X-Message-Number: 25822 From: "David Pascal" <> Subject: More About The Cryonics Society Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2005 00:57:19 -0500 I'd like to thank Kitty Wakfer for being kind enough to call the new Cryonics Society web site at www.CryonicsSociety.org professionally produced, smoothly designed, and impressive. Hopefully more people will visit the site as a result. I'd also like to thank her for giving me an opportunity to talk some more about the Cryonics Society. To answer her questions directly: >> Who is the "we" referred to in the posted promotional message and at the very smoothly designed website? Is it Nick Pavlica and David Pascal, both listed as founders and "professional communications consultants" somewhat buried near the bottom of the page entitled, "I Already Belong To A Cryonics Organization. Why Should I Join The Cryonics Society Too?" http://www.cryonicssociety.org/1st_cryomember.html<< Formal statements from CS are usually reviewed by more than one officer, and that's why 'we' is sometimes used. The writer is speaking as on behalf of CS, not as a private individual. Further information about Nick and David follows below. >> What type of organization is the "Cryonics Society"? (By "type", I mean its structural and legal form: corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, LLC, for-profit, not-for-profit, trust, charitable, etc. << The Cryonics Society was legally registered and officially filed as a DBA in Rochester, New York, USA, in 2004. The status is somewhat transitional, however, in that there is still discussion going on as to whether the Cryonics Society should formally incorporate as a US-based non-profit, or one that is not based in the US, or as one that operates along more traditional business lines. US-based non-profits may be required to release the names of major contributors to the government, and CS feels this could threaten member confidentiality, among other undesirable restrictions and conditions of nonprofit incorporation. CS's status in this regard, incidentally, has been publicly available online on page two of the CS web site's FAQ for a while now. The notice will be updated when organizational decisions are finalized. >> Who are the officers, other than the "Public Relations Director", David Pascal, mentioned only as such on a 3/12/05 entry of the News blog at the same website? << The officers at the moment are Nick Pavlica, Director; and David Pascal, Public Relations Director. We also have another candidate for Director whom we think will be very well received by the cryonics community, but we're still in the discussion stage. We hope to make an announcement shortly. I should add that CS is already in the process of producing a page on its web site with information about officers. However, we're also in the process of designing and executing a further pro-cryonics mailing to 25,000 people, and that is taking up our time at the present moment. >> Where are its specific goals << I believe the Society's goals are stated succinctly on several CS site pages. But to quote directly from the web site FAQ: "To inform the public honestly and fairly; to advocate and raise funds for sound scientific research; to raise public understanding and support; to provide accurate information to journalists, news agencies, doctors, hospitals, and care givers; to help direct members to legitimate and qualified providers of cryonics treatment services; and to assist people seeking hope for themselves and their loved ones -- these are the goals of the Cryonics Society." >> Who is receiving (and responding to) the emails and "feedback" sent to it? << The emails and feedback are received by the Cryonics Society at www.CryonicsSociety.org. Most replies are written and sent by myself, David Pascal, though often with input from others, and with prior approval. >> What is done with the yearly "membership" fees at the various "levels"? << Currently, all -- one hundred percent -- of revenues from contributions and memberships go to fund Cryonics Society outreach efforts. All future fund raising efforts will clearly specify what percentage of donations are allocated to where. >> (For that matter, what is the identity of the receiver of the monies from PayPal (and "all major credit cards accepted")<< The identity of the receiver is Cryonics Society, which is to say, the Society itself. Funds are placed in the Cryonics Society company account, not in a personal account. >> how do they get placed into a Cryonics Society bank account, as opposed to someone's personal bank account.)<< All checks are deposited to the Cryonics Society account, not to a person or individual. Members can verify this by the CS endorsement on the reverse side of their processed checks. Funds sent to Paypal are automatically entered into the Cryonics Society account at Paypal. >>What say do "members" have in the operations of this "society"?<< Members can contact the Society whenever they please and give whatever input they wish. Suggestions are welcome and actively solicited. All input from members goes directly to one or more of the Directors and is given due consideration. >>While a professionally produced website by advertising/marketing consultants (Pascal/Matic and Pavlica) can be "impressive" on the surface, without the information that is missing it is a shell without the substance necessary to assess and judge. It is people who perform activities and it is they who need to be known and assessed on knowledge, forthrightness and past record before being considered worthy of receiving funds from others and trusted for new and/or continued endeavors, no matter how desirable the subject of the promises.<< My own background in cryonics can be briefly stated. I - David Pascal - joined the Cryonics Institute in 1998. I served briefly as a Director, and, after a few years of unpaid volunteer effort, I joined the staff formally as Public Relations and Member Relations Coordinator, in which position I served till early 2004. At that point I turned to marketing other clients in New York. Though I'm not Canadian, I often visit Toronto and am also a member of the Cryonics Society of Canada. It's there that I met Nick Pavlica. I have published articles in The Immortalist, where I am listed as a Contributing Editor. I've also written material for Alcor's Cryonics magazine, Longevity Report, and other publications familiar to cryonics readers. I've given talks on cryonics to people and before the media. I designed the web site for the Cryonics Society of Canada. As one of the organizers of the CryoSummit, I met and welcomed many of the principal figures in Alcor, ACS, and Suspended Animation. I think it is reasonably safe to say that I am known to people in the cryonics movement and am considered by some to have contributed something of value to it. Regarding 'Rudi Matic' -- when not working to advance the cause of cryonics, I am a professional writer and copywriter, and like many others in the field I have a pen name that I use occasionally. That pen name is a formally established business, with legally registered DBA status. I use David Pascal when dealing with cryonics matters because that name is better known, and more likely to gain favorable attention for my cryonics efforts. As for Nick Pavlica, he is a very respected marketing consultant, businessman, publisher and publishing consultant with extensive and successful experience. He has also been involved in many pro bono efforts for scientific, environmental and humanitarian organizations and a significant contributor to many worthwhile causes, (including the Cryonics Society). Nick is a member of Alcor, the Cryonics Institute and a member of, and a contributor to, the Cryonics Society of Canada. I'd like to say again, incidentally, that although we do have plans to post further information about officers on the CS web site, and although we do appreciate Kitty's invitation to further introduce the leadership of the Cryonics Society, at the moment we have other priorities. The Cryonics Society has already put together and sent a mailing to 10,000 people, and currently we're working hard to put together a new mailing to 25,000 more. We hope to launch the mailing next month, and while highlighting the personal accomplishments of CS officers is pleasing to those involved, it takes time away from our current effort, which is, to get more positive messages about cryonics before the public. I think it would be more helpful for everyone to just look at what the Society is actually doing, rather than discussing personalities, and ask themselves, "Do I want more people to hear something positive about cryonics? Do I want an organization out there actively working to discourage negative news stories about cryonics? Would I like to see an organization actively trying to get more members and supporters and research funds for Alcor, CI, and other cryonics organizations?" If the answer is yes, then the logical thing to do is support the Cryonics Society by becoming a member or making a donation. There's a great deal of talk in the cryonics community. The Cryonics Society is doing something, and we can do more -- if everyone helps. A sense of proportion helps too. Membership in the Cryonics Society starts at only twenty dollars. Twenty dollars will buy a replacement ink cartridge, or a frappuccinno and a sandwich at Starbucks. It's not a whole lot. Concern about fiscal rectitude is appropriate, but I believe we've shown a readiness to address those concerns. Let's be reasonable, then. The Cryonics Society is making serious efforts to reach people and help the cause of cryonics, and they need everyone's support to reach more. I've paid to join, and I've donated, and I wish every reader would consider joining and donating too. Twenty dollars is not much to risk -- and there is so very much to gain. - David Pascal Public Relations Director The Cryonics Society www.CryonicsSociety.org Join CS at: www.CryonicsSociety.org/joining.html Make a donation at: www.CryonicsSociety.org/helping.html Subscribe to FutureNews at: www.CryonicsSociety.org/futurenews/index.php Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25822