X-Message-Number: 17878
Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 16:55:03 -0700
From: Jessica Lemler <>
Subject: This Week at Alcor

The following can also be viewed on our webiste at:
<http:www.alcor.org>http:www.alcor.org 
Week of November 5 through 11, 2001

Mathew Sullivan, Facility Operations Manager &
Patient Care Manager

Cryotransport: 

Project Future Bound UK and Canada continues as follows: 

1. Completed four perfusate cases and five plate frames. 

2. Shopping for supplies. 

Partial review of our cryotransport checks lists with a former employee of
Alcor, and we discussed the complicated issues surrounding postmortem
transfers
of our international members. 

Spent a little time coordinating with Dr. Lemler regarding a member
overseas who
is seriously ill and in intensive care. We encouraged his friend to
transfer him
to the US as soon as possible and avoid a likely scenario where he could
end up
being straight frozen if he is pronounced in Israel. We were informed he is
continuing to improve, his friend felt he was not ready to be transferred yet.
Hopefully, this will occur in the near future. 

Facility Operations: 

Overhauled Alcor's computer network on the advice of an Alcor member: 

1. Searched the web for network information. 

2. Shopped for network supplies. 

3. Identified and labeled network cables, with assistance from James. 

4. Removed six hubs which had been placed throughout the facility and added
two
donated Ethernet switches.
 
5. Installed two category 5 lines for two computers. 

6. Reset computers to proper network configuration. 

7. Tried to upgrade Jennifer's network card, but I had some problems, so I
reinstalled the old one. 

Exchanged my office for the copy room. This had nothing to do with the recent
breaking of a window. I had been planning to make the exchange for several
months. I also had to reroute the Inter-Tel communication line to the new
office. 
Since both Jessica and I moved our offices at the same time, I had to
reprogram
both of our new phone extensions. Our phone directory needs a new directory
recording to list us at our correct extensions, so you may want to take note
that I am now at ext. 120, and Jessica is at ext. 115. 

Both Hugh and I received a call from an outside researcher who had some
questions and concerns about our current protocol that is still in the
developmental stage. The primary concern was about postmortem cooling of local
hospice patients. The researcher is confidential, so I cannot elaborate any
further on the subject. 

Attended Alcor's Board meeting. 


Joe Hovey, Accounting Manager 

I did not finish the monthly billing until yesterday, Nov. 8! Too many other
things going on. Cancelled four memberships because of non-payment of dues.
Two
of them were long time members. Very sad, but they have simply dropped out of
sight. 

Worked only a half day on Monday because of necessary attendance at P.C. Trust
Board meetings on Saturday, Nov. 3 and Alcor Board meeting on Sunday, Nov. 4. 
Received good feedback on the prospective Alcor Officers and Directors
liability
insurance coverage. We have gone ahead and ordered the policy. 
Working on a new marketing plan for next year based on assumptions of promised
funding being delivered and on hiring a new employee to manage it, both of
which
look likely. 

The usual day to day paper transactions and updates. Bank deposits, data
entry,
keeping an eye on the cash flow, etc. Hoping to settle the payables and
receivables issue between Alcor and Cells4Life by next week. 
Lots of time taken up with moving to new quarters. Packing, moving, and
unpacking. Hope to be done by the middle of December. 


Dr. Jerry Lemler, President, CEO

This has been a most productive week for me. I should admit to you I did my
part in helping our Diamondbacks win the World Series. My son, Lt. Russell
Lemler, flew in from his post at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and we attended Game 1
together (a victory). Caught the rest of the excitement on the tube.

I was back in Southern California Monday at a scientific planning meeting
(along with Board Member Michael Riskin). Wednesday was particularly
hectic, as
I was interviewed for a TV spot in the morning, and then along with Hugh Hixon
and Jessica Lemler (thanks to you both!), welcomed Bob Fern's visiting Death
and Dying class from Mesa Community College in the evening.

Actually, Friday was even busier. In the morning I granted an interview with a
graduate student from Boston, who is writing his thesis on cryonic suspension.
In the afternoon I participated in another television interview, this time
with
a Brazilian network. 

Our various CryoFeasts are coming together, and the announcements have been
posted. We're having 6 altogether! My wife, Paula, and I are splitting up,
(just for the CryoFeasts, I'm happy to report). She'll be traveling to Judy
and
Mark Muhlestein's Tucson gathering, while I'll be in Wilmington, Delaware, to
attend the East Coast inaugural event, hosted by Lisa Lock and Michael
Seidl. I
hope to see many of you there!


Jennifer Chapman, Membership Administrator

My recent Board report addressed the issue of membership cancellation, whereby
the current protocol was presented for consideration. In an attempt to ensure
that both the interests of the client and the interests of Alcor are being
adequately protected under such circumstances, the Board of Directors
requested
that Dr. Lemler and I join in a discussion of the primary issues.

The first issue discussed is how quickly membership termination should take
effect after Alcor receives notice of a funding deficiency. As stated in my
report, the member had previously been granted 30 days to resolve the
deficiency, but this was recently changed to grant Alcor the right to
immediately terminate the membership. This change was made to minimize the
possibility that Alcor might be required to provide services to a member with
inadequate funding. After Dr. Lemler concluded that there is minimal risk
involved with maintaining the membership for a reasonable time span, 30 days
was deemed appropriate. 

The terms of reinstatement were also resolved and will hereafter be
contractually specified. Each cancelled member will be eligible for
reinstatement for 90 days, although Alcor has no obligation to provide
services
until all reinstatement requirements have been satisfied. This includes proper
execution of all membership documents, as may be requested by Alcor. Further,
the proposed funding arrangement must satisfy the funding requirements that
are
in effect at the time that reinstatement is being requested, except that Alcor
will honor the suspension amount referenced in the original contract. If these
requirements are not satisfied during the reinstatement period, the cancelled
member must reapply to establish an active membership. 

It is intended that the decisions presented herein will apply to all current
and future members, unless otherwise notified. Written notification of these
changes will be presented to current members in the various publications
released by Alcor, including the Alcor Forum and our website.


Mike Perry, PhD., Patient Care Assistant 

This week I continued work on the "Tech News" column for the magazine,
obtained
and installed some needed software (Microsoft Access, FrontPage), attended the
Alcor meeting (Sunday), and prepared for a bulk nitrogen delivery (this
morning
[Friday]). In some minor ways I assisted Mathew in rewiring our computer
connections. Early this week I received email messages sent by a virus from
several different addresses, none at Alcor HQ, and alerted the staff. This
virus
apparently grabs random snippets of files and mails them, together with a copy
of itself, to others on the address list, from whence it can spread
further. (It
is also said to look for legal terminology in your document files, and if it
finds enough, to crash your hard drive. Thus attorneys are especially at
risk.)
Fortunately, a virus protection program recently installed on our machines,
Norton Systemworks 2002, appears to have caught this problem--at least for us.
It scans both incoming and outgoing messages. 


Hugh Hixon, Facilities Engineer

Friday, various administrative things. Pick up Carlos Mondragon at the
airport. 
Saturday, talk with Carlos. Present the electronic security system proposal to
the Patient Care Trust board. Approved. 

Sunday, Alcor Board meeting. Electronic security system approved by the
board. 
Monday, transferred ambulance title. Administrative stuff. 

Tuesday, more administrative stuff, staff meeting. Research on the internet. 

Wednesday, write a reply for Cryonet. Some breadboard work on a new perfusion
system. Conversation with California consultants. 

Thursday, memo to Dr. Lemler. A little breadboard work. 


Jessica Lemler, Administrative Associate/Webmaster

I have had a busy and productive week this week. On Sunday, we had the Board
Meeting, so some of my time this week has been spent working on the Minutes
and
compiling a requested attendance list for the Board Members and Advisors. 

I also met with Dr. Lemler to work on an advertisement we hope to run sometime
next week. On Wednesday evening, I stayed late to help give a tour and
question/answer session to a visiting class from a local community college,
and
I found this to be quite interesting, as many of the students were people my
own age, and their questions were questions I had asked myself when I first
became interested in cryonics. 

Thursday I attended a workshop for Notary Publics, where I learned the "dos
and
don'ts" for notaries. All I have to "do" now is obtain a bond and file with
the
Secretary of State's office and, as Hugh said this morning, I will be
"notorious." 

Today, as I do most every Friday, I am working on posting the "This Week at
Alcor", and ensuring I have completed everything on my "to do list" for the
week. I apologize for not having any new pictures to share with you this
week--
I have not had any time to get the digital camera out and catch anyone off
guard.

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