LANA BOARD NEWS January, 2009 The LANA Board, along with the membership, has been off to a running start this year. With so many dedicated volunteers working together, the LANA HOBO Classic was a great success. Enthusiasm and assistance came from everywhere in the many volunteers, many sponsors and a good many participants. Without you, the membership… this event could not happen. And in truth, that is why LANA exists – community. THANKS so much to Nelson Leonard, Lora Crawford, Kathy Nichols, Rick & Mary Adams, Ken & Nanci Sutton, Dan & Marilyn Milton, Judy Johnson, Dolly Peters & Family, Mike Thompson, Ken & Karen DeHart, Dale Heisler, John Trauth, Ellen Goldsmith, Toni Strassberg-Pearce and Dianne Sanders for their hard work throughout this event. A special THANK YOU to Maryan Baker. Without her vision and expertise, HOBO would not have happened. Though these great folks were the very visible volunteers, we also know that there were many, many others who assisted where possible. We so appreciate everyone. THANK YOU! There is some very interesting news reported in The Wall Street Journal (2/17, A11, Dalton) and posted on various camelid lists. The Wall Street Journal reports that "Scientists are exploiting an unusual feature of the immune system of llamas -- a South American relative of the camel -- to develop new treatments for diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and Alzheimer's." Researcher "hope the tiny antibodies found in llamas and camels -- about one-tenth the size of human antibodies -- can burrow into the densely packed cells of a cancerous tumor, slip their way through the blood-brain barrier to block the build-up of plaques that cause Alzheimer's, or settle into the crevices of joints to prevent arthritis." Belgium-based "Ablynx is probably closest to putting a product on the market -- a drug to prevent blood clots that tend to form in patients who have had stents implanted to open a blocked artery. If the drug passes all its clinical trials, it could be on the market in 2012 or 2013." Thanks so much to all of you who have been so supportive of LANA and your Board of Directors. Our membership is growing and many of you have felt to make a special donation in areas such as youth and Lifeline. Believe it -- You make a difference in all manner of ways. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment right now to find that membership renewal form and continue your support of LANA. If you are unable to find it, please contact Nelson at the LANA office: llamainfo@gmail.com. Wishing you all the very best, Cathy LANA President