X-Message-Number: 18351 Date: Sun, 13 Jan 2002 16:18:08 -0500 From: david pizer <> Subject: Re: Venturist Assistance to Swayze References: <> At 11:14 PM 1/12/02 -0700, Mike Perry wrote: >Is there any possibility that James Swayze could volunteer his talents, and >instead of being paid the money would go to the Cryonics Assistance Fund? What talents? What do you want him to do? What do we need done? If you can develop some things that need to be done, (and there are lots of things that need to be done), that he can do, and you can raise money from other Venturists that want these things done, then there is the possibility you ask about. To start you need a plan: 1. Think of things our members want done like: storage of thir personal stuff, back up insurance in case their regular storage provider goes out of business, a way to take money with them like an individual trust (like I have) that can be funded with the sale of their possessions at legal death or life insurance proceeds. There are lots of other things cryonicists want. Think about them. 2. Think how the Venturists could do these things. Think what jel James could be. Think how you will sell or market these needed services. 3. Start a fund raising program and get members to donate start up money to get this going. Start up money is not the actual charge we will charge for the various servious, it is just the money needed to hire attorneys or accountants to figure what needs to be done and money for mailers etc. There are two general types of services you might want to think about: fully charitable (like where people send in money to save James), and services like trust funds and storage of valuables. Put together a first draft and I will edit it and give you some ideas. >And this option would not, of course, be limited only to Mr. Swayze, but >others would be encouraged to contribute the same way. I think it's an idea >whose time has come. What is the idea? >Mike Perry > >At 07:38 AM 1/12/2002 -0800, James Bryan Swayze wrote: >>Dear Venturists, >> >>Thank you all so very much for your decision to create the Cryonics Assistance >>Fund. It really took me by surprise and I am so very delighted by it. >>Depending >>on my Cryonics evangelizing success I may have some nominees, friends I dearly >>love, that would qualify as to need. Regardless though of whether people I >>know >>could benefit I am so grateful on behalf of my differently abled peers. It's >>also a great load off my chest as I mentioned on Cryonet. It's easier for >>me to >>accept the help I've received knowing that perhaps my involvement had a tiny >>bit to do with helping others and which my reluctance a few times. >> >>Ironically I have been meaning to contact the Venturists about joining if it >>were possible. I've also kept in the back of my mind, on a back burner so to >>speak, Dave Pizer's offer to me to contact him should I have some idea how he >>could help me. However, my idea involves helping him. I have some meager >>skills >>in Computer Aided Drafting I'd be willing to dust off and use to help with the >>development of Ventureville. I've considered time and again becoming an >>Accessibility Consultant both for ADA compliance and to use my natural design >>skills to help companies design modifications to existing structures or plan >>accessibility into new construction. I've designed many systems for my own use >>and since I am so large in my wheelchair due mostly to my 6'5" height and my >>splayed legs due to my bone disease if something is designed for my access >>it's >>likely it will accommodate most other wheelchair and scooter users. >> >>I never got very far with it because I am not accredited as a designer or >>architect or engineer and am self taught in CAD, and finally I have a great >>problem with traveling and to make the big bucks I'd surely need to travel as >>the market would be slim just locally. Finally, I was unsure what I could earn >>doing that and if it was too little I'd only thoroughly mess up my medical >>coverage and income though to call my present income meager is an >>understatement. >> >>However, nothing is stopping me volunteering my talents and this I've been >>pondering a small while. I have volunteered the use of my talents where >>possible to CI already and I extend the invitation to the Venturists and >>Ventureville and Alcor is welcome as well. Please let me know if this is of >>interest to you. Please also let me know what is required to be a Venturist >>member. I am concerned about avoiding autopsy. Are future to be CI members >>welcome? ;) Thanks again. >> >>James >> >>Mike Perry wrote: >> >> > To help James Swayze, and more generally other, similar cases that might >> > come up, the Society for Venturism has now established a Cryonics >> > Assistance Fund. Until further notice, contributions to this fund will be >> > remitted in their entirety to Cryonics Institute's James Swayze Fund. The >> > Venturist organization is tax-exempt, with 501(c)3 status, thus >> > contributions should be tax deductible. (It is my understanding that direct >> > contributions to CI's Fund are not tax deductible.) If you wish to >> > contribute, you should send a check payable to "Society for Venturism" and >> > mark it "Cryonics Assistance Fund" or "James Swayze Fund." Send it to me, >> > Mike Perry, 7895 E. Acoma Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85260-6916. I will forward >> > the funds immediately to CI and, unless directed otherwise, include an >> > acknowledgement of the contributor. I hope this will increase the >> > assistance to James and others in the future with similar needs. Anyone >> > feel free to forward this message as seems appropriate. >> > >> > Sincerely, >> > Mike Perry >> > Secretary, Society for Venturism >> > >> > The Society for Venturism, Inc. is registered with the IRS under Employer >> > ID Number 74-2516644. >> >>-- >>My website: >>http://www.davidpascal.com/swayze >> >>A collection of photos of me and some of my artwork: >>http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292752723&code=2039335&mode=invite >> >>A radio interview on Dr. J's ChangeSurfer Radio program with me and the father >>of cryonics Prof. Robert Ettinger, author >>of "The Prospect of Immortality": >>http://www.radio4all.net/proginfo.php?id=3728 >> >>A favorite quote: >> >> >From the point of ignition >>To the final drive >>The point of the journey >>is not to arrive >>--Prime Mover by RUSH from Hold Your Fire available here: >>http://cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1804486765/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/albu m.html/artistid=RUSH/itemid=408870 > > > Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18351