“Do You Want To Live Forever?”, a one-hour program investigating various life extension technologies, including cryonics, and featuring the work of Dr. Aubrey de Grey will be broadcast on February 3, 2007, at 6:30 pm on Channel 4 in the UK.
Monthly archives for January, 2007
January 6, 2007, Board Meeting Results
There was discussion of the following topics:
- The board was briefed on the 2007 budget.
- The board was briefed on planning of the 2007 conference, including speakers, catering, location, and the overall agenda.
- The board was informed that membership recruitment efforts are understaffed. Due to this and a downturn in the number of applicants entering the queue, 4.5% – 6 or 7% growth is the expected status quo. It was commented that the growth rate for 2006 (around 3%) was mediocre, but that the average 2005-2006 growth rate was within expectations at 7% per year. There was discussion of a new volunteer that is calling prospects and how to train him, as well as other possible options for using existing Alcor members for recruitment.
Two resolutions were passed:
- Approval of two new hires: Chana Williford, Research Associate, and Randall Fry, Equipment Fabricator
- Slight revision of the mission statement
December 2, 2006, Board Meeting Results
For quite some time Alcor has accepted life insurance policies naming Alcor as the owner and beneficiary. Since insurance companies in countries outside the United States often are not willing to name a US organization as the policy owner, the Alcor Board of Directors on December 2, 2006, approved a life insurance funding option for residents of the United Kingdom and other countries outside the United States, with the following stipulations:
- Alcor is named the beneficiary.
- There should either be no collateral assignees, or Alcor must be named as the assignee.
- The policy is placed in absolute trust.
- A minimum of one Alcor representative is named as a Trustee.
- The Death Benefit (or Sum Assured) is permanently maintained equal to or in excess of the Suspension Minimum, in equivalent United States Dollars.
- Alcor is to be notified if policy lapses.
- Premium is paid current.
Alcor requires a copy of the policy, Policy Schedule, stamped Trust Request Form (must be Absolute Trust), and stamped Deed (naming Alcor as an additional Trustee).
2006 Membership Growth
Ten memberships were approved in December, with seventeen cancellations processed (14 members were cancelled for non-payment of membership fees). The year of 2006 ended with a 3.5% annual growth rate, compared to the 5-year average since 2001 of 8.5%.
2006 FIGURES
Finalizations: 58
Reinstatements: 2
Cancellations: 30
Cryopreservations: 3
Net Gain: 27
Alcor currently has 814 members in 11 countries.
Membership Funding Options
The Membership Info page of the website has been supplemented with a Funding Methods link that overviews all of Alcor’s currently accepted funding methods. It includes thorough information about life insurance, prepayment, trusts, annuities and alternative funding options. Details about life insurance arrangements for those in the UK and other countries is also provided. Special thanks to Alcor advisor Russell Cheney for his volunteer efforts on this important website update project.
Happy Bedford Day
Forty years ago today, January 12, 1967, Dr. James Bedford became the first man to be cryopreserved under controlled conditions in the hope of eventual revival. In a very real way, you can say cryonics itself is forty years old today.
Our website includes more detailed information on Dr. Bedford, and a couple of earlier abortive attempts at human cryopreservation. It makes for fascinating reading. We’ve come a long way since then, but we still have a long way to go.
