X-Message-Number: 728
Date: 12 Apr 92 21:04:56 EDT
From: Michael <>
Subject: The I.A.C.O.

Dear Edgar,

Thanks to you and ACS/TT for giving I.A.C.O. a chance. Hopefully,
Alcor and CI will come along also. I've written the Chamberlains
asking about FOCS. I presume that is the discouraging experience
you are referring to. 
Whatever the problems FOCS had can be corrected because we will
be needing a strong self regulating body soon or we will be 
regulated by strangers. I'm safe in saying NO ONE wants that.
This is my letter to the Chamberlains:
                      
                         April 10,1992

Dear Fred & Linda,

    It's wonderful to meet one's heroes face to face. You are even
more exciting and upbeat in real life than I was told.
    Boy, I wish I could rub you off on the rest of the gang.
    I was beginning to think it was the Liquid Nitrogen fumes that
made everyone so depressed. You are proof that it should make one
giddy.
    I have had the toughest time figuring out why people, who think
they are going to live "forever", are so blue.
    Anyway, I'm writing today to get a handle on the status of FOCS,
if there is a status.
    It looks to me that the inevitable splintering of cryonics is
about to start. It might be a good time to "revive" the suspended
FOCS, as there will be a greater need for industry self regulation
as time goes on. I've worked in government regulated industries and we
don't want any. A strong offense would be our best defense.
    We are one TV expose away from a major crisis and there are more 
expose shows now, all needing gobs of sensational material for ratings
now, than ever before.
    We will all have to hang together or we will hang separately, to
coin a phrase.
    If you have any thoughts on this, as the goodwill ambassadors to
the industry, please let me know how I can help. I'm here in the media
capital of our known universe and I'd like to help present a positive 
image to any interested party.
    My facile understanding was that common industry standards couldn't
be agreed upon for FOCS. Something about Alcor not wanting to lower it's
standards to a common level?
    I'm not worried about Darwin's new group for standards, I'm 
concerned that this can become a "garage" industry with a little bad
luck, and one garage will reflect on us all.
    I know none of this is new to you or you wouldn't havestarted
FOCS. I just thought it might be a good time to relook at FOCS.
    If you ever outlined a possible industry standard procedural
manual or list of tenets everyone should sign off on to be a FOCS
member, I'd love to see it.
    If the press jumps on Avi for example, or John Doe for freezing
his mother in law in his rage, a few decades before her time,
industry standards would be helpful and perhaps crucial in damage 
control. It might help keep the "reflection" to a minimum to be able
to point out how someone wasn't a member or deviated from industry
accepted procedure, without the knowledge and approval of the other
member groups.

    Hope to hear from you soon. And thank you for being who you are.

                              Much love,

                              Michael Paulle

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