MB News - Greeley Monument Works

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MB
MONUMENT BUILDERS OF NORTH AMERICA
Memorialists’
Opportunity:
When Pets Cross
The Rainbow
Bridge
January | 08
news
MB
MONUMENT BUILDERS OF NORTH AMERICA
January 2008 • Vol. 65, No. 1
4
Officers & Trustees
Editor
Sylvia Heidemann
[email protected]
+1.800.233-4472 X103
6
President’s Message—The Buck Stops Here
Production Manager
Don Berry
Paul DiMatteo, CM
8
Consumer Advocacy Update
10
Viewpoint—It’s Reigning Cats & Dogs
Sylvia Heidemann
12
Big Business & Growing: When Pets Cross the Rainbow
Bridge
16
For Love of Tiffy
MB News Editorial Advisory Board
Mark Johansen
Little Falls Granite Works
[email protected]
Page 10
Troy Caldwell, CM
Caldwell Monument Co.
[email protected]
Diane Schlitzberger
Schlitzberger and Daughters
Monument Company
[email protected]
Utah philanthropists established cemetery for beloved pet
18
Humane Society Dedicates New Pet Cemetery
Bruce Fuerstenberg, CM
Vancouver Granite Works
[email protected]
Estate bequest allows creation of Lorraine’s Memorial
Garden
22
Photo Gallery – Pet Memorials
26
MB University in Print—Keeping OSHA at Bay with a
Written Safety Program
Page 22
Guidelines for writing an effective program
28
John J. Carrigg—Loved & Missed By Many
32
Industry News
Industry Calendar
Page 16
34
Monument Builders of North America
900 Fox Valley Drive, Suite 100
Longwood, FL 32779-2552
+1.800.233.4472
+1.407.478.6993
FAX +1.407.774.6751
www.monumentbuilders.org
Headquarters Team
Thomas A. Monahan, CAE
Executive Vice President
+1.800.233.4472 X101
[email protected]
A caring tribute that was published in the Boston Globe;
photos added of family memorial
30
Deborah Dalton, CM, AICA
Greeley Monument Works, Inc.
[email protected]
Advertisers in This Issue; Classified Advertising
On the Cover
When their beloved Tiffany died and there was no pet cemetery available,
the Macks established their own. The memorial to “Tiffy,” created by
David Bott, CM, AICA of Mark H. Bott Company, greets visitors to Tiffany’s
Memorial Pet Cemetery. Story on page 16.
Mission
To dene and promote memorialization in a viable, innovative and diversied way for the membership
and to enhance the awareness of memorialization by the general public and the remembrance industry.
Carol Lussier
Staff Accountant
+1.800.233.4472 X102
[email protected]
Amy Perry
Membership Management
+1.800.233.4472 X100
MB News (ISSN 0192-2491) is published monthly by
Monument Builders of North America (MBNA), 900 Fox
Valley Drive, Suite 100, Longwood, FL 32779-2552.
Periodical postage-paid at Longwood, Florida and additional
mailing offices.
POSTMASTER - Send address changes to MB News, 900
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Web: www.monumentbuilders.org.
Closing date: Four weeks preceding date of publication.
We reserve the right to accept or reject any advertising
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Single issue price is $12.
©2008 Monument Builders of North America
MBNA Officers and Trustees
OFFICERS
DISTRICT TRUSTEES
President
Paul A. DiMatteo, CM
Maine Memorial
220 Main Street
S. Portland, ME 04106
T: +1.207.767.2233
F: +1.207.767.1953
E: [email protected]
District 1
David Williams, CM
Williams Monument Co.
792 Bear Mountain Blvd.
Arvin, CA 93203
T: +1.661.854.3833
E: [email protected]
President-Elect
Lorne Raber, CM
Eden Memorials, Inc.
3022 Main St.
Winnipeg, MB R2V 4T2
Canada
T: +1.204.586.8579
F: +1.204.586.8578
E: [email protected]
Treasurer
William M. Minozzi, CM
National Memorials
3815 U.S. 98 South
Lakeland, FL 33813-4246
T: +1.863.665.1526
F: +1.863.666.2966
E: [email protected]
Immediate Past President
Ruth A. Bell, CM, AICA
Bell Memorials
301 S. River Road
Beloit, KS 67420
T: +1.785.738.2257
F: +1.785.738.2257
E: [email protected]
Vice President
Ian Aiello, CM
Sebastiano Aiello Memorials, Inc.
6811 Sherbrooke East
Montreal, PQ H1N 1C7 Canada
T: +1.514.259.6917
F: +1.514.259.6918
E: [email protected]
Vice President
Thomas G. Carrigg, CM, AICA
Thomas Carrigg & Son
772 LaGrange St.
Boston, MA 02132
T: +1.617.323.2454
F: +617.323.1817
E: [email protected]
Vice President
Mark Johansen
Little Falls Granite Works, Inc.
10802 Hwy. 10
Little Falls, MN 56345-0240
T: +1.320.632.9277
F: +1.320.632.3342
E: [email protected]
Vice President
Jeff Davis (Dave) Pace
Brookhaven Monument Company
807 Highway 51 North
Brookhaven, MS 39601
T: +1.601.833.5701
F: +1.601.835.2436
E: [email protected]
4
District 2
Ken Reeson
Summit Memorials Ltd.
4415 97 Street
Edmonton, AB T6E 6W6 Canada
T: +1.708.433.7100 F: +1.708.433.7174
E: [email protected]
District 3
Nathan L. Beesley
Beesley Monument & Vault Co.
725 S. State St.
P.O. Box 50928
Provo, UT 84605-0928
T: +1.801.374.0580 F: +1.801.373.7732
District 4
Dianne Schlitzberger
Schlitzberger and Daughters
Monument Co.
6859 Lawndale Avenue
Houston, TX 77023
T: +1.713.926.1785 F: +1.713.926.1787
E: [email protected]
District 5
James Bell, CM, AICA
Bell Memorials
301 S. River Road P.O. Box 127
Beloit, KS 67420
T: +1.785.738.2257 F: +1.785.738.2257
[email protected]
District 6
Lee Barnett
McCall Monument Works
801 Hwy. 14 South
Newton, IA 50208
T: +1.641.791.7875 F: +1.641.791.7320
E: [email protected]
District 7
Pete Kollmann
Kollmann Monumental Works, Inc.
1915 Division Street, P.O. Box 733
St. Cloud, MN 56302
T: +1.320.251.8010 F: +1.320.251.8019
E: [email protected]
District 8
Dick Boockmeier
Bremmer Granite
P.O. Box 78
Portage, WI 53901
T: +1.608.742.3939 F: +1.608.742.3939
E: [email protected]
District 9
Marc Arntzen
Arntzen’s Gem City Memorials
2503 Locust St.
Quincy, IL 62301
T: +1.217.224.0400 F: +1.217.224.0979
E: [email protected]
District 10
James L. McComb
McComb Monument Co., LLC
3090 Davidson Rd.
Lapeer, MI 48446
P: +1.810.667.4156 F: +1.810.667.8854
E: [email protected]
District 11
Donald W. Hoffman
Ashland Monument Co.
34 E. Second Street
Ashland, OH 44805
T: +1. 419.281.2688 F: +1.419.281.2250
E: [email protected]
District 12
William A. Fox
Henry & Henry Monuments
207 Sturgis Rd.
Marion, KY 42064
T: +1.270.965.4514 F: +1.270.965.9515
E: [email protected]
District 13
Gary Dozier
Dozier Memorials
720 Warm Springs Hwy.
Manchester, GA 31816
T: +1.706.846.5338 F: +1.706.846.5389
E: [email protected]
District 14
Bill Wiley, AICA
Wiley Brothers Marble & Granite Works,
Inc.
14 Cemetery Street
York, SC 29745
T: +1.800.258.4746 F: +1.803.684.9846
E: [email protected]
District 15
Suzanna Shevchenko
Shevchenko Monument Works LLC
329 Florida Grove Road
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
T: +1.732.442.1286 F: +1.732.697.0418
E: [email protected]
District 16
Daniel Giroux, CM
Loiselle Memorials, Inc.
402 Lower Main Street
Hudson Falls, NY 12839
T: +1.518.747.4170
E: [email protected]
District 17
Phillip Costanzo
Tri-County Memorials, Inc.
402 W. Main St.
Norwich, CT 06382
T: +1.860.886.6200
F: +1.860.886.6300
E: [email protected]
District 18
Edward M. Howlett, CM
Muir’s Marble Works, Ltd.
703 Topsail Rd., P.O. Box 596
Mount Pearl, NF A1N 2W4
Canada
T: +1.709.368.5697 F: +1.709.368.3318
E: [email protected]
District 19
Paul Aiello, CM, AICA
Sebastiano Aiello Memorials, Inc.
6811 Sherbrooke East
Montreal, PQ H1N 1C7
Canada
T: +1.514.259.6917 F: +1.514.259.6918
E: [email protected]
District 20
Robert L. Youngs, CM
Smith Monument Co. Ltd.
349 Weston Road
Toronto, ON M6N 3P7 Canada
T: +1.416.769.0674 F: +1.416.769.5677
E: [email protected]
MANUFACTURERS/
WHOLESALERS DIVISION
President
James Hemmesch, CM
Cold Spring Granite Company
202 South Third Ave.
Cold Spring, MN 56320-2593
T: +1.800.328.7021 F: +1.800.473.4881
E: [email protected]
President Elect
John P. Castaldo
Barre Granite Association, Inc.
51 Church Street P.O. Box 481
Barre, VT 05641-0481
T: +1.802.476.4131 F: +1.802.476.4765
E: [email protected]
SUPPLIERS/BRONZE
DIVISION
President
Patty Russell
3M Company
3M Center, Bldg. 230-2f-15
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000
T: +1.651.736.1207 F: +1.651.736.6806
E: [email protected]
President Elect
Scott Neal
Paradise Pictures, LLC
P.O. Box 3190
Paradise, CA 95967-3190
T: +1.866.960.9207 F: +1.651.653.3831
E: [email protected]
First Vice President
Scott Giddings, CM
GM Wholesale, Ltd.
625 Peach Street, Unit D
Waco, TX 76704
T: +1.877.752.5100 F: +1.254.752.5112
E: [email protected]
Editor’s note: The January issue closed
out a month in advance of the January
12, 2008 election of ofcers. Therefore,
contact information for MBNA’s new
ofcers will be included in the February
issue.
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
Message from the President
The Buck Stops Here
T
his month my term expires as your
president, and because this is my
last formal column, I’d like to take
this opportunity to thank all of you for
being a member of MBNA.
I realize that membership has its ups and
downs, and sometimes you may wonder
what MBNA is doing for you and why
should you be a member. When I became
your president, I told you that MBNA has
many programs to help you improve your
business. I also said that we would be
working on even more new programs, and
that sometimes these programs take a few
years to get up and running.
One program that was new this past year
was my idea of a photo album for the Web
site, stocked with monument photos supplied by you. We urge you to send us your
photos. This is an excellent resource for
you to use as a virtual library of monuments to show your customers.
We are currently working on a membership kit to give to new and existing members that will include information and
samples of programs that MBNA offers.
Another project in the works is contracting with a legislative monitoring company
that will inform MBNA of any upcoming
legislation that will affect our industry.
All these projects take money (your membership dues) to implement. I truly believe
that members’ funds should be working
for the membership. During my term
as MBNA president, I (along with the
MBNA board) was responsible for your
money. I did not take this responsibility
lightly. Like Harry Truman said, “The
buck stops here.”
6
Traditionally, as you may know, the
MBNA president travels to most, if not
all regional conventions to inform the
attendees personally about what the
MBNA is currently doing. It also provides an opportunity to directly answer
any MBNA member’s questions and to
sign up new members to our association. This past year, in a cost-saving
effort, I only attended four conventions.
I assigned MBNA Executive Committee
members the responsibility to attend
the conventions that took place in their
respective regions. This saved our association quite a sum of money.
Paul A. DiMatteo, CM
At our recent convention in Baltimore
(which will likely have been concluded by the time you are reading
this), I chose not to have a President’s
Reception and Dinner. This event has
been held every year for the President,
the board and some selected guests,
to thank them for their year of service
on the board. I felt that it would not be
right for me to spend the membership’s
money on a party when we could spend
that money on a project that can be used
by all members. The buck stopped here.
Now let’s all take advantage of that
buck and use the programs that MBNA
offers.
I would like to nish this message
by paraphrasing General Douglas
MacArthur:
I now close my MBNA career and just
fade away, an old memorial artist who
tried to do his duty as God gave him the
light to see that duty.
Good Bye.
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
Consumer Advocacy Update
By Carolyn Jacobi
“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do
nothing.”
—Edmund Burke
T
he December holiday season is now but a memory, and
reality is nally setting in that we are well underway in a
new year. Who knows what challenges lie ahead in 2008
for the monument building industry?
The year 2007 has been one in which the Movement became
very involved in proposed legislation in at least four different
states. The Movement established a new Movement— training
local residents to become liaisons in order to keep local government aware of the immediate problems, and aiding them in
establishing Town Meetings when necessary. Even with this
legislative activity, consumers have indeed been victimized
extensively. I nd that sterile success will not come until we
move this issue back to the FTC and request a new “Round
Table.” That is where each member can contribute by documenting abuses in his local state and forwarding the documentation to the FTC.
Even though many of the funeral homes and cemeteries are
managed in a very consumer-friendly manner, the problems
with perpetual care funds as well as pre-need funds are
becoming very widespread again. Therefore, it is imperative
that each of us becomes accountable. Let us move this issue
back to the “Round Table” so that the consumer can nd some
relief through sterile federal regulation. The Movement highly
recommends utilizing the Federal Register, so that the evildoers will not be given the luxury of going from state to state
in order to abuse new consumers
Michigan
Recently mentioned in one of our columns (November 2008)
we advised you of a court-appointed new owner for the 28
cemeteries raped by Clayton Smart. However, there has been
a hold put on that decision. The decision to accept Shipper as
the highest bidder has been challenged. Therefore, the new
owner has not been nalized. In the meantime, more and more
monies are being utilized from the cemetery funds. I would
assume that this will put the consumer’s pre-need and perpetual trust monies in jeopardy. I have a major problem with the
action of the courts and government with these decisions that
tend to put the consumer’s welfare at risk. Too much of the
consumer’s monies are being used for administrative cost.
Legislatively, all bill action has been delayed because of the
budget problems within the state. The move, however, is to
continue pressing on for consumer-friendly legislation governing the consumer’s right of choice, which will give some relief
to the monument retailers.
8
Overview
Recently, my telephone has been inundated with problems
involving Internet bronze sales. I am sure most of you are
anti-Internet sales. However, it is a segment of what this
Movement is about: The consumer’s right of choice. Recently,
there have been two cemeteries in the state that have disallowed the use of bronze memorials purchased over the
Internet. At this time, this issue is being challenged. I nd that
it is a violation of a free enterprise; it also denies the consumer
his right of choice. If a consumer can purchase a casket via
the Internet, I nd that the same principal should apply to
memorials. There are certain risks, however, that a consumer
assumes when purchasing from the Internet.
Many of our members have become very complacent about
cemetery violations in their area. I am constantly getting calls
from non-members reporting abuses and violations, especially in the state of South Carolina. I have spoken to three
prospective converts about serious violations and infractions.
Interestingly, the state has a law that governs the fees to be
assessed for the required services necessary for the installation
of memorials.
As we embark on this new year, I reect back to the year of
1997, and I must say I am so grateful for this Movement. My
experiences have been very vast. The many challenges have
been very energizing. There have been some highs and lows:
Yet I AM GRATEFUL. It is because of many of you that I
have been able to make a difference. I have been obedient,“for
I can do everything that God asks me to with the help of
Christ who gives me the strength and power.” I sincerely wish
each of you a very JOYFUL and happy new year.
About the Author
Carolyn Jacobi’s consulting services
are offered free of charge to MBNA
members. If she must personally visit a
site to resolve a matter, the requesting
member is responsible for her travel,
lodging and meal expenses. MBNA
funds the program through voluntary
contributions from individual members,
local/state/regional/provincial
associations, consumers and MBNAsponsored fund raisers. Membership
dues do not support this program. For
more information on the program, visit
www.monumentbuilders.org. (On the
home page, click at left on “Member
Programs, Consumer/Legislative
Consulting.”
MBNA networking: [email protected]
Phone +1.301.317.8190
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
Top Left: North Ridge Quarries
This quarry brings out one of the richest and
most beautiful dark blues known to mankind! If
you need a quote in Rome Dark Blue,
this is where the granite comes from!
Top Right: South Ridge Quarries
This quarry produces a clear Rome Medium
Blue like no other! Located in Oglethorpe
County here in Georgia, we have a large stock to
get your granite to you in a timely manner with
great service and an even better quality!
Bottom Left: Rome Granite Inc.
We offer in-house sandblasting, contour wire
sawing, and many more specialties! Call in for
more details!
ROME GRANITE INC.
P.O. Box 899
1177 Ruckersville Rd.
Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 877-236-6069
Fax: 706-283-4696
E-mail:
[email protected]
Colors offered include but not limited to:
Rome Light Blue, Rome Medium Blue, Rome Dark Blue, Silver Cloud
North American Pink, Salisbury Pink, Missouri Red, Sienna Red, Wausau Red,
Autumn Rose, Dakota Mahogany, Canadian Mahogany, India Red
Flash Black, Night Star, American Black, Dark Impala,
Premium Jet Black, Blue Silk, Blue Pearl, Dark Barre, China Black
Viewpoint
It’s Reigning Cats & Dogs
I
f you’re not a pet lover, you may
think an issue featuring pet memorialization is going a bit too far. Or,
you could look at the facts and join the
ranks of those memorialists (some who
contributed to this issue) who realize the
potential of pets and service animals as
solid revenue generators.
According to the July 6 – 8, 2007 issue
of USA Weekend, a whopping 63 percent
of homes in America that have a pet
actually have more than one. Consider
these gures: There’s an average of 1.7
dogs per household of dog-lovers; an
average of 2.3 cats per household of catlovers; and nearly half of dog owners
and nearly half of cat owners spread
their affections between both.
Animals are like people in that they each
have a unique personality. Their crazy
antics can make us laugh—a great stress
reliever—and the mere act of stroking
a dog’s or cat’s fur has been proven to
reduce blood pressure. For the elderly,
especially those who live alone, pets ll
in the lonely hours with much-needed
companionship.
And let’s not forget the working class:
There’s that special bond between K-9
“ofcers” and their handlers, and guide
dogs and other animals who assist the
sight- and hearing-impaired to lead
more condent, independent lives.
10
Expounding on the animal-human bond
for therapeutic purposes is the Delta
Society (www.deltasociety.org), which
for more than 30 years has brightened
lives in schools, hospitals and nursing
homes through the gentle touch of
therapy animals (dogs, cats, guinea pigs
and more). Today, there are 10,000 pet
partner volunteers in the U.S.
Consider Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in
Hartsdale, NY: Established in 1896, it
is the oldest pet cemetery in the world.
More than 70,000 pets are buried or
memorialized there. It is also the home
of the famous War Dog Memorial, the
rst memorial (erected in 1923) to honor
dogs that served in the military.
Sylvia Heidemann
Editor, MB News
It’s becoming more acceptable and more
common for pet lovers to memorialize
pets that have passed on. The loss of
a pet can result in grief that’s just as
profound as that of losing any other
family member. Keep that in mind when
a grieving pet owner comes through
your door and wants a memorial created
for his/her pet. If that hasn’t happened
to you yet, the odds are growing that it
will soon. When that time comes, listen
carefully and treat him/her as you would
treat someone who’s lost a husband,
wife, brother, sister. Ask how they’d
like their pet to be memorialized, and
give them options. Remember, to most
people, pets are family, and for some
people, pets are the only family they’ve
ever known. ■
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
In life they were a faithful, unfailing companion.
Our furred and feathered friends play a special role in
our lives. They are members of our families in ways we
can’t fully explain, and when they pass from this life
they are dearly remembered and deeply missed.
With beautiful, customized memorials, Trigard bronze is the perfect way
to preserve the memory of a unique life and to celebrate its contribution
to this world. From simple medallions to detailed renderings of favorite
photographs, Trigard is proud to provide an opportunity to memorialize
these treasured loved ones.
800.798.4900
www.trigard.com
They may be small, but their place
in our hearts couldn’t be any bigger. Celebrate their memory with
love, respect and Trigard bronze.
Big Business & Growing:
When Pets Cross the Rainbow Bridge
By Sylvia Heidemann*
burial services are increasing as proper options for the disposiHumorist/actor W.C. Fields, who is often quoted as saying
tion of a beloved and respected family member. And, bereaved
“Anyone who hates children and animals can’t be all bad,”
owners are wanting special memorials for their pets.
certainly wasn’t speaking for the majority of the people in the
Ceremonial or ritual burial of animals is not a new thing,
United States. Quite the contrary. If ownership statistics alone
however.
Dogs have evidently been considered family memare any indication, we love our pets.
bers
as
long
as 14,000 years ago and were buried with their
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers
owners,
as
evidenced
by archeological sites everywhere in
Association (APPMA) in its 2007 – 2008 National Pet Owners
the
world except Antarctica. According to
Survey, 63 percent of all U.S. housethe
April
4, 2004 edition of the National
holds (which translates roughly to 71.1
Geographic
News, the oldest known pet
million households) own pets. In 1988,
cat
to
be
buried
with its owner was interred
the rst year the survey was conducted,
some
9,500
years
ago in the Neolithic vil56 percent of U.S. households owned a
lage
of
Shillourokambos.
This archeologipet. For 2007, no gures were cited for
cal
discovery
was
a
surprise,
because it
multiple pet households, however, but a
precedes
by
some
4,000
years
the depiction
personal survey of extended family and
of
cats
in
early
Egyptian
art.
The
ancient
friends will no doubt reveal a large perEgyptians not only kept cats to keep the
centage of dog/cat/bird/sh households.
rodent population controlled, they also
Dogs and cats top the list, respecworshipped them and thought they brought
tively, at 74 million and 88 million.
good luck.
Other “pets” include birds, sh, reptiles and horses. The American Horse
Council says there are 9.2 million
Pet Cemeteries & Crematoriums
horses (for commercial and recreational
According to the International Association
use) owned by two million people in
of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories
the U.S.
(IAOPCC), there are more than 600 active
Of course, the fact that we love our
pet cemeteries in the U.S. today. Most operpets is reected best in how much
ate in cooperation with veterinary hospitals,
money is annually spent in the pet
kennels, training centers and grooming
industry, including food, treats, toys,
salons. Some cemeteries have set aside a
special products, visits to the veterinar- Sad ending for a regal beauty: Brigitte was a feral portion of their grounds for pet burials,
ian, and more. That’s an astounding
cat that became stressed during the attempt while there are cemeteries specically dedi$40.8 (estimated) billion for 2007,
to neuter her and died on the operating table. cated to the burial of pets.
according to APPMA. In 2001, the
Veterinarians revived her, but, as often happens
Through these service providers, owners
amount spent on pets was $28.5 billion. in this kind of situation, she was brain-damaged may arrange for individual cremation and
in the process. Her owners worked patiently
Each year since then the amount has
with her for two years, but she developed more return of the animal’s ashes in an urn for
grown rapidly, averaging an increase
physical problems and ultimately had to be further disposition, or the pet may be creof $2 billion per year.
mated along with other animals and buried
Pet Death Dilemma
euthanized. In her family’s home town, there
are currently no restrictions on pet burials on in a common grave. A wide range of prodone’s property, and she sleeps peacefully today uct lines (urns, caskets, burial vaults) has
under a lilac tree in the backyard.
sprung up in response to the need. A search
The sad fact of life, however, is that
our pets don’t live forever. They have
dangerous encounters with automobiles and other animals,
they develop life-threatening illnesses, and some just die of
old age. What about a pet’s remains? The dilemma facing pet
owners is that as our country grows in population, more village, town and city ordinances prohibit the burial of pets in
one’s backyards or common rural areas. Pet cremation and
*This is an edited, updated version of an article published in 2006 in
the Bulletin of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association.
12
of the Internet reveals that in certain areas
there are also individuals who will perform eulogies or conduct a funeral service for a deceased pet.
Cost of Cremation
According to information posted on www.dogs.about.com,
prices for cremation services, through a veterinarian’s ofce
or through private crematoriums, vary greatly. Private pet
(Continued on page14)
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
When Pets Cross Rainbow Bridge
Memorialization
(Continued from page 12)
Some monument builders responded early to consumer
demand and began doing memorials for pets. Some have even
been providing this service for more than 30 years. A number
of monument builders who have business Web sites have
dedicated pages to show monuments for pets. As you will see
in the photo gallery, memorials are increasingly becoming as
unique as the pets themselves. This shows the depth of caring,
and the bonds that can be realized between people and their
pets.
cremation (meaning the owner’s pet and only the owner’s
pet), can cost between $150 and $350, dependent upon the
size of the pet. Individual cremation means that the pet will
share his space with others, but they will be separated. One is
still assured of receiving his pet’s remains after. This generally costs around $75 to $200. Mass cremation is the cheapest
option, but the pet’s ashes will not be returned. This option is
available for $30 to $100, and not recommended if one wishes
to keep the pet’s cremains, or spread them.
Pet burial: As stated on www.dogs.about.com, prices for
burying a pet in a pet cemetery vary greatly, and optional addins can make the price go higher. Once again, prices are based
on the size of the pet. Most pet cemeteries have a transport
service, and will pick up the deceased from one’s home or
veterinarian’s ofce.
14
Over the Rainbow Bridge
Magazines and books geared to pet owners often refer to a
pet’s passing as “crossing the rainbow bridge.” Like people,
pets today are reaping the benets of better nutrition and a
healthier lifestyle and are living longer. They enjoy having
a special place in our hearts, as well as their roles as furrycoated members of the family. Whenever our pets cross the
rainbow bridge, they deserve to be mourned and eulogized and
memorialized. ■
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
For Love of Tiffy—
Creating Pet Memorial History in Utah
F
or eight years, Tiffany (“Tiffy”) had
happily wiggled her way into the
hearts of her owners, Shirley and
Harold Mack of Ogden, UT. The miniature
poodle was their baby, their loyal friend,
always ready to give or take affection.
When Tiffany died unexpectedly on
Christmas Eve in 1989, the Macks were
heartbroken. Not only had they lost their
darling pet, they were additionally crestfallen when they learned there was no pet
cemetery in which to give her a tting nal
resting place.
The Macks, known for their philanthropy,
set out to establish a place where they could
memorialize Tiffy and create a garden that
other grieving pet owners could also utilize.
Mr. Mack approached the city of Ogden
with a proposal to develop a pet cemetery
in exchange for ve acres of land adjacent
to the Ogden City Cemetery.
Drew Bott (left) of Moore’s Monument Service and Wendy Bott Brown of the Mark H.
Bott Company, whose father David Bott, CM, AICA designed Tiffy’s memorial, stand next
to the monument to show the scale of the work. The pedestal is engraved, “In honor of
the unconditional love shown by Tiffy.”
The City agreed to the proposal, and the Macks donated
the needed funds plus a lot of sweat equity into building
the pet cemetery. They laid sod, installed an
electronic fence and security system, and
did everything they could to make the cemetery a beautiful, peaceful, secure garden.
The park opened in 1990.
Approximately 75 pets a year are buried
in Tiffany’s Memorial Pet Cemetery.
The crowning glory of the setting is the
memorial to Tiffany herself. Designed by
David Bott, CM, AICA of Mark H. Bott
Monument Co., two nine-ft-tall, triangular, black granite panels ank a life-size
granite sculpture of Tiffany “sitting pretty.”
The black granite panels are etched with
Tiffany’s likeness and “A Dog’s Prayer.” ■
The crowning glory of Tiffany’s Memorial Cemetery is, of course, Tiffany’s memorial. Two nine-fttall, triangular black granite panels flank a life-size granite sculpture of the miniature poodle.
16
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
• For MBNA Retailer Members •
Special Service You Can Give
To the Families You Serve
COVERAGE
•
Acts of vandalism or theft that damage or otherwise cause a monument to require replacement or repair;
for natural defects, such as cracking or flaking, that damage or otherwise cause a monument to need
replacement.
•
Coverage is not offered for loss arising from ceramic or porcelain photographs, stained glass or foundations, discoloration, acts of God, damage caused by cemetery personnel, vases, lights or similar adornments.
•
$100 deductible fee for each occurrence – paid for by the MBNA Retailer Member – not the customer.
•
Certificates valid for 10 years from the date of installation of the monument.
•
Limit of coverage for any one claim is $25,000, in connection with any form or type of eligible restoration
or replacement work.
ELIGIBILITY
•
Retailer Members in good standing with MBNA. Must demonstrate continuous membership from the time
the certificate is offered to a customer to the time a claim is made in order for the claim to be settled
under the terms of the trust.
•
Participants may not sell the certificates to their customers. They may provide Certificates of Coverage to
their customers when the monuments are set.
•
Certificates may be offered on selected sales. It is not required that all sales be provided with a Certificate.
PARTICIPATION
•
Certificates are $350 per 100 and may be distributed to customers during the period of July 1, 2007, and
June 30, 2008. Unused certificates expire on June 30, 2008. Canadian members enroll at $350 Canadian
for 100 certificates.
•
Additional sets of certificates may be purchased at any time during the period, but these also expire on
June 30, 2008.
Please enroll my firm in the MBNA Memorial Protection Program.
___ My check is enclosed, payable to MBNA.
___ Please charge my Visa __, MasterCard __, AMEX __ (check one) Card # _____________________________________________
Expires ______________________ 3-digit Security Code ________
Name (please print)______________________________________________________
Signature ___________________________________________________________
Company ___________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State _____ Zip Code _________
Phone ________________ FAX ______________Email_______________________
Please mail to MBNA, P.O. BOX 917525, LONGWOOD, FL 32791
or FAX: 407-774-6751. Questions? +1.800.233.4472
Humane Society Dedicates New Pet Cemetery
Ready, set, pull! On command, Brody springs into action to pull the ribbon
and formally open the garden.
It was a cold evening on December 2 for the dedication of the Wisconsin
Humane Society’s new pet memorial garden and columbarium. All animals
were inside except for “Brody,” who waits to do the ribbon-pulling honors
with Heather Mohan, WHS volunteer and dog trainer; (left) Jim Drzwiecki,
architect; and Tony Enea, WHS Board Member.
Lorraine’s Garden is beautifully landscaped and
features a brick walkway, a fountain, and quiet
areas for reflection.
18
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
This photo was taken from inside the garden, looking out toward the entryway.
Granite niches line the wall.
P
eople care about their pets and
are concerned about what to do
with their remains when those
pets cross the “rainbow bridge.” A generous estate gift has made it possible
for pet owners in Milwaukee to honor
their companions that have passed on
or make a lasting tribute to celebrate
anyone—person or animal. A portion
of the proceeds from lasting memorials
will be used for rescue efforts and to
help animals housed at the shelter that
need medical care and homes.
Lorraine Raasch would have been proud
on December 2 to see her dream of a
pet cemetery and columbarium become
reality with its formal dedication at the
Milwaukee Humane Society (MHS).
A lover of Shetland Sheepdogs, the
Exterior of the Wisconsin Humane Society, at 4500 W. Wisconsin Avenue in
Milwaukee.
benefactress understood the profound
bond between people and their pets, and
left resources in her estate for the MHS
to create the Lorraine Raasch Memorial
Garden. The lovely setting encompasses
5,600 sq ft and includes a Meditation
Garden and outdoor chapel, a Memory
Walk and a columbarium.
Reminiscent of a classic Japanese
garden, the pet cemetery has high
walls surrounding it to block noise
from its industrial location. In addition
to the Memory Walkway, statuary
and a fountain, the garden features
native plants to attract butteries and
hummingbirds.
Lorraine’s Garden, which cost
about $200,000, was designed
“Duncan” was a greeter for the event.
and constructed by David J. Frank
Landscape Contracting, Inc. The design
was initiated in September 2005, with
the nal concept approved in December
2006. Construction took about six
months in 2007.
The “ribbon-pulling” ceremony to
dedicate the new facility caught the
attention of the news media, such as
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which
alerted its readers to the ribbon-pulling
dedication with a special feature article
on November 30.
Cremation Services
The WHS offers private and communal
cremation services on site in its state-ofthe-art-facility for pets under the
Shine, another honoree, arrived with a badly fractured leg that had to be amputated. He gets around
great today.
“Sparkle,” a special resident honored for the evening, is shown with Dr. McClain. Sparkle came to
the shelter with pneumonia and a heart murmur
and had to have open heart surgery. He’s the picture of health today and has been adopted.
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
19
Overview rendering of the pet cemetery and columbarium. The area with
picnic tables is a place where people can familiarize themselves with potential
adoptees.
supervision of the veterinary staff as
part of the services provided through
Lorraine’s Garden. Cremains are sealed
and placed in a special container and
returned to the owner, along with a
certicate of cremation.
If an owner makes the decision to inter
his/her pet at the new cemetery, staff
is prepared to help with important
decisions, such as having a small
memorial service for close family and
friends at the interment.
The columbarium, manufactured by
Architarium in Austin, TX, is faced
with Golden Yellow granite from the
20
Rendering of the main entry to the Lorraine Raasch Memorial Garden.
Shandong Province of China. The
granite can be engraved with a pet’s
name and any sort of personalized
message, according to WHS
spokeswoman, Angela Speed. There
are more than 600 niches in the wall,
and costs for pet owners who wish to
have their pets interred range from $750
to $2,500 for perpetual care. Lorraine’s
Garden will be open 24 hours day day,
all year.
education programs, an attractively
designed “Adoption Avenue,” and a
user-friendly, Web site that features
heartwarming animal “success” stories,
featured pets for adoption, gifts and
greeting cards, and more. Considering
that the animals are the loving and
appreciative beneciaries of devoted
volunteers and staff, WHS is setting a
great example for humane societies all
across the country to follow. ■
A Progressive Humane Society
MBNA networking:
Wisconsin Humane Society, 4500 W.
Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 532083156
www.wihumane.org
www.davidjfrank.com
www.architarium.com
In addition to its innovative garden
and cremation services, the Wisconsin
Humane Society is progressive in its
overall programs, offering community
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
Pet Memorial Gallery
P
ets hold a special place in our hearts, and Kathy Ramsey
of Hansen Monuments & Rock Division in DeWitt, IA,
knows only too well how true this is. She says her company does a lot of pet memorials, but in 2003 the deaths of her
neighbors’ dogs really deepened her understanding of the bond
between people and pets. The neighbors, her good friends, had
been helping her through the grieving process over the death
of her husband in 2003. Toward the end of that same year, the
couple’s two hunting dogs each died within a week as the result
of freak accidents.
“Saddie and Nikki were both the sweetest, most well-behaved,
highly trained hunting dogs,” says Kathy, “and my friends
were heartbroken over their deaths.”
The people-bird connection can be strong, too. Getty, a cockatiel, had died while sitting on his owner’s shoulder. According
to Kathy, the owners came in at least three times before they
were nally ready to discuss his memorial. They had to cut
short each visit because they just couldn’t talk about his death.
Sgt. Geronimo!
Greeley Monument Works in Greeley, CO, did the VA marker
for Geronimo, the famous parachute-jumping dog from
World War II. Geronimo, adopted by Ken Williams in 1942,
was a stray whose mixed parentage appeared to be coyote
and German Shepherd. He became a mascot for the 507th
Parachute Infantry Regiment and would jump with Williams
and sometimes with other members of the headquarters company. Because of his parachuting ability and his draw as a war
bonds sales-dog, he became the second-most-famous dog in
the nation after Fala, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s terrier.
Geronimo helped sell $16 million in war bonds. After World
War II ended, he jumped to promote blood drives. Geronimo
was living with Williams in Denver when he was hit by a truck
and died. His granite memorial was installed on May 25, 2004
at the Denver Pet Cemetery and Crematory.
Because of his prowess as a parachute-jumping dog and his draw
as a war bonds sales-dog, the Veterans Association honored “Sgt.
Geronimo” with a VA marker. Greeley Monument Works did his
marker and one of their bronze artists did a bas-relief of the dog pictured with a soldier. Geronimo died in 1947, but his marker wasn’t
installed until 2004.
On this and the following pages are just a few of the memorials created for pets by MBNA member companies. You can be
sure that there’s a touching story behind each stone. ■
“Saddie” & “Nikki” died within one week of each other as a result of
freak accidents. Memorial by Hansen Monuments & Rock Division,
DeWitt, IA.
22
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
“Wiley” by Hansen Monuments.
It took at least three visits before “Getty’s”
owners could talk about their cockatiel’s
memorial. Memorial by Hansen Monuments.
“Magnum Force” by Hansen Monuments.
Nstone Engraving of Flintstone, GA provides
beautiful laser-etched pet memorials.
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
“Rolex” was made by Mudgett’s Monuments,
Zanesville, OH.
A horse, “Monty – Egg Nog,” was memorialized by Vancouver Granite Works in
Vancouver, WA.
23
“Spider” by Vancouver Granite Works.
“Sir Charles, Jr.” by Vancouver Granite
Works.
“Sammy’s” memorial includes a bronze vase
for flowers. His pet portrait had been taken
by a professional photographer. Memorial by
Mark. H. Bott Company, Ogden, UT.
“Abby” by Pacific Coast Memorials, Everett,
WA.
This memorial by Pacific Coast Memorials
embodies a bit of whimsy.
Memorial for the Weber County K-9 Unit by
Mark H. Bott Company.
Granite urn by
Pacific Coast
Memorials.
“Bailey” and
“Maggie” were
two Labradors
that belonged to
Michael McBride’s
sister. Because they
visited McBride’s
cabin often, they
are memorialized
there with a “natural”
monument. Their
cremains were also
scattered around the
grounds where they
loved to play.
24
Friends in life, a dog and cat are memorialized in a double marker
by Pacific Coast Memorials.
Owners asked Greeley Monument Works to design this elaborate marker for their much-loved “Sumi.”
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
MB University in Print
Keeping OSHA at Bay with
a Written Safety Program
Are you gambling with plant safety by not
ensuring that you have a written safety
program in place that will satisfy OSHA
requirements?If so, you are not only gambling with the safety of your employees, you
are living on the edge and risking having
to pay heavy nes if OSHA representatives
make an unannounced inspection visit to
your workplace.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
was established in 1970 and has since had a major impact on
U.S. businesses. For years, OSHA was intent on enacting regulations, then enforcing compliance with a vengeance. Today,
the Agency is trying to forge a “gentler, kinder” image as an
agent for education and training by encouraging businesses
to become compliant. If you make a request, OSHA will send
someone into your plant to assess where you may be noncompliant and then give you advice on what to do to become
compliant.
As stated on its ofcial Web site, OSHA’s mission today is to
assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting
and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and
education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
The “establishing partnerships” concept is one that owners/
managers may have a difcult time warming up to, but it’s
worth exploring to get on the right track to having a safe plant.
One of the options that’s been specically designed for small
businesses goes by the acronym SHARP (Safety & Health
Achievement Recognition Program). Companies that voluntarily enlist in SHARP get help identifying workplace hazards,
solutions for safety or health problems, assistance in developing and maintaining a safety program, and a one-year exclusion from OSHA programmed inspections, once program
criteria are met.
26
Guidelines for Developing
A Written Safety Program
Putting your safety program into writing is a time-consuming
process, but the end result is worth it. Help is available from
a variety of sources, many of them free. The following points
were extracted from a sample “Guide.”*
Introduction—An introduction should impress upon employees and management that their team effort is important in
improving safety. Employees should be encouraged to work
safely and report all unsafe conditions without fear of reprisal.
Management Commitment—Management is accountable for
the success of the safety program. This section should include
a mission statement that includes such philosophies as: (1) all
injuries are preventable; (2) working safely is a condition of
employment; (3) all operating exposures can be safeguarded;
(4) training for safety is essential; and (5) injury prevention
saves money.
Responsibilities—Outline your own specic list of responsibilities for management, supervisors, employees and safety
coordinator/director (if applicable).
Safety & Health Committees—Your safety program should
include a description of any safety committees that function
within the company. These can include such committees as:
Joint Loss Management Committee; Hazardous Materials
Response Team; Incipient Fire Brigade; First Aid Team; and
an Emergency Contingency Team.
Safety Rules & Regulations—It is very important that specic rules and regulations be adopted concerning the following areas and communicated to everyone in the plant: General
(For example: housekeeping, electrical, machine guarding,
material handling, hand & power tool safety, ofce safety);
Hazard Communication Program; Lockout/Tagout Procedures;
Conned Space Entry Procedures; Bloodborne Pathogens
Program; Hearing Conservation Program; Respiratory
Protection; and Personal Protective Equipment.
Disciplinary Policy—The company should develop and
make known to all employees its policies for dealing with
employees who choose not to comply with established rules
and regulations for safety and health. A sample policy would
include such steps as: verbal warning by foreman or supervisor; written warning placed in personnel le; job suspension;
and grounds for dismissal. The policy should also contain proMB News • Janu ar y 2008
visions for re-training on safety rules and regulations at some
steps because the employee may not have fully understood the
procedures the rst time.
Accident & Incident Reporting & Investigation—The goal
of investigation is to prevent a recurrence, not to nd fault. All
companies should have an established written procedure for
performing accident investigations. Immediate supervisors,
members of the Joint Loss Management Committee and other
designated individuals should perform the investigation to
determine what happened, why it happened and what can be
done to prevent it from happening again. An accident report
form should be established. All supervisors, foremen and
managers who ll them out should be aware of the necessary
information that should be included.
Accident investigations should include the following: (1)
Inspections of the scene by trained personnel; (2) interviews
with witnesses as soon as possible after occurrence; (3)
interviews with the injured party at an appropriate time; (4)
attempts to determine the cause of accidents; (5) reports; (6)
recommendations to keep the incident from happening again;
(7) photographs or sketches of the scene; and (8) samples of
chemicals or vapors, etc., if required.
Training Requirements—All employers must be aware of
the training requirements for their job, as well as the reasons
for such training No one should be allowed to work with any
hazardous equipment or with any hazardous materials until
they have been properly trained.
In emergencies that involve the house re brigade, rst aid
team or hazardous materials spill team, the procedures for
their response must be included in their training, as well as in
the company’s safety program.
Safety & Health Communication—In order to have a successful safety and health program, there must be open lines of
communication between employees and management. Here
are some ways management can inform employees on issues
of safety and health:
• Provide all employees with a copy of the safety program;
• Post notices of safety meetings & the minutes of such meetings;
• Display safety & health signs & posters;
• Distribute company news letters. ■
Next month: Do you need a written Hazard Communication Program?
How to get help from OSHA.
Editor’s note: The concept of MB University is that MBNA has a
responsibility to offer more in the way of education than just a once-ayear seminar at the annual convention. It is the goal of the Education
Committee to provide information on a year-round basis, through
live seminars and printed information in the MB News. This is the
first in a series for 2008. If you have ideas for future articles, please
contact Chairman Ron Bohman, CM, at Genesis Granite (rbohman@
genesisgranite.com).
*MB News thanks Shane Rowe, plant manager at Trigard in Danville,
IL. for providing the information on which this article is based.
About MB University
Here are examples of when training may be required in
your facility: (1) All new employees (2) employees who are
transferred to other departments; (3) managers, supervisors
and foremen; (4) outside contractors entering your facility;
(5) whenever new processes or equipment are added and (6)
employees who volunteer for special duties, such as emergency response team or re brigade.
Emergency Evacuation & Response Plans—All employers,
regardless of size, must establish procedures for dealing with
emergencies such as re, medical, hazardous material spill or
natural disaster. Preparedness is vital. All employees should
know the correct procedures to follow so there will be no
delay in reaction and response. Specic plans for evacuation
should be outlined and practice drills should be planned. All
supervisors, foremen and designated responders should know
their responsibilities.
MB University is THE vehicle for quality educational programs that address the business and design needs of the
memorialist and independent monument retailers. Introduced
at the 2007 Annual Convention in Cincinnati, MB University
expands MBNA’s previous education programs by opening the
door for professionals outside the industry to address topics
that relate to business, such as nance and marketing. Watch
this program continue to develop to help you in your business.
“MB University in Print” will continue monthly in the MB
News.
In the event of a medical emergency, the plan should include:
(1) Who noties the ambulance? (2) Are people trained in
rst aid available on site? (3) Who are the trained people? (4)
Who is designated to meet and direct medical help to the area
where help is needed? (5) Who from management must be
notied? and (6) If an emergency is the result of an accident,
is the area safe?
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
27
John J. Carrigg—Loved & Missed By Many*
By J.M. Lawrence
Globe Correspondent
W
hen John J. Carrigg joined
his family’s monument
business in West Roxbury
in 1955, the Irish Catholic stonecutter soon decided he needed to learn
Hebrew. The Jewish population in the
neighborhood was growing, and Mr.
Carrigg wanted to connect with his
grieving customers, said his son Tom.
became his guide, taking him on eld trips to Mount Auburn
Cemetery in Cambridge and St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West
Roxbury.
Hired to add names to a gravestone,
Mr. Carrigg sometimes discovered
mistakes by other stonecutters: Hebrew lettering carved left to
right, as if in English, instead of right to left.
Family Background
“We made sure we didn’t make mistakes like that,” said Tom
Carrigg, CM, AICA, , a fourth-generation memorialist who
continues Thomas Carrigg & Sons Inc. with his two brothers.
[Tom and Joe live in Jamaica Plain and run the West Roxbury
ofce; and Bill, who lives in Roslindale, runs the Brockton
ofce.]
Strong Ties to Jewish Community
Mr. Carrigg’s ties to the Jewish community grew so strong
that he was named to the original board when the Jewish
Cemetery Association of Massachusetts began in 1984. “I’ve
never found a nicer man who’s more willing to help you,” said
Samuil Manski, who met Mr. Carrigg 35 years ago. Both men
served on the Jewish Cemetery Association board.
When Manski became cemetery president at Temple Emeth
in Chestnut Hill, he knew little about cemeteries. Mr. Carrigg
Mr. Carrigg helped create two monuments purchased for
Temple Emeth. One marks the loss of six million Jews with a
map of Europe and the hometowns of all the members’ loved
ones who died in the Holocaust. The other monument honors
Japanese leaders who gave enough visas to save 3,000 Jews.
Mr. Carrigg, whose surname means stone in Gaelic, was the son
of the late Thomas F. and Mora (Swift) Carrigg of Brockton.
His great-grandfather, Thomas, was from County Clare, Ireland,
and founded the family monument business in 1903.
Mr. Carrigg graduated from Brockton High School and later
from Boston College in 1951. He served in the U.S. Coast
Guard during the Korean War before heading back to Boston
to work at the monument business. His uncle, Jim Carrigg,
opened the West Roxbury location in 1923.
In 1955, Mr. Carrigg took over the management of the family’s West Roxbury ofce business after marrying Catherine
Calter of Brookline. The couple met due to some social engineering by Catherine’s twin brother, Arthur, and Mr. Carrigg’s
younger brother, William, who both attended St. John’s
Seminary at the time. The two friends conspired to arrange a
business meeting at which John Carrigg could talk with the
Calter family about purchasing a monument. Mr. Carrigg sold
the stone and discovered his future bride, family members
said.
John Carrigg’s monument was designed pre-need. Several years ago, Mr. Carrigg responded to his wife’s gentle prodding to choose the monument for their burial
plot. His sons helped design the stone. Monument details: Dakota Mahogany die and base manufactured by Montpelier Granite Works, Inc. in Montpelier, VT. Die:
3’- 8” x 0’ - 10” x 2’ - 8”, all polished. The family name is done in raised 3 /16” polished letters with a tooled background. The hand-carved sculpture of St. Anthony
and child in a 2” niche was done by Eric Oberg in Barre, VT. Base: 4’ - 6” x 1’ - 2” x 0’ – 10”; polished top, rock pitch ends. Photos by Gloria Carrigg.
28
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
The couple reared seven children on LaGrange Street across
from the monument business. When the children got into trouble, Catherine Carrigg sent them across the street to see their
father at his ofce, their daughter, Kathy Butler, recalled.
and brought his children to the club for lessons in the 1970s.
“Although he had ironclad rules for us he always wanted each
of us to nd our own way, our own passions, our own paths in
life,” said his son, Chris of Boston.
Sports Fan
Several years ago, Mr. Carrigg responded to his wife’s gentle
prodding to choose the monument for their burial plot. His
sons helped design a stone with a statue of St. Anthony carved
out of mahogany granite from South Dakota. The back of the
saint is festooned with shamrocks and a Celtic cross to mark
their heritage. ■
Mr. Carrigg became known as the neighborhood father who
rounded the local boys up every week to play hockey, football
or baseball, depending on the season. “He’d put nine kids in
his station wagon, and off we’d go,” said Paul Cannata, head
hockey coach at Milton Academy, who got his rst taste of ice
hockey from Mr. Carrigg.
Mr. Carrigg didn’t try to coach his neighborhood charges
much or referee their play. “He was just there to get us there,
make it fun, and whatever happened, happened,” Cannata said.
“It was a great way to be introduced to different sports.”
*Editor’s Note: John J. Carrigg, father of seven, died October 22,
2007, in Needham, MA at the age of 79. He had suffered from
Alzheimer’s disease and had contracted pneumonia. This edited
obituary was originally published in the Boston Globe on October 26,
2007. The author holds right of publication and graciously gave her
permission for the MB News to republish this tribute.
Mr. Carrigg loved sports, especially tennis. He was a lifetime member of the Sportsmen Tennis Club in Dorchester
Become a Certified Memorialist!®
Document Your Level of Expertise
MBNA’s Certified Memorialist (CM) designation
is the highest honor of professional
achievement available in the memorial industry.
Each candidate must accumulate at least 50
participation points to sit for the certification
exam. The application to become a CM and
Participation Activity Form must be filed with
MBNA Headquarters at least 30 days before
the intended exam date. Candidates must also
sign MBNA’s Code of Good Practice and return
it with the proper documentation.
The exam must be proctored by members of
the Board of Trustees who are CMs, the current
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
Chairman of the Certification Committee, or
an MBNA staff member. The exam is given at
every MBNA Annual Convention and can also
be taken at MBNA Headquarters. If the exam
is to be taken at a State, Regional or Provincial
Association meeting, it is the association’s
responsibility to provide a meeting room and
adequate examination time.
Following successful performance on the
exam, the CM will be entitled to use the CM
designation after his/her name on all forms
of business correspondence. Each CM also
receives a lapel pin and plaque.
29
Industry News
Monument Builders:
Beware of Internet Pirates!
Internet piracy is now a very real threat to monument builders. Like identity theft, the problem is compounded because it
can easily go undetected for a long period of time. Here’s an
account of a battle that is still currently in process between an
MBNA member in good standing and Internet pirates who are
located out of the country:
The member has invested a signicant amount of time and
money into developing a Web site presence. To check its
effectiveness, he regularly does a “Google” search (or other
search engine) of his company name. In early December,
he was shocked when he ventured ve or six pages into the
search results and discovered that his entire Web site had
been copied. Respondents to his “contact us” page were being
directed to a different company.
The member’s rst course of action was to contact the offending company and insist that they stop using his Web site for
promotion of their company. Their initial response was that
they had paid an IT person for work regarding the Web site.
Reading between the lines, the MBNA member deducted that
they had no intention of removing their contact information
from his pirated Web site.
While persisting in badgering the company to stop their
actions, the MBNA member also made a plea to MBNA to
send a letter to all members, identifying the rogue company
and the retailers and wholesalers they represent. When the
Chairman of MBNA’s Consumer Complaints Committee, Jed
Hendrickson, CM, AICA of Santa Barbara Monumental Co.
and Executive Vice President Tom Monahan, CAE, checked
into the situation, the offending Web site had already been
removed.
At once relieved, the MBNA member is frustrated again
because the piracy re-occurred in mid-December.
While the offense was committed by stone dealers who are
doing business outside North America, making legal recourse
difcult, it is feasible that piracy can also be committed by
unscrupulous companies in North America . . . just like identity theft.
Ounce of Prevention
What should you do to protect your Web site? (1) Check it
regularly, as this member does, by querying his company
name on search engines. (2) Report any inappropriate Web site
behavior to search engines. Complaints are taken seriously
and will be investigated (which may take three to six weeks).
If the complaint is validated, the search engine will ban the
entire domain from its index. (3) Alert MBNA, which will
write letters to the offending company in your behalf and also
alert other MBNA members not to do business with the companies in violation of copyright laws. ■
Editor’s Note: MB News had to go to press before this issue could
be resolved. Be sure to read the News next month for a further
unfolding of the problem and the solution.
30
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
Monument Builders on TV
“A Cemetery Special”
On PBS
Rock of Ages Corporation was recently featured on the
History Channel’s hit show, Modern Marvels. The segment
“ROCKS” is based on the importance of rocks in our everyday
lives. The show visits the Johnson Space Center in Houston,
TX to examine moon rocks to determine how the planets
were formed and the age of the solar system. Viewers see how
marble and granite are quarried, cut and polished, blasting at
a gravel pit, and watch ore turn into steel. The segment also
shows how the heat harnessed from rocks in the geysers of
Northern California creates energy for 85,000 homes.
Check your local PBS for the next showing of this celebration
of cemeteries across America. The hour-long documentary
takes an unusual and informative look at gravesites,
monuments, family plots, sculpture, and the way cemeteries
interconnect with many aspects of modern American culture.
Some of the places visited include Cypress Lawn in San
Francisco, CA; Key West (they call attention to the famous
epitaph, “I told you I was sick,” B.P. Roberts, waitress); Lake
View Cemetery in Cleveland and its celebration of “Daffodil
Sunday”; Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, where novelist
Margaret Mitchell and golf great Bobby Jones are buried; and
Brick Hill in Fairbanks, AK. ■
Rock of Ages was featured in the documentary and was able
to showcase its world-class quarries and quarrying technology.
Of particular interest were its deep hole quarry methods and
advanced quarrying techniques.
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History Channel
The hour-long episode was expected to be seen by an
estimated 30 million viewers on its rst nationwide airing on
December 3. Additional broadcasts will occur throughout the
next two years. ■
HGTV’s reZONED—As this issue
of the MB News went to press,
HGTV planned to air its film
on Dan and Kaye Carlson and
their business/home (Carlson
Memorials) on December 19.
Watch for Segment 507 in the
re-runs.
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
31
Industry Calendar
JANUARY 2008
10 & 11 – MBNA Board Meeting
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD
8 - CANA Crematory Operators Certification
Program
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Sciences
Pittsburgh, PA
11 - 13 - Mid-Atlantic Monument Builders
Convention & Expo
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD
For info & updates: www.mid-atlanticconvention.com
19 – 20 – MBNA Executive Committee Meeting
Nylo Hotel, Plano, TX
10 - 13 - MBNAConvention
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD
For info & updates: www.monumentbuilders.org
13 – MBNA Board Meeting; State Meetings; New
Board Orientation
Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD
31 - February 6
OGR Special Purpose Symposium
Barbados
FEBRUARY 2008
15 - 16 - New England Monument Dealers
Association, New York State Monument Builders
Association, Connecticut Monument Builders Guild
& Massachusetts Monument Retailers Association
Full Exhibit - Holiday Inn Boxborough
242 Adams Place, Boxborough, MA
Contact: David DeFilippo +1.617.387.5058
JUNE 2008
19 - 21 - Monument Builders of the Southwest 64th
Convention
Hilton/Houston NASA Clearlake (suburb of Houston),
Houston, TX
Contact: Sammie Peters, MBSW Sec./Treas., 308 Greenleaf
St., Ft. Worth, TX 76107; +1.817.332.2689; [email protected]
JULY 2008
Date TBA: Mid-America Monument Builders
Convention
Crown Center, Kansas City
Contact: Ruth Bell, CM, AICA
[email protected]
18 - 23 - ICCFA University
Fogelman Executive Center, University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
19 – 20 – MBNA Executive Committee Meeting
Westin Hotel, Indianapolis, IN
MARCH 2008
6 – 8 - California Monument Association & Pacific
Northwest Monument Builders Association
Bahia Resort Hotel, 998 West Mission Bay Dr., San Diego
For info: www.californiamonument.org
6 – 8 - CFSAA Winter Seminar
Marco Island Hilton, Marco Island, FL
26 - 29 - ICCFA Annual Convention & Expo
San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA
APRIL 2008
4 – 6 – Ontario Monument Builders
Kingston, Ontario
Contact: Doug King
[email protected]
32
31 – August 2 - Rocky Mountain Monument Builders
Convention
Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main St.
Salt Lake City, UT (P: +1.800.453.9450)
Contact: Michael McBride, CM
[email protected]
AUGUST 2008
July 31 – August 2 - Rocky Mountain Monument
Builders Convention
6 – 9 - CANA 90th Annual Convention
Le Centre Sheraton
Montreal, QC, Canada
MB News • Janu ar y 2008
SEPTEMBER 2008
3 – 7 - Central States Regional Convention, hosted
by Monument Builders of Iowa
Des Moines Marriott (Downtown), Des Moines, IA
Contact: Alan Carlyle CM, Secretary (P: +1.712.263.2248)
Members of the Funeral & Memorialization
Information Council (FAMIC)
American Monument Association
www.imsa-online.com
11 – 13 – Monument Builders of the Carolinas
Crown Reef Resort Conference Center, Myrtle Beach, SC
Contact: Cathy LedBetter, President ([email protected])
Casket & Funeral Supply Association of America
www.cfsaa.com
OCTOBER 2008
Funeral Service Foundation, Inc.
www.funeralservicefoundation.org
22 - 25 - ICCFA Fall Management Conference
Ritz Carlton, Naples, FL
JANUARY 2009
23 - 26 - Monument Builders of North America
Convention & Show
Westin Hotel, Indianapolis, IN
Editor’s note: Please send information on important events to Sylvia
Heidemann, Editor ([email protected]).
Cremation Associaton of America, Inc.
www.cremationassociation.org
International Cemetery Cremation
& Funeral Association, Inc.
www.iccfa.org
International Order of the Golden Rule
www.ogr.org
Monument Builders of North America
www.monumentbuilders.org
National Concrete Burial Vault Association, Inc.
www.ncbva.org
National Funeral Directors Association, Inc.
www.nfda.org
National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc.
www.nfdma.com
2008 Editorial Calendar
FEBRUARY
MAY
Develop a Web Site Presence—The Internet is not
something to be feared, but rather embraced. It is a
remarkable technology tool that can bring you new
business—from your local community and across the
country. Learn how to develop and maximize your
company’s presence on the Web, from A to Z.
Civic & Veterans Memorials—There’s a high demand for this
type of work, and the money is good. Get your foot in
the door of this market by reading how other monument
builders are getting the business. Bonus: Some of the
best in civic and veterans memorials, created by MBNA
members.
MARCH
JUNE
You Are There—Highlights of the 2008 Annual
Conference—Lots of photos and coverage so complete
that you can re-live the event. If you didn’t attend, you’ll
wish you had, and will mark your calendar for January
23 – 26, 2009, when MBNA hosts its convention and full
monument display in Indianapolis.
Hand Texturing—Many monument builders are returning
to old technologies with new insights for achieving a high
level of personalization on a monument. Tips on how to
apply these techniques and examples of great results.
APRIL
When Disaster Strikes—In most cases, you can’t prevent
disasters, but an ounce of preparedness can help keep
your business afloat in the wake of a flood, fire or tornado.
Tips on how to protect your physical plant, your records
and more from MBNA members who’ve experienced the
worst.
MB News • J a nuar y 2 0 0 8
INVITATION TO MEMBERS & ADVERTISERS
We invite you to participate in the development of these
special features for all our readers in 2008. Share your
ideas and information. If you can contribute photos, tips,
anecdotes or provide some good leads, please contact
Sylvia Heidemann, editor (+1.800.233.4472 X103;
[email protected]).
33
Classified Advertising
Advertisers in This Issue
Bicknell Supply Company ........................................21
POSITION WANTED
Shop position; 20+ years’ experience in layout,
design, shapecarve, sandblast, setting. Limited
computer layout & design.
Please submit inquiries to:
MBNA Headquarters
Attention: Blind Box Ad #1-1-08
P.O. Box 917525
Longwood, FL 32791-7525
Eternally Remembered ...................Inside Back Cover
Fewell Monument .......................................................5
Granite City Tool Co .................................................13
Haoyuan Stone ..........................................................15
Hirons Memorial Works, Inc. ..................................23
Hug-Stems®, LLC ...................................................14
MBNA Memorial Protection Program .....................17
Miles Supply ..............................................Back Cover
Monument Creator/Big Rock Enterprises ................25
Paradise Pictures, LLC................... Inside Front Cover
PSM—The Picture Specialist for Memorial ...............7
QT Equipment ...........................................................30
Rock of Ages Corporation .......................................20
Rome Granite .............................................................9
Trigard Bronze ........................................................ 11
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
WANTED!
Elberton, Georgia-based importer/manufacturer
seeking sales representatives with established
relationships with monument dealers, funeral
homes, cemeteries, and builders to market our
imported granite products.
Representatives are needed in all markets
serviceable from Elberton, GA. Great
opportunity, excellent commissions, strong
marketing, support.
Please submit brief resume´ & inquiries to:
MBNA Headquarters
Attention: Blind Box Ad #1-2-08
P.O. Box 917525
Longwood, FL 32791-7525
MB News Advertising Rates
Classified & Marketplace
Classified ads are limited to Help Wanted, Used Equipment for
Sale, and Businesses for Sale. All other ads will be considered
Marketplace.
CLASSIFIED RATE
$35 per ad (one-time publication) with a maximum of 50 words.
Each additional word is 25 cents.
MARKETPLACE RATE
$80 per ad with a maximum of 50 words. Each additional word is
30 cents.
CONFIDENTIAL REPLY
Additional $5 charge for postage and handling. Note: When
responding to an ad with a box number, please write the box
number on the actual letter you send AND on the outside of the
envelope.
ALL CLASSIFIED & MARKETPLACE
ADS MUST BE PAID IN ADVANCE
All ads must be received at least three weeks prior to publication
date, with a check for the amount due made out to MB News.
MAIL TO:
MBNA, MB News Classified
900 Fox Valley Dr., Suite 100
Longwood, FL 32779-2552
34
MB News • Janu ar y 2008