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Alcor News Bulletin
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Number 48: February 23, 2006
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Authors This Issue:
Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones [TJ],
Steve Van Sickle [SVS].
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In This issue:
* Cryopreservation Case
* Alcor Expands
* Financial Matters
* Tour Improvements
* 2006 Conference in Phoenix
* Media This Month
* Tax-Deductible Contributions
* Membership Statistics
* Florida Legal Case
* Next Board Meeting
* Employment Opportunities
* Alcor United
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Matching Grant Goal Achieved
Due to the generous donations of over 80 individuals,
we fully achieved our goal and now have $200,000
for Whole Body Vitrification Research. Our sincere
appreciation goes out to each of you and especially
to Bina and Martine Rothblatt who matched each of your
donations dollar-for-dollar. 52 individuals made
private donations. Public donations were
made by these individuals:
* Steve Anderson
* Doug & Shirley Arends
* Howard Baetjer
* Kevin Brown
* Honor Bulkley
* James Clement
* Andrew Clifford
* Brian Climo
* Kat Cotter
* Daniel Crevier
* Bobby Ford
* Cornelius Freer
* Erik Hatfield
* Graham Hipkiss
* Mark Kaminsky
* Terry Katz
* Eugene Kusmiak
* Larry Lee
* David Levine
* Thomas McKendree
* Thomas Meyer
* John Munson
* Martin Olah
* Robert Revitz
* Dennis Ross
* Edward Thorp
* Andrea Van de Loo
* Charles Young
Thank you, again, for your contributions. Watch Alcor News
for reports of our progress in this essential research.
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* Cryopreservation Case
After an extended battle with malignant melanoma,
member A-1356 suffered sudden cardiac arrest at her
home in southern California, a little more than twelve
hours before a scheduled air ambulance trip to
Arizona and local hospice care. A single team member
and equipment were on hand at the moment of arrest
and an abbreviated emergency stabilization protocol
was begun immediately. Two other team members
arrived shortly thereafter to assist. Once partial
meds and some initial cooling was done, the
patient was transported to a local facility for the
blood washout portion of the procedure. Because the
cardiac arrest occurred 15 minutes after the Office
of Vital Statistics closed, the team had to wait until
the next morning to obtain the paperwork needed to
transport the patient across state lines; but the
patient was ready for the trip when clearance came.
Cryoprotection began shortly after the patient
arrived at the Alcor facility, and the target
concentrations were achieved before the procedure
concluded. Some edema was observed, but this was
not sufficient to halt the procedure. We saw good
bilateral symmetry in the uptake of the
cryoprotectant. Cooling proceeded in accordance
with the whole-body protocol, and six fracture
events were detected during the descent to liquid
nitrogen temperature.
Though this case did not quite proceed in the manner
we’d hoped (we preferred the patient to be in Arizona),
we ultimately achieved good results given the difficult
circumstances. We continue to be pleased with the
properties of the new cryoprotectant and with the
response of regional team members in emergency situations.
Member A-1356 has become Alcor’s 73rd patient.
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* Alcor Expands
Alcor signed a lease agreement for unit 105, the
next in our row of bays in the building. While this
increases rent by about $20,000/year, it will completely
eliminate the need for more than $50,000 of
planned construction. Use of this new space will
allow units 108 and 109 to be devoted exclusively to
research activities. [SVS]
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* Financial Matters
Activities in the accounting department continue to
be closely monitored. As a result of our increased
financial oversight, we have discovered that a
corporate credit card was stolen and fraudulent
charges were made on it. Since this was reported
within the statutory time limits, we anticipate the
credit card company will bear the loss. This just
illustrates the importance and effectiveness of the
financial controls that were recently put in place.
[SVS/TJ]
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* Tour Improvements
The first of several posters has been created for Alcor’s
conference room and tour route to help explain various aspects
of cryonics and give our guests something colorful and
interesting to read while visiting. The first poster is about
"Cold in Nature" and includes examples of how various creatures
have sustained extreme cold. [JC]
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* 2006 Conference in Phoenix
A conference is being planned by Alcor for October in Phoenix.
Dates will be released with the next issue of Alcor News. [JC]
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* Media This Month
An estimated 29,320 distinct computers visited
Alcor’s website in January with definite spikes
correlating with the Wall Street Journal and "Good
Morning America" coverage. Media participation this
month includes:
* Wall Street Journal, US : A story was featured on
the front page discussing various individuals who
have set aside their assets for reanimation.
* Good Morning America, US : Alcor members David
and Trudy Pizer were interviewed at Alcor.
* Ben Bradlee : This author is writing a biography of
Ted Williams and visited our facility for a tour and
interview with Tanya Jones, which was also attended
by Cheryl Walsh.
* This Morning, UK : Alcor did not participate in this
story but spoke with Alan Sinclair prior to his interview.
* Welt am Sonntag, Germany : Alcor personnel
were interviewed, as were a few Alcor members.
* Belgium Public Television, Belgium : Alcor hosted a
film crew for this documentary about various
scientific initiatives around the world.
* Responded to inquiries from Live Science (online),
Team Production (Israel), Kronen Zeitung (Austria).
[JC]
Many of the above articles are available online -
http://www.alcor.org/press/newsstories.html
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* Tax-Deductible Contributions
All members and contributors should have received
their end-of-year contribution totals, including
membership dues donations. Contact Sheila Kimbrell
) with questions. [JC]
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* Membership Statistics
On January 31, 2006, Alcor had 788 members on its
Emergency Responsibility List. Two memberships
were approved during this month, one memberships
was reinstated, no memberships were cancelled and
one member was cryopreserved. We have an
average net gain of 2.0 members per month in 2006.
Alcor distributed 372 information packs this month.
[DC]
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* Florida Legal Case
We have agreed to settle this case and are getting
uncontested custody of the patient, the
cryopreservation funding, and about 2/3 of our
attorney fees. Sadly, it appears that the trust the
member had established is completely broken, and
the vast majority of the proceeds will be distributed
to the daughters who were very nearly successful in
having the member cremated before Alcor was even
aware he was in trouble. Quick action on the part of
the member's trust attorney and Tanya Jones was
the only thing that saved him.
This should serve as a warning that such trusts are
extremely fragile, and that it can be very dangerous
to include wording that gives anyone
financial incentive to interfere with a
cryopreservation. [SVS]
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* Next Board Meeting
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday,
March 4, 2006, 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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* Employment Opportunities
Have you ever thought about joining the Alcor team? We have
opportunities for licensed Paramedics, Emergency Medical
Technicians, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians and more to
join our nationwide Transport Team. Participation is on a
contractual basis.
You'll be given cryonics training enabling you to participate
in our patient rescue and transport cases. Licensed professionals
do not have to be Alcor members to join our team. We welcome
your expertise and interest. Send your resume to:
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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 and around the world by visiting Alcor United
(www.alcorunited.org).
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End of Alcor News bulletin #48 dated February 23, 2006.
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