Nov. 5, 2000 European Cryonics and Sideline Businesses
Recent posts on Cryonet have advocated formation of a full-service European cryonics organization, and also suggested that cryonics organizations should go into sideline businesses, including MLM (multi-level marketing) for income.
First, on a near-to-intermediate term basis, it would be foolhardy for Europeans to rely on a new European organization. The history of such attempts, both in America and elsewhere, is not encouraging. The cryonics movement is in much better condition now than formerly, but the numbers of potential members still seem too small to gamble your life on early success of a new organization.
It makes much more sense for individuals there to join an existing organization, and then, if they wish, also pursue the goal of European full service, either through a new and separate organization or through a European branch of an existing organization.
Cryonics Institute can generally offer Europeans service just about as good as for members at a distance in the U.S. In both cases, the preferred arrangement is to have a local funeral director, previously trained, equipped, and supplied, do the washout and perfusion locally. For patients abroad, if there are administrative delays, then instead of shipping the patient immediately packed in ice, the patient could, if necessary, be cooled locally to dry ice temperature, and then shipped after days or weeks if necessary.
Albin's funeral home, based in London, is already prepared to go just about anywhere in Europe on short notice to do washout and perfusion before shipment to Michigan.
Now about the idea of sideline businesses. This has often been suggested, and in fact Alcor is already in at least one sideline business, viz., the real estate business. As I understand it, Alcor has an interest in the entity that owns the building in which it leases space, the remainder being leased to other tenants. Apparently this has been very successful so far, owing to Dave Pizer's expertise and guidance. In terms of financial results to date, it has been superior to CI's policy of owning its property free and clear--no mortgage, no debt, no landlord. Nevertheless, the real estate business is just another business, and any future venture might or might not be successful. More importantly, any sideline business might have the potential for conflicts of interest, which should by all means be avoided. This needs heavy emphasis, in my opinion.
How about partly overlapping businesses, such as sperm banking? Again it's just another business, despite the overlap, with plenty of competition and a potential for conflicts of interest. One can make a case for it, but it certainly isn't clear-cut.
If an individual, or a consortium, wants to start a business and allocate part of the profit to a cryonics organization, that's fine. But nothing new is involved; this has always been possible, and to some extent has always been done.
As for the idea that existing sources of revenue are inadequate, I suggest a review of Cryonics Institute's financial statements over the years. We are not only holding our own, but gaining.
None of this is intended to disparage or discourage new initiatives. New ideas, or old ideas in new hands, certainly have the possibility of gain. But newness for its own sake has no special merit, and risks loss of money and effort.
We can't just say, "If it aint broke, don't fix it." Something that isn't broken could still be improved, maybe greatly improved. But I would strongly advise caution on the part of newcomers, and a study of history.
Robert Ettinger