X-Message-Number: 32417 Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:33:09 -0500 Subject: Apology to Alcor Board From: Rudi Hoffman <> --0016363b8d0c8e35aa04804dcf6f Hello, Alcor Board and Whom it May Concern: This note is to apologize for my previous email, labeled "PR Debacles and how to avoid them." While I think some of the observations I made were valid, what was suboptimal was the tone of the email, which, upon re-reading, I decided came across as unduly harsh or critical of the board and management. This was truly not my intention. Nor did I, upon reflection, mean to adopt a simplistic or overly arrogant or didactic tone in my email. While bicycling today, I came upon a church sign on my bike route. This marquee usually has nonsense about trusting god instead of human understanding, praising the virtue of believing without evidence, and the usual annoying drivel promulgated by the over-religious. However, today it had a sign that really spoke to me. Here is what it said: "Why not try giving others a piece of your heart, rather than a piece of your mind?" Upon reflection, it occurred to me that at least part of my earlier email may have been "giving a piece of my mind" to the board upon hearing of yet another lawsuit. This email is to provide, instead, a piece of my heart. Additionally, an Alcor board member was good enough to share some of the details of why Alcor is in a legal fuss over the Mary Robbins case. And, as is often the case, understanding breeds compassion. Anyway, I won't belabor this further. Other than to once again assert how easy it is to second guess the people in the trenches struggling to make the best decisions possible. And to re-affirm my personal commitment to find a way to help without being a dilettante operating on limited information. Also, I thought the postings on cryonet today were most thought provoking. I like Keith Henson's verbiage to the effect that "Anyone contesting the cryonic suspension of the member is hereby directed to receive absolutely nothing from my estate." IN CLOSING The enterprise we are engaged in is SUPPOSED to be hard. No one ever said that developing the legal and technological infrastructure for indefinite lifespans would be easy. But we will persist, and we will struggle, and we will succeed. The march of science and progress and time is on our side. I am proud to be a part of this endeavor known as cryonics. We place a premium on individual lives. We are engaged in what may be the most epic and historic struggle of all time against the tyranny of aging and death. I am grateful for the best efforts and wisdom of all who read this. Rudi -- Rudi Richard Hoffman CFP CLU ChFC World's Leading Cryonics Insuror rudihoffman.com Former Board Member Financial Planning Association fpafla.com Board Member Salvation Army salvationarmy.org Member Alcor Life Extension Foundation alcor.org, Member Cryonics Institute cryonics.org Certified Financial Planner(TM) CFP Board of Standards Member World Transhumanist Association http://transhumanism.org/ --0016363b8d0c8e35aa04804dcf6f Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=32417