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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 36: March 15, 2005
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
[TJ], Joe Waynick [JW].
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In this issue:
* Comprehensive Member Standby
* Facility Upgrade Project
* Media Update
* On Neuro-Vitrification with Whole-Body Cryoprotection
* Transport Team Matters
* Personnel Update
* Employment Opportunity for Medical Professionals
* Membership Statistics
* Next Board Meeting
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Comprehensive Member Standby (CMS)
The rollout of Alcor's new CMS program has been highly
successful. We have had less than a dozen members question
the new policy, and most members have been highly
enthusiastic about the program. Also, we have lost only one
member due to the rollout of CMS.
A further development in the CMS rollout was the discovery
that the Charter Aircraft Program needs further refinement
before we can offer it to the membership. Therefore, the
Board has rescinded that particular aspect of CMS until it
can be further vetted. Upon agreement of a new framework for
a Charter Aircraft Program, the item will come up for
consideration again.
Finally, a new Lifetime CMS option has been voted on by the
Board. Lifetime CMS will allow members three different ways
to obtain a fully paid-up CMS status without the worry of
having to make ongoing payments. The three options are:
Lump Sum Payment: $4,000.00
Three Annual Payments: $1,500.00 each for a total of
$4,500.00
Sixty Monthly Payments: $100 per month for a total of
$6,000.00
All prepaid funds will be invested with the objective of
achieving a 5% annual return. Each year the equivalent of
the then current annual CMS charge will be deducted from the
prepaid account and credited to the CMS fund pool. Upon
pronouncement of the member, all remaining prepaid funds for
that member will be credited to the CMS fund pool and the
prepaid account closed. [JW]
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Facility Upgrade Project
On February 21st our building plans were submitted to the
City of Scottsdale for a plan check review. We have
interviewed three building contractors and requested bids on
the project. We still anticipate applying for a demolition
permit by March 21st and we also anticipate having our first
redline comments from the city by that date. No construction
work can start until the demolition permit is granted and
all bidders have been informed that the planned completion
date for the project is still June 30th. [JW]
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Media Update
The biggest media event to happen this month was publication
of the New York Times article by Richard Sandomir titled
Please Don't Call the Customers Dead.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/business/yourmoney/13freez
e.html?ex=1109998800&en=68e96e34d80fdb08&ei=5070&pagewanted=
all
The article generated a spike of information requests and
visitors to Alcor's site; plus it prompted renewed interest
in two MTV2 segments that are set to air this week. The MTV2
crew saw the New York Times article and got very excited. At
the last minute they decided to interview one of our Members
in New York, which was successfully coordinated on short
notice. We actually received a handful of responses from
Members who were interested in being interviewed; we since
started keeping a list of Member contacts who may
participate in future media events.
In February, we also participated in interviews with a
reporter from the London Sunday Times who was asked by Simon
& Schuster to write a book about immortality. We have
scheduled participation in a three-part documentary titled
Beyond Man and are in the process of arranging participation
in four other broadcasts/publications, including: The Sunday
Herald Magazine (UK), WDR (German radio), Grenada Factual TV
(UK), and National Geographic News (online). [JC]
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Neuro-Vitrification with Whole-Body Cryoprotection
Development
The prototype has been completed and the components tested.
If we intend to deploy this on a patient, we will need to
cut and sterilize a proper tubing pack and sampling array.
The plywood model we built in preparation for the plastic
fabrication version has been disassembled and discarded.
Deployment of the entire system is dependent upon the
introduction of the new cryoprotectant, M22. We expect to
receive the recommendation to switch cryoprotectants soon;
and once the recommendation has been accepted, we should be
able to switch to this system quickly. [TJ]
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Transport Team Matters
In accordance with the published schedule, transport
training was held in southern California. Topics were
covered that included: safety precautions and personal
protective equipment, all of which is part of our hazard
communication protocol for transport team members; airway
management, which included general considerations and the
theory and practice behind use of a "Combi-tube"; and
medications, including practice in calculating dosages for
varying patient weights and drawing up a full set of
medications as an exercise in the amount of time it takes.
Ten people attended the training.
Our transport team member contract is complete and will be
required for all cryopreservation procedure participants. In
exchange for their participation, team members will receive
membership discounts of up to 75% of the standard membership
fees. If you're interested in becoming a member of the Alcor
Transport Team, contact Bill Voice () for more
information.
Members of our transport teams do not need to wait until
Alcor comes to their regions to provide training. Anyone
traveling to Scottsdale or to Florida might wish to stop by
our offices or those of our Florida Coordinator, Todd Soard.
Bill Voice is available to provide personal instruction to
anyone in Scottsdale, and Todd will teach in Florida.
Available topics include: cardiopulmonary support, airway
management, surface cooling techniques, bloodborne pathogens
and safety protocols, and more. [TJ]
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Personnel Update
One of our temporary employees, Nikki Knowlton, has resigned
to accept a full-time position elsewhere. We have since
retained Ms. D'Bora Tarrant as a replacement temp for Nikki.
We appreciate Nikki's efforts over the past six months and
wish her well in her new position. Meanwhile, we are still
negotiating a final offer for a full-time researcher and we
anticipate making that offer within two weeks. [JW]
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Employment Opportunity for Medical Professionals
Have you ever thought about joining the Alcor team? We have
immediate needs for licensed Paramedics, Emergency Medical
Technicians, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians and more to
join our nationwide Transport Teams. Participation would be
on a contractual basis.
You'll be given cryonics training that will enable you to
participate in our patient rescue and transport cases.
Licensed professionals do not have to be Alcor members to
work with us. We welcome your expertise and interest. If
you're interested, send your resume to:
[JW]
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Membership Statistics
On December 31, 2004, Alcor had 731 members on its Emergency
Responsibility List. Ten memberships were approved during
this month, no memberships were reinstated, no memberships
were cancelled, and no members were cryopreserved. Overall,
there was a net gain of ten members this month.
At the end of this month, Alcor had 141 applicants for
membership. There was a net loss of 15 applicants with 10
approvals, 3 incoming applicants and 8 people exited the
application process (4 withdrew and 4 were dropped for being
non-responsive to our attempts to contact them). [DC]
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Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 2,
2004 at 10:00 AM (MST).
Board meetings are held on the first Saturday of the month
at the Alcor facility (7895 East Acoma Drive in Scottsdale,
AZ). Members and the public are encouraged to attend.
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End of Alcor News bulletin #36 dated March 15, 2005.
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