X-Message-Number: 22998
From: 
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 00:05:43 EST
Subject: Funding

Cryonics never has enough funding.  Last year INC was looking for a few tens 
of thousands more for Yuri Pichugin and this is typical of the small amounts 
needed and our inability to raise even those.  I'd like to discuss ways to fix 
this.  

This underfunding is astounding.  In the U.S. alone are hundreds of 

billionaires (243 per Forbes)and almost seven million millionaires.  All are 
mortal, 
and should be interested in cryonics.  And their generosity is legend.  They 

give huge sums to every cause, good bad or loony.  Every cause *except* 
cryonics. 
 

The budgets for research projects tend to be $50-100,000.  One contribution 
could provide that.  Of all those millionaires we need to interest just one.  
Yet we haven't.  What can we do about that? 

I would suggest three things.  First, we should consider the rich people we 
know, and mention cryonics to each of them.  Without being pushy we can say 

cryonics offers the only chance of physical immortality or long life -- a thing
that should appeal to their self-interest.  We can say that we ourselves are 
signed up or plan to, which should persuade them to take it seriously.  And we 

can explain that today we can revive frozen tissues but not yet organs or large
animals -- but that we are tantalizingly close to that, and for only a few 

tens of thousands we might get there, thus saving us, and them, and their loved
ones.  That presentation ought to work, at least occasionally, and we need it 
to work just once.  

I live in a nice neighborhood and am friends with one rich person, a lady who 
manages her family trust, sits on museum boards and gives substantially.  I 
mentioned this to her and she wasn't interested.  She's lived long enough and 

the cause is not art.  Such negative reactions will predominate, I'm sure.  But
again, we need only one positive response.  

Second, we should decide which organizations have lots of rich people and try 
to speak at their meetings.  I think organizations such as the Rotary Club 
are always looking for interesting speakers, and millionaires are common among 

businessmen.  Country clubs and exclusive men's clubs where cognac is served in
the library would be ideal if they invite speakers.  

Third, we should consider buying a couple of hours of the time of a 
professional fund-raiser, to tell us how these things are really done.  

I guess most of us are technical types like myself, not " people people", and 
we all hate selling.  But our cause is life itself.  How could we possibly 
fail to sell that?

What do you think?

Alan Mole

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