Green Burial in New York State
You are invited to attend our Annual Meeting of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Long Island/New York City on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock,
48 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset, New York. The meeting is free. Refreshments are served after the meeting.
PROGRAM
Business Meeting:
2:00 to 2:30 PM
Minutes of 2012 Meeting
Officers’ Reports
Old Business
New Business
Election of Officers
Guest Speaker:
2:30 to 3:30 PM
Mary Woodsen
Founding president of the Greensprings Natural Cemetery
NATURAL BURIAL—
Ms. Woodsen is an expert on natural or green burial, which encourages returning the body to the earth as simply as possible. Green cemeteries like Greensprings use biodegradable coffins, baskets, or shrouds, and discourage embalming, vaults, and grave containers. Memorial markers are kept to a minimum and flowers and plants are local species. Green burial has changed the conversation in North America about funerals by addressing both the environmental impact of the deathcare industry and the problem of inflated costs. Creative solutions such as green burial are needed because nearly every form of disposition of a body– including cremation, long a favorite of the funeral consumer movement–harms the environment to some extent. Green burial can play a part in reducing the impact of death on the planet and even in restoring land.
Ms. Woodsen was the founding president of Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve, which opened in May 2006. It is the largest natural cemetery in New York State. Greensprings is the second oldest green cemetery in the nation certified by the Green Burial Council and a model for North America for how to conceive, create, and sustain a natural cemetery. It is one of only three dozen such cemeteries in the nation. She is now the research director and communicator with the Green Burial Council of North America, which certifies conservation, natural, and hybrid cemeteries in the United States and Canada, and has connections with more than 250 funeral homes nationwide.
Ms.Woodsen will discuss natural burial as practiced at Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve in Newfield. She will draw on the experience of 130 families among the many who have reserved space at Greensprings to demonstrate the growing appeal of natural burial in North America.
How to Get There
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock (516-627-6560) has a long driveway that starts on the west side of Shelter Rock Road, about 1 mile north of the Long Island Expressway.
Look for signs for FCA. We are meeting in the ART GALLERY, as we did last year. TheART GALLERY is in the main building located at the top of the driveway and is handicap accessible. Bring a friend. New members most often are referred by existing members.
