TOPSHAM – The Maine Chapter of the Funeral Consumers Alliance is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Started as a grass-roots effort in the 1960s in response to the organization of the National Funeral Consumers Alliance in 1963, the Maine Chapter was founded as the Maine Memorial Society, holding its first annual meeting and electing officers and directors on Sept. 30, 1973.

The 30th annual meeting will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Highlands Residence. Speaker will be Bruce White of the New England Organ Bank of Maine, addressing the subject of “Organ and Tissue Donations.”

All members are invited to the business meeting and luncheon following. For details on cost and reservations, to obtain a 2002 price survey or for information on becoming a member, contact the Funeral Consumers Alliance at 800-218-9885.

The objective of the organization is to assist people in obtaining the funeral arrangements of their choice and to act as a clearing house of information. Members have been active at legislative hearings to protect the consumer’s rights to handle death care arrangements; they have prepared informational pamphlets; and most recently, have completed a 2002 price survey from funeral homes throughout the state. More information is available at the Web site, www.funerals.org.

The week of Sept. 21 is National Funeral Service Education Week, and as a nonprofit information society, FCA of Maine is reminding the public of the consumer protection and education activities undertaken.

The Federal Trade Commission’s rule regulates funeral homes in their disclosure of consumer rights to purchase only those goods and services they want and prohibits funeral homes from deceiving consumers about legal requirements.

A copy of “A Consumer’s Guide to the Funeral Rule” is available free through the FCA National, 800-765-0107, or can be accessed through www.ftc.gov on the Internet. The Maine chapter is headquartered in Auburn.