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No. 4 August 2001 Vol. 16

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Convention 2002, continued, Page 5

In this issue. . . Share Your Thoughts 3 Finding News on the Net 4

Comparing Gas Prices 10 Certified Plants 12

Membership Application 15

Lasso These Dates-- Houston Is Next Meeting

The fourth largest city in the U.S., Houston, Texas, has been chosen for the 73rd annual NCBVA Convention and Exposition, June 20-23, 2002.

Houston is home to the NASA/Johnson Space Center; the world's first domed sports stadium, The Astrodome, Six Flags theme park and water park, more than 46,000 hotel rooms, some 30 museums, 100-plus golf courses, 8,000 restaurants. and NCBVA secretary/ treasurer, J.C. Clifton!

Located on the upper Gulf Coast (50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico), the city is named after General Sam Houston, who led the Texas Army in its victory over General Santa Anna's Mexican forces at the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto. But today it is called the Bayou City and represents all that is typically Texas. The sights are remarkable and each area of the city offers visitors something different.

Houston's downtown area has undergone an astonishing renaissance. And the Astros new downtown home, Enron Field has been a hot ticket for baseball fans since its opening in March 2000. Such progress however, goes hand in hand with historic preservation including beautiful Victorian-era homes and great antique shops.

Among the 30 museums which are part of Houston's impressive cultural scene is the National Museum of Funeral History which houses the country's largest display of funeral service memorabilia and is home of rare artifacts and historical information about the industry including the Funerals of the Famous Gallery which exhibits artifacts and information on a varieiy of political and celebrity figures, including John E Kennedy, lvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Judy Garland, John Wayne and many more. It also is a

Whether you choose to learn about space in the hands-on Space Center Houston visitor's center and interactive museum or fly through space on the thrill rides at Six Flags theme park, there is plenty to keep you busy at our next convention destination, Hous-ton, Texas.

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2 NCBVA BULLETIN August 2001

CREMATION IS XPECTED TO DOUBLE...

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August 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN 3

President's Message By Jack Swihart

Share Your Thoughts Send in Member Survey

Most of us have spent the preceding summer months working around employee vacations and pondering the future of funeral service. We question ourselves as to how many

more concrete burial vault sales will be lost to cremation, steel vaults, plastic vaults or mausoleums. These are some of the issues that your board members discussed at the strategy planning session held earlier this year.

In July, you should have received a copy of an NCBVA member survey. The leadership of this association encourages you to respond to that survey and be a part of the planning for the future of NCBVA.

We all have to deal with change, and funeral service is no exception. If we follow the projections of CANA, FAMIC, Funeral Insider, and others, we need to be proactive in planning for the future of our businesses. Your response to the member survey will help form ideas for all of us to consider as we plan for the future. Please respond quickly so the results can be tabulated.

Included in this issue of The Bulletin are the association's Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2000 as reported by the independent accounting firm of Schafer, Mitchell & Sheridan, P.A. of Maitland, FL. (see pages 8-9). I am pleased to report to you that the organization is on sound financial ground, putting us in an excellent position as we plan for the future.

* * *

To All Past Presidents: NCBVA is planning a "Past Presidents Reception" for next year's annual convention. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend June 20- 23, 2002 at the Omni Houston Hotel, Houston, Texas. I am looking forward to a big turn out of past leaders. We would like to thank you in person for your time and dedication to NCBVA. Come and make, us all proud.

Industry Calendar of Events

October 2-6 Selected Independent Funeral Homes Marriott City Center Hotel, Denver, CO

October 7-10 NFDA Annual Convention and Intl. Exposition Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL

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

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

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

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

National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc. 900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite 204

Longwood, Florida 32779-2552

http://www.ncbva.org

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

President Jack Swihart

Saginaw Wilbert Vault Corp. Saginaw, MI

President-Elect Dan Hicks

Ilicks Industries Mulberry, H.

Secretary/Treasurer I.C. Clifton

Quality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TX

Immediate Past President Tim Brutsche

Brutsche Concrete Products Battle Creek. MI

Directors Robert Hardy

Hardy Doric. Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Kelly Pellicano Graffius Burial Vault Co.

Reading, PA

Marty Begun Eagle Burial Vaults

Detroit, MI

Curt Zamec Wilbert Funeral Services. Inc.

Forest Park, IL

Bob 1)onatelli Baumgardner Products Co.

Akron, OH

Darren Baxter Baxter Burial Vault Service

Cincinnati, OH

Graham MacLeod Detroit Wilbert Vault Co.

Detroit. MI

Linda Darby Sempsro t Greenwood Plastics

. Phoenix. AZ

Executive Director Thomas A. Monahan, CAE

Certified Association Management Company Longwood, FL

Meetings Director Bonnie Leroy

Publications Director Jan Monahan

4 NCBVA BULLETIN

August 2001

Finding News on the "Net" Surfing the Web for industry news? The following sites belong to members of The Funeral and Memorialization Information Council (FAMIC), FAMIC a membership organization comprised of organizations in nearly all areas of the death care industry:

Cremation Association of North America: http://www.cana.org

International Cemetery and Funeral Supply: http://www.icfa.org

International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards: http://www.csfeb.org

International Order of the Golden Rule, Inc.: http://www.ogr.org

Monument Builders of North America, Inc.: http://www.monumentbuilders.org

National Funeral Directors Association, Inc.: http://www.nfda.org

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc.: http://www.nfdma.org

Selected Independent Funeral Homes: http://www.nsm.org

You can also link directly to these sites from the FAMIC Website: http://www.famic.org .

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

August 2001 NCBVA BULLETIN

CDs, Cable, Answering Machines Are Their Bare Necessities of Life

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today, this will certainly change things. Each year the staff at Beloit College in Wisconsin puts together a list to try to give the faculty a sense of the mindset of this year's incoming freshman.

Here is this year's list:

The people who are starting college this fall across the nation were born in 1982. They have no meaningful recollection of the Reagan Era and probably did not know he had ever been shot. They were prepubescent when the Persian Gulf War was waged. Black Monday, 1987 is as significant to them as the Great Depression. There has been only one Pope. They were 11 when the Soviet Union broke apart and do not remember the Cold War. They have never feared a nuclear war. They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up. Tianamen Square means nothing to them. Bottle caps have always been screw off and plastic. Atari predates them, as do vinyl albums.

Convention 2002 (continued from page 1)

showcase for a collection of antique horse-drawn hearses and other one-of-a-kind funeral service vehicles.

Host hotel for the meeting will be the Omni Houston. This AAA Five Diamond, Mobil Four Star property is a contemporary eleven-story luxury hotel. Amenities include soft terry robes, a private refreshment center, twice-daily maid service and even the kind of pillow you prefer!

Be sure to lasso these dates on your calendar. This is one NCBVA roundup you won't want to miss!

Former NCBVA President Jim Wiens studies an exhibit at the National Museum of Funeral History during a previous meeting of FAMIC.

The expression "you sound like a broken record" means nothing to them. They have never owned a record player. They have likely never played Pac Man and have never heard of Pong. They may have never heard of an 8 track. The Compact Disc was introduced when they were one year old. As far as they know, stamps have always cost about 33 cents. They have always had an answering machine Most have never seen a TV set with only 13 channels, nor have they seen a black and white TV. They have always had cable. There have always been VCRs, but they have no idea what BETA was. They cannot fathom not having a remote control. They don't know what a cloth baby diaper is, or know about the "Help me, I've fallen and I can't get up" commercial.

Feeling old yet? There's more: They were born the year that Walkmen were introduced by Sony. Roller skating has always meant inline for them. Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show. They have no idea when or why Jordache jeans were cool. Popcorn has always been cooked in the microwave. They have never seen Larry Bird play. They never took a swim and thought about Jaws. The Vietnam War is as ancient history to them as WWI, WWII and the Civil War. They have no idea that Americans were ever held hostage in Iran. They can't imagine what hard contact lenses are. They don't know who Mork was or where he was from. They never heard: "Where's the beef?" "I'd walk a mile for a Camel", or "De plane, de plane!" They do not care who shot J.R. and have no idea who J.R. was. The Titanic was found? They thought we always knew where it was. Kansas, Chicago, Boston, America, and Alabama are places, not rock bands. McDonalds never came in Styrofoam containers. There has always been MTV. They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

THE LOGAN VAULT HANDLER By Axis Corporation

6

NCBVA BULLETIN

August 2001

PROVIDING SERVICE AND REALIBILTY FOR OVER 40 YEARS

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August 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN 7

Bits of Business Wisdom Begin in "The Garage" Everybody knows Hewlett-Packard as one of the world's largest and most innovative companies. Interestingly, the high-tech giant attributes much of its success to management approaches that were introduced when the company still operated out of a garage in Palo Alto, California. The first was David Packard's now-famous "Management by Walking Around.

As the new millennium began, Hewlett, Packard updated these values, calling them the "Rules of the Garage." They offer bits of wisdom to companies large and small alike."

Believe you can change the world.

Work quickly, keep the tools unlocked, and work whenever.

Know when to work alone and when to work together.

Share—tools, ideas. Trust your colleagues.

No politics. No bureaucracy. (These are ridiculous in a garage.)

The customer defines a job well done.

Radical ideas are not bad ideas.

Invent different ways of working.

Make a contribution every day. If it doesn't contribute, it doesn't' leave the garage.

Believe that together we can do anything.

Invent.

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NCBVA BULLETIN August 2001

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NCBVA BULLETIN

9

Gas Price Averages State By State Despite earlier predictions that gasoline prices would continue to rise throughout the summer months, consumers and businesses are now feeling some relief. How do the prices near you compare to those in other states? AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available.

State Regular Mid Premium Diesel Alaska $1.723 $1.824 $1.928 $1.712 Alabama $1.281 $1.369 $1.410 $1.375 Arkansas $1.281 $1.351 $1.437 $1.361 Arizona $1.382 $1.442 $1.525 $1.534 California $1.661 $1.769 $1.798 $1.667 Colorado $1.407 $1.505 $1.572 $1.500 Connecticut $1.575 $1.709 $1.754 $1.537 District of Columbia $1.640 $1.747 $1.799 $1.709 Delaware $1.366 $1.451 $1.515 $1.444 Florida $1.350 $1.462 $1.489 $1.488 Georgia $1.226 $1.318 $1.377 $1.313 Hawaii $2.001 $2.116 $2.156 $2.107 Iowa $1.321 $1.390 $1.457 $1.404 Idaho $1.540 $1.626 $1.671 $1.476 Illinois $1.411 $1.518 $1.565 $1.506 Indiana $1.289 $1.387 $1.426 $1.371 Kansas $1.304 $1.339 $1.391 $1.418 Kentucky $1.276 $1.368 $1.430 $1.363 Louisiana $1.274 $1.358 $1.421 $1.382 Massachusetts $1.489 $1.601 $1.662 $1.562 Maryland $1.456 $1.548 $1.587 $1.504 Maine $1.343 $1.448 $1.489 $1.477 Michigan $1.358 $1.438 $1.496 $1.422 Minnesota $1.458 $1.516 $1.555 $1.419 Missouri $1.251 $1.302 $1.378 $1.320 Mississippi $1.291 $1.362 $1.423 $1.339 Montana $1.526 $1.591 $1.667 $1.462 North Carolina $1.277 $1.356 $1.415 $1.408 North Dakota $1.462 $1.513 $1.567 $1.428 Nebraska $1.385 $1.416 $1.456 $1.433 New Hampshire $1.447 $1.567 $1.623 $1.474 New Jersey $1.457 $1.563 $1.622 $1.386 New Mexico $1.388 $1.478 $1.542 $1.475 Nevada $1.458 $1.537 $1.593 $1.546 New York $1.543 $1.650 $1.686 $1.647 Ohio $1.342 $1.431 $1.488 $1.436 Oklahoma $1.264 $1.307 $1.380 $1.306 Oregon $1.537 $1.622 $1.646 $1.554 Pennsylvania $1.368 $1.442 $1.506 $1.498 Rhode Island $1.492 $1.587 $1.639 $1.564 South Carolina $1.224 $1.302 $1.365 $1.318 South Dakota $1.421 $1.512 $1.574 $1.446 Tennessee $1.274 $1.349 $1.413 $1.380 Texas $1.293 $1.368 $1.417 $1.387 Utah $1.468 $1.549 $1.616 $1.442 Virginia $1.295 $1.358 $1.410 $1.378 Vermont $1.422 $1.530 $1.596 $1.561 Washington $1.501 $1.555 $1.633 $1.512 Wisconsin $1.442 $1.497 $1.566 $1.487 West Virginia $1.357 $1.418 $1.489 $1.510 Wyoming $1.425 $1.486 $1.583 $1.418

10 NCBVA BULLE

August 2001

A Sniff of This And It Could Be Your Last Breath

Drug use in this country changes so rapidly that no sooner is information disseminated than a new drug is on the scene. At the NCBVA convention in June in Philadelphia, Robert Stutman, formerly with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) talked to families about current trends and dangers of the new drugs. But here's one he hadn't mentioned: embalming fluid.

According to a recent story by JoAnn Loviglio, a writer for the Associated Press, embalming fluid is becoming an increasingly popular drug for users looking for a new and different high - one that often comes with violent and psychotic side effects.

Users - mainly teen-agers and people in their 20s - are buying tobacco or marijuana cigarettes that have been soaked in the fluid, then dried. They cost about $20 apiece and are called by nearly a dozen names nationwide, including "wet," "fry" and

Formaldehyde can be bought in drug stores and beauty supply stores. (It is an ingredient in nail care products). It is also available in many school science labs. In addition, there have been reports of embalming fluid thefts from funeral homes.

Although there are no national statistics on usage, many drug experts say it appears to have spread from the inner cities to well-to-do suburban neighborhoods and college campuses.

Often the drug PCP is mixed in. In fact, PCP has gone by the street name "embalming fluid" since the 1970s.

Some of the drug's effects include visual and auditory hallucinations, euphoria, a feeling of invincibility, increased pain tolerance, anger, forgetfulness and paranoia. Other symptoms may include coma, seizures, kidney failure and stroke. The high lasts from six hours to three days.

Just Say No

0001

August 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN

11

VAULT-MASTER VHV

MORE .... STANDARD FEATURES

MORE .... LIFTING CAPACITY

MORE .... VERSATILITY

MORE .... OPTIONS

LESS COST

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DON OR BRYAN LONG LONG MACHINE CO.

519 N. MAIN AVE., MAIDEN, NC 28650-1123 (828) 428-2648 — FAx (828) 428-8606

12 NCBVA BULLETIN August 2001

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

Plant Certification Program 1Q)

Abel Vault & Monument Co. Canton, IL

Abel Vault & Monument Co. Pekin, IL

American Concrete Industries Bangor, ME

American Vault Co. Cleveland, OH

American Vault & Concrete Products

Detroit, MI American Wilbert Vault Corp.

Forest Park, IL Arnold-Wilbert Corp.

Goldsboro, NC Arrow Vault Co., Inc.

Lafayette, IN Atlas Concrete Products, Inc.

Orlando, FL Automatic Wilbert Vault

Tacoma, WA Babylon Vault Co.

New Windsor, MD Baumgardner Products Co.

Akron, OH Baxter Burial Vault

Cincinnati, OH Baxter Vault Co.

Baxter Springs, KS Beck Vault Co.

Rome, NY Brewster Vaults & Monuments

Millville, NJ Brown-Wilbert, Inc.

Fargo, ND Brown-Wilbert, Inc.

Morris, MN Bruns Norwalk Vault Co.

Saint Louis, MO Brutsche Concrete Products

Battle Creek, Ml Brutsche Concrete Products

Benton Harbor, MI Buckeye Vault Service

Mansfield, OH Buck Simmons Vault Srvcs. Inc.

Roanoke, VA Bush Concrete Products, Inc.

Muskegon, MI C & M Precast

Kerrville, TX Calumet Wilbert Vault Co. Inc.

Gary, IN Carolina-Doric, Inc.

Florence, SC Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Marlow, OK Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Oklahoma City, OK Central Burial Vaults, Inc.

Tulsa, OK Central New York Vault Co.

Cortland, NY

■11..

Century Vault Co., Inc. Taunton, MA

Chesapeake Burial Vault Co. Ingleside, MD

Christy Vault Co., Inc. Colma, CA

Clinton Wilbert Vaults, Inc. Clinton, IA

Columbus-Beier Columbus, WI

Cooper Wilbert Vault Co. Barrington, NJ

Cordeiro Vault Co., Inc. Vallejo, CA

Costello Vaults Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada

Crummitt & Son Vault Corp. Martins Ferry, OH

D.G. Robertson, Inc. Williston, VT

Dardanelle Vault & Monument Dardanelle, AR

Deihl Vault & Precast Co. Orangeville, PA

Delaware Valley Vault Co., Inc. Chester, PA

Detroit Wilbert Vault Corp. Detroit, MI

Doody Burial Vaults, Inc. Winchendon, MA

Doric Concrete Vaults Inc. Garden City, KS

Doric Concrete Vaults, Inc. Great Bend, KS

Doric Concrete Vaults Inc. Osage City, KS

Doric Huntingburg Vault Co. Huntingburg, IN

Doric of Central Arkansas Little Rock, AR

Doric of Kansas Vault, Inc. Iola, KS

Doric of Nashville, Inc. Nashville, TN

Doric of Northeast Arkansas Jonesboro, AR

Doric of South Texas Elsa, TX

Doric 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

Doric Vault of Eastern NY, Inc. Hudson, NY

Doric Vault Co. Griffin, GA

Doric Vault Co. of S. Illinois Marion, IL

Eagle Burial Vault Co. of LA Ruston, LA

Eagle Burial Vaults Perry, GA

Esterly Burial Vault Co. West Reading, PA

Evans Eagle Vaults, Inc. Leola, PA

Everlasting Vault Co. Randallstown, MD

Florida Wilbert, Inc. Jacksonville, FL

Fond Du Lac Wilbert Vault Fond Du Lac, WI

Forsyth Bros. Fithian, IL

Forsyth Bros. Concrete Prod. Terre Haute, IN

Gettysburg Burial Vault Co. Gettysburg, PA

Grable Vault Co. Logansport, IN

Granite State Doric Newport, NH

Gray Bros., Inc. Kansas City, KS

Gross Vault & Monument Thomasville, GA

Hairfield Vault Co. Hickory, NC

Hardy Doric, Inc. Chelmsford, MA

Ham n Vault Service Massillon, OH

Harris Precast, Inc. La Porte, IN

Heilman — Wirtz, Inc. Cedar Hill, TX

Hicks Industries, Inc. Alachua, FL

Hicks Industries, Inc. Miami, FL

Hicks Industries, Inc. Mulberry, FL

Hydraulic Dolly, Inc. Altoona, PA

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

Jacson, Inc. Henderson, TX

Jefferson Concrete Corp. Watertown, NY

Josten Wilbert Vault Co. Sioux Falls, SD

L-D Vault Service Chattanooga, TN

Lakeshore Burial Vault Co. Brookfield, WI

Lavaca Vault Co. Lavaca, AK

Louise11-Davis Vault Service Chattanooga, TN

Ludlow Burial Vault Co. Ludlow, MA

Lycoming Burial Vault Co. Inc. Montoursville, PA

Marion Vault Works Marion, IN

Markham Burial Vault Services Richmond, VA

Markham-Carter Vault Service Smithfield, VA

Master Grave Service Athens, GA

Memphis Burial Vault Co. Memphis, TN

Mercer Vault Company Fredericksburg, VA

Milan Burial Vault, Inc. Milan, MI

Milwaukee Wilbert Vault Co. Milwaukee, WI

Minnick Services Corp. Fort Wayne, IN

Moore Wilbert Vault Co. Evans, GA

Neher Burial Vault Co. Springfield, OH

Nor-Don Vault Co. Inc. Strafford, MO

North Central Mich. Vault Srvc. Cadillac, MI

Norwalk Vault Co. Johnstown, PA

Odon Vault Company, Inc. Odon, IN

Omaha Wilbert Vault, Inc. Omaha, NE

Ostwalt Vault Co. Concord, NC

Palm Vault Co. Ada, OK

Peoria Vault Co. Peoria, IL

Pennyslvania Concrete Vault Co. Greensburg, PA

Perfection Vault Woodson, IL

Phenix Vault Phenix City, AL

Pioneer Vault, Inc. Doylestown, PA

Pope Concrete Products Waycross, GA

Poplar Bluff Doric Vaults, Inc. Poplar Bluff, MO

Precast Concrete Products, Inc. Blissfield, MI

Precision Precast Inc. Pittsfield, MA

Quality Burial Vault Co. Houston, TX

Rex Vault Service Newton, IL

continued . .

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 $995 (Recertification, $495). Full payment should be enclosed with your application.

■011'

cky Mountain Monument/Vault Sand■ ,

Roland- \\Aber ( Vault Co. Marion, I

Roosburg Vault p r i nigh„ . A

Saginaw Wilbert \ ault Corp. Saginaw, MI

Sam GITC111 Vault Co. y nchhurg, VA

Shenandoah Valley Vaults, Inc.

Da): oi 1, VA Shore Vault & Precast Co.

Exmoiv. VA Simerly Concrete Products, Inc.

Bristol, TN Simerly Vaults, Inc.

Knox IL TN Southern Ohio Vault Co.

Porismoinh. Oil Southern Vault Service

Blakely. GA Spoerr Precast Concrete

Sandusky, 011 Sunnyerest, Inc.

Auburn. NY Superior Burial Vaults, Inc.

Salt Lake City. IT Superior Vault Co.

kryantinvn. MD Superior Vault Co.

Charlesto ■■ n. IN Superior Vault Co. MIA Individual Nlausoleum Co.

I.awrencchurg. IN Superior Vault Company I.TD

Mississauga. Ontario. Canada Swan's Concrete Products

Westbrook. ME Tennessee Vault

I'airview. TN 'flicker Vault Co.

Farmington. MO Turner Vault Company

`tolcdo, 011 Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc.

Appleton. WI Vanden Boomen Burial Vaults Inc.

Wausau, WI Washington Wilbert Vault Works Inc.

Laurel, MD Warga Concrete Products Inc.

Fort Wayne, IN Watts Vault & Monument Co.

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

\Vette Vault Co. Danbury. IA

West Plains Vault & N lig. Co. Pomona. NI()

Wicomico Vault Co., Inc. Salisbury. NW

Wieser Precast Stev,itrt ille.

NVilliams Vault Company limpiwia. VA

Willmar Precast Co. Willmar, MN

Winnipeg Burial Vaults I.td. W innipeg. Canada

August 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN

13

14

NCBVA BULLETIN

August 2001

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

Solution = B & L Cremation Systems, Inc.

Can you survive without your own Crematory?

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

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

All this plus the best service and repair available.

Call 1-800-622-5411 for further details Or visit us at vvww.blcremationsystems.com

Systems, Inc.

7205 - 114th Avenue North, Larqo, Florida 33773 USA Toll free 1-800-622-5411 or (727) 541-4666 Facsimile (727) 547-0669 NT-7w— ON` E SALES AND e-mail: blcremsys@aol.com

DEagle OTrigard ODoric OWilbert OCon-O-lite OOther OProvide Graveside services

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

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Key Contact Nickname

Title

Company Name

Street Address

City

Phone

E-mail

Company Web Site

El 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 OBurial Vault Manufacturer OFuneral Director OCrematory OCemetery

OMetal Vaults OPlastic Vaults OFiberglass Vaults Offer sizes for OChildren OAdults0Oversize

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

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

State Zip

Dues Schedule

OManufacturer MemberDues are based on total units sold for all locations of the company.

Please cheek appropriate level 11-999 Units ElI 000 _ I 999

SI 70 5260

712000 - 3499 5350 733500 - 4999 5435 715000 and more... ..,..,$525

C1Associate Member $150

El Franchise Group 5600

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

CiCheci.; is enclosed

Please charge my 71Visa CIMasterCard ElAmex

Account # Expiration date

Mailing Information

NUBVA': 900 Fox Valley Drk e Suite 204

Longwood, FL 32779-2552 (800) 53S-1423

Fax: (407) 774-0751

www.ncbva.org

(Signature) (Date)

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

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

August 2001

NCBVA BULLETIN

15

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

FIRST CLASS Address Correction Requested

INDUSTRY NEWS AND NOTES

The National Funeral Directors Association will revert to a "firm" based membership organization if NFDA delegates adopt proposals recommended by the Policy Board. The issue will come up for a vote at the organization's annual convention in October in Orlando, FL.

* * *

David Schroeder formerly COO of the Neptune Society has been appointed President of the Company. His appointment was effective in early July. Schroeder has more than 29 years of experience directly related to funeral and cremation industry operations and administration. Prior to joining Neptune in 2000, Schroeder worked as the CEO of Community Memorial Centers, LLC, a Pacific Northwest cremation services company. Prior to that, he served on the board of directors and acted as an officer for several private and publicly traded companies within the death care industry.

* * *

Carriage Services, Inc reported dramatically improved financial results for

the second quarter. Revenues were $41.0 million versus revenues of $38 3 million in the second quarter of 2000, an increase of 7.2 percent. Excluding revenues of $2.2 million from last year's second quarter related to businesses that have been sold, the same store revenue increase was 11.1 percent. This increase was related to higher funeral volumes and averages and higher cemetery revenues this year versus last.

* * *

Service Corp. International says it has swung to a profit as the company reduced debt and improved margins on higher pricing and the number of funerals it performed. The company posted a profit before special items of $15.4 million, or 5 cents per share, compared with a loss of $8 million, or 3 cents per share, a year earlier.

Stewart Enterprises, has also turned the corner, recently seeing a revision in its rating outlook to stable from negative by

S&P, after keeping its negative outlook for more than a year and a half, as the sector came under pressure. Stewart's business strategy has changed dramatically over the past couple of years to address the ompany's weak cash flow, significant leverage, and near-term refinancing risk. Instead of the aggressive pursuit of acquisitions, the firm now focuses on maximizing the financial performance of its existing businesses.

There is no better place to learn about "The Magic of Exceptional Customer Service" than Orlando, Florida, home of Walt Disney World. Doug Lipp, keynote speaker for the closing session of the NFDA's annual convention October 7-10, is formerly the head trainer at The Walt Disney University. He will give insights into the unique culture of customer service that sets Disney apartels Here you can learn to incorporate some oi these principals into your own business.