X-Message-Number: 1839
Date: 28 Feb 93 00:18:53 EST
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: CRYONICS Volunteers

To: Cryonet
 
 
February 27, 1993
 
 
I'm flattered by all the nice things that Ralph had to say 
about me in his recent posting on the subject of budget 
problems, employees, and volunteers. I agree with almost 
everything he says (he speaks with authority; he's in 
Riverside, and I'm not). But I must take issue with one 
point.
 
In my experience, people in any field do not generally call 
to offer their services for free. I hate to state the 
obvious, but maybe it needs to be stated. The real way to get 
people involved is to deal with them one on one. 
 
This was true in my own case. There is one reason why I am 
now active in cryonics: Brenda Peters called me and persuaded 
me. I had spoken on the phone to other people from the New 
York group on two occasions, six months before Brenda called 
me, and I had never bothered to follow up my initial contact 
with them. I never even went to any of their meetings, let 
alone offered to help. Why not? They didn't ask me to! 
 
I realize that Alcor does not have a pool of eager voluntary 
labor at Riverside. I realize also that some volunteers are 
more trouble than they're worth, because they don't work very 
hard, they screw up, they want to hang around chatting, and 
you have to re-do the job after they're gone. And it's true 
that some jobs at Alcor have to be done by paid staff, 
because they involve confidential information about members. 
 
However, Ralph himself published a list of jobs suitable for 
volunteers, in an issue of Cryonics just last year. Maybe 
it's time to follow up that list with some specific pleas for 
help. I know for a fact that there are literally scores of 
Alcorians within a one-hour drive from Riverside. I cannot 
believe that none of these people would respond, if, for 
instance, Derek stopped signing people up for a day or two 
and made begging phone calls instead. 
 
One last point. I understand that the previous administration 
was not receptive to the idea of an outsider such as myself 
representing Alcor to the media--giving radio interviews, 
sending out info packets, or whatever. Fair enough; it's 
important for a cryonics organization to present accurate 
facts and the right image. When a loner 3000 miles away is 
given free rein, who knows what might happen? 
 
On the other hand, now that it has been allowed to happen, it 
seems as if it might be workable after all. In a one-week 
period, I know for a fact I have saved Alcor employees a 
total of approximately two hours on the phone. This isn't 
much, but it is certainly a measurable contribution. And 
while I don't give interviews that are as succinct as the 
ones which Carlos used to give, I think I did an adequate 
job. Thus, something which was thought to be impossible has 
turned out to be possible after all. 
 
Maybe Ralph is right, and my situation is singular. Maybe it 
cannot be replicated. But I still have difficulty believing 
this. 
 
--Charles Platt

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