X-Message-Number: 18335
From: Jessica Lemler <>
Subject: This Week at Alcor
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 14:50:51 -0800 (PST)

This Week at Alcor

Week of January 7 through 13, 2002



Jennifer Chapman, Membership Administrator 

It was time for my month-end tasks this week, which 
includes ordering replacement emergency tags for 
members and processing the annual policy summaries 
for December.  After attending the monthly Board 
meeting on Sunday, it was my pleasure to meet with 
the individual who is designing our new database and 
view a sample of the updated system.  Alcor is 
greatly anticipating the many advantages of this 
improved system, which includes enhanced data 
integrity, easier navigation, and an overall increase 
in efficiency.

In preparation for the arrival of a new staff member, 
some time was spent cleaning and arranging an 
office.  Although space is limited due to the growing 
number of employees at Alcor, we are all pleased that 
our team is expanding and gaining expertise from a 
variety of sources. 

Alcor also participated in an extensive interview 
this week, with the reporter visiting our facility 
over several days and meeting with various staff 
members. 

Providing quality customer service is my primary 
responsibility at Alcor.  Such tasks this week 
included processing insurance bills, forwarding 
membership paperwork, reviewing and discussing 
funding arrangements, addressing inquiries received 
from prospective clients, processing applications 
(3), sending notices of membership cancellation (2), 
and finalizing new memberships (1).

  

  

Mike Perry, PhD., Patient Care Assistant  

Jan. 6. (Su) An eventful day, including the Alcor 
public meeting. It was 
long and many issues were discussed, including one I 
presented on the 
possibility of either lowering our prices or offering 
lower-cost options. 
Generally, the feeling is that in the interest of 
security we should not 
lower prices, at least for neuro, despite the fact 
that a competitor has 
much lower prices than we do. It is thought they 
couldn't be breaking even 
but must be getting by on bequests. But we may be 
able to offer a 
lower-cost option for the non-cephalic remains 
(trunk), since it is less 
essential for recovery. I am to make a proposal on 
this.

Jan. 7 (Mo). Another eventful day in its own way, 
though less dramatic. I 
worked with pictures to be used in a book by an 
outside author that will 
feature cryonics, along with attending a staff 
meeting with a 
representative of Media Architects. Dreamweaver seems 
to be the app of 
choice rather than Frontpage for web work. I 
downloaded a (free) 30-day 
trial version.

Jan. 8 (Tu). Another full day, picture work, looking 
up videotapes, and 
interfacing with the rep from Media Architects. In 
one case I had to splice 
together two images of the patient care bay so the 
composite would have 
higher definition than a single digital image from 
the now antiquated 
camera. I looked up some videotapes relating to 
Alcor's Feb. 1997 
conference, and discovered a copy of "Immortality on 
Ice."

Jan. 9 (We). I located articles relating to the 
feasibility of cryonics. 
These may be used in obtaining permission to carry 
out cryonics operations 
in other places besides Alcor's present locations. I 
found Mary Margaret 
Glennie's taped talk at Alcor's 1997 conference, 
which is to be sent to an 
Alcor member on request for promotional purposes. I 
had more dealings with 
the rep from Media Architects, who says the cost of 
copying certain 
materials from relatives of a patient in suspension 
may run higher than 
estimated.

Jan. 10 (Th) Another busy day. Stephen Valentine, 
here with an associate, 
gave a 2 hr. talk on the Timeship project, for which 
he has now created a 
large and slick-looking body of promotional 
literature. Then a bulk fill, 
which started awkwardly because I had forgotten about 
preparing for the 
230-cylinder fills, but ended up okay. (We keep 3 
full 230-liter cylinders 
of LN2 in reserve for suspensions, which can come up 
very suddenly.) One 
oddity was that the truck ran out of liquid nitrogen 
but near what would 
have been the end of the fill anyway. Then I met with 
a reporter from the 
Denver Post who had some questions about cryonics and 
my involvement over 
the years. I contacted the relatives who want 
materials copied (left 
message), advising of the higher cost.




 

  

  

Mathew Sullivan, Facility Operations Manager 

Facility Operations: Finished my Facility Operations 
Report and submitted it for Sundays Board meeting.  

Spent a little time researching products and ordering 
supplies, and I also had to make a couple trips to 
Staples to pick up some supplies.  

Spent more time trying to resolve network issues. 
Setup an old computer temporarily for a new employee 
until we can purchase a new computer. Another 
computer using Windows Me lost its registry file and 
would not even open in safe mode. I had to call for 
tech support from Dell, and I learned a few new 
tricks in the process.  

More end of the year paperwork. I've updated my LN2 
expenses chart and setup the patient care digital 
logbook for 2002. I have also begun the 2001 logbook 
review and I'm currently waiting for Mike to make 
some corrections before I proceed to the next step.  

I was on the phone for a couple of hours with a 
member of Alcor discussing technical issues 
associated with the review process mentioned in 
previous reports. I also briefly worked up a 
nondisclosure agreement for the individual regarding 
a videotape review.  

Attended a meeting regarding a proposal that is being 
made to the cryonics community, and I followed up 
latter that day by attending the technical review. We 
also gave a tour to the group and a member of the 
press who was here for separate reasons. I also gave 
a brief interview and answered a few questions during 
lunch to the press. 

  

Jessica Lemler Sikes, Administrative 
Associate/Webmaster 

On Sunday, we hosted a Board of Directors meeting.  
One of my roles as Corporate Secretary includes being 
present at the meetings to take the minutes.  This 
duty has become much easier now that I have a laptop 
to work with. 

Sunday's meeting seemed to set the tone for the week, 
as this week has been a week filled with meetings, 
visitors, and interviews.  In addition to my usual 
administrative duties, I attended several meetings 
and compiled Sunday's Board meeting minutes.  I had 
some computer problems today, which set me back a 
bit, but thanks to Mathew, I am back online and 
working hard to get caught up. 

  

Hugh Hixon, Facilities Engineer 

Friday, prepare for board meeting

Sunday, Alcor board meeting

Monday, various administrative stuff.

Tuesday, various administrative stuff.

Wednesday, various administrative stuff.

Thursday, engineering discussions, news interview.  



  

Dr. Jerry Lemler, President, CEO 

We welcomed many visitors to Alcor this past week.  
Several old friends from out of town dropped by, 
including Dr. Bob Newport, Dr. Kat Cotter, Andrea Van 
De Loo, Hara Ra, Ken Weiss, and Stephen Valentine. 

On Sunday we hosted the monthly Alcor Board of 
Directors meeting.  One of the more exciting topics 
of discussion concerned the November Alcor 
Conference.  Site finalization will likely be 
determined in the next couple of weeks at which time 
we'll make an announcement.  Those few lobbying for 
an east Tennessee location reluctantly yielded to the 
more vociferous and better funded southern California 
delegation.  Our last major conference (June, 2000 at 
Asilomar) was a rousing success, and we anticipate 
November will be no different. 

Tomorrow (Saturday, January 12) will commemorate the 
35th anniversary of the first human being to be 
suspended who still remains in cryostasis, Dr. James 
Bedford, proudly one of Alcor's 47 residents in our 
Patient Care Bay.  Dr. Bedford has been with us since 
1991.  I was interviewed by German Public Radio for a 
program they are broadcasting to mark the occasion.  
Ron Franscall, senior writer from the Denver Post, 
has been with us the last few days, gathering 
information for a feature story he is writing on our 
foundation.  He was able to get some quality shots of 
a liquid nitrogen bulk fill yesterday and he 
(naturally) was most pleased to see the action. 

  

Joe Hovey, Accounting Manager 

Almost the entire week was spent on the 1st quarter 
billing and I am still not finished. This does not 
merely involve stuffing invoices and statements in an 
envelope. Payments by credit card must be processed, 
all accounts must be examined for accuracy and past 
due accounts must be handled separately with special 
correspondence. Someday I will have a robot that will 
do all of this for me. 

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