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Funeral Consumers Alliance
 of Western Massachusetts

     We are a non-sectarian, non-profit, unpaid-volunteer membership organization whose mission is to promote and protect a consumer's right to choose meaningful, dignified, and affordable final arrangements: funeral or memorial services, care of the body and disposition of human remains (including burial, cremation or donation)
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HOME PAGE
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PROVIDERS PAGE
& what you need to
 know before you go

- funeral homes
- crematories
- casket sales
MEMBERSHIP PAGE
- benefits
- application
- brochures
- annual meeting
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CONTACT US PAGE
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Membership Page

Anyone who donates $20 or more to the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western Massachusetts is considered a member. The $20 donation applies to both individual and family memberships. To join, just print out and complete the membership application and mail it in with your donation. You will receive comprehensive planning forms, itemizing the many alternatives that should be considered now. You will also receive detailed information to assist you in making your plans.

No active participation is required of members, but volunteers are always welcome.

We are always looking for folks willing to serve as trustees and officers so that this organization can continue serving Western Massachusetts into the future. Find out more by phoning 413-774-2320 or sending an e mail with your contact information to Information@FuneralConsumersWMass.org

Benefits
Members receive:
1. Our end-of-life planning kit*, which includes
- "Before I Go, You Should Know...," a 16-page fill-in-the-blanks booklet (illustrated by Edward Gorey);
- Health Care Proxy and Living Will forms;
- Directory of funeral consumer groups across the U.S.;
- "Death Away From Home"; and
- a freezer pouch (suitable for dropping into your suitcase when you travel) and refrigerator magnet.
2. Our newsletter
3. An invitation to, and the right to vote at, our annual meetings
4. Our funeral home price survey
5. Access to information and support from this organization; and
6. The knowledge that you are helping to support the only national organization dedicated to educating consumers about their end-of-life choices and protecting their right to choose arrangements that are meaningful, dignified and affordable.
7. Other brochures are also free with your membership... see separate BROCHURES ORDER FORM (see link below)

*Note: Additional end-of-life planning kits are available to members (a $7.50 donation is requested for each). For non-members we request a $10.00 donation for each kit. The donation includes postage.


Application Form Links

Regular HTML version
or
PDF version  (may be better for printing)  
Get Adobe Reader
Note: click here if you need to download free Adobe Reader to open pdf files.

Brochures
We offer educational brochures on a variety of topics.
Brochures are free to members; however, your donation will help to offset our costs.
For non-members, we ask a donation of $1.00 for each title requested.

Brochure Order Form Links

Regular HTML version
or
PDF version (may be better for printing)   Get Adobe Reader
Note: click here if you need to download free Adobe Reader to open pdf files.

Annual Meeting
There is no charge for the meeting which is open to the public (you do not have to be a member to attend). It includes an informative presentation and refreshments in addition to a brief business meeting with reports and elections.

2008 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED for April 27

Our 2008 Annual Meeting will be held April 27  from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Springfield Main Library on State Street in the Community Room - first floor.  Parking is across the street, or in the rear of the Quadrangle.


After a short business meeting including election of Officers and Board Members, Andrew Sexton, MD from the Medical Examiners Office will speak on "Everything you wanted to know about what a Medical Examiner does, but were afraid to ask."  I'm sure we will all learn something!


Come to meet and support your Board.  Come to ask questions, obtain information and give your experience.  Remember we are the only organization doing what we are doing in the Valley.


For a summary of past meetings, click on the links below.
2006 Annual Meeting Summary
2005 Annual Meeting Minutes
2004 Annual Meeting Summary

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