X-Message-Number: 7231 Date: Thu, 28 Nov 96 10:56:07 From: Dave Pizer <> Subject: additional ideas I responded to Paul's posting earlier before I read his next post. So I want to respond to a few more of Paul's comments. It seems from Paul's last few postings that he is getting a little discouraged. This is to be expected after all the hard work he has done and the high hopes and importance of the Project. This might be a good time for those existing supporters to give Paul some public recognition to spur him on and help him catch his second wind. ------------------------- Paul said: (I have omitted my original remarks that he was addressing and sniped some of his comments that I have already addressed). > I want to thank Dave Pizer for his cryonet Message #7222. As some of > you may know, Dave and I have not always been on the best of terms. > However, I am very sincere in my thanks for his helpful comments and ideas > on funding. You are welcome, Paul. Your style of working in the cryonics community and mine are quite different. But both of us are as committed to trying to save lives. I respect Paul for trying to bring about this huge task. Actually in thinking about the past relationship of Pizer and Paul, there might be some lesson for all cryonicists and organizations here. It will take someone smarter than me to detail what that is. If the cryonics community were to totally get behind the Prometheus Project and Paul were willing to hand it off to an impartial committee of cryonics leaders from all organizations, this might become the start of a new area of diplomacy within the cryonics community. An area like the old days when there was more cooperation and we all worked together. An area where we kept our criticisms to ourselves and concentrated on saving our lives. An era where survival was more important that ego. Perhaps by forming a committee to promote Prometheus that committee can also migrate into a forum to privately settle disputes between various people and organizations. In my opinion, one of the main reasons for the slow down in membership growth for the whole cryonics movement is the constant bickering between various cryonicists. I think if we could get a handle on that, cryonics prospects would once again look with joy about signing up. If we could end the bickering, the movement could again create the enthusiasm to attract more people. > As I have described, the problem that I have is a "chicken and egg" one. In > order to approach "wealthy persons in cryonics", I need to have more > detailed science and business plans worked out. *But* before I can get > these plans worked out, I have to have scientists on board. *And* before I > can get any scientists to commit and to give me any time and planning > effort, I have to have much more credible funding! You might try to get a committment from the potential scientists that when you reach a certain amount, they will come public and support the project in a high-profile way and speak to the public to help raise the remaining amount. In other words, try for a committment of, say, 60% of the goal. Ask the scientists to agree that if you reach 60% of the total goal, they will publically speak for the plan. (And, they will write the plan at that time). When you get to 60% of a goal, something happens and the goal begins to look like it will be reached. (this is also the time when you have to work the hardest. The last part of the money is usually the hardest to raise). At that time, you go back to the existing pledgers and some of them will raise their pledge. By the way, why not have a gathering for the existing pledgers twice a year. One in the winter in Arizona or Southern California, and one in the summer towards the east coast half way between Florida and New York. Invite all the pledgers, and guests to attend. These get-to-gethers are needed to create in-person enthusiasm. I have already made other suggestions in my previous posting. I hope this helps. Dave Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7231