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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 39: June 16, 2005
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
[TJ], Stephen Van Sickle [SVS], Joe Waynick [JW].
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In this issue:
* Facility Upgrade Project
* New Cryoprotectant Implementation
* Transport Vehicle Development
* Transport Team Matters
* Media and Advertising Update
* Database Enhancements
* Fundraising Efforts
* Membership Statistics
* Employment Opportunities
* You Can Help!
* Next Board Meeting
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Facility Upgrade Project
Construction was halted for about 2.5 weeks because our
architect failed to secure the proper permits. The required
permits have now been obtained and work has resumed. It is
unclear as to whether this delay will impact the completion
date. We'll know more next week when we meet with the
construction contractor about stepping up the project.
However, the demolition work that was done is extensive. We
spoke with the project foreman this week. Plumbers have
been in to demo the restrooms for ADA compliance. They will
also be demoing the new scrub room. Electrical and
underground work is also expected to be started next week.
[JW]
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New Cryoprotectant Implementation
Alcor is investigating the licensing and application of a
new cryoprotectant called M22 for whole-body patients. This
new cryoprotectant is expected to eliminate the need for
the combination procedure, where the body and brain are
cryoprotected separately. With the new solution, the brain
can be vitrified without removing the trunk, and this new
procedure (as indicated in previous issues of Alcor News)
will be called neurovitrification with whole-body
cryoprotection. Implementation has moved forward, and
we've completed an inventory review to establish the
changes needed to have sufficient chemical inventory on
hand to prepare for a standard number of cases.
Steve Van Sickle has also been assisting Hugh Hixon with
M22 implementation, checking his figures and estimating
costs. The cost of M22 will be $143/liter (not including
the additional ingredient that is still private), with
whole bodies requiring ~80 liters, and neuros requiring ~10
liters. B1 washout solution is costing out at $36/liter,
with 20 liters required for whole bodies and 10 liters for
neuros. Totals for perfusate are therefore around $12,000
for whole bodies and $1,800 for neuros. To be prepared for
8 whole body/8 neuros, as discussed at the last Board
meeting, would require an order of ~$92,000. (This is in
addition to the components we have on hand.) [SVS]
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Transport Vehicle Development
The plumbing is now complete on the vehicle, and a wet test
has been performed. The system works very well, and we had
no trouble with the installation. During the test, we noted
that the temperature in the back of the vehicle was quite
warm, and so we fired up the air conditioner to cool things
down to tolerable levels. Unfortunately, the air
conditioner broke after a couple of hours, something that
may be an artifact of its sporadic use. We delivered the
vehicle to a local contractor for evaluation of the six
individual alarm indicators and repair. The problem turned
out to be a simple loose wire in the circuitry, and the air
conditioner now works again.
The vehicle is currently in the hands of an electrical
engineer, who is tasked with getting the generator,
inverter, and batteries installed. Installation should be
complete by the end of this week. This project is nearing
completion, and we're very much looking forward to the
deployment of this vehicle in a cryopreservation case. [TJ]
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Transport Team Matters
Since the last report, we've held two training sessions,
one in southern California covering the set-up and use of
the ATP. The second was in Laughlin, NV, where we provided
a refresher on medications, surface cooling, safety
precautions, and an overview of the new transport equipment
we plan to deploy in the next month. New equipment being
deployed includes improved safety equipment designed to
reduce the potential for needle-stick injuries and an
inspiratory impedence device that we hope will improve the
quality of circulation during cardiopulmonary support. [TJ]
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Media and Advertising Update
The May/June issue of Cryonics magazine was delayed in
production but was mailed June 10th. We are faced with some
unexpected challenges with the July/Aug issue, but it
should be mailed in the month of July. Establishing a
regular schedule and increasing the subscription base are
our main goals for this year. Content improvement and an
expanded authorship are priorities as well, but it will
probably be several more issues before we really start
showing success in these areas.
Within a few weeks, we will have 3,000 pre-packaged
instructional DVDs about cryonics and Alcor ready for
distribution. We plan to send one to each member's
household and to begin including them with the information
packages.
We continue to collaborate with our graphic designer on an
ad for Life Extension Foundation magazine. The editor of
The Director (a monthly magazine for funeral directors with
nearly 15,000 subscribers) is agreeable to an article about
cryonics for the purpose of educating funeral directors.
Alcor will work with Steve Rude, our local funeral
director, on the article.
In May, Alcor participated in the following media events:
* WDR Radio, to air in Germany: General information about
cryonics and Alcor.
* Carte Blanche, to air in Africa: This is a 60-minutes
style program with the theme of preserving life.
These media events were cancelled or declined:
* National Geographic: National Geographic decided to
cancel the entire series of which cryonics would have been
a part.
* Fast Company: They were considering a segment about how
Alcor operates as a business but did not want to sign our
Usage Statement.
Alcor is currently in discussions with the History Channel,
and two production companies in the UK that want to do
documentaries that include footage of a cryopreservation, a
reporter from the Toronto Special Newspaper, and a
production company in California that wants to do a
reality-based series about Alcor. [JC]
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Database Enhancements
A contractor was retained to complete the coding necessary
to import data files downloaded from the internet directly
into the Central Database for the purpose of automated
capturing of info pack requests and tour request data. It
is complete with sophisticated error handling routines,
event logging, data archival, backup capability, mailing
label generation, and a dashboard user interface.
These upgrades will completely eliminate all manual labor
previously necessary to carry out these routine and tedious
tasks, thereby enhancing the productivity of the
administrative and marketing staff. [JW]
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Fundraising Efforts
Our launch of the fundraising program has been pushed back
a month due to various priorities. The magazine with the
launch appeal will be in the mail in June. Pledges
collected to date still stand at $10,000. [JW]
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Membership Statistics
On May 31, 2005, Alcor had 750 members on its Emergency
Responsibility List. Eight memberships were approved during
this month, one membership was cancelled, none were
reinstated, and no members were cryopreserved. Overall,
there was a net gain of seven members this month. We have
an average net gain of 7.4 members per month this year to
date, which compares favorably to last year's average of
4.3 members per month. Also of note is that of the eight
approvals this month, five of them are friends or relatives
of existing Alcor members.
At the end of this month, Alcor had 82 applicants for
membership. There was a net loss of seven applicants with
eight membership approvals, three incoming applicants, and
two people withdrew from the application process.
During the month of March, 90 information packs were
distributed. Of those, 84 were mailed, and 6 were handed to
facility tour participants. Our average for 2005 has grown
to 84 per month, compared to 50 in 2004. We also had 693
subscribers to Alcor News as of May 11. [DC]
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Employment Opportunities
We have a need for a dielectric vinyl welder to assist with
the completion of a prototype ice bath. If you know a vinyl
welder or are one yourself, please contact Bill Voice
) for more information on this project.
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 Team. 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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You Can Help!
Alcor's research and development does not have the benefit
of large government grants, private foundations, or a huge
fundraising organization to raise the millions of dollars
necessary to develop much-needed technology and protocol
enhancements. What we do have are loyal, dedicated members
like you who have a personal interest in the success of
cryonics.
Alcor has a long and proud tradition of innovation and
technical excellence in the field of cryonics. This will
continue to be our overriding mission in the years ahead.
Yet, the organization is only as great as its people,
starting with its supporters. Membership dues and
cryopreservation cases cover just 60% of our annual budget.
The remainder must come from generous individuals within
our small community.
You can help achieve that success with your tax-deductible
contribution to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation. We
have many projects that would benefit from your generosity.
You can also make a credit card donation TODAY by calling
Alcor at (877)462-5267 ext. 101. Or you can mail your check
to: Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 7895 E. Acoma Drive,
Suite 110, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.
Your generous gift will help create a more secure Alcor, so
we can be there for your future, as well as the future of
your friends and family who also belong to our small
community of cryonicists. [JW]
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Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 9,
2005, at 11:00 AM (MST).
Board meetings are typically 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 #39 dated June 16, 2005.
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