Greetings and welcome to the United Brachial Plexus Network. Internet readership is at an all-time high, and because it's been a while since the organization has done this, it seems fitting that I take this opportunity to introduce you to this unique organization.

UBPN is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization that was founded August 6, 1999. UBPN is a United States non-profit charity. The mission of this organization is to inform, support, and unite families and those concerned with brachial plexus injuries worldwide. To this end, UBPN has found it helpful to communicate with professionals from many disciplines, including but not limited to medical, legal, and governmental, to obtain knowledge and information that supports its mission. Never in the history of the organization, has UBPN engaged in outside affiliations with any individual or entity. UBPN is a volunteer organization. There are no paid employees. The organization is run solely on the basis of volunteerism.

There is a board of directors, and it consists of 10 individuals. The board of directors is primarily responsible for acting as the governing body of the UBPN, specifically: To determine the UBPN's mission and purpose and continuously review all operations to assure that they conform to the UBPN's mission and purpose.

A welcome is in order to our newest board member, Ms. Kim West, of Kim West Communications, Inc. By profession, Kim is a communications expert and we treasure her affiliation with UBPN. Kim will serve as a Board Member, and in addition, she has graciously offered to assist UBPN in launching the organization in a new direction with respect to its communications, as Chair of the Communications Committee. Kim is the mother of a child with an obstetrical brachial plexus injury. Welcome, Kim!

It has always been UBPN.s goal to inform, support and unite families and those concerned with brachial plexus injuries worldwide. The Internet provides UBPN with the greatest opportunity and tool for people from around the globe to communicate on a daily basis. UBPN owns and operates the Message Boards on its site. It is important to recognize that UBPN does not endorse the messages others choose to post. UBPN monitors the Message Boards to insure that posts are supportive of the organization.s mission and reserves the right not to post comments that are in violation of UBPN policies and procedures. UBPN does not censor posts.

While UBPN is a United States-based organization, it communicates daily with people in need from all over the world. In addition, UBPN volunteers are comprised of individuals from within as well as from outside of the United States. Within the volunteer pool are the obstetrically and non-obstetrically injured, as well as parents of the obstetrically injured.

UBPN enjoys a most unique existence as a cyber-organization. Each volunteer functions from his or her home/home office and contributes between 1 to over 150 + hours of volunteer time each month to this organization. You can see that any amount of volunteerism is appreciated by the organization.

UBPN.s structure encourages volunteerism in every aspect of its being. Several standing committees and ad hoc committees have been established in an effort to run a smooth operation. In addition, UBPN has developed several programs aimed at providing support and resources to further its mission. They are: Awareness Program; Within Reach Program; Outreach Program; Open Arms Program; In Touch Program; InterACTION Program; Wings Program.

Thanks for visiting this site. Please be sure to peruse the information contained within. On behalf of the Board of Directors, it is my hope that you feel comfortable and knowledgeable about UBPN and its mission to inform, support and unite families and individuals with brachial plexus injuries worldwide.

Best regards,
Cathy N. Kanter, President
UBPN, Inc.