X-Message-Number: 1480
From: 
Subject: CRYONICS Keith's open letter
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 23:08:41 PST

Steve suggested I post this letter so readers can see what Saul got so 
worked up about.  Keith

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Open letter of record to the board and Saul Kent: 

Though I can't say I was surprised, I am extremely disappointed in the 
actions of five of the Alcor board members, including all three of the 
new ones, in removing a proven president for a person without a track 
record of working inside Alcor and lacking (in my opinion) some of the 
skills needed to keep Alcor a viable organization. 

I was also distressed that this was done over the phone, putting a 
damper on discussing relevant topics.  It left Steve, as Hugh put it, 
"skydiving into the dark."  There was no reason the meeting had to be 
held in "emergency mode" when the changeover is to be delayed for 60 
days, and we could have conveniently gotten together two weeks later.  
(Except, of course, for the fear of the five that the coalition would 
break down before then.) 

In spite of my grave misgivings on the way this was handled, (not 
helped by resolution wording that directed *Carlos* to help write the 
transition plan they did not have ready) I will do my best to support 
our new president, Steve Bridge.  Lord knows, he is going to need it!  
And, I must state the obvious that forcing Carlos out of the office is 
to his great personal advantage, and possibly mine (if I can talk 
Carlos into working with me on a new business).  But I do want all 
five of you *and Saul* to be on notice that you have your work cut out 
for you, and that if things go very bad or Alcor fails and it can be 
traced to this change of leadership, your responsibilities in 
replacing Carlos are a matter of record.  

To each of you: 

Steve, I know you recognize your lack of skills and knowledge of 
accounting, financial, and legal matters.  I hope you can find 
trustworthy advisors, especially in the legal area.  I expect you will 
turn to Saul Kent for legal advice, and that raises great concerns for 
me.  (Consider where he is with the L.E.F. and how the Jones Estate 
litigation turned out.)  You are going to be under great pressure from 
Saul, perhaps even more than Carlos was subjected to, to take 
positions, or take on projects, against your better judgment.  I 
suspect this has already started. 

Al, while I understand your problem, I have never understood your 
goal.  I am very sorry that my experience in talking to you was such a 
disaster.  That has left me unwilling to discuss matters informally 
lest some distortion gets passed on which causes the kind of pain 
which happened to both Mike and me at the October board meeting.  
Partly because of this factor, I would appreciate your either wrapping 
up Citizens for an Extended Lifespan or getting someone else involved.  
In any case, please take this as my resignation from all aspects of 
CEL. 

Mark, I did not know of your close relation to Brenda when I was first 
apprised of your interest in being on the board.  From what you told 
me, the entire group of five had been adamant that Carlos had to go 
from the day you were elected.  And yet, you never discussed the 
downsides of this with any of the four who were supporting him (and we 
constituted four of the votes you got to get on the board).  You are 
the only technical/political person on the board likely to be able to 
help Steve.  I *expect* you to take the place advising and working 
with Steve which I had with Carlos.  I will be very disappointed in 
you if you do not take on the responsibility and put forth the level 
of effort which I did during the Dora Kent crisis and times of need 
over the last five years.  Success or failure, you will have a *long* 
time to live with the consequences, and they will spread out far from 
Alcor to affect your chosen career. 

Brenda, what can I say?  For a variety of reasons (which I am willing 
to discuss in person), I don't think you have been suited to be on the 
board for some time, and you clearly reciprocate the feeling. 

Ralph, at 24 you are under half of my age.  Age does *not* always 
bring wisdom, but it does let you pile up experience.  Would I have 
made good judgments at that age?  Perhaps, with some luck I would 
have.  I suspect the Saturday Carlos was replaced is a day you will 
regret, especially after hearing about your being the initial leader 
of this cabal, your subsequent change of heart, and the success of the 
threats applied to you *and Alcor* behind the scene.  Recall this 
prediction the next time a crisis comes crashing down. 

Saul, oh kingmaker.  I admit to being impressed.  You managed it just 
the way you said you would in your book, even giving a little sop to 
my concerns about overlap so there would not be an entire loss of 
institutional memory--though I had in mind the need for a year or two 
instead of days.  You may not be happy with the results.  I expect the 
loss of institutional memory to cost Alcor hundreds of thousands of 
dollars in mistakes Steve will make that Carlos has already made.  You 
should also consider this:  Unlike whatever led up to the collapse of 
the Cryonics Society of New York, what has happened lately is well 
documented and the documents are widespread (partly due to *your* 
efforts and partly because electronic documents are so easy to copy 
and store).  Despite your statements on CryoNet of the obvious fact 
that you are not a director or officer of Alcor, your influence and 
responsibility in these matters is clear.  History will *not* treat 
you kindly if the replacement you promoted goes badly.  (And, I am sad 
to note, it is my grim experience that most do.)  

Salesmanship, political scheming, and arm twisting are no longer the 
skills you need to succeed.  You will need good judgment, quick study, 
and hard work.  The four of us on the loosing side will do what we can 
to cooperate (all you need to do is ask), but it is obvious that our 
influence on Alcor's future has been greatly diminished.  It is also 
obvious that we will no longer be expected to take the initiative, and 
that you will have to do your own planning.  I hope the lot of you are 
up to working the farm you have bought.  Our lives depend on it. 

Best wishes to all for the New Year, 

H. Keith Henson 

Speaking for the record, December 4, 1992 

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