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Become a Member

To Become a Certified CCUS Member

Becoming a member is for those who are serious about becoming a full-fledged member who wish to be educated and knowledgeable in all 6 of the CCUS basic standards of cemetery preservation. And to be willing to learn more on the subject, even if you are not going to practice methods beyond the 6 basics. Being a truly good conservator will take time through lots of different situations and experiences. If this is what you would like to achieve, let us help you get started.

Being a CCUS certified member is a commitment to cemetery preservation done in the “do no harm” manner with the best ways possible by adhering to a set of cemetery preservation standards set forth by the CCUS. This is accomplished with historical techniques and materials that we have collected. This is done with the best current information we have available from a variety of credible sources for you to reference and assist you in this goal. It means to strive to stay current with these standards as things do change from time to time in product, method, and procedure. It also means to do what you can to educate yourself and others about this type of historical preservation. We are an educational nonprofit organization, so education is at the center of what we do. And it means steering clear of using, exercising, or teaching the unsound harmful methods, of which there are many.

Why we formed the CCUS

Cemetery Conservators for United Standards was formed with two main purposes in mind. Firstly to educated the public and promote safe non-damaging do no harm methods for cemetery preservation. We take this responsibility very seriously and expect our members to as well. And so, in order to educate each other and the public at large, the CCUS has put together a set of standards and preservation doctrine based in science and expert national park guidelines. Secondly this organization was formed to expose the harmful methods, practices, and products being used and touted in the field of cemetery preservation/restoration. We concentrate, educate, and put out the word on these methods and those that use them as strongly as we do when promoting, teaching, and advising on the do no harm methods.

Some mandatory items

Members must join Facebook in order to connect to the CCUS private CORE conservator group of conservators and become a member of the CCUS closed public group. It’s how we communicate with each other and share our ideas and information with each other. A large involvement on Facebook is not required by the member. But being able to access our private CORE group is crucial for the latest information on what we are doing as an organization. It’s where you may be tagged for important information and CCUS policy changes and upcoming events. Most importantly, it’s where you can ask conservator questions among colleagues and piers who will help in any way they can. It is your conservator support system.  

Advantages to being a CCUS conservator member

The advantages of being a CCUS member are many. In being a member you become part of a family of cemetery conservators all working toward the same goal of do no harm preservation. This in turn provides a support system of good science based common sense advisement and help from other CCUS colleagues. It also helps to promote not only good preservation practices in this field, but advertises and promotes you, the member’s personal work and business. You will be officially listed on the CCUS website as a cemetery conservator from your area and state. This lends you a great deal of credibility to practice cemetery preservation.

Taking classes and attending workshops

At this juncture we’d like to say we cannot stress enough the importance of taking a CCUS class or workshop on cemetery preservation held by one of our members. Please look for these on our website and our Facebook page for latest places and times. There are actually a lot of cemetery preservation related types of classes held all over the country. But not all are created equal by any means. Some are pretty good and instruct the same or similar things we do, and some teach very destructive methods. We encourage anyone to attend other such classes and workshops to see for themselves what methods, procedures, and most importantly, what products are being used. Please use our website as your guide to knowing the differences about these methods, procedures, and products. You will find links to better explain and guide you on this subject at the bottom of this page. Please visit them to better understand what others are teaching.

Gaining certification and becoming certified

What we have come up with concerning certification and proof of knowledge and experience, is a two tier system based on proof of experience, knowledge, and tenure as a member. The highest degree of certification would be full certification. The second highest would be associate certification.

 

Full Certification: this will be given after we have set up our several days to week long certification class and decided on the location and yearly time for this. There are two alternatives to this class to gain full certification.

1…working one on one with a CCUS member who is already fully certified over the course of several days. A criteria list of what must be taught and covered will be provided at that time and will match the criteria already established for our comprehensive training program. Training will last a minimum of three full days in the field.

2…through proven experience and good knowledge that the member has already gained before joining the CCUS. If a member has already had good experience and knowledge, can show they adopt and practice the do no harm CCUS doctrines, and can get through a year probationary period as a CCUS member, then they are eligible for an honorary full certification.

We still highly desire the member if at all possible to connect with a fully certified member for one on one or to attend a full certification class when they become available. We feel this is the best way to ensure we are all on the same page. But, we realize that it is not always possible for everyone to do this due to financial, time, and travel constrictions upon the individual.

Once you have reached this full certification level, you become a full CCUS approved conservator. Think of this seal of approval like our version of the good housekeeping seal. It shows you have gained enough knowledge combined with the commitment to do what is right in the field of cemetery preservation. It puts you in a network alongside others who are doing the same thing, and shows you are supported by the others in this network. And it provides a “go to” place for those seeking cemetery preservation through a credible source in their area of the country.

 

Associate Certification: this will be given to those members during their probationary period who have proven their knowledge and experience covering the 6 CCUS basics of cemetery preservation.

1…You must have good provable explanatory photographic evidence that you know, understand and practice all 6 of the basics to receive the associate certification. This will be reviewed by and approved by CCUS board members or the five person CCUS review board.

These are the 6 BASICS and only the VERY BASICS.

These basic standard techniques are as follows.

1…CLEANING…Learning proper grave marker cleaning with a safe & gentle biowash product, such as D/2 or Prosoco ReVive.

2…THE SIMPLE 2 PIECE TABLET & BASE SOCKET…Learning how to reset a marble tombstone in a sandstone base by leveling the base & mortaring in the tombstone with a lime mortar.

3…TABLET SET…Learning how to dig a level a slot in the ground & use the rule of 1/3’s to set a simple tablet type tombstone. This procedure is also the way similar upright military markers are placed.

4…EPOXY…Learning how to clean, align, & fix a broken tablet with a proper epoxy meant for cemetery restoration.

5…SMALL MULTI PIECE MONUMENT RECONSTRUCTION…Learning how to use the tri-pod, hoist, & straps to disassemble the monument, clean it, level it, & reassemble it.

6…INFILL INSTRUCTION…Learning the final touch to tombstone & monument repair. It’s basically the fine lime mortar used to fill in cracks & aesthetic damage when the repairs are finished.

The application for getting started and being a certified CCUS conservator

Everyone who wishes to apply for being either an associate or fully certified conservator begins with our CCUS application. Below is what you will be asked to provide. Please be as thorough as you can in answering the questions and submit good pictures. You may be asked a few additional questions during this process. These are generally for clarification, so the more thoroughly you fill out the application the better. We have formed a 5 person screening committee made up of 5 certified CORE members that will review all applications. After the review is completed a determination will be made and you will be notified of the results. At this time we will e-mail you our CCUS agreement and CCUS membership guide to being a member.

What you will be asked

CCUS CORE Cemetery Conservator Member Candidate Questions

Have you had prior cemetery preservation training?

If so, with whom and when?

Do you perform preservation work as a hobby or for pay?

If so for pay, do you have a business and does it have a website &/or Facebook page?

How long have you been performing preservation?

What product or products do you clean grave markers with?

Please provide a couple of pictures of your cleaning process

How do you make repairs to broken stone grave markers?

Do you use epoxy in your repairs?

If so, what type and brand of epoxy?

Please provide a couple of pictures of your repair process

Do you use lime mortars in your preservation work?

If so, what type or brand of mortar?

Please provide a couple of pictures of your mortar process

Do you reset/re-stack and level multi-piece monuments?

Do you adhere the pieces together when resetting/re-stacking them?

If so, what do you use to adhere them together with?

Please provide a couple of pictures of this process

 

Here is the link to our downloadable pdf of the application. Again, please fill it out thoroughly and submit good pictures.

Our e-mail is cemeteryconservators@gmail.com

 

Things others will tell you to adhere stone together with

https://cemeteryconservatorsunitedstandards.org/pro-vs-con/bonding-agents/

Some cleaners others may tell you are safe “do no harm” cleaners

https://cemeteryconservatorsunitedstandards.org/pro-vs-con/cleaning/