Refusing Membership in a cryonics organization is a very serious matter and it is not something any of us at the Cryonics Institute would take lightly. But our first responsibility is to our current Members and Patients.

A year ago the conduct of Jon Despres was such that the Directors of our organization felt that his Membership and possible conduct was potentially detrimental to CI. I felt that there were indications that Jon would reform and that his Membership should be re-considered in one year. At the end of November the Directors decided that a recent solicitation of money for an ill-considered cryonics project by Jon showed that he had not reformed adequately. Jon is a young man and his life is not in danger, as far as we know. The majority opinion was that if Jon were appropriately informed of his behavior and given another year to demonstrate improvement his Membership might be appropriate. We would reconsider his Membership in November 2007.

In response to this, however, Jon has made threats of lawsuits and of destroying CI that do not bode well for his future Membership. I regret this situation because I hate the thought of denying anyone Membership.

If Jon has made the Cryonics Institute the beneficiary of his insurance policy, this was done without our knowledge or consent. We have never seen the insurance policy to which he refers.

The only other person who the Cryonics Institute has ever prohibited Membership to has been Gareth Nelson. Gareth over-paid his Option Two Membership through PayPal when he joined initially -- 3 payments totaling more than what was required. This was his mistake, not CI's. CI's Facilities Manager Andy Zawacki suggested to Gareth that we could refund the amount of overpayment. Instead Gareth demanded a full refund of all the fees that he had paid and threatened our organization with legal action. Our Membership fees are normally non-refundable, but in this case we gave him a full refund and told him that future Memberships from him would not be welcome.

The Cryonics Institute did not make any PayPal charges to Gareth, all PayPal charges were initiated by him. CI does not steal, through PayPal or otherwise. Our integrity and reputation are important to us.

It is an understandable mistake for someone to accidentally pay twice or misunderstand the instructions. Such errors can be rectified. It is also possible to rectify misunderstandings that have resulted in ill-will. Gareth did not respond to my last e-mail message to him on 3-August-2006.

I think Gareth understands that he overreacted in his accusations. I want to acknowledge his intelligence and interest in advancing cryonics. But I also want him to acknowledge that CI does not steal and that the PayPal charges he incurred were entirely the results of his actions.

Because I am making an official statement on behalf of the Cryonics Institute after considerable discussion with our attorney and Directors, it would be too difficult to engage in a back-and-forth argument about these matters. Therefore I do not expect to be posting any more on this thread.

Ben Best

So Gareth over paid CI electronically and accused CI of stealing money. Or what???? Now he won't say he's sorry for the accusation or is it because he threatened legal action? Is this why CI won't let him back...I would agree legal action can and has destroyed many companies that have done nothing but provide good service and products. Although if the a-hole was threatening to destroy the hospital and waving a gun around the police might arrive and shoot him to death...(To protect life and proerty for the greater good I am to believe).

Please list what was done. So If for nothing but to serve as open disclosure and education to all members of what conduct would and or wouldn't get someone thrown out of CI.

In the case of the Canadian youngster it was certainly the right choice from Ben Best and others to ban him. For those who are really interested in that case just google a bit on his name. I think open discussions are really important, but maybe it's better not to discuss the 'Despres-case' anymore on this mailing list. I think the less attention he gets the better. It's also not really clear how sick/dangerous this person really is, so one should always be cautious.

David Verbeke, Belgium

Ben,

CI can and must refuse service to people when doing otherwise would threaten your ability to save others. Stupidity ought not to be a capital crime, but it is, and always has been. You don't sneak into hospitals and cryopreserve people who commit the stupidity of not signing up for cryonics - even though stupidity ought not to be a capital crime, and doesn't deserve so great a punishment - because such action would threaten your ability to save those who do request it. You can't always save people from their own stupidity. It's hard enough to save people with their willing cooperation.

I think you did the right thing.

Sincerely,
Eliezer.

Insofar as there has been so much confusion by Gareth Nelson and others about his billing, I will provide a detailed explanation. Subscription arrangement for Option Two Membership can be made on the Membership page of the Cryonics Institute website:

http://www.cryonics.org/membership.html

The following instructions appear on that page: To arrange for automatic PayPal payment of Option Two Membership Dues on a Quarterly or Yearly basis ( AFTER you have filled and submitted a membership application and paid the initiation fee, which have been received and approved) click on one of the following buttons:

If someone clicks on quarterly payment "payment plan" button the PayPal instructions read:

Pay To: Cryonics Institute Subscription To: Option Two Quarterly Dues Payment Subscription Terms: $35.00 USD for each 3 months Currency: U.S. Dollars Amount Paid Today: $35.00 USD

clicking on the yearly payment "payment plan" button gives:

Pay To: Cryonics Institute Subscription To: Option Two Annual Dues Payment Subscription Terms:$120.00 USD for each year Currency: U.S. Dollars Help

Amount Paid Today: $120.00 USD

I have studied the PayPal log files and observe the following information:

On February 3, 2006 Gareth paid his Initiation Fee of $75 by PayPal.

On February 7, 2006 Gareth created a subscription for $120 which paid

$120 for his first year's Membership dues.

On February 17, 2006 Gareth cancelled his yearly payment subscription and initiated a $35 quarterly payment subscription which paid $35 for the first quarter.

On February 22, 2006 CI Facilities Manager Andy Zawacki refunded Gareth the full $75 + $120 + $35.

On February 24, 2006 Gareth cancelled his quarterly payment subscription.

As a user of PayPal Gareth should have access to his payments log which should verify these details.

Ben Best, President