X-Message-Number: 26495
From: "Mark Plus" <>
Subject: Alcor's underachieving endowment goal
Date: Sun, 03 Jul 2005 14:54:23 -0700

On page 6 of the May/June issue of Cryonics magazine, Alcor's CEO Joe 
Waynick announces a project to raise $1 million for a "Leadership Team" 
endowment so that the principal in the fund will generate income, in 
Waynick's words, "to perpetually fund ongoing projects, upgrades, and staff 
that will steadily advance the technological and membership growth 
objectives of the organization."

I don't understand how someone came up with this figure, unless Dr. Evil 
from the Austin Powers movies has begun to advise Alcor's Board. A $1 
million dollar investment would generate something like $30,000 a year in 
interest, which would barely pay for someone's salary on Alcor's staff. I 
want to contribute money towards an endowment of this sort, but I had rather 
expected something more ambitious.

I also have to ask: Considering how long Alcor has existed and how much 
money has passed through its leaders' hands, when does it reach the point 
where an additional $30,000 a year become merely desirable instead of 
necessary?

And how would Alcor protect this endowment from legal judgments? Alcor has 
entered territory where rent-seekers begin to covet of its financial assets, 
but it has not gotten strong enough yet to defend itself adequately. Please 
explain this to me.

Manage your risk, not your terror.
Mark Plus

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