X-Message-Number: 6520
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: several points
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 01:37:31 -0700 (PDT)

Hi again!

First of all, a CORRECTION:

Ben Best's email address is 

As for Prometheus:

I'm presently scrutinizing my own budget to see if I can afford $1000 for the
next 10 years. 

But I do have a question/suggestion: from talking with Steve Bridge, it may
turn out much harder for an organization to put money into Prometheus than
for its members to do so. The problem comes from the fact that some cryonics
organizations have charitable status and can accept donations which will
lead to tax deductions for the donators. If Prometheus is to be a commercial
organization, such organizations would have to (at least) give some very
careful consideration to this point --- and may choose not to donate AS AN
ORGANIZATION.

HOWEVER, one thing I would certainly hope all organizations can do is to help
its members provide donations. Such donations from individual members may not
be $1000 a year, but some way of grouping them together would provide the
required $1000/yr. I don't see how such an "arm's distance" relation between
a cryonics organization and these groups could injure their charitable status.

And for those who find this objectionable: I didn't write the US Tax laws,
I'm just raising a point about what they require. If you don't like that,
join an organization that is trying to reform the IRS (there are several,
I believe the National Taxpayer's Union is the biggest and most influential).
If anything, I dislike the IRS at least as much as you do, but we do have
to deal with reality.

As for myself, even if I decide that my budget can't withstand a pledge of
$1000/yr, it can certainly withstand a lesser amount and I'd be happy to 
join with others in a similar situation. I hope to work everything out by
about a week from now. (Brain tumors do tend to decrease your earning power,
unfortunately --- but I can continue with cryonics and remain active).

			Best and long long life,

				Thomas Donaldson


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