X-Message-Number: 18113
Date: Fri, 07 Dec 2001 15:13:03 -0700
From: Jessica Lemler <>
Subject: This Week at Alcor

The following can also be viewed on our website at
<http://www.alcor.org/>http://www.alcor.org  please select the "This Week at
Alcor" option
Week of December 3-9, 2001

Hugh Hixon, Facilities Engineer 
Sunday. Alcor Turkey Day! Also in Tucson at the Muhlesteins. Highly
recommended!

Monday, burrow through the last week's e-mail. Write some notes on high
temperature storage. 
Tuesday, get into e-mail discussion on high temperature storage. 
Wednesday, get ready to go to southern California for a low-risk standby
(4-artery bypass). 
Thursday, drive to southern California, do some planning for standby. 
Friday, perform standby with FutureBound team. 
Mike Perry, PhD., Patient Care Assistant 
This week I did further work on the SOP (standard operating procedure) for
using
the DuaLogR (temperature recording device used during cryotransport), and did
some editing of files on the website. It's one thing to edit, another to
upload
a file back to its source so the newly edited file takes the place of what was
there before and the world at large can see it. I still don't have the ability
to upload, so you won't see my editing changes, but I made some calls to
Alcor's
internet service provider and the matter should be resolved in a few days. At
issue is that we want to be able to do the uploads directly from FrontPage,
which will require an upgrade to our service status. Meanwhile I researched
the
issue of vitrification, and received assurances of input from one of the busy
scientists at 21st Century Medicine where research is being carried out. You
should soon be seeing some updates on this at the website. 
Mathew Sullivan, Facility Operations Manager &
Patient Care Manager 
Cryotransport: 
More time was spent discussing issues associated with our protocols on email;
although the conversations have now trickled down to discussing the
theoretical
prospects of a new medical instrument. Hopefully, the debating will end
soon and
I can get back to the more tangible stuff, rather than only talking about
work. 
Project Future Bound UK and Canada continues as follows: 
Nothing to report here other than I spoke with our Southern California
coordinator for about an hour. Most of the issues that were discussed were in
regards to the fact that our procedures are evolving much faster than our
documentation and SOPs. 
Facility Operations: 
ADT has been here at Alcor for the last few weeks installing a new security
system and I have spent some time with them to help resolve various connection
and placement issues. 
Spent more time doing cell phone research, and took Joe and Mike separately to
the store so they could pick out their phone. After haggling over prices and
free stuff, all three of us got our phones, but I'm still waiting for a couple
more backup batteries to arrive. Then I updated and replaced the phone
labels at
each workstation to include the new phone numbers. 
Joe had some relatively serious computer issues, and his computer would not
even
load in safe mode. As soon as we can backup his file, we will upgrade him to
Windows XP. 
I gave two unplanned tours of Alcor. 
Patient Care: 
There has been a flurry of email exchanged recently in regards to high
temperature storage. High temperature storage maybe good for the vitrification
process, but I'm concerned about safety. I'm concerned enough about the issue
that I have elected not to participate (as a prospective patient) until a
reliable system is well established and proven to work over many years. 
Paula Lemler, Volunteer 
This week started off fantastically with a spectacular meal at Judy and Mark's
(and a view of Saturn and its rings). Back at Alcor I again wrote checks,
filed
receipts, and enjoyed being with the people that work there.

Jessica Lemler, Administrative Associate/Webmaster

I was sorry to have missed the Arizona Cryofeast at Judy and Mark Muhlestein's
home in Tucson, as I was really looking forward to that. I understand I missed
not only a wonderful spread of food, but a nice gathering of people as well. I
have also been told the view of Saturn through their telescope is something
not
to miss as well. I will definitely have to make a trip down there sometime in
the near future for a visit. 
This week I have been working on my articles for the Fourth Quarter edition of
our magazine, which will be coming out in January. Today I have been trying to
avoid the wonderful assortment of chocolates that arrived from our friend and
life insurance to many of our members, including myself, Rudi Hoffman and his
wife (our thanks to them!). I spoke with him on the phone yesterday, and it is
my understanding their South Florida Cryofeast will be getting underway
sometime in January. I'm sure their Cryofeast will be a success as many of the
others were this past weekend. 
I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to send your well wishes
to myself and James-- we are thrilled about our upcoming wedding, and couldn't
be happier that Mike Perry will be performing the ceremony in Laughlin for us
over the holidays. 
Jennifer Chapman, Membership Administrator MEMBERS 
As mentioned in my report last week, Alcor performed a standby for one of our
members who was having some medical testing. The result of this testing
indicated that surgery was needed and Alcor will be performing another standby
during the operation. In addition to updating his membership paperwork, I
assisted this member with ensuring Alcor has a current Power of Attorney for
Health Care Decisions. This document is important for all members to have
because it clarifies who will make the relevant health care decisions if the
member becomes incapacitated. 
Several members requested the updated Buy-Back Agreement and inquired about
how
to ensure any additional funding could be used for ensuring an optimal
suspension. Members who request such an arrangement will need to execute an
updated Attachment 1 document, which specifies various suspension
decisions. As
some of these decisions can change with time, such as the address and phone
number of the suspension emergency contacts, it is useful to periodically
review this document for accuracy.
APPLICANTS 
Five new members were approved this week and several applications were
processed. At the same time, typical administrative tasks were performed, such
as assisting applicants with arrangement of a life insurance policy, reviewing
recently submitted membership paperwork, and initiating follow-up
correspondence. It is also necessary to maintain thorough documentation of
these interactions to ensure that the status of each applicant is clearly
recorded and easily accessible. 
Three individuals who have been in the application process for longer than six
months are now being charged extended application fees. I attempted to contact
these applicants by phone and\or email to discuss the pending membership
requirements. Unfortunately, such attempts have been unsuccessful and I have
not received any responses to my messages. 
PROJECTS 
I recently performed a brief review of Alcor s information package and removed
some outdated information. Currently, the same package is being sent to all
interested individuals and the content primarily highlights the advantages of
our membership program. Although some of these individuals are requesting
information because they are interested in establishing a membership, others
are performing research for an academic report or media publication. When time
permits, I will be improving the content and appearance of our membership
package, while composing individualized packages for the various inquiry
types.

Dr. Jerry Lemler, President, CEO
Alcor is again in Standby mode for Board Member Michael Riskin, who today
(Friday) is undergoing quadruple bypass surgery. While such procedures are
considered routine these days, one can never be too cautious. Hugh Hixon
returned to Southern California yesterday, and will meet up with Russell
Cheney, Bobby June, and Keith Dugue to ensure swift access to Michael should
the unexpected befall him. By the way, Michael was most pleased to learn of
the
local hospital administrator's high regard of Alcor, and promises of
cooperation with our team on this Standby.
The two Cryofeasts I attended last weekend were superb! Many thanks to Lisa
Lock, Michael Seidl (Wilmington, Delaware), as well as to Judy and Mark
Muhlestein (Tucson, Arizona), for hosting me. The food was plentiful and
sumptuous, I assure you-- for vegetarians and carnivores alike! Additional
thanks go out to Natasha Vita-More and Max More (Los Angeles), Shelly and
Richard Gillman (Seattle), and Jane Zhu and Tim Freeman (Northern California)
for their respective successful Cryofeasts!
Housekeeping-wise on Wednesday I hosted a group of journalists from Toronto,
and began preparations to welcome the new Advisory Committee to Scottsdale
late
next week.
Dr. Bob Newport has returned (safely) from the Caribbean. It's good to have
his
affable countenance once again at close range. Bob will conduct a follow-up
Communications Seminar for the Alcor Staff this coming Wednesday. I'll have
the
cigars ready, Dr. Bob!
I'm looking forward to visiting with Louise Gold and Peter Voss, who travel to
Arizona this weekend. I'll also be hosting a Saturday morning high temperature
storage teleconference. Should be invigorating with several active
participants
eager to engage the debate. 
Joe Hovey, Accounting Manager 
Most of the week was taken up with getting out the December billing. This was
delayed by a major computer failure late Wednesday night. The billing
should be
completed today. 
Also produced the latest reimbursement report for the Patient Care Trust
for the
Alcor General Fund. The General Fund pays all the bills for the Patient Care
Trust. I send copies of the monthly, relevant bills to the Trust Directors who
either approve or disapprove them for reimbursement. They average around
$4,500
a month. The turnaround time for reimbursement is about 60 days. 
Forwarded the magazine subscription list to the editor for submission to the
printers for our next issue of the magazine. Normally I analyze the list
for the
removal of any subscribers whose subscriptions have run out. However, because
the magazine is so late I am extending everyone's subscription by TWO issues. 
My computer problem is still being addressed. I hope it will be ready by
today,
(Friday). 

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