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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 45: November 22, 2005
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
[TJ], Steve Van Sickle [SVS], Website Working Group [WWG].
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In this issue:
* $100,000 Matching Grant for Whole Body
Vitrification Research
* Cryopreservation Cases
* Financial Matters
* New Whole Body Cryopreservation Procedure
* Alcor Performs In-house Sterilization
* Dozens of Scientists Go Public with Support for
Cryonics
* Alcor Contributes to Methuselah Foundation
* Cryonics Discussed in Major Medical Journal
* Media This Month
* CryoFeasts Continue
* Membership Statistics
* Alcor United
* Construction Update
* Employment Opportunities
* Next Board Meeting
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$100,000 Matching Grant for
Whole Body Vitrification Research
A better cryopreservation can be yours. That's why our
staff, including senior research scientist Sergey Sheleg,
MD, PhD, is actively working to cryopreserve your intact
body and brain as perfectly as possible.
Progress is already underway. Alcor recently upgraded its
whole body cryopreservation procedure by switching to M22,
an advanced cryoprotectant capable of vitrifying the brain
for whole-body members, but parts of the body are still not
fully vitrified. We need your help to reach the next level.
We need the help of every one of our members now to achieve
whole-body vitrification. Until January 31, 2006, every
dollar donated will be matched up to $100,000 by a generous
donation from Bina & Martine Rothblatt, Alcor members
dedicated to rapidly advancing this technology.
Call now to make your pledge: 877-462-5267 ext. 101
Or print and fax your pledge form to: 480-922-9027
Pledge forms are available at this link:
http://www.alcor.org/Library/pdfs/MatchingGrant.pdf
When sending donations by mail, include this pledge form or
simply write "Matching Grant Donation" in the memo field of
your check:
Alcor Foundation
7895 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 110
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Attention: Fundraising Dept.
[JC]
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Cryopreservation Cases
During the past month, we performed one standby in northern
California and two cryopreservation procedures. The standby
was launched for member A-1598, who collapsed in his
northern California home and fell into a coma. We deployed
a full transport team, but after several days some of the
team was called away by an emergency call for member A-1398
who was admitted to a hospital in New Orleans. Both
cryopreservations were performed within 48 hours of one
another. Full details will be in an upcoming issue of
Cryonics magazine. [TJ]
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Financial Matters
Recent problems regarding reconciliation of the Patient
Care Trust (PCT) and Comprehensive Member Standby Program
(CMS) are largely resolved. The PCT has been paid
everything owed it with the exception of one $10,000
payment and the recent case for which we are currently
awaiting insurance payment (as is normal procedure). The
CMS fund still has an outstanding amount owed it, but this
should be more than balanced by two uncharged standbys.
We're still awaiting payment from the PCT for outstanding
construction invoices, which will allow us to continue
addressing accounts payable. The chart of accounts has been
reconfigured to allow easier internal billing of cases, and
a collections process is underway for those who are over 60
days past delinquent on membership dues, CMS, and
subscription payments. Aleetha Castro has the left the
organization and Alcor is seeking a replacement. We wish
Aleetha the best in her future endeavors. Questions about
billing can be sent to [SVS]
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New Whole Body Cryopreservation Procedure
Alcor has upgraded its whole body cryopreservation
procedure for all members currently signed up as whole
body, as well as for those whole body members who have
executed an open option contract. Further information and
micrographs explaining the switch to M22 technology for all
Alcor cases can be found on our website at:
http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/newtechnology.html
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Alcor Performs In-house Sterilization
We've purchased an ethylene oxide sterilizer and installed
both it and the vent line needed for safe operation. This
will enable us to restock our surgical supplies faster
after cryopreservation cases. [TJ]
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Dozens of Scientists Go Public with Support for Cryonics
At the Life Extension Extension Conference in Atlanta,
Georgia, on Nov. 5, the Immortality Institute unveiled an
Open Letter signed by 56 scientists, physicians, and
ethicists endorsing the scientific basis of cryonics. The
letter is online at:
http://www.cryoletter.org
Anyone with a PhD, especially in biology, or MD degree with
a background in research, who would like to support this
letter is asked to contact
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Alcor Contributes to Methuselah Foundation
Alcor committed to a $2,000 contribution to the Methuselah
Mouse Prize. This is a very worthy program, generating
interest in aging research, promoting it through a prize
program, and directly funding research programs. More
information can be found at:
www.mprize.org
[SVS]
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Cryonics Discussed in Major Medical Journal
The current issue of Critical Care, a peer-reviewed journal
read by 15,000 critical care medicine specialists
worldwide, contains an article by four ethicists and
medical specialists on a relatively new form of organ
donation called Donation after Cardiac Death (DCD). One of
the authors of the article, entitled "Pro/con ethics
debate: When is dead really dead?" is former Alcor
President and cryonics research legend, Mike Darwin. In his
contribution, Darwin cites Ralph Merkle's "information
theoretic criterion" for death, and states flat-out that
almost no patients declared dead today "are in fact truly
dead by any rigorous scientific criteria." He goes on to
state that recent advances in organ and brain
cryopreservation even suggest that it might be possible for
patients declared dead by DCD criteria to be saved by
prompt cryopreservation (i.e. cryonics). For better or
worse, DCD is forcing ethicists to acknowledge what
cryonicists have asserted for decades: There is a
difference between legal and biological death. Further
discussion and a link to the article can be found at
http://www.alcor.org/Library/html/dcd.htm
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Media This Month
An estimated 25,944 distinct computers visited Alcor's
website in October. Media participation this month
includes:
- Zig Zag Productions: Alcor hosted a visit from the
producers of this documentary with assistance from Deb
Johnson of WalshCOMM. The crew plans to film at Alcor early
next year.
- Origins of Timeship: Alcor gave permission for several of
its photos to be included in Stephen Valentine's book about
Timeship. The book describes the Timeship project and
touches on how life extension/cryonics evolved over time.
It is scheduled for release in early 2006.
- Crime Scene Investigation, New York: Tanya Jones fielded
a call from a CSI researcher who wanted to understand the
cryonics process for an upcoming episode. We asked him to
keep us informed of if/when the episode will air. [JC/WWG]
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CryoFeasts Continue
The Texas CryoFeast (Austin) was held on 11/12 and the
Canada CryoFeast (Toronto, Ontario) will be held on 12/04.
Alcor will not be attending these events but is helping
announce them and providing free giveaways for the guests.
Alcor is also planning an Arizona CryoFeast in Scottsdale
for early December. [JC]
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Membership Statistics
Approvals: 11
Members: 780
Applicants: 63
On October 31, 2005, Alcor had 780 members on its Emergency
Responsibility List. Eleven memberships were approved
during this month, one membership was reinstated, three
memberships were cancelled and two members were
cryopreserved. Overall, there was a net gain of seven
members this month. We have an average net gain of 6.7
members per month in 2005, which compares favorably to the
average net gain of 4.3 members per month last year. At the
end of this month, Alcor had 63 applicants for membership,
a net loss of 5 applicants.
Alcor distributed 152 information packs this month. Our
average for 2005 has grown to 119 per month, compared to 50
in 2004. There were 784 subscribers to Alcor News as of the
last issue. [DC]
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Alcor United
Alcor members have a new forum where they can meet and chat
with other members. Get to know other cryonics supporters
in your area by visiting Alcor United:
www.alcorunited.org
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Construction Update
We are creating the final punch list for the construction
project, with mostly minor details remaining. Details were
missed in the construction contract, like the addition of
data and phone lines in the various spaces, but this work
is sufficiently minor that it will not impact the end-of-
month deadline. Also, the bulk liquid nitrogen tank has
been ordered for delivery. [TJ]
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Employment Opportunities
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:
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Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, December
3, 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 #45 dated November 22, 2005.
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