X-Message-Number: 6541 Date: 16 Jul 96 04:46:00 EDT From: Paul Wakfer <> Subject: Prometheus Pledge Milestone The milestone which I am noting here is not a particular pledge total, but is something even more important if we are to reach our total of $1M per year. That event is the first pledge which occurred yesterday by a person completely unknown to me for *over* the $1000.00/yr minimum which I have set. Here is his message to me: Hi Paul, Thanks for all your effort toward this project. I'd like to pledge $2000 per year for the next 10 years. When I start to see more convincing research results, I'll increase my pledge. So far I still do not see how you can tie the return from the project with people's pledge or investment. I believe a lot of people will contribute more once they see some positive research output. I'd like to see this project to take off even if we cannot raise 1M the first year. Thanks again, Ai Ling and my reply: Thank you enormously, Ai, for you pledge. You are the very first person, whose name I have never heard, to pledge more than the minimum amount. May there be many more like you! Your question about return on pledge or investment leads me to believe that some people, by concentrating on the pledges of donations to 501(c)3 organizations, have totally missed the fact that the Prometheus Project will be executed by a for-profit corporation which will patent, and lease, sell licenses, or charge royalties for all the technology which it produces. Pledgers choose whether their pledge is for a donation to a 501(c)3 organization or is for a direct share purchase. Anyone own shares in the corporation will reap monetary rewards from their investment by either share appreciation or dividend income, just like a shareholders of any other corporation. Several people have suggested that the project should start its research even before the $1M per year is raised. I am sorry but unless I fail to raise the $1M in pledges within 2 years, this is unacceptable for at least 2 reasons: 1) The current pledges have all been made with the explicit understanding that the whole $1M would be raised *before* they would be asked to give any money. I cannot now change the project ground rules in this way except by starting all over again. I have pledged my word on that. 2) The reason why the need for $1M/yr to start off with, was settled on in the first place (and I agree that its not exact, but instead a nice round rough estimate) is that the project scientists need to start off with the whole of the equipment and team that they will need to do the job. The vitrification research is far enough along that the beginning years of the project need not be, and will not be a "feeling your way along", exploratory affair. In fact, that is why I am as convinced that the research goal can be accomplished as I am and why I started this project. To repeat: The Prometheus Project is *not* about exploratory research in order to find a way to proceed. It is about applying a method which is already 90% proven on one organ type, to another organ type. Again thanks for your support and for showing us how much you value your life. Maybe after you read my reply above, you'll decide to increase your pledge already. ;) -- Paul -- !!!!! REVERSIBLE BRAIN CRYOPRESERVATION *CAN* BE ACHIEVED IN 10 YEARS !!!!! Paul Wakfer email: Voice/Fax: Pager: US: 1220 E Washington St #24, Colton, CA 92324 909-481-4433 800-805-2870 Canada: 238 Davenport Rd #240, Toronto, ON M5R 1J6 416-968-6291 416-446-9461 (currently in Canada) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6541