This has been another busy month at the BTER Foundation, including biotherapy conferences, new courses, and the impending release of the Spring Issue of our own Biotherapy Journal Review. Of course, all this work is possible because of your suggestions, your contributions, and your membership. And if you are not already a member, I know someone who is willing to pay your membership dues!

There are loads of benefits to membership - everything from access to colleagues and leaders in the various biotherapy disciplines to discounts on courses and biotherapy-related merchandise. But in my opinion, the greatest benefit of membership is the knowledge that you have participated substantially in the advancement of healthcare and science. During the past 13 years that the BTER Foundation has been around, we have seen the publication of hundreds of articles, at least 20 of which have been supported in whole or in part by the Foundation. The world has also witnessed the marketing clearance of the first two biotherapeutic modalities - maggot therapy and leech therapy. Though these two modalities had been practiced for decades, FDA clearance never existed until after the BTER Foundation and its members approached the regulatory authorities. Every year we receive dozens of letters from former students, interns, or grant recipients who now thank us for sparking their interest in healthcare or biotherapy, thank us for sponsoring their research publication or presentation, or just thank us for providing the contacts and assistance needed to access limb-saving and life-enhancing treatments. These are but a few of the benefits provided by the BTER Foundation, and supported by your membership. 

What? You are not a member? You let your membership lapse? If you are reading this newsletter, then you recognize the value in what we do . . . and what we can continue to do, only with your support.

And if I still have not managed to convince you to join, then perhaps one of our other members can convince you to give it a try. Through a generous contribution from one of our members, we can now offer free membership through the rest of 2016 to the first 20 people who sign up. More information is described below and on our website. So give it a try and feel what it's like to be part of the team that advances healthcare, advances science, and advances the rights of animals and people to live and work together to our mutual benefit.

With best wishes,