X-Message-Number: 18418
From: 
Date: Sat, 26 Jan 2002 11:19:57 EST
Subject: Havelock, strategy

Dr.Dr. (sic) Ron Havelock reminds us that, at some point, cryonics will 
become big enough to become a regular business and will attract venture 
capitalists as well as swindlers and increasingly vocal "ethical" opposition. 
Existing organizations may be overshadowed. His suggestions (abbreviated) 
include:

>We need to chart a joint course that will protect all our existing 
>frozen heads and bodies because the elephant probably won't care about them. 


I believe all the extant organizations are capable of protecting their 
current patients even if future business falls off to zero, which is 
unlikely. Even if our relative share decreases, as it certainly will, our 
absolute numbers should increase.

>Secondly, we need to jointly maintain a strong umbrella organization of 
>believers which is dedicated to research, information sharing, and 
>publicizing cryonics as an idea.

Umbrella organizations have been frequently suggested but have never come 
near realization. At the projected summer meeting in Michigan, and by 
agenda-building correspondence before then, CI and Alcor and ACS and perhaps 
others will
review many options. Cooperation in various areas does not necessarily 
require creation of new entities. Dr. Havelock suggests an umbrella 
organization might be accorded more respect and create a better public image, 
and of course most industries have their own professional associations, but 
cost/benefit calculations are difficult.

>I think it is time to have more serious and extensive discussions 
>with the funeral industry

This is an ongoing effort, although it has been sporadic, and there have been 
many small successes. As for the big time, one of our CI members is a 
long-time golfing buddy of the CEO of the world's biggest funeral/cemetery 
operation, but so far has aroused no interest. It's just a numbers game, and 
our numbers so far are insignificant to large operators. But he (and we) will 
keep working.

>new believers will be drawn mostly from economically 
>privileged elites (annual incomes $50,000 and up), 

I'm not so sure. Maybe the biggest potential is in retired older people, 
because they will be doing most of the dying. Most of them have limited 
incomes but enough assets to fund one or two suspensions. CI is willing, with 
appropriate safeguards and individual evaluation, to accept contractual 
pledges of assets (including real estate) instead of life insurance or 
advance payment.

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
www.cryonics.org

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18418