X-Message-Number: 10455 Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 09:56:50 -0400 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: CryoNet #10450 - #10452 HI everyone! Charles Platt and den Otter bring up the basic problem that has troubled cryonics ever since it began. In order to effectively support research, you need a certain number of members. The number of members may vary a bit depending on just how much they're willing to donate, but it should be clear that in every case the average donation of time and money from each member will have a limit --- in practical terms, much less than sackcloth and ashes. And of course supporting research (and actually getting results from that research) will have a considerable role in recruitment of new members. No, I doubt we'd see any sudden upsurge any more than before, but if we were known to be progressing in our aims then its fair to think that more people would join. So we started too small to support research, and still can barely do so. This naturally means that our rate of growth of membership remains about what it has been. The same may be said for ANY thing we might do to promote the growth of cryonics. Small numbers mean (relatively) small funding which means small numbers which mean .... Still, Alcor (the only society which openly lists its membership numbers) has clearly grown over the years. And Saul Kent, one of the early cryonicists, has (with Bill Faloon) slowly acquired more resources. If we avoid any catastrophes, in 20 years, whether or not current research efforts take us very far, we'll probably be able to support significantly MORE research (plus all the other things a group needs to grow). No one should go about blaming others for this condition. It comes with the territory of smallness. And even though it hurts, I think that patience here is needed and useful. Best and long long life to all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=10455