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.

Alcor Conference DVD Set

It was brought to our attention that the webstore was not accepting coupon codes for orders of the 6th Alcor Conference DVD Set. If you experienced difficulty using your coupon code, your order should now be processed without difficulty. We appreciate your understanding.

If you do experience difficulty or feel you were charged full price in error, please contact Alcor at 1-877-462-5267 ext. 101.

CNN to feature Alcor on Friday, December 22

In April, Alcor’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr. Steven B. Harris, and local Alcor members were interviewed for a piece to air on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 Show. As often happens with news programs, Alcor’s planned segment was bumped. The producer contacted Alcor today to notify us that the piece is set to air tonight (Friday, December 22) from 8-9pm EST on the Paula Zahn NOW Show.

Tune in to the Paula Zahn NOW Show on CNN tonight (8-9pm Eastern) to see the piece about Alcor.

Missed the Show? WATCH IT NOW.

Alcor Conference DVD

Order Your 6th Alcor Conference DVD Set
For a Limited Time Only — Special Pre-order rate of $59.95

For a limited time, pre-order your Conference DVD Set for $59.95, 25% off regular price.

Your DVD Set includes these conference presentations:
Brian Wowk, PhD: The Cryobiological Basis of Cryonics
Ralph Merkle, PhD: Nanotechnology and Cryonics
Robert A. Freitas Jr., JD: Nanomedicine: The Path Forward
Aubrey de Grey, PhD: SENS: A Precursor to Cryonics Revival
Cryonics Public Policy Panel
And More!

Plus, see candid interviews of conference attendees, including Alcor members, and take a guided tour of the Alcor facility.

Only half the fun of the conference, but at a quarter of the price!
Order Now

Shipping and handling charges apply. Pre-ordered DVD sets will be shipped during the 1st quarter of 2007. Pre-orders will not be charged until item is shipped. Special discount expires January 31, 2007.

November 4, 2006, Board Meeting Results

At the November 4, 2006, meeting there was discussion of various topics:
– Alcor management announced the $25,000 anonymous matching grant for Fracture Free R&D
– Barry Aarons, Alcor’s lobbyist, agreed to provide an overview of how the recent Arizona elections results will affect Alcor (see 2006 Election Report)
– Regarding the wealth preservation trust, Michael Riskin commented that he is still working with the attorney on an updated draft of the trust
– It was announced that nearly 20 members are not regularly paying their dues to Alcor and will have to soon be dropped as members. The main reason for this decision is because Alcor is not able to contact them or they are ignoring offers to establish a payment plan.

There were no Board resolutions other than opening and closing the meeting and approval of last month’s board minutes.

Is Santa Claus an Alcor Member?

Thinking of giving Alcor a holiday gift? Well, you can always double your money with the ongoing matching grant program. But if this isn’t what you are really interested in, you can always find something at one of Alcor’s Amazon.com wish lists:
Click here for the equipment list
Click here for the book list

Help filling out our technical library or purchasing much needed equipment is always appreciated. Plus, using the Amazon wish list system, you know exactly where your money is going. So while you are holiday shopping for a loved one, consider also getting a little something for Alcor. Santa will thank you.

Michelle Fry Leaving Alcor

We are sorry to report that Michelle Fry is leaving Alcor. MIchelle’s official last day will be January 4, 2006.

We wish Michelle well in her future endeavors. She remains a part of our ACT network of volunteer and contract transport technicians, so her skills and training will not be lost to us.

2006-2007 Matching Grant Program

The end of the year is coming fast, and with it the thought of tax time and another matching grant for Alcor research. Last year, the Bina and Martine Rothblatt Matching Grant was a resounding success, raising $200,000 for research and development related to whole body vitrification. Now we have another opportunity for our supporters to help us in our quest for better cryopreservations. But first, I want to say a little about what was achieved with last year’s grant.

In the past year, we have made steady progress with these projects described in the grant announcement:
* Laboratory Perfusion System: We are almost finished assembling our new lab space and small animal perfusion system, and experiments related to whole body vitrification and cryopreservation will begin shortly.
* Whole Body Cryopreservation System: A new human whole body cryopreservation system is nearing completion, which will significantly improve the quality of cryopreservation and the degree to which whole body patients vitrify.
* Low Temperature Transport: We have begun contract work with a California cryogenic engineer on a low temperature transport container that will allow vitrification and partial vitrification cryopreservation from remote locations, which is of particular interest to our overseas members.
Over half of last year’s grant still remains, to fund experiments and further engineering developments related to its purposes. All the expenditures from the grant were directly project related: not one cent has been used for overhead or regular employee salaries.

This year, a member who prefers to remain anonymous has put up $25,000 for another matching grant, this one focused on his own personal interest: fracture free storage. When a patient is cooled below the glass transition temperature (about -120°C), mechanical stresses form that can lead to fracturing of tissue, significantly increasing the level of technology needed for revival. Contrary to previous belief, we have found that simply maintaining a patient at higher temperatures may not be enough to prevent this damaging fracturing, since we have indications that fractures occur at temperatures too warm to be safe in the long-term.

To understand and seek ways to prevent these damaging fractures in our patients, Alcor has an ongoing project to analyze the biophysics of fracturing using newly developed technologies and methods. Your donation to this matching grant will support progress already underway, including ongoing testing and development of intermediate temperature storage and transportation systems. This research is separate from the whole body vitrification research, which is continuing into 2007.

From now until February 28, 2007, contributions up to a total of $25,000 will be matched by our anonymous donor. As usual, donations are fully tax deductible. This is your opportunity to further Alcor’s goals, double your contribution, and enjoy a tax deduction. Simply print and fill out the enclosed PDF form, or phone Alcor at 1-877-462-5267 ext. 101 with your credit card. We will do the rest.

Finally, I want to thank all our members for their continued encouragement and support over the last year. I think 2007 will be even better.
Stephen Van Sickle
Executive Director