NCBVA

Happy summer everyone! As we put 2020 in the rear view, I’m sure we are all ready for some normal interaction. I just attended the New Hampshire Funeral Directors Association summer meeting. It was so nice to see faces and shake hands again. Let’s take a minute to appreciate the challenges you have all had to meet during this unprecedented time. Your staff adjusted to new rules and found new ways to remember loved ones, while staying safe.

Are you taking advantage of all the membership options available to you? Be sure to check in with our quarterly conference calls with Poul (no it’s not a typo) LeMasters. Poul always offers unique legal perspectives of issues effecting our businesses.

The board is currently working on updating the certification specifications. Please take the time to get certified; it’s beneficial and you might learn something new!!

Please enjoy the rest of your summer, and take time for yourselves and your family.

Sincerely,

Jeff Hardy

As infection rates drop across the country, health officials recommend lifting most COVID-19 restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated. Following this guidance, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Current CDC considerations for gatherings for non-vaccinated people are as follows:

• Wear a mask.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from people who do not live with you.
• Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Wash your hands.
• Get vaccinated.

NCBVA feels the following services are low risk and safe to resume in areas with low COVID cases and/or high vaccination rates.

• Setup and handling equipment including grass, tents, chairs, lowering devices, dollies, etc.
• Tent poles and sidewalls
• Chair covers and lap blankets
• Water cooler service

We realize everyone will do what they think is best for their company to meet the needs of their local area. This document serves as the NCBVA position and what we, as a unified voice representing all major brands, are recommending for the burial vault industry. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF YOUR STATE AND LOCAL GUIDELINES WITH WHATEVER OPTIONS YOU IMPLEMENT.

During COVID, some board member terms expired, and we welcomed new members to replace those vacancies. In addition, the executive team changed as well, as it does every two years. The executive team is comprised of Jeffrey Hardy, President (Hardy Doric), Dan Welzenbach, Vice President/Secretary (Wilbert Funeral Services - Grandview, MO) and Greg Tilley, Treasurer (Ideal Burial Vault).

Four affiliate directors, Jim Wiens (Doric Products), Dave Long (Eagle Funeral Products), Blake Swinford (Trigard/Grenwood Plastics) and Terry Whitlock (Wilbert Funeral Services Inc.) remain on the board as well as directors Steve Handley (Handley Precast Systems), Brett Henery (Wilbert Vaults of Houston), and Paul Cooper (Cooper Vault). Lisa Anderson (Peacock Marketing Group) remains the organization’s executive director.

New directors include Kyle York (Wimmer Burial Vaults), Dan Welzenbach from (Wilbert Funeral Services) and Bruce Delle Chiaie (Whitman Vault Co.) More about the newest members may be found below.

Kyle York has operated Wimmer Burial Vaults since 2012. Wimmer, a New Castle, Indiana-based company, has been in Kyle's family for 16 years. Kyle is also the owner of HD Williams, a concrete reinforcement and burial vault supply company. Kyle recently launched Vault Wrx, a software system that allows for online ordering and scheduling of burial vaults and vault settings. In addition to his work in the burial vault industry, Kyle owns a local sports store and is the varsity head football coach for New Castle High School. Kyle and his wife Jessica have three children.

Dan Welzenbach started with Wilbert Funeral Services in May of 2006 overseeing burial and vault operations in the state of Missouri. He is currently Sr. VP of Wilbert company-owned manufacturing operations in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and North and South Carolina and has direct oversight of all monument operations and retail shops, including 5 cremation facilities and 8 Signet Supply Casket centers. Prior to this, he spent 21 years in home improvement and commercial retail while living in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Kansas. In his career, Dan enjoyed the opportunity to grow and learn new things, however, the most important thing he holds dear is the people he has met along the way. He resides in Lenexa, Kansas with his wife Amy and daughter Isabelle (13).

Bruce Delle Chiaie is the third generation to operate Whitman Burial Vault, based in MA. Their company has used innovative burial vault designs to develop a network of over 100 franchises for 60 years. Whitman Vault is a family operation, operating at the same location for 30 years. In addition to manufacturing burial vaults, Whitman has a casket division called Commonwealth Casket as well as a columbarium and lawn crypt division called Watertown Engineering. Bruce and his wife Julie have 3 sons: Zachary, Evan, and Trey. Zach and Evan are currently employed by Whitman Vault and looking to be the 4th generation to run the facility.

An article by Poul Lemasters, NCBVA Legal Counsel

First the big question. Is it Workers’ Compensation, workers’ comp, work comp, or workman’s’ comp? OK, that may not be the biggest question, and in fact it does go by a lot of names. Basically, workers’ compensation is a state mandated system that is meant to protect employees and employers (yes - it was really designed to help employers too).

• It offers protection to employees by providing medical expenses and lost wages for employees hurt on the job.
• It protects employers by providing coverage if an employee sues for injuries.

Each state regulates its own workers’ comp program, and sets rates based on various preset factors such as type of industry as well as a business’s claim history or experience rating. And of all the basics of workers’ comp, it is important to understand that workers’ comp is a no-fault system. This means that if someone is injured in the ‘course and scope of employment’ then workers’ comp insurance will cover the claim. Yes - this means that even if someone is negligent - it is still covered. Basically. But there are always exceptions, and this article looks at a few specific areas to provide a more detailed understanding. It may not cover everything - but it will give your business some understanding on a few areas that may affect you, especially in the wake of COVID. Read more

NCBVA members have access to the recording of the Workers Comp Q&A conference call through the members only page. Email us if you need access.

NCBVA Certification is valid for 5 years. When did one of our experienced Concrete Specialists last visit your vault plant? View the directory to see if your plant is up to date with certification. FYI - if you are a Doric plant, Doric HQ will cover the certification costs (except for $125 cylinder testing).

Read complete details or contact info@ncbva.org to schedule a certification visit.

Certified plant? Let your customers know about it! Request the new Certified Plant logo now and add it to your vehicles, website, and/or other marketing materials.

Add the new NCBVA Member 2021 logo to your website. Send us an email and we will respond with the logo, ready to insert to your marketing materials.

View all 2021 members.

Every major brand affiliation of concrete vault manufacturer is represented as a member of the organization. As an association, the NCBVA represents groups that provide 90% of all outer burial receptacles interred within the boundaries of its membership.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN:

• 3 articles/year on a trending legal topic
• 3 Q&A conference calls with NCBVA legal counsel
• Ready-to-use legal templates such as:

- the disinterment legal form
- the social media policy sample
- the employee handbook including a write-up of the 10 key elements

- the job application form

• Access to NCBVA plant certification program with a concrete specialist
• Quarterly email updates on industry news and education
• Unified voice of the industry to address industry regulations

Single-Site Membership - $450

Vendor/Supplier - $450

Multi-Site (manufacturing) Membership - $1,000

Download/Print a copy of this newsletter and share it with others who may be interested.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to a colleague. They can join NCBVA or sign up for upcoming communication on the NCBVA website.

Email: info@ncbva.org
Website: http://www.ncbva.org
Location: PO BOX 8314 | GREENVILLE SC, 29604
Phone: 888-886-2282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ncbva

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