September 9, 2005

I would like to introduce the CPC g= roup to a new non-profit association called the World Federation of Incontinence Patients (WFIP). This association was founded by incontinence patients. Their mission is to improve the quality of life of persons who suffer from incontinence related problems.

The WFIF’s objectives are to = improve dialog amongst various European and International Associations. The WFIF would like to bring toget= her and promote socialization of incontinence patients with individual countries around the world. Additional objectives include protecting the rights of incontinent patients and to work with governments in the various countries to insure laws that protect these individuals.

Over the past year, this federation= has grown and has organized an executive board that includes:

President = – Francesco Diomed, FINCO Italy

Vice President – Francoise Nicole Kremer, France FEMM= ES POURTOUJOURS

Vice President – Lynne VanPoelgeste-Pomfret, The<= /span> Netherlands Interstitial = Cystitis

&nb= sp; = Patient Association

Treasurer = – Tomasz Michalek, NTM Poland

Secretary = – Laura Frances, National Association for Incontinence, USA=

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At the recent International Contine= nce Society, CPC workshop it was decided that the CPC Committee would embrace t= he World Federation of Incontinence Patients to collaborate with them as we ha= ve common goals and objectives. Hopefully this will be further pursued.

At the ICS meeting, CPC chair Diane= Newman was able to meet with WFIP Vie President Lynne VanPoelgeste-Pomfret who discussed that the WFIP is a patient-oriented
federation. Lynne is the chair of the Dutch Interstitial Cystitis/PBS Patients’ Association (non-profit) together with another Dutch lady. She would like to further the cause of co-operation bet= ween the WFIP and ICS-PC.

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