X-Message-Number: 584 Date: 18 Dec 91 21:45:51 EST From: "Russell E. Whitaker" <> Subject: Alcor UK minutes: December Meeting started 1100 8 Dec 1991, and was held at the Alcor facility in Eastbourne. Attending were: Russell E. Whitaker Michael Price Steve Whitrow Alan Sinclair Janet Blake Ralph Merkle Garret Smyth [Andrew Clifford and Patricia Cross appeared later, during the BBC filming] A 6-person film crew from the BBC, and 2 reporters from the Guardian newspaper appeared and spoke with some members, concurrent with the meeting. Errata from previous month's minutes: "Patricia Clifford" should be written as "Patricia Cross". Item 1 on version of last minutes sent out to members: surplus copies of *Cryonics* should be sent to Alan, not Mike, as previously indicated. 1.) Ralph Merkle, of Xerox PARC in Palo Alto, California, concluded his week in the UK by attending the meeting. He had been invited to London by a professional organization to speak on nanotechnology; the talks went well. 2.) First item was the issue of money owed/not owed by Alan Sinclair and/or Alcor UK, Ltd. Russell will try to get an itemized bill from Alcor Life Extension Foundation on his January trip there. 3.) Mike Price noted that in re a recent telephone conversation with Carlos Mondragon, Alcor LEF is now offering the surplus A-9000 two-person whole-body dewar free of charge to Alcor UK, given that Alcor LEF is reimbursed for past expenses. Alcor UK need only cover the costs of shipping. Russell will have Alcor LEF give an estimate of shipping/handling. 4.) Garret Smyth, resident videographer, will put together some video footage of the facility and local members for the Alcor 20th anniversary banquet being held April 1992 in California. He will do this over the Christmas/New Year holidays. 5.) *Cryonics* magazine will carry announcements of UK meetings in future issues. 6.) Local newsletters should be vetted by Mike Price. He will send out copies of the issues. Russell Whitaker is producing the newsletters. 7.) As last month, the issue of the need to have a complete list of UK members arose. Russell Whitaker had spoken a few days earlier to Ralph Whelan, membership administrator at Alcor LEF, and learned that some in the UK have expressed a desire for privacy. It was noted in the discussion here that an effective local response coverage would depend upon prior knowledge of the names and locations of all the local [UK] members. It was agreed that, at the very least, a distributional map of membership was needed, showing how far afield a local transport team might need to venture, with or without the ambulance. Russell Whitaker will bring these points up in front of the Alcor LEF board in the January meeting in California. 8.) A Scottish membership prospect has been contacted by Russell Whitaker; this person has expressed an interest in active involvement in the technical aspects of Alcor's local operation. Such involvement will depend upon actual membership, as Alcor LEF has had a long-standing policy of drawing officers, staff, and suspension team personnel strictly from the membership; the local [UK] group maintains the same policy. 9.) Brief discussion was held over the recent news of the resignation of Mike Darwin from his post at Alcor LEF. 10.) For reasons related to impending exams, Garret Smyth offered up his position as Vice President of Alcor UK Ltd. It was suggested that this be offered to recently-approved member Andrew Clifford, who later accepted. Janet Blake confirmed that the Alcor UK Ltd. corporate charter had been amended to reflect changes and additions to the roster of officers, using information generated in the November meeting. 11.) Some brief discussion of the fact that Alan Sinclair, Mike Price, Steve Whitrow, and Russell Whitaker had spent part of the previous day (Saturday) cleaning and arranging the facility. Alan did maintenance and tune-up work on the ambulance. 11.) It was suggested that a solid, reliable citizen's band radio be purchased for the ambulance, along with a corresponding base station for the front office of the facility, similar to the setup at Alcor LEF. This was suggested as a medium-term-only goal; a more pressing need for pagers was then discussed. Russell Whitaker noted that he will be buying numeric-display units on his California trip. The units will be reprogrammed for UK-standard reception. 12.) Mike Price and Alan now have keys to the facililty; Alan will have more made, to distribute to those few who would need immediate access to the lab in event of emergency. Alcor LEF will receive a copy, as will those on the transport team. 13.) Next meeting was agreed to be held at the facility, 5 January 1992. Meeting ended at 1226. Those present stayed on for a catered lunch, and many stayed on for informal discussion. Some were interviewed for the BBC special on "attitudes toward dying", which will air early next summer. Respectfully submitted, Russell Earl Whitaker Recording Secretary Distribution: Local membership, via post by Mike Price Alan Sinclair, fax Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Riverside CA, email Alcor North, email cryonet, email Distribution: Alcor >INTERNET: cryonet >INTERNET: Alcor North >INTERNET: Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=584