X-Message-Number: 20398
Subject: Alcor's news void
Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 14:08:33 -0500
From: "Lisa Lock" <>

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Alcor's news void

 

Dear Cryonicists:

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I am compelled to address the concerns voiced here about Alcor's magazine, 
Cryonics. First, perhaps a little background information is in order. I am the 
editor of Cryonics. I do this work as a volunteer (I am also an Alcor member). I
do not live in Scottsdale; I live 2,400 miles away in Delaware. I cajole 
authors, gather articles, edit, design, and proof the entire magazine. I have 
been steadily working to improve the quality and readibility of the magazine 
from a newsletter-type format to a more professional-looking publication 
(cosmetic things I could do on my own), and we (the Alcor staff and I) are 
currently working to improve the review process and the contents of the issues 
(addressed in the 3rd paragraph below). I also deal directly with the press to 
ensure high quality printing, and I oversee the mailing to members. I have a 
full-time job in publishing at a museum in Delaware, and I volunteer as an EMT 
on the ambulance (2nd shift) with my local fire company an average of 30 hours a
month IN ADDITION to my work on Cryonics magazine. 

 


Alcor Central has 11 full-time employees. I should not have to tell everyone how
hard these people work and how much of their lives are devoted to their "day 
jobs." No one at Alcor has listed in their job description "staff writer for 
Alcor's magazine." The informational articles written by staff that appear in 
Cryonics are written not as a part of their Alcor duties, but are accomplished 
after-hours, on their personal time. The other articles you find in the magazine
are received, largely unsolicited, from Alcor members. Alcor's board of 
directors, also a "volunteer" group, give generously and freely of their 
time--attending monthly board meetings (which can last 6+ hours on Sundays), 
organizing multi-day international conferences (a herculean task), and making 
themselves available, on-call, for emergency meetings. These people also try to 
find time to write for the magazine during their "personal" time.

 


We recognize the need to publish information about happenings at Alcor. We also 
recognize the need to balance this against other, perhaps more important, tasks 
being performed at Alcor. The next issue, which you should be receiving this 
week, includes a "Report from the Director of Suspension Services," by Charles 
Platt. This will be a regular feature in addition to the President's Report. We 
also intend to begin an "Operations Report," which will be co-written by members
of all the departments at Alcor to give updates about current projects. 

 


As for position pieces about the "real problems facing cryonics"...   Take this 
posting as a direct, open invitation to write one. As mentioned above, there is 
no "staff writer" for Alcor magazine. Either write an article yourself, or try 
to petition an author you admire to write for Cryonics. All submissions are 
welcome and will be vetted by Jerry Lemler, myself, and a board member before 
being accepted for publication (a new procedure). I welcome questions and 
suggestions.

 

Lisa Lock

Editor, Cryonics



 

 


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