Memorial Garden
Policies and Procedures
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Blacksburg, VA

1. PURPOSE AND USE OF THE GARDEN: The Memorial Garden shall be maintained as a long-term repository for cremains in columbarium niches. In addition, there are places for memorial bricks (henceforth “pavers”), and for the scattering of cremains. The Memorial Garden is intended to be a peaceful area for meditation and remembrance, so therefore use of the Garden is limited to religious and approved social occasions. The use and care of the Memorial Garden and related files are subject to the control of the UUC Memorial Committee.

2. ELIGIBILITY AND OWNERSHIP: The cremains of any past or present UUC member or friend, as defined by the bylaws of the UUC; the spouse or partner of a member or friend; parents or children and others who, in the opinion of the UUC Memorial Committee, have a sufficient connection to the Congregation, are eligible for placement. Reservation of a niche or a paver and payment of the established fee entitles one person, the Subscriber, to the privilege of use but not the right of ownership. The Subscriber, the executor of the will, spouse or close family member may make the request to inter or scatter cremains. An interested member or friend may contact the UUC Memorial Committee if he or she wishes to request modified financial arrangements.

Niches must be assigned and pavers approved by the UUC Memorial Committee. Engraved pavers will be placed in the area designated by the UUC Memorial Committee. All Memorial Garden columbarium niches and memorial bricks remain the property of the UUC.

3. SUBSCRIBER RESPONSIBILITIES: The Subscriber Checklist for Cremains Interment or Scattering delineates the steps to be taken by the Subscriber. Note that the following must be received before cremains may be placed in the Memorial Garden: a copy of the Death Certificate, which is presented to the Liaison Officer of the Memorial Committee (filed permanently in the Memorial Garden records) and a Memorial Garden Proof of Purchase for the Right to Inter Cremains or the Right to Scatter Cremains. Subject to the rules and regulations existing at the time of any designation or change, the Subscriber shall retain the right and authority (1) to designate or change the designation of the eligible person or persons whose cremains shall be placed in the niche or scattered, subject to the consent of the UUC Memorial Committee, and (2) to designate or change the designation of the person who, upon the Subscriber's death or incapacity, shall have such right and authority. That designated replacement will henceforth be referred to as the Subscriber.

4. RESERVATION OF NICHES: Niches for the interment of cremains of eligible persons may be reserved upon payment of the fee in effect at the time of reservation. In the event of a group reservation, individual contracts for each person's reservation are required. Upon the death of a person who is to be memorialized, rights under the contract become part of his or her estate.

A reservation may be canceled in writing, addressed to the UUC Memorial Committee, in which event a refund of 1/2 of the amount paid will be made to the Subscriber or to his or her estate. Thereafter, the niche or space will be made available as an unassigned space. The Subscriber must notify the UUC Administrator of a current address. In the event that the UUC is unable to contact the Subscriber at the address given, by action of the UUC Memorial Committee the reservation may be cancelled without refund.

At the option of the Subscriber, the niche reservation may be transferred to another vacant niche. The original Proof of Purchase will be exchanged for one with the new niche number.

5. SCATTERING: If preferred, the cremains can be scattered at a location determined by the UUC Memorial Committee. A 4x8 inch paver is included in the cost of scattering cremains. An 8x8 inch paver is available at additional cost.

6. CERTIFICATE: Each Subscriber shall receive a copy of a Memorial Garden Certificate at the time of interring or scattering cremains.

7. INSCRIPTIONS ON NICHE NAMEPLATES AND ON PAVERS: Lettering on niche nameplates and pavers will be uniform in style, but may be reduced in point size for longer names. The Paver Order Form and the Columbarium Niche Faceplate Caption Form include instructions specifying the number of lines and characters per line.

8. MEMORIAL REGISTRY: A Subscriber is entitled to prepare a registry biographical page for the individual whose cremains are to be interred or scattered. This page will be included in the Memorial Registry. The Registry is kept in the Memorial Garden cabinet (near the Minister's office) and may be displayed for events or services at the discretion of the UUC Memorial Committee. The Registry is available for Subscribers to view as an aid to preparing biographical information.

Each memorial in the Registry allows up to two single-sided pages of written or printed material. Materials for inclusion in the Registry may not measure more than 8.5X11" and may consist of a biography, an obituary, poetry or other writings, and photograph(s). Entries will appear chronologically by date of interment or scattering.

9. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DISCLAIMER: The UUC will endeavor to protect and conserve the cremains, their receptacles, and the pavers, both before and after they are placed in the Memorial Garden, but it shall have no responsibility for failure to do so. The Subscriber understands that the surrounding congregational grounds are used for many purposes.

Specifically, the UUC reserves the right to move all or part of the Memorial Garden to a different site, if necessary. The Subscriber agrees and understands that cremains, whether interred or scattered, are not recoverable.

10. FEES AND CHARGES: Fees may be modified at the discretion of the UUC Memorial Committee. See the Memorial Garden Fees page for the current fees.

11. MEMORIAL FUND:All funds received for reservation of niches, scattering rights, pavers and costs of establishment of the Memorial Garden or its maintenance shall be deposited in the Memorial Garden Fund, which shall be administered by the UUC Treasurer subject to UUC Board direction.

12. UUC MEMORIAL COMMITTEE: The purpose of the UUC Memorial Committee is three-fold:

1. To maintain and enhance a memorial garden space for UUC;
2. To establish a permanent record of gifts to the Congregation; and
3. To provide opportunities to honor and memorialize those dear to members and friends of the Congregation.

The Committee shall:

• Maintain appropriate records of the subscribers, niches, pavers, and persons whose ashes are interred on the grounds;
• Assist persons recording biographical data in the Memorial Book;
• Approve eligibility and appropriateness of memorial garden items;
• Oversee garden maintenance; and
• Include a summary of financial inflow and outflow in its Annual Report to the Executive Board.

Links for all documents and forms mentioned above can be found on the
UUC Memorial Committee Home Page
(URL https://www.uucnrv.org/memorial_committee/index.html).

Approved July 8, 2010. Updated August 30, 2011: number of members on committee; June 1, 2016: number of meetings a year — at least quarterly to semi-annually; December 5, 2018: number of meetings a year — at least semi-annually to annually; January 19, 2019: reformatting and reorganizing; August 12, 2021: Incorporated the revised UUC Policies & Procedures description of the Memorial Committee.