Need NCBVA Beyond the Year 2000 As we enter into the next millennium, the rules of business and communication will change drastically. Embrace these changes by taking advantage of your association's resources, and learn how that journey can be more prosperous:

1 Interact with real people in the industry. Despite the rise in use of e-mail and Web technologies for communicating with others, face-to-face interaction is not yet extinct, thanks to

your association. While we're strong advocates of technological advancement, NCBVA serves as your primary link to colleagues, allowing you to put names with faces and keeping you in touch with who's doing what. An excellent place for this interaction is at the 1999 Annual Convention & Exposition June 17-19 in Cincinnati, Ohio or next year on our millennium cruise, June 11-16, 2000.

2 Sharpen your skills. By attending NCBVA's Annual Conven-tion and visiting with the exhibitors, you'll stay on top of your professional game. Taking advantage of NCBVA's education

opportunities allows you to update your crucial job skills for the new millennium.

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SAMPLES FURNISHED UPON REQUEST

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2400 N. Avondale Chicago, II 60618-5433 Fax: (773) 539-1131

3 Collaboration. In the information age, exchange of ideas and information and the need to work with others will prove easier with the assistance of NCBVA.

4 Keep up with new laws and regulations. If you're from a smaller company, you can keep attuned to the legislative and regula-tory issues affecting your bottom line. NCBVA will continue

monitoring these pertinent issues and let you know when to take action.

5 Get frequent updates on industry changes. As change oc-curs at a faster pace, keeping track of the latest industry tech-niques and trends will be difficult. However, through publica-

tions—like NCBVA's newsletter, "The Bulletin," education sessions, and the NCBVA Web site, you'll hear about the newest innovations and never question whether you're behind the times. With this in-formation, you can do your job in a timelier and more economical manner.

6 Certification and standards. With constant changes occur-ring in the work place, standards will continually need updat-ing, and you'll need to know if you or your organization is in

sound standing. NCBVA will keep you informed and assist you in meeting those requirements. A good example is NCBVA's Perfor-mance and Standards and Plant Certification program.

7 Increase your clout. NCBVA is a great place to build a name for yourself. Although you may not feel you're moving ahead, getting and remaining involved in NCBVA committees and

professional activities will bring you to another level in your busi-ness.

8 Receive quality services. As the lines begin to blur between customer and member service, associations like NCBVA are focusing on how they can provide top-notch assistance in

the new millennium. When you need help, whether it's for personal or professional gain, count on NCBVA to provide one-stop guid-ance so you can get the job done.

9 Find business partners. As acquisitions and mergers occur at a more frequent pace and strategic alliances and partnerships become the norm, you'll most likely find a sound business

partner through NCBVA.

Anticipate and prepare for your future. NCBVA and its leaders try to envision how the industry or profession will look in the coming years. While you're focusing on main-taining your daily operations, NCBVA is looking at what's

to come and will provide you with the opportunities. 1

Lease-Purchase Plan Now Available

The VAULT-MASTER has variable speed hydraulic drive, hydraulicly raised and lowered front steering axle, roll-back Crane-Way beam with adjustable support legs, and an 9,000 lb. hydraulic vault lifting hoist. Will handle straight or cross grave settings.

The Crane-Way beam is a 5" I-Beam and is 14 long with heavy-duty, adjustable support legs. The beam is carried on large flat rollers with heavy duty bearings. There is a hand crank system to roll beam back and forth.

The vault lifting winch is swivel-mounted to the beam trolley. This prevents trolley wheel binding due to sideways shifts of the load. Hand operated back winch at the rear of the Crane-Way beam allows safe loading of a vault from a truck or trailer bed onto the Vault Handling Trailer.

Rear hydraulic leveling jacks enable easy leveling of the whole machine on almost any terrain They make off-loading a vault from a truck bed easier and safer. We have a long list of options and will do custom options.

For more information contact.. Don Long

Long Machine Co.

519 N. Main Ave.

Maiden, NC 28650

(Ph) 704-428-2648 (Fax) 704-428-8606

CENTER-RITE VAULT MESH 2 X 2 1 /2 xl 6ga. GAL. 28" X 300' ROLL

12.5 ga. TANK MESH many other sizes and gauges also available

1/4" DEFORMED PENCIL ROD for VAULT LIDS

EDGE-RITE SYNTHETIC FIBER

STEEL FIBER

All available from

D & C Supply Company, Inc. 335 Washington Ave. Bridgeville, PA 15017

Phone: 1-800-234-5781 or 412-221-1191

Fax: 412-221-9206

Your Source For Concrete Reinforcements

VAULT DECORATION SPECIALISTS

Pit717-4 I8 C PLAQUE INC.

1635 Poplar St. P.O. Box 610964 Port Huron, MI 48601

810-982-9591 1-800-875-9591 FAX 810-982-1182

"Over 50 Years of Business"

June 1999

NCBVA BULLETIN

5

6 NCBVA BULLETIN June 1999

Service Isn't a Choice, It's a Necessity BY BILL FORSBERG

One of the more familiar case studies in MBA courses throughout the country is the decline of the American railroad industry. At the end of the 19th century the railroads owned the freight and passenger industries in the U. S. By the 1960s, railroads were in complete disrepair having lost franchises.

Some would explain the loss of the pas-senger business to airlines and buses was due to superior service (in terms of speed) and lower cost travel. But we must remem-ber that in Europe and the Orient high speed trains are faster than airline travel to short and mid-distance destinations and bus travel is not a reasonable alternative.

Therefore, the loss of the freight indus-try to trucking is completely inexplicable since trains are faster and cheaper. What happened?

Business analysts and professors assign the blame to railroad executives who became too involved in the business of railroads as opposed to maintaining a vision of the trans-portation industry. As such, they spent too much time thinking about trains and track when they should have been thinking about their customers and competitive forms of transport.

It would be very easy for a concrete burial vault manufacturer to think they were just in the concrete business. After all, many produce other concrete products; or they ,might think they are in the funeral supply business, after all, some carry products like caskets and sundry supplies.

When I speak with funeral firm owners, particularly those who value their relation-ship with their burial vault manufacturer, they relate the value of their supplier in terms of service; not concrete, not supplies, not even vaults; SERVICE.

As consumer attitudes toward burial are changing, it is imperative the funeral direc-tor competently and confidently relates the cost of the traditional funeral to the consumer family in terms of value received.

A funeral director who would select a premium vault for his own family will have greater success in selling vaults than will a funeral director who has difficulty relating to the product. With that thought in mind,

what is the value the funeral director places on quality service?

Anyone who works with funeral direc-tors appreciates the priority they place on a flawless funeral service. From arrangement through graveside, perfection is their only priority; it is their product, their profession, their primary objective. As such, it is impos-

"Service is not an add-on to your

business, it should not be considered as a choice. Pro- viding quality sup- port to the funeral profession is an

integral element of the vault business."

sible to divorce the relationship between the quality of the vault and the level of service delivered at the graveside.

When the funeral director knows the graveside service will be deficient, even an embarrassment, it undermines their respect and commitment to the product. Very few sales people are successful when they have no confidence in the product, and in the vault business the funeral director is your sales person.

When a funeral director or a funeral firm owner has little or no confidence in the ser-vice delivered by the vault company at the graveside, the average sale will diminish Instead of producing vaults the licensee will be producing rough-boxes; it is at this point you have created an opportunity for the cemetery to enter the vault business.

The cemetery industry in the U.S. is not doing particularly well. Success in pre-sell-ing family plots in the 1950s, '60s and '70s

have precluded much of the market in the 1980s, '90s, and beyond. Factor this in with the popularity of cremation and you can understand why cemeteries have gone so far as to sell caskets and other traditional

funeral home products on a pre-need basis. As such, many cemetery owners are look-

ing for new product lines to "re-load," thus the growth of cemetery-mortuary combina-tions. If it were not for the value of a cem-etery as a means of capturing funeral ser-vice market share, many cemetery owners would have great difficulty selling their busi-nesses or even staying in business.

A grave liner of "air seal" is a particu-larly attractive product to cemetery owners. The product is relatively easy and inexpen-sive to construct and, because few consum-ers understand the function of the vault or the options available, the cemetery's prod-uct is easy to sell on a re-load basis.

The path for the cemetery to follow in entering the grave-box business is cleared by the burial vault manufacturer when the product most often sold by the area funeral home is minimal.

Summary The argument for quality vault service is

clear: When cemetery owners observe a majority of interments in rough-box prod-ucts, they are more inclined to enter produc-tion of a similar product and begin eroding your customer base through "re-load" pre-need sales.

Quality service to the funeral home in terms of superior graveside service, sales, and merchandising support builds the fu-neral director's confidence in their burial vault supplier. That sells quality vaults.

Service is not an add-on to your busi-ness, it should not be considered as a choice. Providing quality support to the funeral pro-fession is an integral element of the vault business.

You're not in the concrete business, you're in funeral service with an emphasis on service.

Bill Forsberg is vice president, Marketing and Sales for Wilbert, Inc.

New Members

June 1999

NCBVA BULLETIN

7

Industry Calendar

June 17-19 NCBVA Annual Conference

& Exposition Hyatt Regency Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio

July 31-Aug. 7 NFDMA Annual Convention

Town and Country Resort San Diego, California

August 25-28

CANA Convention Renaissance Harborplace Hotel Baltimore, Maryland

September 22-26

CF SA Convention Harrah's Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe, Nevada

23-25

Doric Annual Meeting Shangri-La Resort

Afton, OK

October 5-10 NSM Annual Meeting

New Orleans Hilton Riverside New Orleans, Louisiana

November 31-Nov. 3 NFDA Annual Convention

Kansas City, Missouri

John Gonser Sales Representative Viking Formed Products/Prodesign 23925 Reedy Drive Elkhart, IN 46514

Dennis Tibbetts H.D. Williams Co. 1220 Washington, St. Columbus, IN 47201

"Good old days" are gone

BY JACK SWIHART Director, District 4

My experience in the vault business is short compared to many, but changes have been great and fast paced.

After retiring from the Navy in 1975, I began my career in the vault business. At that time it seemed all we had to do was wait for the phone to ring and take vault orders. Oh, there was come competi-tion for vault sales from cemeteries but it was mostly for grave liners and low-end sealed containers. At that time, in Florida, it was taboo to think of selling vaults to cem-eteries for fear of losing sales to funeral homes.

Change would come quickly and from many directions. The term "conglomerate" started to catch our attention as the likes of SCI started buying funeral homes and cem-eteries in most areas of the country—and how dare they ask for large discounts from us? We didn't do business that way. But some of us would have to do something be-cause they were controlling large parts of some markets.

Cemeteries were getting more aggressive in merchandise sales, with full page adver-tising in newspapers and door-to-door sales of pre-need packages including burial vaults. As if these things didn't create enough prob-lems, cremation was becoming more popu-lar. Some saw the "good old days" gone.

What were "vault men" to do? Some would view all this with the attitude of doom and gloom and a lot of them aren't in busi-ness today. Most accepted the wake-up call and started, the process of changing the way they would compete in this fast changing marketplace.

Today we have been educated to the term "consolidator" and not "conglomerate." Some consolidators tried their hand in the vault business but have sold most of them after finding out that vault manufacturing is hard work, high expenses in labor and raw materials, low profit margins and not a good

fit with the rest of their business. What is our future? Change! Yes, as hard

as that is for most of us, we must constantly change with the marketplace. This means constant market research, both with funeral directors and cemeteries, but most of all with an ever-changing population. People are more mobile, family members may reside in several different states with no close ties to one community. The ethnic make-up of our country is also changing which impacts all areas of funeral service.

For many, survival has been accom-plished through diversification into other precast concrete products and others open-ing crematories or offering a large selection of funeral merchandise such as urns and cas-kets.

All who will survive will have to offer a higher level of service in every part of their business, but most of all, keep abreast of what is going on in the market place. Now more than ever you should support and be a part of the NCBVA. If you try to go it alone, you might just fail. Your fellow vault men from around the country are the best source of information on changes going on.

Yesterday—the "good old days" are gone. We are living today with what we have learned from the past and must plan and edu-cate ourselves to survive in the future.

Good vaulting to all!

Cheque This Out On Your Pea Sea Eye halve a spelling chequer it came with my pea sea It plainly marques four my revue Miss steaks eye kin knot sea. Eye strike a key and type a word And weight four it two say Weather eye am wrong oar write It shows me strait a weight. As soon as a sit ache is maid It nose bee fore two long And eye can put the error rite Its rarely ever wrong. Eye have run this poem threw it I am shore your pleased two no Its letter perfect in it's weigh My chequer tolled me sew.

Change is Crucial to Survival

8

NCBVA BULLETIN

June 1999

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

Name of Plant

Plant Mailing Address

Plant Street Address

Plant Telephone

Fax Phone Number

Owner's Name

Evening Telephone

Plant Manager/Contact Person

Evening Phone

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

Please return this application with full payment to:

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. 900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite #204 Longwood, FL 32779-2552 (800) 538-1423 Fax (407) 774-6751

As an NCBVA member in good standing, the total of your Plant Certification Inspection will be $750. Full payment should be enclosed with your application.

NCBVA PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE FOLLOWING

COMPANIES WHICH HAVE A CURRENT

STANDING IN THE

PLANT CERTIFICATION

PROGRAM

American Concrete Industries Bangor, ME,

American Vault & Concrete Prod.

Detroit, MI

American Wilbert Vault Corp. Forest Park, IL

Arnold Wilbert Corp. (ioldsboro, NC

Atlas Concrete Products, Inc. Orlando, FL

Automatic Wilbert Vault Tacoma, WA

Babylon Vault Co., Inc. New Windsor, MD

Baumgardner Products Co. Akron, OH

Baxter Burial Vault Cincinnati, OH

Binghamton Burial Vault

Binghamton, NY Brown — Wilbert, Inc.

Fargo, NI) Brown Wilbert Vault, Inc.

St. Paul, MN Bruns Norwalk Vault Co.

Saint Louis, MO Brutsche Concrete Products

Battle Creek, MI C & M Precast

Kerrville, TX

Carlton Wilbert Vaults Inc. Miami, FL

Carolina-Doric, Inc. Florence, SC

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK

Central Burial Vaults, Inc. Tulsa, OK

Chandler Wilbert Vault, Inc. LaCrosse, WI

Childs Eagle Vault Co. Anderson, SC

Clinton Wilbert Vaults, Inc.

Clinton, IA Cooper Wilbert Vault Co.

Barrington, NJ Crummitt & Son Vault Corp.

Martins Ferry, OH Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp.

Detroit, MI Doody Burial Vaults, Inc.

Winchendon, MA Doric of Northeast Arkansas

Jonesboro, AR Doric of Texas, Inc.

Houston, TX Doric Concrete Vaults, Inc.

Newton, KS Doric Manufacturing Co.

Boaz, AL Doric Mississippi, Inc.

Jackson, MS Doric-South, Inc.

Demopolis, AL Eagle Burial Vaults

Perry, GA Esterly Burial Vault Co.

West Reading, PA Florida Wilbert, Inc.

Jacksonville, FL Fond Du Lac Wilbert Vault

Fond Du Lac, WI Forsyth Bros. Concrete Prod.

Terre Haute, IN

Hairfield Vault Co. Hickory, NC

Hardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Harris Precast, Inc. La Porte, IN

Heilman — Inc. Cedar Hill, TX

Jacson, Inc. Henderson, TX

Jefferson Concrete Corp. Watertown, NY

L-D Vault Service Chattanooga, TN

Lakeshore Burial Vault Co. Brookfield, WI

Marion Vault Works Marion, IN

Master Grave Service Athens, GA

Milan Burial Vault, Inc. Milan, MI

Milwaukee Wilbert Vault Co. Milwaukee, WI

Odon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, IN

Omaha Wilbert Vault, Inc. Omaha, NE

Ostwalt Vault Co. Concord, NC

Palm Vault Co. Ada, OK

Peoria Vault Co. Peoria, IL

Phenix Vault Phenix City, AL

Pioneer Vault, Inc. Doylestown, PA

Quality Burial Vault Co.

Houston, TX

Rex Vault & Mausoleum Svc. Newton, IL

Riefler Concrete Products Hamburg, NY

Ringtown Wilbert Vault Works Ringtown, PA

Roland — Wilbert Vault Co. Marion, IA

Saginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MI

Santeiu Vaults, Inc. Detroit, MI

Scranton Wilbert Vault Jessup, PA

Simerly Concrete Products, Inc. Bristol, TN

Simerly Vaults, Inc. Knoxville, TN

Sterling Unlimited Inc. Woodsboro, MI)

Suhor Industries, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK

Superior Burial Vaults, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT

Swan's Concrete Products

Westbrook, ME Turner Vault Company

Toledo, OH

Wayne Burial Vault Co., Inc. Indianapolis, IN

West Plains Vault & Mfg. Co. Pomona, MO

Wieser Precast/Doric Vault Co. La Crescent, MN

Wilbert Burial Vault Co. Atlanta, GA

Winchester Building Supply Winchester, VA

Zeiser Wilbert Vault Elmira, NY

For injarmation on NCBVA's exclusive Plant Inspection and Certification Program, please contact NCB VA Headquarters at 1-800-538-1423 or see application form on the adjacent page.

coNc,y, Qt aivA

June 1999

NCBVA BULLETIN

9

THE LOGAN VAULT HANDLER By Axis Corporation

10

NCBVA BULLETIN

June 1999

PROVIDING SERVICE AND REALIBILTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS

THE LOGAN VAULT HANDLERS ARE MANUFACTURED WITH ONLY NEW BRAND NAME PARTS—NOT USED OR RE-MANUFACTURED. This gives you better dependability and longer life of your Handler. Our new 3/4 ton axle is manufactured

narrower than the standard 3/4 ton truck axle to allow for more maneuverability in the Cemetery. The Logan Vault Handler can handle both straight and cross grave settings. The Logan is equipped with hydraulic variable speed Forward and Reverse, also a High and Low range

gearbox STANDARD.

STRENGTH IS NOT IN THE STEEL ALONE IN A VAULT HANDLER; 17 15 IN THE DESIGN The Logan was designed to withstand the stress of a heavy load and yet light enough not to tear up turf in the

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

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

Standard of the Industry AXIS CORPORATION P.O Box 668 BELLEFONTAINE OHIO 43311 1-800-422-AXIS(2947)

FAX 1-937-592-5230 axisObright net www.brightnetA,,axis ALCL FOR INFORMATION ON OUR NEW OPTIONS LISTAND OUR

DISINTERMINT MODEL

June 1999 NCBVA BULLETIN 11

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• Plan now for the ear 2000 Convention

Join the National Concrete Burial Vault Association for its Millennium Year cruise

aboard the "Majesty of the Seas"

The Majesty of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's premier megaships with luxurious staterooms,

fabulous food and entertainment, and activities for the whole family. Sail away with your NCBVA friends to

ports of call in Nassau and Coco Cay, Bahamas, and Key West, Florida. Cabins are limited so

make your reservation early!

The registration fee includes your choice of cabins, all the food you can eat and all NCBVA educational programs.

Call NCBVA at

1-800-538-1423 and request an information packet

MIX EDUCATION WITH PLEASURE ---JUST ADD WATER!

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

FIRST CLASS Address Correction Requested

LAKESHORE BURIAL VAULT CO., INC

12780 W Lisbon Rd. Brookfield, WI 53005 414/781-6262 Fax: 414/781-6280

DORIC mill Ho

NCBVA MEMBER SINCE 1929

M.b.R. DORIC Him®

THE LARGEST SELECTION OF BURIAL VAULTS IN NEBRASKA!

(402) 768-7251 Fax: 768-6180

WWW.BOBREINKE.COM

Vault manufacturer members: reserve your "Business Card" ad today! Call NCBVA - 1-800-538-1423 X 102

Industry New and Notes

Trigard®, a division of Greenwood Inc., based in Danville, IL has launched a new company logo that will signify its dedication to taking the burial vault and liner industry into the 21 5t Century. "Even though we are launching the new logo, we remain the same company whom dealers, funeral directors and vendors have trusted to assist them with their vault and liner needs for 30 years, said Linda Darby-Sempsrott, director of marketing.

* * *

Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. has developed a 15-minute video, "Selecting a Burial Vault," and a coordinating presentation kit, "Un-derstanding Burial Vaults," for use during burial arrangement con-ferences or speaking engagements. It explains the purpose of a burial vault as well as its benefits and features.

* * * The Casket and Funeral Supply Association has announced that its spring conference will be the last trade show presented by the asso-ciation in the spring. Starting next year, the Indianapolis event will be held after the NFDA convention and will be known as the Fall Conference and Trade Show. It will be held October 30-31, 2000 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. CFSA will also add its business sessions to the Fall Conference and Trade Show.