X-Message-Number: 17668
From: Jessica Lemler <>
Subject: THIS WEEK AT ALCOR!
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:23:12 -0700 (PST)

The following can also be found on our website, at 

http://www.alcor.org/this_week_at_alcor.html

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Dr. Jerry Lemler, President, CEO

      By the time this message is posted on Friday 
afternoon, Paula (my bride), Hugh Hixon, Jerry 
Searcy, and I will be arriving in Southern California 
for what promises to be a hectic and eventful weekend 
of Alcor activities.  We'll gather at the beautiful 
home of Kat and Dave Kekich for the inaugural Alcor 
Outreach reception.  I'm told to expect a crowd of 
some 40 people-- mostly members, but some potential 
recruits as well.  We'll conduct a formal program, 
inclusive of a question and answer exchange, but we 
should have plenty of time to mingle and socialize in 
about as pleasant surroundings as we'll ever see.  
Hope you'll be there!

     Saturday will be a workday, as the Project 
Future Bound SoCal team will assemble at Joe 
Klockgether's Buena Park facility.  We'll review our 
State of Suspension readiness, finalize logistics and 
support mechanisms, and coordinate the implementation 
of services between Alcor Central and our first-ever 
permanent "remote" rescue unit.  My thanks go out to 
SoCal PFB coordinator Russell Cheney and his diligent 
staff, who have (literally) devoted countless hours 
towards ensuring this project will be a success.

     On the home front, two items of significance 
deserve mention.  I began the CRFT (Cryonics-- 
Reaching for Tomorrow) re-write project some 17 
months ago.  This week, I submitted it to our editor, 
Lisa Lock, in Delaware for completion.  The new 
manuscript is titled "The Alcor Life Extension 
Foundation:  An Introduction", and if I say so 
myself, (and I do indeed), it's great!  I hope you 
will read it, enjoy it, and most importantly pass it 
on to someone who might join us on our trip to the 
future.

     It's not perfect yet, and we've still got a few 
bugs to iron out, but you may have noticed we've 
changed our phone system!  You'll now have the option 
of actually talking to a live Alcor representative 
when you call.  Please be patient with us as we feel 
our own way through the message tree.  We'll get it 
down in short order, I promise you.

     I hope everyone has a rewarding and productive 
week.  Stay vertical!

P.S.  Thanks also to Grant Dahmer, Dr. Jose 
Kanshepolsky and the Alcor surgical team who 
participated in last Saturday's Anatomical Surgical 
workshop.

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Jennifer Chapman, Membership Administrator

     Several notices were received this week 
indicating that three insurance policies had lapsed 
due to non-payment of the required premium.  After 
confirming the status of these policies with the 
agent and a representative of the insurance company, 
attempts were made to contact the relevant members to 
discuss the deficiencies.  Thereafter, these members 
were sent certified letters as notification that 
membership cancellation is scheduled to occur in 30 
days unless the deficiencies are resolved.  
Understanding the importance of appropriate 
documentation, a record was kept of the events and 
all relevant correspondence.  To aid with ensuring 
this process is properly performed under each 
circumstance, the relevant Standard Operating 
Procedure was utilized and then updated to benefit 
future efforts.

      Such circumstances emphasize the importance of 
ensuring Alcor has accurate contact information for 
all members.  Without this, a membership cancellation 
could occur without the member&#8217;s knowledge and that 
would be quite unfortunate.  Upon completion of the 
updated database, an online form will be available 
for members to quickly and easily submit proper 
notification of any contact changes.  Similarly, 
regular confirmation notices will be issued to verify 
the accuracy of Alcor&#8217;s records.  These vital updates 
will be performed electronically, so it is essential 
for Alcor to have an accurate email address, as well 
as the correct postal address.

     It is also important to ensure that such lapse 
notices are scheduled to be sent to Alcor.  If Alcor 
is not properly notified of a policy lapse, services 
could be provided without adequate compensation and 
this could jeopardize the organization.  All members 
are advised to notify Alcor immediately if the policy 
status comes into question.  Failing to communicate 
on these matters could be a life or death occurrence, 
not just for an individual, but also for all 
individuals who rely upon the well being of Alcor.

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Joe Hovey, Accounting Manager

     Cost calculations for suspensions. Met with Dr. 
Lemler and Hugh Hixon to further refine our basic 
charges for suspensions. We decided to keep the basic 
format while dropping some of the usage charges we 
had been making for thelast few suspensions. Most of 
our member's contracts calls for any monies left over 
after paying for the costs incurred for the 
suspension and the standard amount to be transferred 
to the Patient Care Trust, to be divided equally 
between theOperating Fund and the Patient Care Trust. 
The changes we decided upon  should result in more 
money going to the Patient Care Trust than was the 
case in the last few suspensions.  

  

     Credit card arrangements. We are close to 
finalizing our arrangements with Morgan Stanley for 
two new merchant accounts for credit card 
transactions.  This will allow our members to charge 
larger amounts than we are currently able to do with 
Wells Fargo, and will expedite payment for last 
minute cases. However, we have been close to 
achieving this before with other financial entities 
only to have everything fall through at the last 
minute.  We'll see what happens this time. 

  
     Monthly financial statements. I am gradually 
catching up with the monthly financial statements for 
2001. I should be up to date by the end of October.  
Because of a series of unusual circumstances I fell 
very far behind this year in being able to provide 
these important financial documents to Alcor's 
Boardin a timely manner. I am seriously considering 
making some changes in the accounting software we use 
in order to speed up the process.  If I do, they 
won't take effect until 2002. 

 

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Jessica Lemler, Administrative Associate/Webmaster

     This week consisted mostly of performing my 
duties as Administrative Associate, assisting Dr. 
Lemler in correspondence and typing.  The new 
transponder and dictating machines certainly are 
handy, and we are both enjoying their features!  

     On Tuesday we had a meeting with AFLAC 
representatives to discuss supplemental insurance 
options, followed by our weekly staff meeting.  I met 
with Joe earlier this week to discuss alternative 
ways to call in during Board meetings.  We are still 
looking into these, and will be running some test 
calls early next week in preparation for next 
Sunday's meeting.  I also got to help Paula prepare 
some door prizes for the Outreach party in SoCal at 
Kat and Dave Kekich's house.  

     Today (Friday) I get to assume my duties as 
Webmaster again as I work on making sure this page is 
properly posted.  I will also be doing some other 
editing work to the website while I am in the web 
files.  

 

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Paula Lemler, Volunteer

     I took care of writing checks for bills that 
were due and posting to a spread sheet.  Joe has 
given me an additional assignment I am enjoying, and 
that is entering payments made into the data base.  
Friday I will be traveling to Southern California for 
the Outreach party, where I am really looking forward 
to seeing my friends there and to meeting many new 
ones.

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Mathew Sullivan, Facility Operations Manager &
Patient Care Manager


     I worked with Inter-Tel while they reprogrammed 
the phone system and wrote up an SOP for the staff in 
order for them to change their voice mail message.  
Recorded messages on the unattended phone extensions 
to inform the caller that they have tried the wrong 
extension.

     In preparation for the training class, I made 20 
liters of .9% sodium chloride, and made an ATP 
training tubing pack.

     Resolved multiple computer issues, including 
upgrading email software on two computers, and backed 
up files.

     Ordered and stocked supplies, and updated supply 
database.  And I spent a little time cleaning and 
organizing in the labs.  Purchased and installed a 
new fax machine.

     Readied cryotransport kits for future bound 
project and training kits for Russ Cheney to take 
back to California.

     I stopped by the hospital to pick up the neuro 
only tubing arrays that had been sterilized.

     Participated in multiple meetings:  Future bound 
project, BioTransport Expenses, validity of 
vitrification protocol, and AFLAC insurance.



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Mike Perry, PhD., Patient Care Assistant 

     Patient reports. Data entry for Alcor's latest 
suspension was a little more involved than I thought, 
but I completed a first draft, minus a few details 
such as times for drawing and administering meds, 
which will be worked out from various sources. Then 
proofreading, and I am done--hopefully next week. 

 

    Assessing ischemic injury. Basic data is needed 
before I can develop the mathematical modeling that 
is the goal here. Jeff Benjamin is now going to be 
working on a consulting basis to obtain some 
experimental results using a rat model. So I will 
wait for these results, and/or further input as 
appropriate. 

 

     Writing projects: I am working on the usual 
things for the 4th quarter issue of the magazine. A 
book review is now complete except for minor editing. 
Tech News and For the Record still need lots of work. 
The For the Record will deal with Alcor 25 and 10 
years ago, that is, in 1976 and 1991, both important 
years in our history. 



 

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Hugh Hixon, Facilities Engineer

     Friday, with Mathew, prepared for training on 
head-only procedure Saturday. 


     Saturday, using a cadaver, the trainees made 
burholes, removed the head and cannulated it.  
Because of the extended post-mortem period, perfusion 
was not possible.  The head support ring needs to be 
made simpler to use.  Did basic cleanup of OR.  With 
Russ Cheney, sorted out several problems with the 
intubation trainer 

     Monday, with Mathew, reassembled ATP.  Went over 
recent suspension expenses w/Joe Hovey and Dr. 
Lemler.  Made some suture snares for instrument trays 

     Tuesday, made tubing looms for head holder 
rings.  Did some planning for an animal suspension 
(it's still expensive).  

     Wednesday, checked over Russ Cheney's SOP for 
subclavian sticks.  Wrote some research justification 
for Dr. Lemler.  Bought some more parts for the 
perfusion dummy heads.  Talked some with Jeff 
Benjamin about research.  The possible animal 
suspension was cancelled. 

     Thursday, contemplate some computer problems.  
The surgical instrument package for Future Bound 
looks like it will be delayed a week or so; 
otherwise, things are pretty well in place, or will 
be when we go to southern California tomorrow. 

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