X-Message-Number: 22912
Subject: Re: Ponzi game (Charles Platt)
From: "Stephen J. Van Sickle" <>
References: <>
Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 11:27:58 -0600

On Sat, 2003-11-22 at 04:00, Charles Platt wrote:

> The cryonics organizations have pledged that the minimum fee
> for your cryopreservation will remain fixed for the
> indefinite future, regardless of inflation and other factors,
> even if you live for another 50 years before you need to be
> cryopreserved. 

Alcor has made no such pledge.  We do not guarantee the suspension
minimum, and our sign-up paperwork specifically says that it may
increase.  We have a grandfathering *policy* at the current time, but
this can change at any time.

> But I'm not sure how this will
> be paid for under current policies, and I believe the
> commitment to guarantee a fixed minimum cryopreservation fee
> may have to be revised for new members at some time in the
> future.

Yes, it is not unlikely that the grandfathering policy will have to be
modified at some time.  We have avoided doing so because 1. we could,
and 2. raising minimums for current members would be a significant
hardship on a minority of members, possibly to the point where long term
supporters may have to drop their memberships.  No one wants to see this
happen.

Because of this, we encourage members who can to significantly
over-fund, and a majority of our members have.

Steve Van Sickle
Speaking for himself 

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