Minutes 2000 Annual meeting of the NCRA held at Best Western, Middletown Pa.
4:30 sign in, 5:00 dinner , buffet style - 24 were present, including 12 casket stores and guests
Called to order by Betty Brown at 6:00 pm with introductions and roll call. Present were;
States represented;
NJ - Mike & Ann Marie Manna - The Casket Shoppe
Oh - Betty & Bob Brown - A Team Masters
Maryland - Michael Fortune & guests - Precious Memories
Al. - Charles Bridges - Alaska Casket Co.
N.Y. - Kevin Gray - Direct Casket
Pa. - Barry Rubin - The Casket Store
In.- Randy & Janet Gernand - Heritage Caskets
N.C. - Don & Pat Beck - Caskets Mart
Ct. - David Hurovitz - Dignified Endings
N.H. - Alex Ghersi- Casket Royale
Ga. Victor Lovick - The Casket Store
N.J. - Debbie Evans - Evan's Casket Store
Guests - Ill. Brian Boltman NARDA Credit Union
Pa. Anthony - Speaker
Joe- Omega Casket
Earl Wyand- Funeral Transporting
Jim - Matthews Bronze
Agenda as follows;
Tres. report, showing present money in account of $10,339.06 as of 10/27/2000 Membership numbers reported, 8 new members last quarter totaling approx. 80 - renewal dues out 09/30/00 - 29 paid renewals as of 10/27/00 43 yet to renew in next 30 days= 37 paid todate / Oct.
Kevin Gray had sent out a questionnaire, discussion results of the 6 that were turned back in. From these and further openness about monthly sales and styles, patterns and future planning were made.
Old business, (emailed and mailed to members, entire report)
New business, motion brought by Betty about url trade casketstores.com for casketstores.org - the currant .com would still point to the NCRA site for 12 months, all links would be alerted to move their bookmarks to the new .org web site, and both sites being utilized for 12 months, then .com discontinued. Discussion & voted - majority was to keep the .com site for the NCRA from the members, make no changes.
Motion on price increase membership fees and or advertisement on site. Late fees added to members not timely pay. Vote not to increase the membership dues for new members at this time.
Installation of new offers & board members Kevin Gray was presented a EternalLight by Betty Brown, as a new tradition. The handheld light is a gorgeous urn type in bottom, with a frosted glass globe to be etched to say "Kevin Gray, Chairman 2000 of the NCRA" and since light stays lit for 30 years, the globe remains with the outgoing Chairman of the Board, and light passed onto incoming Chair with new globe & inscriptions. Eternalight was donated by that firm to the NCRA retails for $389.00, the company has also made allowance for qualified members of the NCRA to be added as a distributorship for this product.
New Officers (by way of By Law rules ) Chairman of the Board , Kevin Gray - Direct Casket 1215 Second Ave. New Hyde Park New York 11404 phone: 631-424-6535 fax: 631-424-6560. Vice Chair Betty Brown A Team Master's Casket store 262 Shelton Blvd. Eastlake, Oh 44095 phone: 440-942-8769 fax: 440-951-6871 Secretary Thelma Jaco Peachtree Caskets 3514 Chamblee Tucker Rd, Atlanta, Ga 30341 Phone: 770-952-2753 Fax: 770-457-5597 Treasurer: George Silva Competitive Caskets Inc.Botany Square -- 221 Dayton Ave. Clifton ,N.J. 07011 Phone: 973-772-0188, fax:1-973-772-6096 Membership Pat White The Casket Store 3222 Pio Nono Ave Macon, GA 31206 Phone: 912 788-6292 fax: 912 788-5952
Board of Directors Randall W. Gernard Heritage Caskets 5826 W. Kilgore Ave. Muncie, IN 47304 phone 765-759-6924 fax; 765-759-6924 Michael Fortune Precious Memories Casket Co Inc. 1100 Dartford Lane, Bowie, MD 20721 phone: 301-390-5397 fax: 301 390-8362 Pat Clark Abbey Casket Saint Meinrad, In. 47577 phone 812-357-6225 fax 812-357-6220
Floyd Hoke Caring Caskets 28 South College, Suite 17 Fayetteville, AR 72701
phone: 501-443-6414 Fax: 501-442-4229 The next election will be held at the annual meeting in yr 2001 There is a change to the NCRA By-Laws reflecting the added positions noted below.
Discussion and added were new Meeting planning committee and volunteering was Mike Manna The Casket Shoppe 864 Route 37 West, Toms River, N. J. 08755 phone 732-797-2555 fax 732-797-2535 and Michael Fortune Precious Memories Casket Co Inc 100 Dartford Lane, Bowie, MD 20721 phone 301-390-5397 fax: 301- 390-8362 are in charge of planning area, workshops, vendors and time. If you are an organization and have a product or service that you would like to offer our membership at our next annual meeting, please contact them for consideration.
Also added -Benefits chair and volunteering was Barry Rubin The Casket Store 217 W. Germantown Pike, Norristown, Pa. 19401 phone 610-270-9530 fax (610) 270-9540 Barry is on the lookout for firms that have products or service that the NCRA would consider offering to their membership. If you do, please contact him directly (no need to wait until the next annual meeting) .
Also added position of Grant writing research and volunteering was Michael Fortune Precious Memories Casket Co Inc. 1100 Dartford Lane, Bowie, MD 20721 phone: 301-390-5397 fax: 301 390-8362 The NCRA is a non profit organization accepting donations for our mission's goals. One of them being a consumer advocate. If you know of a grant writer or funds that might be available to the NCRA for our goals, please contact Mike directly.
Public roundtable discussions about why the retailer likes what they do, and biggest dislike as well
Going around again, getting to know each other better - which units are more popular in that area
The Speakers (noted above ) gave their presentations, along with Alex Ghersi from Casket Royale giving a very informative take on the industry (based upon a suppliers views) , and Kevin (what needs to be done) & Betty (What if, what has been past).
The NCRA was officially made part of the NARDA (Noth American Retail Dealers Assoc.) Credit union and can enjoy all the many benefits of same for employees & their families too. They will do a mailing to inform the NCRA membership. Questions to Brian Boltman at 800-854-2926
Omega Caskets (a new supplier ) had a room set up with four solid wood caskets for the group as a display. Very interesting as they also had a glass window in the unit -many nice comments.
Kevin Gray talked of possible future planning for the NCRA members, perhaps another source of product purchasing as a group, getting our strengths to work for us. What we need to overcome.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:00 PM by Kevin Gray. Yet there were nearly 20 overnight rooms booked of just the NCRA alone so Sunday was an opportunity for further networking. All said they enjoyed it and had a very informative and enjoyable time together. We are all looking for good things to come as a result.
New page for benefit's update as of 10/28/00
The National Casket Retailer’s Association Benefits of Membership as of Nov. 01, 2000
For further questions or contacts for new considerations please contact Barry Rubin The Casket Store, Pa. 610-270-9530 or email at Brubin@Philly.Infi.Net
Please MENTION NCRA membership UPON CALLING any of the resources. Compiled by Betty Brown A Team Masters, Oh a-team@stratos.net
1. Store Directory listing & your hotlink on the NCRA website at http://www.casketstores.com website
2. Newsletters as published and mailed to the membership updating news and industry information
3. Emails from the webmaster with more immediate updates, news and resources.
4. Use of NCRA logo on letterheads, business cards, etc. and on your retail website, along with the FAQ page (opens into a new window so your visitors can remain on your site while reading)
5. Issued a Certificate suitable for framing, to be displayed at your business from the NCRA as a member in good standing, for the year. (And new one upon each year’s renewal fees of $95.00 paid)
6. (snipped) caskets wholesale cost for a limited time,(as an assist) direct from Last Wish Caskets, Coy 318-487-9811, and others email webmaster
7. Membership into the NARDA credit union accepted as part of the NCRA benefits, for both you and your employees, as well as their immediate family. Many services available, savings, ATM, checking, loans, IRA, Visa, payroll deductions are only a few. Brian Bultman at 800-854-2926 for information.
8. US. Office Products discounted group rates, along with bonus product w/initial order 800-356-4723
9. Cheetah Freight Solutions, Inc. 800-694-9911 Joe Mulinaro for moving your product by land
10. Buying bronze headstones at great rates, Wm. Smith Monument Co. 800-679-8753, Brad Cordell
11. Proceeds from the Memorial Pin, also a portion to Saving Graves, our unpublished site ask for details.
12. Merchant account First of Omaha processing. in the works. Great rate, waived sign up for first 90 days, swiped on the premise or over the internet, lowest rates - details soon.
13. (snipped - contact membership) Funeral Supply will give 10-25% discount off their products
14. Printing of many give-a-ways. JHC advertising supplies- register books, fans, cal, etc. 800-542-2827
15. Etenalight 30 year memory lights -urns. Qualified NCRA members open to be distributor for as well.
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Items above were hard worked to get, many phone calls to find the sources. A lot of the NCRA membership in the past to thank also. We have Pat White to thank for the membership certificates, our Tres. George S. for keeping track of the dues paid and new members and mailing out the newsletter, Rob Brown (and assistant) for updating the web site & store directory, our Sec. Thelma for the writing the monthly newsletters, and items seven thru fifteen from Betty’s resources and calls made.
We now look forward to Barry researching and working with other sources and other members, to add to the above. He NEEDS to hear from many of you with ideas and leads to consider for additions to the above.
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