Jan. ‘01                       Volume 2.4
Casket Retailing 

The Newsletter of the National Casket Retailers Association, Inc. http://www.casketstores.com

NATIONAL CASKET RETAILER'S ASSOCIATION NEW 2000-2001 OFFICERS  Chairman: Kevin Gray Direct Casket - New York  Vice Chairman: Betty Brown A Team Masters - Ohio  Secretary Thelma Jaco Peachtree Caskets Direct - Georgia  Treasurer George Silva Competitive Caskets - New Jersey  Directors Pat Clark Abbey Caskets- Indiana  Michael Fortune Precious Memories Casket Co. - Maryland  Randall W. Gernand Heritage Caskets & Monuments - Indiana  Floyd Hoke Caring Caskets - Arkansas Membership Pat White The Casket Store - Georgia  Membership News Reporting over 35 member stores of the NCRA are three year members (or more). The NCRA is the OLDEST group of casket retailers banded together to fight for, report on and guard freedom of choice on the public's part. During the year 2000, the NCRA had new members join in several states, opening the way for others to follow were Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, and Virginia. Consumer Protection, Education and providing information on PREVENTING abuse, reporting abuse are just a few of our mission statement goals. The NCRA was started in 1997, you can see our mission statement at http://www.casketstores.com -there you will also see we have been featured in a popular "Top 300 places to visit on the WEB" book. We are also mentioned on several web sites, with many others linking to us. The NCRA's web site was featured on PBS's documentary about death on television in yr 2000 as well. ** For all of you: Thanks! To all those organizations - members whose contributions and content make NCRA possible, and to those people everywhere whose suggestions and continued support have made the NCRA what it is today, and will become as we grow. A SLICE OF LIFE Edgar A. Guest A Prayer for the New Year Grant me the strength from day to day To bear what burdens come my way. Grant me throughout this bright New Year -More to endure and less to fear. Help me to live that I may be -From spite and petty malice free. Let me not bitterly complain -When cherished hopes of mine prove vain, Or spoil with deeds of hate and rage -Some fair tomorrow's spotless page. Lord, as the days shall come and go -In courage let me stronger grow. Let me with patience stand and wait, A friend to all who find my gate, Keep me from envy and from scorn; As shines the sun with every morn On great and low, so let me give -My love to all who round me live. Lord, as the New Year dawns today - Help me to put my faults away. Let me be big in little things; Grant me the joy which friendship brings. Keep me from selfishness and spite; Let me be wise in what is right. A happy New Year! Grant that I May bring no tear to any eye. When this New Year in time shall end - Let it be said I've played the friend, Have lived and loved and labored here, And made of it a happy year.

Casket Royale of Kentucky honored          As many people know, the Better Business Bureau is an organization which holds it’s members to an agreement of maintaining ethical business practices within our community. Casket Royale was honored last fall as a finalist in an ethics award hosted by the Better Business Bureau. This was Casket Royale’s second year in a row of being nominated and voted as a finalist. Although another small company was chosen for first place, we feel that our participation and finalist ranking shows the community our devotion to running our business honestly and ethically, by placing the needs of our families first. We would like to thank everyone who helped by voluntarily writing letters and completing customer surveys, they told the story! For questions or concerns about a local business call the Better Business Bureau at 583-6546. //////Insert YOUR story here! NCRA likes to write or "copy" news about our mememers! Email Thelma J. TMOflash@aol.com FREE BOOK FOR CONSUMERS S The Federal Trade Commission has finally updated a book about funerals that every consumer should have access to and read before making any arrangements. It is specifically written with the consumer in mind and is very simple reading. “Funerals: A Consumer Guide” is available at Casket Royale. Call us at 895-2313 and we will arrange for someone to drop it off to you personally. You can also call the F.T.C. toll free at (877) FTC-HELP,or visit www.ftc.gov and request a copy. Another one of the NCRA members deserved a news story By STEVE STEINBERG The Dallas Morning News (in part) Bob Davis can thank his father for getting him started in the casket-sales business. Not personally, though: Howard Davis was dead by then. When his father died about six years ago, Davis went to the funeral home, where the funeral director asked whether the elder Davis had left any insurance. He had, in fact -- $20,000. "His eyes just lit right up -- 'Oh boy!'" Davis says. And the funeral director sold him a $20,000 funeral, including a $7,995 casket. "I think I got back $74," Davis says. A few nights after the funeral, Davis' father appeared to him in a dream and announced: "Son, you got rooked. Here's what I want you to do." (snipped, allowing for copyright laws. But the end of the story) Following his father's dictates has been fulfilling, Davis says. "This has been the most rewarding thing I ever got into. Not everyone can afford $20,000 (for a funeral). There are people who can't afford $2,000." He does almost all his advertising on late-night television, and he counts on his low-key approach and low, low prices to do the rest. "Once somebody walks in here, they're my customer for life," he says. "Or death." ///end copy/// Look for an auction on the NCRA web site as we add dollars to our mission's fund. Click on it from the home page http://www.casketstores.com  and check out the goods, at a great prices! Many vendors to choose from , various  and brand name as well, all for a worthy cause! Many "Others" are selling directly to casket retailers now. There are firms that are assisting the "third party retailers" succeed in getting people before choices, how to lower their funeral expense with quality products and yet get responsive & hassle free dependable care during the process. > Here's a topic for reflection and sharing: What is your ideal cemetery like? ..... one that I am not a resident of. (LOL) But worse yet, not assumed dead! The Associated Press ASHLAND, Mass. (January 25, 2001 7:15 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Emergency medical technicians thought the 39-year-old woman found slumped in a bathtub was dead. A funeral director thought so too, until he heard a gurgling noise coming from the body bag. "People have to understand that cold, stiff, blue people can be resuscitated." By Gloria Carr STAFF WRITER Elgin (Illinois) Courier news Part 1 Dundee Township sued: Alleges cemetery chief said woman would be 'dug up' over dispute GENEVA — A Carpentersville man is suing Dundee Township in a dispute over a headstone on his wife's grave that, according to the lawsuit, escalated into a township employee telling the family the dead woman would be "dug up." The lawsuit, filed recently in the 16th Circuit Court Clerk's Office on behalf of Granville Brown of Carpentersville, seeks an unspecified damage award for breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Brown's attorney, Garrett Malcolm of Elgin, was unavailable for comment Thursday. The lawsuit claims intentional infliction of emotional distress over comments it states were made by the Dundee Township East Cemetery Superintendent Jerry Marshall. According to the lawsuit, Marshall left a phone message last May on Brown's answering machine, telling him his wife's casket would be "unilaterally exhumed" if he didn't stop making requests for an upright grave marker. The phone message terrified Brown and his family, causing severe emotional and mental distress from the fear of having Brenda Brown's body "dug up," the lawsuit states. A transcript of the message cited in the lawsuit quotes Marshall as telling Brown he was tired of dealing with the family. "She's no better than anyone else out there. I'm just going by the book," the transcript quotes Marshall as saying. It also states that he said if he heard any more complaints, "come tomorrow morning her (expletive) will be dug up and set on top, and he can take her the hell out of here. I don't give a (expletive)." "I have no comment," Marshall said Thursday when asked about the lawsuit. A Dundee Township official also declined comment, adding that the township does not discuss pending litigation. According to the lawsuit, Brown met with Marshall on or about March 1, 1999, to select a grave site for his wife. Marshall showed Brown areas in the cemetery that would conform to his wish to have an upright grave marker installed. Brown purchased two grave sites a few days later, the lawsuit states. A few weeks later, Marshall told Brown that he would have to buy additional grave sites for the upright grave marker, according to the lawsuit. Brown bought two more grave sites in the same vicinity. The lawsuit states, that because Brown bought the additional grave sites as a condition to the placement of the marker, it created a contractual obligation on the part of the cemetery. But Marshall broke that contract in April 1999, when he told Brown that despite the additional purchases, an upright marker could not be installed. Cemetery officials went back and forth with Brown over whether he could install an upright marker. He bought an additional grave site but still was denied, the lawsuit states. Flat marker removed (Part 2) Brown ordered a flat monument from co-defendant Warner & Troost Monument Co. at a cost of about $1,770 after being told he couldn't order an upright grave marker, the lawsuit states. The flat grave marker was installed about March 1, 2000, according to the complaint, but it was removed 15 days later by the monument company, which acted without notifying Brown. When Brown contacted the cemetery, he was told the monument didn't comply with its policy, according to Brown's lawsuit. Marshall was "rude and vexatious" to the recently widowed Brown, it states. Marshall refused to offer any explanation to Brown about the errors regarding the location of his wife's grave, the upright monument and the removal of the flat marker, it states. Also named in the lawsuit are Trustees Vic Becker, MerlynEichler and Ralph Peterson of the Dundee Township Cemetery East Board. Sixteenth Circuit Judge Timothy Sheldon is scheduled to hear the case March 29." Removal  & Updated Directory will be completed as you read this. Please check your email, website url and other information sent in to webmaster for Directory update. If your store was removed and you would like to re-list it, please contact the web master for details. Or send payment for renewal and added fees to George S., Tres.

NCRA Benefits Corner There are more benefits in the works for the NCRA members also.  1) The NARDA Credit Union has accepted the NCRA membership. They will be doing a mailing shortly to outline all of the benefits. 2) Cheetah Freight Solutions Inc.  800-694-9911 contact Joseph Mulinaro - a specialized freight, both ground and air, another benefit,  for members 3) pager, toll free number service, etc.  4) Did you get your atty. survey form filled in and returned? Please email - if you  need this form.  5)The store listing and all related information displayed on the NCRA store directory webpage. With a hot link to your web page, if you have one.  6) We are working with a lending institution for retailers to offer fast approval with this firm, for purchases of funeral product. Loans from this firm,  directly to families in need of a money source. 7) Proceeds from sale of Memorial pin  Charity or National "saving graves" origination. 8) All members receive NCRA email news & newsletters and other benefits. 9) The very BEST merchant account rates, from two choices of firms offering great options to our membership. There is also a FAQ web page that you as members can link to - that will offer your visitors more information on arrangements and items covered when visiting a funeral home, or buying from retailers. It is a stand alone web site (copy & paste all meta tags not included) a href="http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com//peacock/11/faq.htm" TARGET="_blank"> img width="300" height="38" border="0" alt="member of the NCRA, see our FAQ pg, opens in new window" src="yourpage name image - then a close tag, then the /a surronded by tags. (Whichever image you choose off of the NCRA site to use with your website colors.) If questions, please email webmaster. Our membership chairman Pat White of The Casket Store in Ga. -- Membership Corner The newest NCRA members will be listed in February's newsletter.Visit the Classified ad web page to find good deals, or to list an ad for free. Visit our BB to keep up to date and contrubute too.

The business we are in. (By Betty B.) Customer Acquisition (along with of course, casket and funeral product retail sales) But, if we don't find the customers -nothing happens. Like in the ad, nothing happens without advertisements, the same goes for sales. No matter what field anyone is in, it all applies. In insurance, car sales, cable, phone, pagers, electric & gas utility, CPA's, tax providers, bookkeepers, attorney, real estate, etc. www.iec.org/events/2000/car/ and funeral goods. We acquire and Retention of customers comes from word of mouth, advertisement and inquiring people in the know. This would apply to those in the death care industry as well --copy---The lesson is clear: it is no longer adequate to be the traditional or monopoly provider of xxxxxxx services, or to be the lowest-priced provider. Customers in all market segments are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their xxxxxxxxxxx needs and no longer hesitate to switch providers on short notice. -- Has anyone heard of Temporary burials? This is already done in Europe. This is standard in Europe - the practice is to bury someone for thirty years. At the end of that time, the remains are removed to an ossuary where they join the rest of the community. If you want to keep the grave around for longer than thirty years, you can pay to renew. The graves of famous people often have endowments set up for them. Or many cemeteries just keep them around because they attract business. The idea of keeping a grave intact forever for everyone is peculiarly American and the product of plentiful space during Colonial times and clever mortuary marketing. People are beginning more and more to feel that perhaps not only should cemeteries return to the thirty year cycle of burial but maybe we should also return to community, as opposed to for-profit, ownership of our graveyards.