Funeral
Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts
2005 ANNUAL MEETING
- held Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Rockridge Retirement Community,
Northampton
Minutes
of the October 16, 2005 Annual Meeting - Eileen Pratt
The
meeting was called to order at 2:10 PM by John Fatherley,
President, at Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton. The
minutes of the 2004 Annual Meeting were read and accepted. The
Treasurer's Report was reviewed and accepted.
Cecelia
Lewonchuk reported on the problem of newsletters being returned
by the Post Office because forwarding had expired. She requested that
members notify us quickly of address changes.
At the request
of an audience member, we discussed the possibility of
establishing a local green only cemetery - a cemetery that allows no
embalming or chemicals, no caskets or vaults or tombstones, and where
the land is left in its natural state - not to be developed. The
consensus was that we could help through publishing the issue in our
newsletter and by presenting the greenburial option as part of our
public education effort. The process of establishing a green cemetery
may also be a topic for a future meeting.
New Trustees
were nominated for vacant positions and unanimously
elected, as follows:
One Year Term:
Dick Brown, Chicopee; Carol Coan, Greenfield; Marcia
Durell, Holyoke;
Two Year Term:
Doug Bamshaw, Springfield; Linwood Dodge, Stockbridge;
Thomas Wilson, Shelburne Falls;
Three Year Term:
John Fatherley, Chicopee; Cecelia Lewonchuk and Eileen
Pratt, Springfield.
Officers were
nominated from the Trustees, and unanimously elected, as
follows:
President - John
Fatherley,
Vice President -
Doug Barnshaw,
Secretary -
Eileen Pratt,
Treasurer -
Cecelia Lewonchuk.
Cdcelia
Lewonchuk volunteered to take meeting notes if Eileen Pratt was
out of town, and Doug Barrishaw volunteered to assist the Treasurer
in preparing financial reports.
Carol Coan ,
past President, introduced our speaker, Mark J. Bemardin,
co-author with his brother of the recently published book Choosing Your
Path: How Massachusetts Residents Can Take Control of their Medical
Care, Estate Plans, and Funeral Arrangements. (This book is available
from PoiDog Books, 140 Elm Street, Andover, MA 01810, or by calling
978-685-1177, Mon-Sat 10 AM to 5 PM.)
The meeting was
adjourned at 4:00 PM.