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). Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18113