X-Message-Number: 27424
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 21:30:46 +0100
From: Eugen Leitl <>

Subject: FYI:[: [AlcorNews] Alcor News #46, December 11, 
2005]

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Subject: [AlcorNews] Alcor News #46, December 11, 2005
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 ===========================================================

                     Alcor News Bulletin
                -----------------------------
                 Number 46: December 11, 2005

 ===========================================================

 This bulletin is sent via email to anyone who has requested
 it. Please do not reply to this message; the news server at
 alcornews.org does not receive email. Send any comments,
 suggestions, or complaints to the editor, Mike Perry,
 <>. Subscribe/unsubscribe information is at
 the end of this message. The layout of Alcor News is best
 viewed using a monospaced font such as Courier. Contents
 are copyright 2005 by Alcor Foundation but permission is
 granted to reprint any whole news item, so long as Alcor is
 credited as the source and the reprint includes our URL at
 <www.alcornews.org>.

 ===========================================================

                     Authors This Issue:

 Jennifer Chapman [JC], Diane Cremeens [DC], Tanya Jones
 [TJ], Sergey Sheleg [SSH], Steve Van Sickle [SVS], Website
 Working Group [WWG].

 -----------------------------------------------------------

 In this issue:

 * Update on the $100,000 Matching Grant for Whole Body
 * Vitrification Research
 * Financial Matters
 * Bookkeeping
 * Engineering Development Matters
 * Research Update
 * Sterilization Update
 * Magazine / Alcor News Development
 * Media This Month
 * Construction Update
 * Membership Statistics
 * Alcor United
 * Employment Opportunities
 * Next Board Meeting


 -----------------------------------------------------------

                 $100,000 Matching Grant for
             Whole Body Vitrification Research

 So far, we've received $18,070 of the $100,000. We
 encourage everyone, whether signed up whole-body or neuro,
 to contribute to this program, since the technologies we
 are working on should improve both methods of
 cryopreservation. This is a rare opportunity to leverage
 your contribution, dollar for dollar. Please write a check
 for however much you can afford, payable to Alcor, and note
 in the memo area "Matching Grant". Thank you everyone for
 your continuing support.

 Call now to make your pledge: 877-462-5267 ext. 101

 Or print and fax your pledge form to: 480-922-9027

 Pledge forms are available at this link:
 http://www.alcor.org/Library/pdfs/MatchingGrant.pdf

 When sending donations by mail, include this pledge form or
 simply write "Matching Grant Donation" in the memo field of
 your check:

 Alcor Foundation
 7895 E. Acoma Drive, Suite 110
 Scottsdale, AZ 85260
 Attention: Fundraising Dept.
 [SVS]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                      Financial Matters

 Our accounting firm of Fester & Chapman finished their
 formal review of the 2004 financial statements. The report
 was formally presented to the Board at the December
 meeting. These reviewed financial statements will be made
 available on our website. Fester & Chapman has also
 provided us with a formal set of recommendations to improve
 our internal financial controls. We are still reviewing the
 document, but at first look it appears that we have already
 implemented most of the recommendations, and the remainder
 we will be doing shortly. A more detailed report on this
 will be provided next month.

 We have also completed the four backlogged case billings
 that had not yet been done, bringing our clinical accounts
 current. A draft 2006 budget is complete and has been
 distributed to the Board for review and discussion.

 We're also in the process of finalizing a new contract for
 liquid nitrogen. Our current supplier was unwilling to re-
 negotiate terms upon the conclusion of this contract year,
 and we went looking for other suppliers with better
 pricing. Once the new contract goes into effect next March,
 we will see a 45% reduction in liquid nitrogen costs and
 delivery charges. Effectively, our price will drop to
 $0.20/liter. This should save the Patient Care Trust nearly
 $20,000 in 2006, more if the case load is similar to what
 it was this year. [SVS/TJ]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                         Bookkeeping

 We have hired Sheila Kimbrell for temporary part-time work
 as bookkeeper here at Alcor. She is available 2 days a week
 until the beginning of January (tax season) and will be
 filling in until we can find a permanent replacement.

 Ms. Kimbrell is a long time friend of our membership
 administrator Diane Cremeens. She has since 2001 been
 operating a private accounting practice, and prior to that
 was employed from 1986 by Heiser & Associates, a small
 local accounting firm (15 years). She left this position,
 her sole employer prior to private practice, when the firm
 dissolved on the death of its owner. She has formal
 education in accounting from Phoenix College, and has been
 certified as a Quickbooks Professional Advisor, though that
 certification has lapsed. She is a past president and
 current board member of the Arizona Society of Practicing
 Accountants (http://www.aspaaccts.org/index.htm), member of
 the National Society of Accountants, past president of the
 North Valley Business Network (http://www.nvbnetwork.com/),
 and treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 431.

 Her references have been checked, and she has undergone the
 complete battery of background checks offered by our
 employment agency ADP TotalSource. [SVS]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

              Engineering Development Matters

 Work has resumed on a number of the engineering development
 projects approved by the R&D committee, including the
 Intermediate Temperature Storage (ITS) monitoring project
 and the annealing test project. The ITS Neuropod purchased
 from 21st Century Medicine is in an operation-capable dewar
 and undergoing long term testing at operating temperatures
 (-140C). [SVS]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                       Research Update

 Brain samples for 12 and 24 hours of warm cardiac arrest
 and brain samples after vitrification using M22 were
 analyzed using electron microscopy. The preliminary results
 showed the presence of autolytic damage of cortical neurons
 in 9, 12, and 24 hours of warm cardiac arrest. More
 discussion of the results is required, especially with
 regard to the samples processed using M22.

 Another set of brain samples was processed for light
 microscopy by Neuroscience Associates, Inc. using apoptotic
 marker Caspase-3. (Apoptosis is programmed cell death.)
 Preliminary results showed no significant apoptosis
 activation during prolonged brain anoxia. [SSH]


 -----------------------------------------------------------

                   Sterilization Update

 To follow-up on the brief mention last month, our new
 sterilizer is now functioning properly and has been used to
 sterilize its first tubing packs. [TJ]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                 Magazine / Alcor News Development

 Alcor's members want more outreach tools they can use to
 introduce others to cryonics and Alcor. The vision for
 achieving this started with development of the 30-minute
 DVD and continues now to Cryonics magazine and Alcor News.

 Cryonics magazine will be transformed in 2006 to offer a
 more mainstream, thought-provoking publication. Look for
 intriguing articles by a wider array of authors, a polished
 appearance, and discussion of topics that underscore the
 many highly compelling facets of cryonics. An article will
 be included with the first issue of the magazine explaining
 the changes, and an Editorial Board is being formed.
 Participants from the Board of Directors and advisory
 boards are sought.

 To make this transformation a success within the current
 budget, the publication frequency will be reduced to four
 issues per year. Efforts will be made to avoid decreased
 contact with members and other supporters. To aid with
 timely information flow, expansion of Alcor News is being
 considered. [JC]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                    Construction Update

 The major change in the state of the construction this
 month concerns the delivery and installation of our new
 bulk tank. This tank sat on the vendor's lot for more than
 two years, as the construction project slowly inched
 forward. We finally accepted delivery last week, using a
 local crane company to off-load the tank from the flatbed
 truck and install it in the new patient care bay. In all,
 the construction project is about 90% complete. The only
 major items remaining are installation of some ducting, the
 stairs to the roof and roof hatch, hanging the OR lights,
 and some concrete floor smoothing. There has been some
 slowing of the construction due to confusion over billing.
 We have received late and incorrect billings, delaying
 payment, but the bills and payments are now correct and up
 to date. We have begun slow-motion moving of equipment into
 the new spaces, and will switch into high gear when the
 major items are complete and the contractor removes his
 equipment. We have also begun some much-needed cosmetic
 improvements to the office and lab areas, mostly paint and
 trim. Bill Voice deserves credit for taking the initiative
 on that. [TJ/SVS]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                    Media This Month

 An estimated 24,097 distinct computers visited Alcor's
 website in October. Media participation this month
 includes:

 - WHFS Radio, US: Tanya Jones did an interview for this
 radio station with questions and comments from callers.

 - GQ Spain, Spain: We coordinated with an editor who was
 helping with an article about cryonics.

 -      An open letter signed by over 60 scientists and
 physicians endorsing the scientific basis of cryonics has
 been made public and can be found at:
 http://www.cryoletter.org.

 As always, a real-time list of new things on our website is
 available at: http://www.alcor.org/whatsnew.html [JC/WWG]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                    Membership Statistics

 Approvals: 11
 Members: 781
 Applicants: 63

 On November 30, 2005, Alcor had 781 members on its
 Emergency Responsibility List. Five memberships were
 approved during this month, no memberships were reinstated,
 three memberships were cancelled and no members were
 cryopreserved. A correction to last month's figures was
 made, where a cancelled member was counted in both the
 membership total and the cancelled count. Overall, there
 was a net gain of one member this month. We have an average
 net gain of 6.1 members per month in 2005, which compares
 favorably to the average net gain of 4.3 members per month
 last year. At the end of this month, Alcor had 62
 applicants for membership, a net loss of 5 applicants.

 Alcor distributed 108 information packs this month. Our
 average for 2005 has grown to 118 per month, compared to 50
 in 2004. There were 815 subscribers to Alcor News as of the
 last issue. [DC]

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                        Alcor United

 Alcor members have a new forum where they can meet and chat
 with other members. Get to know other cryonics supporters
 in your area by visiting Alcor United:

 www.alcorunited.org


 -----------------------------------------------------------

                  Employment Opportunities

 Have you ever thought about joining the Alcor team? We have
 immediate needs for licensed Paramedics, Emergency Medical
 Technicians, Registered Nurses, Lab Technicians and more to
 join our nationwide Transport Team. Participation would be
 on a contractual basis.

 You'll be given cryonics training that will enable you to
 participate in our patient rescue and transport cases.
 Licensed professionals do not have to be Alcor members to
 work with us. We welcome your expertise and interest. If
 you're interested, send your resume to:

 

 -----------------------------------------------------------

                     Next Board Meeting

 The next Board meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January
 7, 2006, at 11:00 AM (MST).

 Board meetings are typically held on the first Saturday of
 the month at the Alcor facility (7895 East Acoma Drive in
 Scottsdale, AZ). Members and the public are encouraged to
 attend.

 ===========================================================

 End of Alcor News bulletin #46 dated December 11, 2005.
 Distribution: 825 subscribers.

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 ===========================================================



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Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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