X-Message-Number: 9313
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:02:49 -0700 (MST)
From: Fred Chamberlain <>
Subject: Alcor Conference - Why You Should Be There!

From: Fred Chamberlain ()
Re: Alcor Conference - Why You Should Be There!
Date: 3/18/98

Many cryonicists have told me (and I understand) that due to the meager time
left and other commitments, they cannot attend.  They all say:

"I'll be there next year!"

To repeat, I understand!  I wish we could have had the information to you
earlier, but there are  still reasons to consider attending!

WHAT YOU MISS IF YOU DON'T COME.

(1)  The speakers and panel leaders for this year are pretty awesome, and we
can't hope to have a program like this on an annual basis.  Marvin Minsky
and James Halperin, for example, are both wedging us onto their calendars
this year.  This is a "four leaf clover" level of luck for us.  On the "five
leaf clover" level, Greg Fahy is speaking, as well as key investigators from
21st Century Medicine, Inc.  Their work over the last 3-5 years represents
profound innovation in resuscitation technologies and new cryobiological
approaches.  Professionals from a major investment firm (Smith Barney) will
be talking about financing cryonics and preserving wealth.  Full information
is out, in hard copy and on the web.  I don't have to repeat it for you here.

NO CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR?

(2)  This year's conference would be a hard act to follow.  The next year
will see the startup of a major cryonics service corporation, BioTransport,
Inc.  A major push will take place to carry research into general
availability for cryonics suspensions.  Research will continue at a high
pace, by 21st Century Medicine, Inc.  Another conference next year would be
unrealistic!  You may expect 2-3 year intervals, for the near term.

ALL REGISTRATION FEES AT REGULAR RATE!

(3)  In some cases, we could not confirm key speakers until weeks ago.  This
highlights the difficulties of organizing an annual, national level cryonics
conference.  It also points out the difficulties of attendees planning ahead
for it.  Because of the short notice given, we are holding conference
registration fees at regular rate, but there is a catch: we must base the
size of room we get on the number of attendees we predict.  The same goes
for banquet seating.  In case of seating limitations, those who register
earlier will have higher priority.

PANEL DISCUSSION - "CRYONICS SERVICE PROVIDERS"

One speaker slot has opened up.  Rather than fill this time with an
alternate presentation (there are plenty of backup speakers) we are
organizing a panel discussion on "rescue services" organizations.  You will
have heard one talk on BioTransport, Inc., a  new corporation which is
negotiating with both Alcor and CryoCare, but there is the longer term to
consider, as well as what tradeoffs there might be over the next few years.

***** Is a Six Phase Development Plan Best? *****

BioTransport proposes to first deliver services in the area of (1) training,
(2) logistics of medications and equipment, and (3) internet based advisory
services for field linkage to research center professionals.  Then it
proposes to move into furnishing (4) field coordinators, (5) complete teams,
and finally (6) complete contractual patient care from standby through
cooldown.  Is this the best course of development?

***** What About Alternative Technologies? *****

As vitrification becomes practical (although probably more expensive), what
other options should be under development for more affordability?  How much
research priority should be given to the development of these options?  How
important will rescue be, under various scenarios?  If a point is reached
where cryonics becomes "popular", how can the enigmas of high cost and wide
public demand be resolved?

***** How About Competition As An Important Safeguard? *****

In any important service area, lack of competition can lead to complacency
and (worse) loss of service in the event of a single company's failure.  On
the other hand, too much competition, too soon, causes a shift of resources
into marketing and away from actual service delivery.  As cryonics grows,
how can these opposing priorities be balanced?  Should regional centers be
"spun off" as separate, autonomous service providers, operating under the
quality agreements of a professional association to which they all
subscribe?  How can reliability, affordability, quality and high ethical
standards best be maintained in a competitive context?  How are all of these
questions affected by the fact that cryonics is, as yet, an "unproven"
procedure in any case?

***** Other Obvious Questions *****

We might also ask:  "What are the consequences, if we assume that "these
"things will take care of themselves"? or "Why haven't we asked these
questions *earlier*?"  Readers of CryoNet, perhaps can suggest many other
questions related to service provider development, in the next week or so,
but clearly, the best way to get these questions answered is to come to the
conference and ask them yourselves! 

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO MISS THIS CONFERENCE???

Many of you have made arrangements for suspension, and are trusting in your
organizations to be there when you need them, to suspend you, to keep you
safe for decades and then "get you back if possible" at the other end.  This
is a complicated chain of events you have set in motion, and it is not
inexpensive.  You have made a large commitment to be part of the world of
the future, and what you have working for you, basically, is the entire
"community" of all existing cryonics organizations.

This conference  will lead to mindsets and goals which affect your survival.
Not *all* of you can be there, but those of you who can be, *should* be!

Here's what's necessary:

(1) Call Joe Hovey (Alcor) to register, at (800)367-2228.
(2) Call the hotel to reserve a room, code "ALC", at (602)273-7778.
(3) Call an airline and make a reservation, or gas up your car!
(4) One way or another, *be* there!  (Your life is at stake!)

Fred Chamberlain, President/CEO ()
Alcor Life Extension Foundation
Non-profit; Cryonic Suspension Memberships since 1972.
400+ Members, 35 in suspension as of March, 1998
7895 E. Acoma Dr., Suite 110, Scottsdale AZ 85260-6916
Phone (602) 922-9013  (800) 367-2228   FAX (602) 922-9027
 for general requests
http://www.alcor.org

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