X-Message-Number: 18296
Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 16:12:38 -0700
From: Jessica  Lemler Sikes <>
Subject: This Week at Alcor

The following can also be viewed on our website at http://www.alcor.org

Week of December 31, 2001 through January 6, 2002

Jennifer Chapman, Membership Administrator

Aside from performing my typical customer service obligations, I put some
time into  housekeeping  this week.  Mainly this refers to organizing my
office, updating my task lists, and revising my standard daily routine to
increase my efficiency.  Most of the time I am so swamped with work that it
is difficult to remember to take a break and get organized.  What better
time to do this than the beginning of a new quarter and a new year?In
reviewing the quarterly and annual membership statistics, I am pleased with
the final numbers, but I am also anticipating that 2002 will be even
better!  As explained in my Board Report for the upcoming meeting to be
held on January 6, 2002, seventeen new memberships were approved during the
fourth quarter, in addition to three reinstated memberships.  However, a
loss of nine members also occurred, with one membership cancellation caused
by member request, four by non-payment of membership dues, and four by
deficient funding.  Overall, there was a net gain of eleven members between
October 1 and December 31, 2001. 
The number of membership finalizations per month has increased
approximately 22 % this year as compared to last year.  With a total of 82
memberships activated (74 memberships finalized, 8 memberships reinstated)
and 43 memberships inactivated, Alcor gained a net total of 39 memberships,
which establishes an overall net gain of 7.5 % for 2001.  This is an 11.3%
increase over last year. 
  

Joe Hovey, Accounting Manager

Completed the November financial statements and distributed them to all
Directors and Advisors.
Prepared and mailed the P.C. Trust reports for reimbursement to the Alcor
General Fund.
Started the 1st quarter billing. This will take about 10 days to complete
barring any major interruptions.
The usual meetings, briefings and phone conversations responding to members
and others requests for various documents, etc. 
Preparing for the upcoming weekend s board meeting(s).


Jessica Lemler Sikes, Administrative Associate/Webmaster

Following a wonderful wedding in Laughlin, I have returned to my duties
here at Alcor.  On Wednesday, I spent most of the day sorting through and
responding to email, returning phone calls, and, in general, trying to get
caught up.  Yesterday, Thursday, more catching up and preparing for
Sunday's Board of Directors meeting.  During Wednesday's staff meeting, I
was given the assignment of posting several articles on the website, so I
will begin working on that project today, as soon as I finish posting This
Week at Alcor.
James and I would like to thank all of you who were able to attend our
wedding, as well as those of you who were not able to attend.  You all
helped to make a very special time for us even more special by being there
with us.  Thank you for your generous gifts, your love, your laughter, and
your friendship.  We look forward to many more great times with you all!


Mike Perry, PhD., Patient Care Assistant
 
This week I worked some on the web site. This work should continue, but we
may also be engaging a professional service to deal with the graphics.
There have been various suggestions regarding "This Week at Alcor," some
favoring posting it in full, others just links and highlights (my own
preference). Since there is no strong consensus either way, probably the
current policy, posting in full, will be continued.
I made progress on the material to be copied for a relative, locating a
company to do the task. (This outfit, Media Architects, quickly became
interested in doing other work for us too, and is the one we are
considering for the web graphics.) Next week the copying should start in
earnest, and the cost for the several hours' worth of movie film and video
is estimated at around $300.
I also spent some time on suggestions for changing Alcor's price policies
to offer lower-cost options. This should be on the agenda at the public
meeting Sunday, Jan. 6 (starts 1 p.m. MT).



Hugh Hixon, Facilities Engineer

Thursday, go to Laughlin, NV for wedding.Friday, day off for wedding.
Saturday, come back from Laughlin.
Monday, more work on technical problems message. 
Wednesday, staff meeting.  Deal with air conditioner warranty.  Have
gardeners cut back some vegetation for the security system.  Look at
selection for an automatic defibrillator; no conclusion; go to an EMT
member for assistance.Thursday, meeting with mortician.  Some work on
replies to articles in the*Forum*.  Work on a proposal for a
high-temperature storage demonstrator.Offload a fireproof filing cabinet
(w/James Sikes).


Dr. Jerry Lemler, President, CEO

Just about as I was winding down from last weekend's wedding in Laughlin,
it was time to prepare for our Board of Director's meeting this Sunday in
Scottsdale.  Several months ago our Board Members wisely decided to rotate
making personal appearances at our meetings, exclusive of Hugh Hixon, who
naturally attends as "Board Member in residence."  The January 2002 meeting
will welcome Dr. Kat Cotter to our facility.  Kat and her husband Dave
Kekich were among the guests at Jessica and James's wedding in Nevada-- as
always, it was great to have a chance to visit with them!
The marriage ceremony, by the way, was beautifully performed by clergyman
Mike Perry of the Venturist Society.  As usual, Mike was unflappable,
Jessica has settled back into her administrative duties, and I not only
gained a terrific son-in-law, but a new Alcor member, as James has turned
in his membership application.  Not a bad way to start the new year, is it?
 I hope yours will be a great one, too.


Mathew Sullivan, Facility Operations Manager

Facility Operations:
Joe's computer continues to have script errors and I am currently waiting
for Symantec to respond with a solution to the problem. 
I worked with Inter-Tel to fix a few errors and improve the phone system.
We also set up an empty voice prompt just prior to the execution of the
emergency phones so we can give the caller some information.  One of the
problems with our emergency number is due to the number being very similar
to Merrill Lynch's business line.  If we insert a short message to reaffirm
who we are, maybe we will get a few less calls.  All that we need to do now
is figure out what we want to say and record the message.
Spent some time trying to resolve some network issues.
With the close of the year, I'm in the process of completing paperwork.
I've finished my work log and membership growth statistics.  Alcor gained
39 members in 2001, with a growth rate of 7.56 percent.
Spent some time on email, and I have mostly completed my Facility
Operations Report for the upcoming Board meeting.

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