At long last true winter has arrived in upstate New York, in terms of temperature if not snow, and the Memorial Society is in temporary hibernation mode. There have been some significant changes since our annual meeting in November. We are currently down to the following four board members:
- Richard Bentley, Vice President
- Jack Underwood, Treasurer
- Hedi McKinley
- Bernard McEvoy
Longtime board members Julie Lomoe and Robb Smith are no longer on the board and no longer have any direct involvement or responsibility with the Memorial Society.
The Memorial Society is still a viable organization with over 1,000 members. Our data base has been updated and will be kept current. If you joined in the past, you are considered a lifetime member in good standing. We continue to accept new members, and contributions are always welcome. But most of all, we encourage people to step forward and volunteer so that we can continue our good work.
Arrangements with funeral homes
Although we continue to provide a list of funeral homes that have been participating providers in the past, we no longer maintain written contracts with them. As has always been true, prices are subject to change without notice. We can no longer guarantee outdated prices that may be quoted in current or former materials, nor can we become involved in your negotiations with these funeral homes.
In general, these funeral homes honor our long-term relations with them, and it may still be advantageous for you to mention that you are a Memorial Society member. If they request validation of your membership, please contact us by email at memsoc1@nycap.rr.com.
CONTACT INFORMATION
We do not currently have a working telephone number. If you need to contact us, you have two options:
- email to memsoc1@nycap.rr.com.
- write to us at Memorial Society, P.O. Box 6026, Albany, NY 12206
A farewell message from Julie Lomoe
After a decade of involvement with the Memorial Society, first as Administrator and then as President, it’s time for me to say good-bye. I continue to believe in the vital importance of the issues the Society addresses, but I’ll turn 75 this year, and it’s time for others to step forward and take the reins.
I’d like to thank the many wonderful people I’ve worked with and gotten to know over the years, including Board members and people involved with the national Funeral Consumers Alliance, especially the indefatigable Josh Slocum. I’ve been moved and impressed by the folks I’ve talked with by phone, who shared their stories and experiences of coping courageously and often painfully with end-of-life issues.
The time has come for me to turn full-time to my late-life career as a novelist. If you’d like to keep in touch, please check out my blog at www.julielomoe.wordpress.com.
Best wishes,
Julie Lomoe