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About TheCemeteryClub.com
TheCemeteryClub.com celebrates the art and history of cemeteries across the country and even the world. TheCemeteryClub.com recognizes the importance of education and cemetery preservation. This site is also the online homebase for Epitaphs Magazine and the non-fiction book, "Cemetery Walk," by Minda Powers-Douglas.
While TheCemeteryClub.com is not necessarily a club per se, it is a place where people with interests in cemeteries can come together. Thanks for visiting! Please join our Yahoo Group list to become part of our community.
Minda Featured in News Article 10/30/08
An article on Minda Powers-Douglas and her new book "Translating Tombstones" has been posted on the website for the Argus/Dispatch based in Moline, Ill. Read it here:
Update on Epitaphs Magazine Issue #8
A Note from the Editor Epitaphs Magazine issue #8 is in progress and will be out soon. In order to keep it cost effective for you, this issue will have a full-color cover with black-and-white inside pages. Lulu.com has raised their prices on color printing substantially and also raised their shipping and handling charges. It's disappointing, but I'm working with it as best as I can until I decide whether to move to another publisher. Once the cost per issue is determined, I will post it.
Thanks for your continued support! -Minda (11-18-08)
Minda's Personal Christmas List
It's almost here, everyone. Thanksgiving is just over a week away, and Christmas is soon to follow. Now the question is, what the heck to we get for the people on our lists?
That answer is easy (for you, at least): - "Cemetery Walk" - "Translating Tombstones" - Epitaphs Magazine issues - TheCemeteryClub.com items (see below) - Tastefully Simple
Is that too self-promoting? ;-)
Well, in the upcoming issue of Epitaphs, you'll be able to read the reviews of a number of cemetery books. We've at least double the usual amount in this issue. So you don't need to JUST buy "Cemetery Walk" this year.
As for what I want, my present came early this year and will officially arrive on Jan. 20: A brand new president!!!! Hooray!!!!!
Minda's New Book is Released! Translating Tombstones It seems like I've been working on this book forever! And now it's finished! It's a whole different story writing a book with a toddler in the house. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm very pleased with Translating Tombstones: Your Guide to Symbolism and Meaning in the Cemetery." It began as a small guidebook and turned into a full-blown book. And you get to benefit!
Here's what it's all about (from the back cover): "A dove? An anchor? A book? A skull and crossbones? You can find these and many, many other symbols on tomb-stones, but what do they mean? Cemeteries are fascinating places places filled with history, art and meaning. The symbols carved on tombstones say a lot about the people who once lived and are now buried in our eternal parks. This book will explain the meanings behind the symbols and help you understand the special language of tombstones."
The book is an 88-page soft cover in 6x9" format for easy carrying in your tote. To order your copy, send a payment of $18.95 ($15 for book, $3.95 s/h) via PayPal to minda@thecemeteryclub.com. You may also send a check or money order to: Minda Powers-Douglas, PO Box 1163, Moline, IL 61266-1163. If you live outside the U.S., please e-mail minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com for shipping costs (PayPal only for international orders, please). For a sneak peek at the book, click on the cover.
Chippiannock Wins 75 Trees ... Thanks to You!
This fall, Chippiannock will receive 75 trees, which will go far in replenishing those lost in the July windstorm. Thank you to everyone who voted in the Modern Woodmen/WQAD-sponsored Plant-A-Tree contest.
Chippiannock Cemetery located in Rock Island, Illinois, suffered greatly from the destructive storm on July 21. At least 125 trees were destroyed, and the damage is estimated at about nearly $100,000, which is the cemetery's budget for an entire year.
Volunteers Still Needed for Clean-up Adult volunteers and youths ages 12 and older (with responsible adult) are still needed to help pick up branches and limbs lying throughout the cemetery and stack them along the roadways. Volunteers may stop during business hours to offer assistance. If your organization would like to schedule your own volunteer day, call the cemetery at (309) 788-6622.
If anyone is interested in volunteering as a group as part of TheCemeteryClub.com, please e-mail Minda at
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
Epitaphs Magazine #5,6,&7 are Available
Epitaphs Magazine issues #5,6 and 7 are still available. They may be purchased through this site or via Lulu.com. If you purchase more than one issue, you will save on shipping. (Note: these issues come directly to you from Lulu.com.)
Order here
Gravestone Rubbing Classes at Oakdale Memorial Gardens
The LAST gravestone rubbing class of the season will be held at Oakdale Memorial Gardens in Davenport, Iowa. Ten percent of gravestone rubbing class proceeds goes to Oakdale Memorial Gardens as a fundraiser to help repair the park’s roads.
Established in 1856, Oakdale Memorial Gardens, located at 2501 Eastern Avenue in Davenport, is one of the oldest cemeteries in the Quad Cities. Oakdale is the resting place of a variety of local historic figures, including legendary jazz musician Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke, watercolor artist Paul N. Norton, the first female public school principal and superintendent in the United States and first female professor at the University of Iowa Phebe Sudlow, members of the founding family of chiropractic and Palmer College of Chiropractic, and author Alice French (who published under the pseudonym Octave Thanet).
- Saturday, Oct. 18 - 9-11 a.m.
To register, call Deb Williams at Oakdale Memorial Gardens at (563) 324-5121. Registration deadlines are one week prior to the class date. Minimum of five people per class; 15 maximum. If you have any questions, e-mail Ms. Powers-Douglas at minda.epitaphsmag@ gmail.com.
Each class costs $30 per person (which includes a full gravestone rubbing kit). Previous class participants are welcome to attend again for FREE, provided they bring along at least one other paying classmate.
TheCemeteryClub.com Gravestone Rubbing Kits each include: - 2 handmade wax rubbing cakes - 3 sheets rubbing material - 1 natural bristle brush - 1 roll masking tape - Protective tube for rubbings and material - Materials case
If you have a group that is interested in a private class, arrangements may be made by contacting Ms. Powers-Douglas at (309) 781-7083 or minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
Haunts of the Quad Cities
The mild-mannered Quad Cities haunted? You decide! Come learn about the Black Hawk Hotel's Woman in Red, the legend of Riverside Cemetery's Black Angel, the ghosts of our local colleges and even the spirits who haunt the library itself! Do you dare attend this fun blend of local history and hauntings?
- Wednesday, Oct. 15 - 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: $15 Rock Island Library, downtown Pre-registration required with Rock Island Parks & Recreation Office hours: M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (309) 732-7275
Chicken Soup for the Taphophile's Soul?
Did you ever think you were weird because you liked cemeteries? Have you ever gotten "the look" from someone when you told him or her that you could spend hours in a cemetery, armed with a camera? When you first came across this site, did you think, "I thought I was the only one!"? If this sounds like you, then we want your stories!
A new book is in the works that will feature YOUR stories. Share how you became a taphophile, what first drew you to cemeteries and what keeps you coming back for more. Tell us about your experiences.
E-mail your stories to minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com with "I Thought It Was Just Me" in the subject line.
Need Editing Services? They're Here!
Do you have a project that needs to be edited? Do you love to write but hate worrying about grammar? Then I'm your man! .... Er, woman!
I'm restarting my editing business to help others in need. Check out my new web page to learn more about the services I offer and why I'm the person who should help you with your pet project.
http://www.TheCemeteryClub.com/editing.html
Virtual Book Launch was Way Cool
My brand new book "Life in Parts: An Interpretation from the Cemetery" is AVAILABLE NOW! It's a book of my gravestone photography with special inspirational quotations as well as original prose by me. It's a project I've been working on between other projects and with little ado. I'm excited to share it with you.
Special thanks to everyone who attended the virtual book launch Sunday, April 20. It was a great time! If you missed it but would still like to see what it was all about, you can check out the chat/launch page. The book is also available for sale there, too.
Click HERE to learn more about the book and to purchase it
TheCemeteryClub.com Now Offers Its Own Brand of Gravestone Rubbing Kits and Wax Cakes
Brand new Gravestone Rubbing Kits and hand-made gravestone rubbing wax cakes are now available from TheCemeteryClub.com. They are made specially by Minda for her fellow taphophiles!
With times being tight, I wanted to create an option for cemetery lovers who still want to pursue their hobby but without breaking the bank. So I've created my own brand of gravestone rubbing kits and wax cakes. I make the wax cakes myself and put together each kit with loving care. All while saving you money! The kits are only $15.99 each, and the wax cakes are only $2 each. The cakes come in a variety of colors, and for only $1 more, you can custom order them in any color or colors you want.
I'll be posting images and ordering information soon. If you want to place an order now, send me an e-mail and I'll make it happen.
-Minda
Changes to Epitaphs Magazine Ordering
Since a number of people have had trouble ordering directly from Lulu.com, I'm changing how orders are placed for Epitaphs Magazine. Now all sales will be made directly through me to insure that you receive the best service. More details are available on the EM page.
http://www.thecemeteryclub.com/magazine.html
Epitaphs Magazine Issue #8 Update: Submissions Deadline Extended
I am currently accepting articles, photos and more for EM #8, which will be released this fall. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 27. Send your submissions to: minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
TheCemeteryClub.com Has Its Own Social Network!
It was only a matter of time, really. Now we taphophiles have our very own social network! Think of it as a MySpace just for us ... only smaller. This new site has been made possible by Ning, a site where anyone can start his or her own social network. Check it out and join us at:
http://thecemeteryclub.ning.com/
Taphophile University
Ever wish there was a college for taphophiles? Well, now there is! Sort of. At Taphophile University, we consider all cemetery lovers alumni! Show your college "spirit" and cheer on the Fighting Epitaphs! Buy your Taphophile University stuff here:
http://www.cafepress.com/taphophileu
Epitaphs Magazine #5 - Find Out Who Was Named Taphophile of the Year 2007
Only a Few Copies Left of EM Issue #4
If you don't have your copy of Epitaphs Magazine #4, you'd better hurry because there are only 5 left. Order yours today before they are all gone!
Viewpoints Needed for Epitaphs Magazine
I am looking for differing viewpoints on topics for upcoming issues of the magazine. If you would like to share your opinions on the following topics (or others), send an e-mail to the address below:
- In Favor of Cremation/Against Cremation - Traditional Cemeteries/Ecological Cemeteries - Technological Cemeteries/Traditional Cemeteries
I'm looking for differing viewpoints on these topics and more. Send an e-mail first to make sure a topic is not already taken.
For details on the contents of the new issue as well as information for subscribers, go to
the Epitaphs Magazine page.
Reach Out and Make a Difference
Being an active participant in the world around me has been a big part of my life for many years. It started when I was in college and first began feeling my way around the causes that meant something to me. Then I took matters into my own hands by creating the Girls Make a Difference workshop and then by writing "Cemetery Walk," creating this site and starting Epitaphs Magazine. My cemetery writing is something I do not just because I love them; it is a way I can help people understand and appreciate their importance. Thus, it is very important to me to encourage others to make a difference to the world, too. With this in mind, I have added a section called "Make a Difference" on the Links page. Check it out and make a positive change in the world!
Links
The Chat Room
If you've wanted to have a real-time chat with fellow cemetery lovers but haven't seen a taphophile chat room you could jump into, now you have a place to go! Feel free to chat amongst yourselves or talk part in special chats with Epitaphs Magazine editor Minda Powers-Douglas. You can chat on this site
here
or at Chatango on this page:
http://thecemeteryclub.chatango.com/
'Cemetery Travels, part 1' - Video
I edited my first video piece in a long time last night, in order to reacclimate myself with the process (usually my partner in crime Tim does all that fancy stuff!). It's just a short piece with stills, but the cemeteries are nice. Enjoy!
Cemetery Fiction Added to Site
I just added a new page to the site that features cemetery-related short fiction. Short short fiction is preferred.
I've posted a story I recently wrote, which I'm planning to include in a book of short fiction. I hope you take the chance to read it and let me know what you think. I've recently taken the plunge back into fiction, which I haven't done for a long, long time. I hope you like it. Check it out at
Cemetery Fiction
TheCemeteryClub Now Features Videos
A new feature on TheCemeteryClub.com is a video page. You can now watch cemetery videos created by taphophiles like you. More videos were added 9/13/07.
Plus, if you have a cemetery video you have created, you can place it on
YouTube.com
and send the link to
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
Then can post it on this site.
How to Post Photos
It's easy to submit your photos to TheCemeteryClub.com for our Photos sections (organized by U.S. region or international). Just visit Slide.com to get started. If you're not familiar with Slide.com, you must check them out. It's a site that allows you to create slide shows with your photos for free. They also offer image hosting, guestbooks and a bunch of ways to play with your photos and video clips. Plus, it's easy to use.
Submit your photos for the photo pages as slide shows. Just go to Slide.com and set up your slide show (it's super easy). Then e-mail the code to me at minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com, and I'll post it on my site.
Just make sure your slide shows are created by regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, West Coast, International). Also explain your pics in the cutline area. You can see samples of slide shows here: Photos - Vintage Postcards
(1 more added 12/5/07)
Photos - International
(1 more added 12/5/07)
Cemetery Walk
Take a Virtual Tour of Cemetery of Pere-Lachaise
Gravestone Symbols Section
Wanted: Online Interns
TheCemeteryClub.com is seeking interns to assist with various duties. Internship terms are three months and may consist of approximately 5 hours per week with a totally flexible schedule. Work at your own pace!
Intern duties may include: - Researching cemetery sites - Interviewing subjects for magazine articles - Photography - Writing articles - Seeking advertisers - Internet searches
TheCemeteryClub.com internships are non-paying but are great opportunities for building up resumes or for the taphophile who just can't get enough of cemeteries.
No experience is necessary, but if you have writing, photography, PhotoShop experience, etc., you will be set up in the area that suits you best. Interns can be located anywhere in the U.S. and beyond. As long as you have Internet access, you can be an intern!
Submit Your News and Events
Do you have a cemetery event coming up you'd like to promote? Has your favorite cemetery made the news? Send your submissions for our News & Events page to
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
. Or better yet, place an ad on our site!
Magick Mind Radio Show Featuring Minda
If you missed Minda's appearance on Magick Mind Radio, you can still listen to it on the archives page of the site. Check out Minda, Dusty and Ed as they talk about cemeteries and the paranormal!
Epitaphs Magazine #4 is Still Available
OUT OF STOCK
Note: Even though they are sold out on my site, if you would like to purchase back issues, you may be able to do so through the following sites:
http://www.gravestonestudies.org
Advertise with Us
If you have a product, service or business you'd like to promote to a cemetery-loving audience, you should advertise with TheCemeteryClub.com! Our website is gaining more and more visitors, and it's perfect for reaching people interested in the following areas:
- cemetery preservation - geneaology - cemetery-related goods (from industry to novelty) - authors - artists and photographers - and more!
'Cemetery Walk' Receives Favorable International Reviews
Minda's book "Cemetery Walk" received favorable reviews in two international publications: the March-April 2006 issue of International Cemetery & Funeral Management and the March 2006 issue of The British Columbia Genealogist.
The International Cemetery & Funeral Management, which is published by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association (ICFA), notes that "Cemetery Walk" is "a pleasant and amusing book, a great way to divert the idle moment for anybody who likes cemeteries. It would make a fine addition to the bookstore of a historic cemetery or site, any place where the ardent cemetery fan is likely to lurk after that graveyard statue tour or tombstone-viewing expedition." The article also mentions Epitaphs Magazine. You can visit the IFCA's website at
www.icfa.org
.
The British Columbia Genealogist, which is published by the British Columbia Genealogy Society, says the book is "a very personal, sometimes even quirky, introduction to cemetery history and lore and to ideas about death as expressed in art and burial practices. Little is excluded--she discusses post-mortem photography, Victorian cemetery art, modern green burials and the paranormal, for example." You can visit the Society's website at
www.bcgs.ca.
Does Your Site Have What It Takes?
Do you have a cemetery or cemetery-related website? Do you work countless hours on it, adding new photos and tons of information? Don't you wish someone would recognize all your hard work and your fantastic site? Now your wish can come true!
Submit your website's URL for review, and you just may be awarded our coveted "Outstanding Cemetery Site Award." Send an e-mail with your URL to
poetrychick_99@yahoo.com.
Submissions for Epitaphs Magazine Accepted on an On-going Basis
Submissions are being accepted for future issues of EM. General submissions are accepted at any time. For more information, e-mail the editor at
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
Buy Your Copy of "Cemetery Walk" Now
Minda Powers-Douglas' book "Cemetery Walk" is available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other fine stores. You can also buy it from the publisher, AuthorHouse.com.
If you stop by your local bookstore, and "Cemetery Walk" is not on their shelves, please ask them to order it so it is available to local taphophiles. You can also request that they have the author in-store for a book signing and presentation!
have paid their respects at TheCemeteryClub.com since 5/29/04
Support this site with your generous donation. Any amount helps TheCemeteryClub.com stay "alive."
Wanted: Cemetery Books to Review
Have you written a book on cemeteries or one that has a cemetery theme? If so, we want to review it! Themes can include but are not limited to: cemetery research or information, genealogy, funerary, cemetery art/symbolism, architecture, celebrity gravesites, grief assistance, etc. Non-fiction books are preferred, but fiction may be accepted if you send an e-mail query first.
Send a copy of your book to:
Epitaphs Magazine Online PO Box 1163 Moline, IL 61266-1163
Send a self-addressed postage-paid envelope with your book plus a cover letter. Books without postage-paid return envelopes will not be returned.
Now available from AuthorHouse.com, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, Borders (Davenport, Iowa), Erzulie's Authentic Voudou (New Orleans) and other fine booksellers.
'Gravestone Artwear' is Here!
You can now buy 'Gravestone Artwear' items through TheCemeteryClub.com. Items for sale currently include Gravestone Rubbing Kits and extra accessories, and all-natural herbal Tombstone Soaps. Items coming soon include: T-shirts (with real, historic gravestone rubbing designs), velvet bags, and more.
TheCemeteryClub.com Catalog
Favorite Quotes
"Desire is the beginning of all new Creation." - Abraham
"You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down." - Ray Bradbury
"If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late." - Lee Iaocca
"Just go out there and do what you have to do." - Martina Navratilova
Tastefully Simple's "Remember When: Returning Favorites" are about to become extinct! Buy yours NOW and SAVE 20%!
- Caribbean Beach Bread Mix $6.99 - Howlin' Horseradish Dip Mix $8.99 - Lotsa Lemon Bar Mix $6.99 - Red Red Raspberry Cheese Ball Mix $6.99 - Ripe-on-the-Vine Tomato Dressing $7.99 - Remember When: Returning Favorites Recipe Book $3.99
If you e-mail your Tastefully Simple order to me, I will send you a PayPal invoice with 20% all "Returning Favorites" products. PLUS, if you order 3 or more items, you will receive a FREE "Summer Entertaining Recipes" book!
This offer is only good through July 31. After that the "Returning Favorites" will disappear! To learn more about these wonderful, tasty products, visit www.tastefullysimple.com/web/mpowers-douglas ... but remember, you need to e-mail your order to me because it is not available through the TS website.
This fall, Chippiannock will receive 75 trees, which will go far in replenishing those lost in the July windstorm. Thank you to everyone who voted in the Modern Woodmen/WQAD-sponsored Plant-A-Tree contest.
Epitaphs Magazine issues #5,6 and 7 are still available. They may be purchased through this site or via Lulu.com. If you purchase more than one issue, you will save on shipping. (Note: these issues come directly to you from Lulu.com.)
Did you ever think you were weird because you liked cemeteries? Have you ever gotten "the look" from someone when you told him or her that you could spend hours in a cemetery, armed with a camera? When you first came across this site, did you think, "I thought I was the only one!"? If this sounds like you, then we want your stories!
My brand new book "Life in Parts: An Interpretation from the Cemetery" is AVAILABLE NOW! It's a book of my gravestone photography with special inspirational quotations as well as original prose by me. It's a project I've been working on between other projects and with little ado. I'm excited to share it with you.
Ever wish there was a college for taphophiles? Well, now there is! Sort of. At Taphophile University, we consider all cemetery lovers alumni! Show your college "spirit" and cheer on the Fighting Epitaphs! Buy your Taphophile University stuff here:
