X-Message-Number: 1798
From:  (Thomas Donaldson)
Subject: Re: cryonics: #1775-#1781
Date: Sun, 21 Feb 93 11:50:13 PST

To Al Lopp:

Much as it would hurt, I would favor a combination of lowering the paychecks
of some or all of the workers at Alcor South combined with an increase in
yearly dues. Money should NOT be taken from the Suspension Fund; the Endowment
Fund should not have its principal reduced. In this circumstance, although
I don't believe such actions can be depended on (unlike the 2 I gave above),
calls for donations from members, and careful study of how to get more income
from the Endowment Fund, should be pursued. (I regretted the way the Advisory
Committee for Investing broke up, though I remain skeptical of some of its
members --- it really should be possible to get more income from the Endow-
ment fund, SAFELY).

Finally, another issue should be strongly pursued (but
again, its ability to help the bottom line is unsure): raise the fees for
last-minute signups. One point I noted in Steve Bridge's report when he came
to Alcor North for the last meeting was that Alcor lost $10,000 on a last-
minute signup in Boston. That wasn't the only reason for losing money, but
it did account for a large slice of it.

But I believe the only secure method for fixing the problem is for a raise in
yearly dues and a fall in salaries. This may mean that some people now working
at Alcor South will no longer feel able to do so. I would suggest that Alcor
look more towards volunteers to help replace them; I remember vividly, for
instance, how Arel used to deal with Suspension Paperwork and that it has now
been brought all inhouse. No one every explained to me, as a member, just why
that needed to be done. I'm sure that volunteers, even those residing away
from Riverside, can help out more than they do now. And given that the number
of people who actually do any work for Alcor is much smaller than the total
suspension membership, it MIGHT (another point I don't think we should rely on)
make sense even to repay these volunteers with a decrease in their yearly
dues.
			Best and long life (even if it costs),
				Thomas Donaldson

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