Life Extension Society 990 N. Powhatan St. Arlington VA 22205 703-534-7277 =================================================================== 1994 VOL. I LIFE EXTENSION SOCIETY NEWS JANUARY, 1994 =================================================================== CryoCare Foundation Opens For Business In September, 1993, eighteen enthusiastic supporters each donated $1000 in seed money to help get a new cryonics organization off the ground. Three months later, the CryoCare Foundation was incorporated. Cryocare is the fourth national organization that provides cryonic preservation services. The others are the Cryonics Institute, the American Cryonics Society, and the ALCOR Life Extension Foundation, which currently has the greatest number of "suspension members". CryoCare's founding represents another step in the evolution of the young cryonics industry. With minor exception, the other organizations provide all cryonics services -- membership, funds management, suspension, storage, reanimation -- under one roof. CryoCare provides membership services, but contracts with profit-making firms to obtain the other services. CryoCare currently has contracted for suspension services with Biopreservation, Inc., the leader in the field, headed by Mike Darwin and Dr. Steve Harris. The current storage contract is with CryoSpan, Inc., headed by Dr. Paul Wakfer. Patient care funds will be managed by a professional fund management firm headed by Courtney Smith. CryoCare is aggressively seeking suspension members, providing stiff competition to ALCOR. This is good news for all cryonicists, for this kind of competition is bound to provide greater choice and promote growth in overall suspension membership. CryoCare's growth also will engender competition in each "niche" in the cryonics industry. As the cryonics industry expands, new providers will seek to enter the markets for suspension, storage, and fund management. This will drive down costs, offer additional choice to cryonicists, and provide long-term stability. ALCOR Moving to Arizona After 20 years in Riverside, the ALCOR Life Extension is moving to Arizona. ALCOR formed a limited liability company to purchase the Acoma building, located in Scottsdale. ALCOR's costs will be financed with endowment funds and patient care funds. Space not needed immediately will be leased. ALCOR currently has over 20 patients in storage. The new building is a vastly improved facility in an earthquake-free environment. Cryonics Seminar Features Merkle On December 5, 1993, the Life Extension Society (incorporated December 1992) celebrated its first "birthday" by hosting a cryonics seminar, "Cryonics: Meeting the Challenge." The seminar featured Dr. Ralph Merkle. Dr. Merkle, a leading researcher at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, is a national leader in computational nanotechnology. His remarks focused on advances in technology likely will enable the restoration of cryonically preserved humans at the "back end" of suspension and storage. These advances ultimately will be limited only by the laws of physics. Life Extension Society members who participated in the seminar discussed advances in cryobiology that are improving the quality of suspensions at the "front end" and making the back-end task easier. ALCOR Sponsors Writing Contest ALCOR Life Extension Foundation, in collaboration with OMNI magazine, sponsored a writing contest on why the writer wanted to see the future. Charles Platt, a noted science fiction author and cryonicist, judged the entries. The contest winner, who was announced in the January issue of OMNI, receives a free cryonic suspension from ALCOR. No, not right away -- someday. Life Extension Society Hosts CryoCare Representatives On December 12, 1993, the Life Extension Society hosted a sign-up meeting of the CryoCare Foundation. Approximately a dozen members and prospective members of the Society participated. The CryoCare representatives provided application forms, the legal documents needed for sign-up, and a summary of annual fees and one-time costs for whole-body and "neuro" suspension. Life Extension Society To Chart Course for 1994 The Life Extension Society's second annual members' meeting will take place on February 6. Members will have elect the Board of Directors for 1994, decide on meeting and seminar topics for the year, and set priorities for other activities. Membership growth will continue to be a priority, for a critical mass of active members is needed. "In-reach" activities that help members make informed choices about cryonics are important. So too are actions to develop local biostasis capabilities and establish relationships with the health care institutions whose decisions will someday affect the efficacy of local cryonic suspensions. HAPPY NEW YEAR! Life Extension Society 990 N. Powhatan St. Arlington VA 22205 703-534-7277