MBNews / August 2018 / 1
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WHAT’S Inside 4
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Richard L. Martin
MBNews EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
MBAdvocacy A Glimmer of Hope for Market Equity With the Archdiocese
EC Liaison – Matt Worthington Worthington Monuments matt@worthingtontx.com EAB Chair – Alison Raymer, CM Emerson Monument Company alison@emersonmonument.com Dustin Anderson, AICA Dakota Monument Company dustin@dakotamonument.com
Designers Corner Subtle Beauty
Marc Arntzen Gem City Memorials, Inc. gemcitymemorials@sbcglobal.net
By Troy Caldwell, CM, AICA; Michael Feinberg, CM;
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and Terry Joy, AICS
Barre Granite Association and Vermont Granite Museum Insights Granite Fest 2018 By Doug Grahn and Scott A. McLaughlin
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North American Quarrying Insights Material Certification Assures Consumers Sustainable Stone
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Donald A. Mounce, APR +1.800.233.4472 X-473 mbnews@monumentbuilders.org
PRODUCTION MANAGER
By Marilyn Harris-Davis, JD, MBNA Advocate
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EDITOR
Perry Giles, CM Giles Monument Company, Inc. perry.giles@gilesmonument.com
MONUMENT BUILDERS OF NORTH AMERICA
136 South Keowee Street Dayton, OH 45402 +1.800.233.4472 FAX +1.937.222.5794 info@monumentbuilders.org www.monumentbuilders.org
HEADQUARTERS TEAM Kimberly A. Fantaci Executive Vice President +1.800.233.4472 X-106 info@monumentbuilders.org
By Kathy Spanier
Krista Saul, CPA Accounting Manager +1.800.233.4472 X-107
Elberton Granite Association Insights OSHA Issues Final Rule on Silica Exposure By Matthew Pruitt
James Perry Association Executive +1.800.233.4472 X-104
MBNA Design Contest
Cassandra Shaffer Association Manager +1.800.233.4472 X-115
Industry News
Rebecca Nelson Events Manager +1.800.233.4472 X-113
Industry Calendar/New Members
Tina Schneider Chief Administrative Officer +1.800.233.4472 X-101
Classified Ads
ON THE COVER
The Coldspring quarry in Milbank, South Dakota, achieved NSC 373 certification in April, 2018. Read about how this material certification program developed by the stone industry can help assure consumers of sustainable products on page 18 of this issue.
Mission To define and promote memorialization in a viable, innovative and diversified way for the membership and to enhance the awareness of memorialization by the general public and the remembrance industry.
POSTMASTER – Send address changes to MB News, 136 South Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45402. Telephone: +1.800.233.4472 Fax: +1.937.222.5794 E-mail:info@monumentbuilders.org Web: www. monumentbuilders.org Closing date: Four weeks proceeding date of publication. We reserve the right to accept or reject any advertising or editorial material. Subscription rate is $70 annually for members, which is included in the annual membership dues. The rate for non-member subscriptions or additional subscriptions requested by MBNA members is $125 a year. Single issue price is $12. ©2018 Monument Builders of North America
MBNews (ISSN 0192-2491) is published monthly with the Buyer’s Guide in April by Monument Builders of North America (MBNA), 136 South Keowee Street, Dayton, OH 45402. Periodical postage-paid at and additional2018 mailing offices./ 3 MBNews Dayton, / Ohio August
By Marilyn Harris-Davis, JD, MBNA Advocate
A Glimmer of Hope for Market Equity With the Archdiocese In the past year, I have received several complaints about religiously-owned cemeteries that sell memorials and monuments and compete with our MBNA members. The cemeteries owned by the Archdiocese in various states are, generally, the ones selling to consumers who bury their loved ones in a Catholic Cemetery. This practice, however, is not a universal one. Some states do it differently. I find it disturbing that the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan, admitted on social media that they use two outside monument companies which gives them a 25 percent return for each marker that they bring into Catholic cemeteries. The Diocese is, literally, seeking ways to impose fees such as staking fees, administrative fees, and final inspection fees to deter outside monument companies from selling in their cemeteries. However, their consideration is to waive those fees for the two companies that give them the 25 percent. This information was revealed on the Catholic Cemetery Conference website. In Chicago and Maryland, the Archdiocese sells Catholic Cemeteries Package Plans in which the memorial is included in the selection price. However, memorials can be purchased from on outside monument dealer chosen by the lot owner. In these cases, the cemetery pours the foundation, and the charge for that is part of the consumer’s bill from the monument dealer. 4 / August August2018 2018 // MBNews MBNews
Regulation Frustration One of the frustrating factors that we face when dealing with religiously-owned cemeteries is that they are not regulated by most states. In other words, if one of our members goes to the state regulators for assistance with a Catholic Cemetery exercising anti-competitive practices, the regulators cannot impose any fines or sanctions upon them. This has to do with the age-old concept which references the separation of church and state. We know that the tax-exempt status of the church gives them a distinct economic advantage. The Catholic Church, however, insists that they are only selling to their congregation and members of their faith. There is no system to monitor that marketing practice and, consequently, the church cemeteries may end up selling monuments to family members and others in the general public. We need to investigate strategies in each state to curtail these practices. Marketing Strategies A case in Newark, New Jersey, has shed some light on strategies that may be employed in our respective states to address the issue of an un-level playing field or market inequity with religiously owned cemeteries. This case took several years to finally land on the side of the monument builders, but it did. Several years ago, the Archdiocese began “the inscription rights program,� in which the church
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provided the monument, inscribed it, and retained ownership of the monument so that the church could use those funds for perpetual care. In 2013 they expanded “the inscription rights program” to include selling the monuments, again making the argument that the funds were needed to care for the cemetery in perpetuity. After monument sales in New Jersey began to decrease substantially, The Monument Builders Association of New Jersey took action. They brought suit against the Archdiocese. Two Catholic parishioners wanting to purchase from the church joined in the battle against the Monument Builders, and the Archdiocese prevailed in state court. However, The Monument Builders Association of New Jersey regrouped and made another plan. In 2016 they went to the legislature and submitted a bill to ban religious cemeteries from selling monuments statewide.
August
Maintaining Opposition The Monument Builders Association spoke to several senators and delegates until someone listened. Senator Diane Savino of Staten Island introduced the bill, saying, “This bill levels the playing field between commercial monument makers and the religious organizations that don’t pay taxes and have ready access to customers.” Roman Catholic officials in New Jersey appealed to a federal judge to challenge the legislation. However, in March 2018, Judge Michael Shipp rejected their challenge, and the Archdiocese of Newark said it was ceasing its efforts to challenge the law. Officials of the Archdiocese said in a statement that, “This law punishes both the church for seeking to exercise its ministry, and parishioners for seeking to exercise their freedom of choice to select a memorial provider.” Perhaps we have more in common than we know! As monument builders, we too, seek freedom of choice for our consumers, but we also seek market equity. Let’s hope that the decision in New Jersey to ban the sale of monuments by religiously-owned cemeteries can provide a legislative roadmap to facilitate changes in other states and in North America. MB MBNews / August 2018 / 5
MBNews has acquired a library of drawings from historic archives developed and consolidated by Charlie Hunt, FAICA, as well as AICA publications and other industry sources, with special thanks to Katie Gast and the Gast Family for their assistance in the preparation and development. In order to promote the art of creative design for the memorial industry, MBNews will display a handful of these images regularly in the magazine and ask memorial professionals to make comment on what makes them good, or maybe even not so good. This issue, we offer the comments on some monument designs from: Troy Caldwell, CM, AICA, of Caldwell Monument Company in Kokomo, Indiana; Michael Feinberg, CM, of Milano Monument Company of Cleveland, Ohio; and Terry Joy, AICA, of Joy Monument Company in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Thelman Design Troy Caldwell, CM, AICA: The Thelman design is simplistic at first glance. However, as you study it further you discover the subtle beauty and intrigue that it has to offer. The way the floral carving conforms to the triangular shape on each end combined with the taper toward the front center leads the eye to the focal point. The focus in the center is declared with the two Greek symbols Chi Rho on one end and Alpha & Omega on the other end. These symbols speak to the Christian faith of the Thelman family while still enhancing the beauty of the design with the diamond shape areas that contain them. The engaged lettering
Designers Corner…Subtle Beauty in the horizontal lines further declares their faith and hope in eternal life while connecting the design elements and keeping everything in balance. If individual names and dates need to be added to this memorial, I would suggest a dramatic drop wash on the top of the base. This beveled look on the base would complement the bevels on the face of the tablet. It would also allow the names and dates to be engraved on the top of the base without distracting from the family monument. I would also suggest a bolder Family name typestyle to increase visibility of that important aspect of the monument. It could even be moved to the top center as a raised letter in a recessed background panel that has angles that are parallel to the angles on the end. Michael Feinberg, CM: Great balance, very symmetrical. Wellproportioned and unique. It has good rhythm. The repetitive pattern is nicely done. Simple but elegant. I feel this provides emphasis on the verse that is tied together to the design elements on each end of the tablet. It is very appealing to the eye. Simple shape but a creative way to show symbolism. In The Multitude Design Caldwell: This design could be a fun designer’s lesson. See how many design details you can name? Did you find 5 details or 10 details? I started making a list and here is what I came up with: ● Cross – Christian faith ● Chi Rho – Christian faith ● Alpha & Omega – Christian faith ● Acanthus – Eternal life ● Church Window – The shape symbolizes commitment to the church ● The two triangles pointing up – These draw your eye toward their faith in Christ and their hope in heaven
● The
scripture reference - Speaks of their hope in eternal life in Heaven ● The recessed background – Draws your eye to the central focus of the symbols of faith while elevating those same symbols ● The scotia around the top – Lifts your eyes up toward Heaven instead of just having a straight corner that is a stark ending point ● Whatever you noticed that I overlooked. Sometimes in designing with symbols you can be subtle and just put a cross to show Christian faith. Other times, it may be appropriate to layer symbols like they have in this design to add interest to the overall monument. Sometimes you can whisper the message and sometimes you can declare it loud and clear. All of this to say, I like this design very much. It is balanced and in good proportion. It tells the main story that they wanted it to tell while still maintaining a beautiful composition. I certainly would not recommend adding anything more. Feinberg: This was nicely done, well-balanced, and symmetrical. The proportion is ok, maybe the leaf design could be slightly smaller. MBNews / August 2018 / 7
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Designers Corner…Subtle Beauty scripture reference are It flows nicely in rhythm. Feinberg (The Just Will Shine) The placed above the name A little unusual to show symbolism and verse emphasis and the giving them prominence. the “P” tilted like this. unity are appealing to the eye. I also like the dates of The cross and the chi rho emphasis in the Caldwell (Thelman) These symbols speak significant life events being added to tell more of center at the top depicts of the Christian faith of the Thelman a family with a strong family while still enhancing the beauty of Harold’s life story. I would suggest a faith. It has good unity, the design with the diamond shape areas is well-balanced and that contain them. The engaged lettering couple revisions to this design if I were asked. I pleasing to look at. It in the horizontal lines further declares also has nicely shaped their faith and hope in eternal life while would suggest the number of Christian symbols in acanthus leaves and the connecting the design elements and the circle be reduced beveled area behind keeping everything in balance. and simplified. It looks them. cluttered and busy in that space. I would also suggest a reduction in the size Marcotte Memorial Caldwell: A monolithic tablet. This has become of the lettering. It appears to be too large too rare in our monument designing these days. which leaves insufficient white space on the monument. It works well on this monument. The tapered ends give it a strong stable Terry Joy, AICA: The simplicity of appearance. The exaggerated oval top with this memorial design truly defines a check and a scotia help to draw the focus elegance. Every design element has toward the circle that holds the symbols of a purpose within the layout and Christian faith. The scripture; family name; and each element works in harmony to name & dates are left and right justified to establish balance and a focal point. form parallel lines to the tapered ends. Notice there are five design elements within I like that the Christian symbols and the
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Designers Corner…Subtle Beauty this composition; the contour of the tablet, Chi Rho with Alpha Omega monogram, bible verse, family name and inscription. Each element has been assigned a specific location and purpose. Two splendid examples of how two design elements working together in harmony is noticeable when paying attention to the contour of the tablet being wider at its base with the ends tapering slightly inward as they rise upward meeting a decorative top that perfectly frames the monogram medallion. Also, the lettering size, purpose and placement of “Marcotte” is brilliant it acts as a balancing point within the design. It has been placed with the top of the name being located just under the tablet’s vertical center line measurement and is being used to establish two defined areas. The upper area containing the bible verse and the lower area the inscription. This organizes the design and allows us to identify the information easily. The beauty and grace of this memorial design is found in the details with other notable design nuances that should be noticed. The placement of the monogram medallion is not centered within the circumference of the tablet’s contour instead it has been slightly elevated. The bible verse, family name, and inscription have been margined to parallel the ends of the tablet. With each first letter being taller the weight of the bible verse, family name and inscription has been slightly off set towards the left, this feature adds design interest and a since of left to right motion. Delancey Design Caldwell: This design has a simplistic shape with straight lines and good proportion. It starts off good. However, the design and layout seem cluttered and unfocused. I would totally change this design if I were asked. Here are some of the changes I would suggest: ● Move the cross to the top center. If it has to have equal length cross arms then it should be within a square shaped focal point area. If the
cross can be more vertical then it would work better on this shape to have a vertical cross. ● The symbols around the cross should complement the cross not distract from it and overpower it like they do now. ● The verse should be below the cross or on both sides of the lower part of the vertical arm of the cross. ● The family name needs a more prominent place with adequate white space around it so that it is visible. ● The names and dates should be moved to the drop was on the top of the base or the front of the base. ● All of the symbols and lettering should not be forced into the one big frosted panel like they are now. ● The rectangular panel could be achieved by tapering back the sides around the rectangle to elevate the rectangle which draws the viewers eye toward symbols and lettering that are the priority. This would also be a subtle connection to the drop wash on the top of the base. The Just Will Shine Design Feinberg: Simple but elegant – good balance. I feel it is well proportioned and nicely done. But, I do not like the Omega symbol. The symbolism and verse emphasis and the unity are appealing to the eye. MB MBNews / August 2018 / 11
The Vermont Granite Museum
By Doug Grahn and Scott A. McLaughlin, Ph.D.
The Barre Granite Association (BGA) hosted their second annual gathering of monument retailers and BGA members on June 8 and 9, 2018, to celebrate the granite history of the region. Retailers from the Mid-Atlantic States (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West
Virginia) and Ohio participated in this year’s festivities. The event was initiated last year to share ideas and provide insights on the technological advances and capabilities of the BGA members and the current needs of monument retailers around the country. It allowed a perfect opportunity for retailers to visit with the manufacturer members of the BGA, to learn more about how the granite industry in Barre could benefit their retail customers, and to discover more about the history of the Vermont Granite Industry and why Barre is often referred to as “The World Center of Memorial Art.” Activities and Festivities Nearly 200 people attended the two-day event, which began on
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the first day with monument retailers visiting the plants of BGA memorial manufacturers, the Rock of Ages quarries, and the new BGA office, now located in the Vermont Granite Museum in Barre. The second day was filled with activities at the Museum all afternoon and early evening. Shuttle bus services moved people from their hotel to the Granite Museum, and included a wood-fired pizza lunch, a catered BBQ dinner, live music and dancing, and a day of family entertainment. During the visit, guests could view the Museum exhibits and attend sandblast, stone cutting, and hand-cut lettering demonstrations, as well as discuss sculpting with Vermont experts. Monument retailers also had the opportunity to view the BGA’s new promotional video “Quality Lasts Forever,” which showcases the dedication to craftsmanship, as well as latest technology being utilized in the local industry. The event also included a bus tour of Hope Cemetery in Barre, with the entertaining and insightful guide Ilene Gillander. The cemetery is renowned for the superb granite craftsmanship of its historic memorials and showcases the MBNews / August 2018 / 13
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artistry and attention to detail of master craftsmen of the past and present. History of Barre The Barre Granite Association (BGA) is comprised of 19 Barre-area granite quarriers and manufacturers of memorials and other granite products, as well as other businesses that provide products and services related to the granite industry. The BGA provides national public relations and marketing, collective bargaining and industrial relations, as well as industry research, educational programs for its members, in addition to government and regulatory representation on a state and national level. “The discovery of super-hard Barre Gray granite in 1881 paved the way for the Barre, Vermont area to become the premier source for the best gray www.michels.us
Continuing the Tradition of Anderson Brothers & Johnson (AB&J) Your Source for Domestic Red Granite
Only NSC 373 Certified Quarrier offering granite. Our granite is perfect for: • monuments • sculptures • countertops
• tiles • armor stone • crushed stone
14 / August 2018 / MBNews
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granite on earth,” says BGA Executive Director Doug Grahn. “Since 1889, our members’ unmatched craftsmanship has proven to be the world’s gold standard when it comes to creating the finest granite memorials and civic and public monuments. If your imagination can conceive a creative piece needed in granite, our members will find a way to do it, and we have a 4,000year supply of the best granite to work with.” Vermont Granite Museum The Vermont Granite Museum, which has been in the making since the mid-1990s, is housed in the 1895 Jones Brothers granite manufacturing plant in Barre. It was founded by a coalition of over 300 Central Vermont citizens as way to preserve the story and memories of our community’s granite industry. Over the past three years, the museum has accomplished a great deal, including completing facilities projects, producing exhibit content, and offering public and private events. The building was acquired and renovation begun in 1997. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and last year entertained over 3,000 visitors,
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with those numbers expected to double this year. Although the museum’s mission is to “preserve and interpret the history of Vermont’s granite industry,” the museum attempts to place the workers, tools, technologies, and products of the industry into context. For example, the granite industry was an economically important industry not only to Barre but also many of Vermont’s communities along the eastern side of the state. Those that immigrated to Vermont to work in the granite industry saw personal economic incentives, but they also forever altered the cultural and political fabric of Vermont’s New
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associations around the country, who have inquired about hosting their next association meeting in Barre at the Granite Museum facility. Doug Grahn encourages any association interested to contact him directly to learn more. “The Granite Fest events over the past two years have given us the experience and expertise to assist other associations in tailoring meetings to fit their needs and budgets. “And, in addition to all the activities we planned over the past two years, the Central Vermont area is filled with other activities, including Vermont’s capital, the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory, Stowe, the Trapp Family Lodge - with ties to the “Sound of Music”...and so much more!”
England roots. These economic effects of Vermont’s granite industry have and continue to extend well beyond the state’s boundaries thanks to the relationship the manufacturers have with the nation’s memorial dealers. The goal of the museum is to help visitors understand these complex and lasting relationships between the businesses, communities, and families that make and sell Vermont granite products. Annual Event The events of the past two years have generated significant interest from monument 16 / August 2018 / MBNews
Barre’s Future “We wanted to reinforce and expand our market posture and heritage to the attendees, letting them know that the Barre granite industry was alive and well and globally competitive,” says Grahn. “We have a long history of providing the best stone and craftsmanship in the world. The work of BGA artisans has earned its status as a premium brand. As with other popular Vermont products like maple syrup, ice cream and cheese, our products may not be the least expensive, but the quality is second to none. That’s an especially important factor when purchasing a monument you want to last forever.” Part of the celebration was to highlight
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not only the history of the local craftsmen in Barre, as showcased by the Hope Cemetery tour, but also what Barre is doing to reinforce that position for the future through the Barre Granite Association and the Vermont Granite Museum. MB About the Authors and Organizations: The Barre Granite Association and the Vermont Granite Museum are located at 7 Jones Brothers Way in Barre, Vermont. Visit their websites at www. barregranite.org and www.vtgranitemuseum.org. Doug Grahn is Executive Director of the Barre Granite Association, and he has over 30 years of marketing and advertising experience and has held senior management positions with national and global companies. As a marketing consultant, he has also assisted a wide array of businesses and nonprofit organizations. Grahn can be reached at +1.802.476.4131, or at dgrahn@ barregranite.org. Scott A. McLaughlin, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Vermont Granite Museum, and has over 30 years of experience working as an archaeologist, historian, and museum professional in Vermont. He can be reached at +1.802.476.4605, or at director@vtgranitemuseum.org. MBNews / August 2018 / 17
For years, the stone industry has either not reported or selfreported its practices related to sustainability, but the new standard requires third-party verification – confirming authenticity.
More than ever before, sustainability is a top concern for today’s educated consumer. It seems everyone from the college co-ed to the Baby Boomer-retiree wants to know if the products they consume are produced in an environmentally responsible manner. For these increasingly environmentally conscious consumers, material certification is becoming more important to reassure them best practices are being followed. Product labels abound, declaring the contents inside are environmentally friendly. The stone industry has responded with its own material certification program. Now, a third-party verified standard for natural dimension stone helps clearly identify which stones are produced in an economically, environmentally and socially responsible manner. Known formally as ANSI/NSC 373 18 / August 2018 / MBNews
By Kathy Spanier
Sustainable Production of Natural Dimension Stone, the standard represents a great achievement for the stone industry and the result of years of planning. Natural stone companies across the country have begun certifying their quarries and verifying their sustainable practices, providing memorial and monument builders with the information needed to encourage the sustainability-focused consumer. Years in Development In 2014 the Natural Stone Council (NSC), a collaboration of businesses and trade associations to promote the use of natural stone, established the rigorous and voluntary standard to determine the degree to which natural dimension stone is extracted and processed sustainably. But sustainability is not a new concept in the stone industry.
NSC 373 includes a set of well-defined environmental, ecological, socially responsible and human-health metrics for extracting and manufacturing natural dimension stone At industry-leading quarriers and fabricators, environmentally responsible practices have been in place for years. Many companies in the stone industry have a long history of good stewardship of the land and the material production process. Third-party verification definitively establishes the credibility of these practices. The standard was accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Many in the building industry are familiar with ANSI, an organization that oversees the creation and use of thousands of guidelines and norms in the United States. ANSI provides third-party verification to the standard’s development and establishes the standard’s credibility. The NSC developed ANSI/NSC 373 with assistance from third-party organizations Ecoform of Knoxville, Tennessee, and NSF International of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to determine the environmental effects of how stone is quarried, transported and processed.
The standard includes a set of well-defined environmental, ecological, socially responsible and human-health metrics for extracting and manufacturing natural dimension stone. It provides a method for improving baseline environmental performance for stone. Ultimately, ANSI/NSC 373 has a goal of educating key members of the design and building professions the value and benefit to them of incorporating certified stone into projects. As design teams consider the benefits of certified stone, they should realize ANSI/NSC 373 is a cradle-to-gate standard. It applies to quarry operations through final fabrication. While the standard doesn’t measure any lifecycle impacts when stone leaves the fabrication facility, it does allow designers and specifiers the opportunity to look more closely into the manufacturing process in their examination of a product’s life-cycle assessment. What’s more, natural dimension stone producers in MBNews / August 2018 / 19
both domestic and international markets can participate in ANSI/NSC 373 – an important criterion in today’s global marketplace. Rigorous Process When stone companies seek ANSI/NSC 373 certification, a third-party such as NSF International supervises the rigorous certification process. The first step is a document review, followed by an on-site audit. A desk audit is verified by the site audit prior to the administration of certification. To achieve certification, companies must achieve points in numerous areas of stone production, including: ● water
usage and recycling;
● custody ● site
and transportation of the stone;
and plant management;
● land
reclamation and adaptive use;
● corporate ● energy
governance;
usage and conservation;
● management
of excess process materials and waste; safer chemical and materials management; worker health and safety; and,
● optional
innovation credits.
In each of the above categories, companies earn points toward achieving a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level certification. In addition, the certification is site-specific and companies with multiple quarries must have each location evaluated separately. As a continuous improvement certification program, re-certification takes place every three years. Years two and three of certification include a surveillance review with a documentation review only, and year four involves an on-site audit in addition to the documentation review for recertification. Companies can upgrade to a higher level of certification at any time. The standard also includes a companion Chain of Custody (NSC COC) program to further elevate the process. NSC COC traces the stones as they travel from the quarry to processing and through the supply chain and ultimately to their journey’s end. Each organization handling the stones at each step along the way must be COC certified, conforming to the COC standard, for the stone to retain certification. Products achieving COC
Reclamation plans that explore options such as turning dormant quarries into parks or prime swimming destinations are required to maintain certification in the stone industry’s NSC 373 program.
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certification will have the “Genuine Stone” logo, making these products a preferred choice for responsible consumers. Merits of Stone Certification Now that stone has a sustainability standard, consumers can know with certainty that the stone they’ve selected – whether imported from another country or from the project’s own backyard – is produced in an environmentally sustainable manner. What’s more, the standard will help the marketplace clearly distinguish which natural stones line up with project goals. The standard will also help clarify certain misconceptions in the industry. In general, the marketplace doesn’t understand the difference between mining and quarrying, especially when it comes to current quarry operations and best practices. Most natural stone quarries have a small footprint as compared to the mineral extraction process. In most cases, quarries have operated in one location for many decades, creating material for thousands of residential and nonresidential construction projects in that small footprint. Beyond its ability to bring clarity to some misconceptions, perhaps the standard’s biggest benefit is third-party verification. For years, the
The NSC 373 standard determines the degree to which natural dimension stone is extracted and processed sustainably.
To achieve certification, companies must achieve points in numerous areas of stone production, including water usage and recycling.
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stone industry has either not reported or selfreported its practices related to sustainability, but the new standard requires third-party verification. For quarriers and fabricators, this third-party verification is a key component of the process because it confirms authenticity. The Sustainability Assessment for Natural Dimension Stone marks a great achievement for the stone industry. Now is the time for stone companies to take the journey of certification to show the world natural stone’s credibility in an increasingly sustainability-conscious design world. As more consumers look for certified stone, the entire industry will reap the benefits. Awareness of this important product designation will be generated, and the bar will be raised for stone production and fabrication across the globe. MB Kathy Spanier is the NSC Sustainability Committee Chair and Director of Marketing at Coldspring, where she leads the development and implementation of marketing strategies and plans to meet corporate objectives. Kathy has actively been
involved in: formation of the NSC Sustainability Committee serving as the Chair; Stone Certification initiative; Executive Board Member of the Natural Stone Institute; Chair of the Women in Stone Steering Committee; market associations -Member of USGBC national and MN; CSI national and MN; AIA continuing education provider; ASLA national, and International Living Future Institute (ILFI). She also serves as a Discussion Leader for the Anderson Center Marketing Forum in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Since 1898, Coldspring has served the architectural, memorial, residential and industrial markets with all types of natural stone, bronze, and industrial and diamond-tooling products. With headquarters, a primary manufacturing facility and bronze foundry in Cold Spring, Minnesota, the company has operations across the country, including 30 quarries and several fabrication facilities. Coldspring’s in-house services and support such as drafting, design, BIM, and project and construction management contribute to creating unique customer solutions. To learn more about Coldspring, visit www.coldspringusa. com.
Coldspring’s Journey to Sustainability Demonstrating commitment to sustainability, key leaders at Coldspring were involved in the creation of ANSI/NSC 373. When the standard was in place, they began the journey of certifying operations to NSC 373 standards. They achieved NSC 373 certification in 2016 for their primary manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Cold Spring, Minnesota, as well as three quarries. Their Charcoal (St. Cloud, Minnesota), Mesabi (Babbitt, Minnesota), and Rockville (Rockville, Minnesota) quarries received Platinum certification. Most recently, they achieved NSC 373 certification in April, 2018, for their Milbank quarry in Milbank, South Dakota. The Milbank operation produces Carnelian and Prairie Brown varieties of granite. This material has been used on projects throughout the country, including the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C., Denver Union Station in Denver, Colorado, and the Banks (Smale Riverfront Park) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Consumers who specify these products can be confident that they’re produced in an environmentally responsible manner and will meet sustainability goals. Their Sustainability Committee continues to steer efforts toward achieving NSC 373 certification at additional operations.
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ELBERTON GRANITE ASSOCIATION I N S I G H T S By Matthew Pruitt
OSHA Issues Final Rule on Silica Exposure Do you cut, saw, polish, grind, sandblast, etch or break stone in any way? If you answered yes, there’s a good chance this new rule affects your business. Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth’s crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone. Respirable Crystalline Silica is made up of very small particles (at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand) that are created when stone is broken, cut, crushed, etc. As an employer, you are required to protect yourself and your employees from silica exposure. Over exposure to silica has the potential to lead to silicosis, an incurable lung disease. OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica standard for general industry and maritime requires employers to limit worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica and to take other steps to protect workers. New Rule Requirements: ● Assess employee exposures to silica if it may be at or above an action level of 25 µg/m3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air), averaged over an 8-hour day; ● Protect workers from respirable crystalline silica exposures above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day; ● Limit workers’ access to areas where they could be exposed above the PEL;
● Use
dust controls to protect workers from silica exposures above the PEL;
● Provide
respirators to workers when dust controls cannot limit exposures to the PEL;
● Use
housekeeping methods that do not create airborne dust, if feasible;
● Establish
and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers; Offer medical exams including chest X-rays and lung function tests - every three years for workers exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year;
● Train
workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure; and
● Keep
records of exposure measurements, objective data, and medical exams.
General industry and maritime employers must comply with all requirements of the standard by June 23, 2018. Additional provisions will follow. Medical surveillance must be offered to employees who will be exposed at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year starting on June 23, 2020 Matthew Pruitt is Executive Assistant To The Vice President at Elberton Granite Association, P.O. Box 640, Elberton, Georgia 30635. He can be reached via email at pruittm@elberton.net, or via phone at +1.706.283.2551. MBNews / August 2018 / 25
MBNA announced the winners of the Awards Competition at the recent MBUniversity Event. Every member is able to submit entries into multiple categories, and there were nearly 200 entries this year. The winners were featured in the May 2018 issue of MBNews and we will continue to showcase other entries throughout the year in MBNews. Make sure to plan during this year to enter your work in the 2019 contest. Information can be found at www.monumentbuilders.org.
Entries from the Public Civic Memorials Category
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Entries from the Public Civic Memorials Category
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Entries from the Public Civic Memorials Category
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Entries from the Public Civic Memorials Category
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I N D U S T R Y Gold Star Families Memorial Park Dedicated Grove City and the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation dedicated the Grove City Gold Star Families Memorial Park in that Ohio community in June of 2018. At the heart of the park is the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, which was built by Modlich Monument Company. Modlich collaborated on the design of the monument with the Foundation, and the monument company performed all of the etching work — turning the giant slabs of black granite into a memorial that is the focal point of the new park at the intersection of Broadway and Columbus streets in Grove City, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. Since the monument was unveiled on Memorial Day 2016, Modlich Monument Company continued to work with the city and the foundation on the rest of the pieces. Modlich built the benches and created the
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service medallions in the latest phase of the park’s construction, and the company also crafted the title marker that sits on the ground between the two benches and explains the monument’s meaning. The monument, seven feet tall and 14feet long, is separated into four panels that highlight the themes of homeland, family, patriot and sacrifice. One side shows the Gold
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Star Families logo, and that side is uniform to all of the other Gold Star Families Monuments in the country. The other side has images etched into the granite, and those images are unique to each community in which a monument is installed. Moylan Honored by the New York Landmarks Conservancy Richard J. Moylan, President of The Green-Wood Cemetery, was recently honored by the New York Landmarks Conservancy for his visionary leadership on the occasion of the Cemetery’s 180th anniversary. The Conservancy ensures that New York’s historically and culturally significant buildings, streetscapes, and neighborhoods
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continue to contribute to New York’s economy, tourism, and quality of life. Moylan, who began working at Green-Wood as a grass cutter 46 years ago, worked his way up the management ranks, while earning his law degree, and was ultimately named President in 1986. His tireless commitment to historic preservation has transformed the Cemetery into an important public green space and cultural destination. Trigard Adds New Marketing Director Ethan Darby is moving to Marketing Director at Trigard in Danville, Illinois, after serving as Vice President of Business Operations & Customer Service Manager for the past six years. A fourthgeneration member of the Darby family to work at the family business, Ethan is an Illinois State University alumna with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Trigard regularly hosts Trigard University, a program dedicated to assisting burial vault dealers and funeral directors by providing the necessary tools to make their firms succeed in today’s funeral industry. For more information about our memorialization and vault options or any of our other products, call Customer Service at +1.800.637.1992 or visit their website at www.trigard.com. MB MBNews / August 2018 / 31
I N D U S T R Y C A L E N D A R For additional industry calendar dates, we encourage you to go online and visit: https://www.monumentbuilders.org/builders_calendar.php
AUGUST 2018 04-09 National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association Annual Convention Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center Hotel Kissimmee, FL Contact: NFDMA Staff +1.770.969.0064 nfdma@nfdma.com www.nfdma.com 09-11 Florida Monument Builders Association Annual Convention Plaza Resort & Spa Dayton Beach, FL Contact: Don Ray | +1.850.385.7790 donrayoffice@comcast.net SEPTEMBER 2018 12-14 Monument Builders of the Carolinas, Tennessee Monument Builders Association, Kentucky Association of Memorial Dealers Combined Annual Convention Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort Cherokee, NC Hosted this year by MBOC Contact Steve Carroll, MBOC President 336-983-4995 info@carrollmemorials.com 18-21 Catholic Cemetery Conference Annual Convention Hilton Cincinnati Netherlands Plaza
Cincinnati, OH Contact: CCC Staff +1.708.202.12424 info@ catholiccemeteryconference. org www. catholiccemeteryconference. org 22-25 American Institute of Commemorative Art Annual Convention Casa Monica Resort and Spa St. Augustine, FL Contact: Jed Hendrickson, CM, AICA +1.805.886.8384 jed@monuments-aica.com www.monuments-aica.com
NEW MEMBERS RETAILER MEMBERS Jackson County Vault & Monuments Contact: Linda A. WilliamsHusted, President 3424 Highway 90 Marianna, FL 32446 PH: +1.850.482.5041 FX: +1.850.526.3606 TF: +1.866.265.3232 Email: jcvc@digitalexp.com Web: www.jcvc.net Stone Centre, Inc. Contact: Garth S. Nelson, CMM, President/Owner 620 Bridge Street, East (Kitchener) Waterloo, ON N2J 4G8 Canada PH: +1.519.743.3511 FX: +1.519.743.3965 Email: nelson1909@msn.com Web: www.monumentmaker.ca
OCTOBER 2018 14-17 National Funeral Directors Association Int’l Convention & Expo Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT Contact: NFDA Staff +1.770.969.0064 info@nfda.org www.nfda.org
BRANCH MEMBERS Palmer’s Panhandle Monument Company Contact: Staci Harriger 402 South Beltline Highway West Scottsbluff, NE 69361 PH: +1.306.635.8151 Email: staci@palmermonument. com Web: www. nebraskamemorialsinc.com
FEBRUARY 2019 08-10 MBNA Annual Industry Show America’s Center St. Louis, MO Contact: MBNA Staff +1.800.233.4472 info@monumentbuilders.org www.monumentbuilders.org
Vancouver Granite Works, Inc. Contact: Joey Fuerstenberg, CM, Owner 415 West Marine Drive Astoria, OR 97103 PH: +1.503.791.5674 FX: +1.360.694.1832 TF: +1.877.826.4726 Email: info@vancouvergranite. com Web: www.vgwastoria.com MBNews / August 2018 / 33
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Index to Advertisers
Bicknell Supply Co. ................................................. 31 Dakota Granite......................................................... 22 Flowers for Cemeteries........................................... 30 Gemini........................................................................ 8 Granite City Tool ..................................................... 10 Hyatt’s....................................................................... 30 MBNA Monument Industry Show ............ Back Cover Michels..................................................................... 14 Miles Supply Company.............................................. 5 Paradise Pictures, LLC....................Inside Back Cover Precious Souvenir......................... Inside Front Cover U.S. Metalcraft, Inc. ................................................. 24
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