X-Message-Number: 6542 Date: 16 Jul 96 04:46:59 EDT From: Paul Wakfer <> Subject: Prometheus Project - Explanations The Meaning of "my project" This is in response to some criticism which I received for my strong use of the term "my project" in yesterday's post with subject "Prometheus Project - Policy Statement". It was because my critic considered this project to be of paramount importance that he was so concerned that it might be mismanaged through being run by just one person. And I agree with the criticism to the extent that I should explain my meaning so that it won't be misinterpreted in case it was not clear, and furthermore should explain why I believe that his concern is not necessary in this particular case. The main reason why I believe that others should not be thusly concerned is that so far the project is only a pledge campaign and everything about that is completely out in the open and will continue to be so. The only thing which is not in the open are the names of a few anonymous pledgers. Yes, I could be using them to "pad" the results. I can't think of anyway to convince you that I'm not, except to say "I'm not!" Besides, the total of anonymous donations so far only amounts to $11K per year. If these anonymous pledgers do exist and I drop dead and someone else takes over, then the pledgers, of course, can contact that new person running the pledge campaign (or someone can just look on my computer). If the pledge campaign begins to be greatly mismanaged, I am sure that I will hear about it and change. If I don't, then I will simply be ignored and bypassed. Someone else will take over and be followed. That's the way freedom works when everything is out in the open. So its only "my project" in the sense that I started it and I get to do all the work and decision making unless and until I screw up or drop dead first. :) Once the project gets beyond the pledge campaign stage - and that's going to be a major hurdle which involves producing a scientific and business plan to satisfy $1M per year worth of pledgers - then I or whoever else is running the corporation as CEO will have a board of directors and dozens if not hundreds of shareholders to make sure he or she does everything best possible. Support from the Organizations I want to make clearer what is my request and the need of this Project for support from the cryonics organizations. First, of all I can't see that the Prometheus Project is anything but positive for them, unless they truly believe that its research goal is wrong and a waste of money. But then I leave it up to the free market of fund raising for cryonics research purposes to decide that one. I believe that it is very clear already that the Prometheus Project has struck a responsive chord among cryonicists, and will gather a vast total of pledges like nothing in cryonics has ever done before. Much, and probably most of even the small amount of cryonics research which *has* been done so far, has been done by individual organizations in *competition* with others, ie. with at least part of the purpose being to show that they are *better* in some sense that the others. One the major purposes of formulating the Prometheus Project as a nonpartisan, individual cryonicist run undertaking is to end this *stupidity*. That is why I do *not* want any great "presence" of the organizations in the operation of the project. That is why I have suggested that donation pledgers should ask to be the proxy holders at shareholders meetings of the shares which their donations purchase for the organization. This pledge campaign was started on the Net and so far has not really left it, although a few pledges have been received from cryonicists who do not have access to the Net. But I know that those on the Net will not be sufficient to provide the whole $1M per year that is needed. And even if they were, there are many, many loyal cryonics supporters who are not on the Net and should be given a chance to pledge; to have their own chance to save their lives and to reap any possible monetary rewards that this project may provide. It would not be fair to leave them out. In addition, there are many even *on* the Net who wish and deserve to have "in person" presentations of the Prometheus Project goals and methods. What we all need, therefore, are organized, scheduled, and advertised meetings in every major cryonics center of the country. I urge everyone to request all the cryonics organizations to schedule meetings about the Prometheus Project which will be totally nonpartisan and open to the public, and to request that all the organizations advertise *all* the meetings in their periodicals and do membership mailings as necessary to promote them. Saul Kent has already pledged to finance these mailings if necessary. No promotion of any cryonics organization should take place at any meetings. A list of all attendees who are not currently signed up with any organization will be collected and this list will be distributed to all organizations taking part in the promotion of the scheduled set of meetings. What I do need for this is a volunteer who will coordinate and schedule the meetings with the organizations. I can begin this task, but I fear that I soon won't have the time for it since among other things I'll be attempting to be at most of the meetings. Come on cryoncists, get off your butts and give me your pledge and your energy. Join with me in this grand project to conquer Death! -- Paul -- !!!!! REVERSIBLE BRAIN CRYOPRESERVATION *CAN* BE ACHIEVED IN 10 YEARS !!!!! Paul Wakfer email: Voice/Fax: Pager: US: 1220 E Washington St #24, Colton, CA 92324 909-481-4433 800-805-2870 Canada: 238 Davenport Rd #240, Toronto, ON M5R 1J6 416-968-6291 416-446-9461 (currently in Canada) Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=6542