STRICTLY BUSINESS: 'DESIGNATED DRIVERS' NEW BUSINESS

"Designated Drivers: The people in groups who abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages so they may safely transport the others in a motor vehicle."

This is the meaning of "designated drivers" according to Mr. Webster -- Webster's New World Dictionary."

Designated drivers are important people," said Carole Yoder of St. Louis, but some additional reasons went into a study for her new St. Louis corporation, Designated Drivers Inc.

Contrary to what the name suggests, Designated Drivers will not merely concentrate on driving those who choose to drink on their excursions, said Yoder.

"Although this will be an important element of the service, it should appeal to a number of people," said Yoder.

The concept has many applications, says Christen Yoder, Carole's sister, and marketing and sales coordinator of the new business.

These include:

-- Adults who don't want to drive in city traffic.

-- Senior citizens who own their own automobile but no longer feel comfortable behind the wheel.

-- Any others who want to be chauffeured without the high cost of a limousine service."

The business is not a limousine or taxi services, emphasizes Carole Yoder, saying: "We'll use the customer's vehicle."

The business will provide customers transportation on an hourly basis by a licensed and bonded "chauffeur."

The business is kind of "hybrid" between a taxi and limousine service, but less expensive than either.

Drivers will be available at any time to transport customers in the customer's insured vehicle.

"All of our drivers must pass rigorous investigative background and driving record checks and must be drug-tested and bonded," said Yoder.

The drivers will dress in a professional manner, with blazer and identification and will accompany a group for any length of time requested.

"We are getting a great response to the new service," said Christen Yoder. "We never realized just how useful the service is."

The new business employs between 15 and 20 people full-time and as many as 50 people on a part-time basis.

What I have learned about dromedaries

Camels will "spit" at people.

They'll also kick people.

Camels will groan and cry if the are overloaded.

But you don't have to refill their water bowl and feed trays every day. Camels can go without food and water for days, even weeks.

A lot of camels, camel owners, camel trainers and camel veterinarians, have been in town since last week for the first North American Camel Conference, a six-day event that ends Tuesday.

Some notable camel veterinarians here for the event include Dr. S. Jahangir Akbar, chief veterinarian of medicine at the Dubai Camel Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Akbar also serves as veterinary consultant for the Royal Family of Dubai.

Also on hand, for the camel training sessions is Bill Rivers of Movieland Animals.

During the past few days we have learned a lot about camels:

-- They are large animals -- 5 to 7 feet tall, weighing from 550 to 1,500 pounds.

-- The provide help to millions of people. They can pull agriculture equipment in the field,

-- Camels are used for transportation. Special saddles are available for the camels.

-- Camels usually walk 3 miles an hour, but they can gallop.

-- The camel's pace is an unusual one. Both legs on the same side lift and come down together, producing a swaying motion.

-- This swaying motion makes some riders "seasick." Camels are often referred to "ships of the desert."

-- Camels come in different varieties, the dromedary, which has one hump, and the Bactrian, which has two humps.

-- Humps are important to camels. It is not a storage place for water, as many people think, but is used to store a camel's fat.

-- A camel has thick eyebrows to help shade its eyes from the sun.

-- The camel's life span is about 40 years.

-- The camel can sneak up on you. Their soft-cushioned feet make almost no sound when they walk or run.

-- Camels have been domesticated thousands of years in Africa and Asia. They have lived in the United States since before the Ice Age.

-- During the 1850s, the U.S. Army used camels to carry cargo from Texas to California, but the railroads came along to carry more goods faster and cheaper.

Any other questions about camels?

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.