Individual Membership is $25 for lifetime membership
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Benefits of Joining AMBIS
- Objectivity—You get advice from a group of knowledgeable people who are not in the business of selling funeral services.
- Savings—You can take advantage of member only pricing to save your estate money.
- Dignity—You learn about dignified alternatives to excessive funeral displays.
- Knowledge—You become an educated consumer. By learning how to avoid unnecessary expenses, you can help your family and others.
- Peace of Mind—You are given the opportunity to discuss an important topic with family and friends while you are healthy.
- Caring—You leave behind the gift of sparing your loved ones the stress of making difficult decisions during a time of grief.
AMBIS is a voluntary, nonprofit, 501(c)3, nonsectarian consumers association dedicated to a consumer’s right to meaningful, dignified, and affordable end-of-life choices. It was organized in 1964 to achieve these goals. It encourages individuals and families in the Austin area to plan creatively for end-of-life decisions through the use of advance directives.
To assist with this planning, AMBIS collects, produces, and distributes information on funeral-related businesses, cemeteries, cremation, burial, organ donation, body donation, medical device donation, advance directives, memorial services, prepaid funeral contracts, and other related subjects which concern us all at various times in our lives.
AMBIS encourages consumers to make such end-of-life decisions on the basis of sound information and thoughtful consideration, rather than under conditions of emotional strain and grief.
AMBIS takes no position favoring any final disposition choice and is not a prepayment or insurance plan. AMBIS is a member of Funeral Consumers Alliance, a federation of some 110 similar societies in the United States.
Our Role in the Community
- Information and Education: We will assist you regarding requirements and options in making after-death arrangements.
- Forms: To pre-plan your wishes regarding after-death arrangements through advance planning documents specifically for Texas (Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians, Appointment of Agent to Control Disposition of Remains, Body Disposition Authorization Affidavit, Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate).
- Newsletters: Our members receive Creative Choices, a newsletter concerning the Funeral Consumers Alliance and consumer issues, and an annual price survey of local funeral homes.
- Discounts: AMBIS members receive a 15% discount at select funeral homes.
- Consumer Education: Through education about legislation and action.
- Speakers Bureau: We have experienced speakers available to speak to your Church, Civic, or Professional Group.
- Annual Meetings: Where you can continue the education process, meet other members, hear interesting speakers and volunteer.
- Volunteer Opportunities: For those who want to participate more actively in the community.
- Transfer Arrangements: We can transfer your membership to the nearest Funeral Consumers Alliance if you move from the Austin area. We are one of 100 organizations affiliated with the Funeral Consumers Alliance.
What is expected of AMBIS members?
Members make and follow their own plans. AMBIS is committed to making their choices possible by providing extensive consumer education from non-industry sources. AMBIS contracts with funeral homes for low-cost burial and cremation services for its members, but members may use any funeral service business they choose. For those who prefer to handle arrangements themselves, information about how to do-it-yourself, without a funeral director, is available (also visit www.crossingscircle.org).
Your involvement in AMBIS can be as great or as little as you wish. If you want to become active in AMBIS, volunteers are always needed to help with the newsletters and other publications, prepare packets for new members, assist with the annual survey of funeral home costs, help with the cemetery survey, monitor state legislative and administrative actions of concern to our members, help with outreach efforts, speak to groups on topics related to our work, and help with conducting consumer education workshops.