The Oriental Club was the setting for BATA's fourth AGM. The slate of distinguished speakers in the afternoon session ensured a packed house with every seat taken plus our photographer, a video crew and two very busy BSL sign interpreters. Under the Duke of Wellington's stern gaze we gathered in the Club that he helped found in 1824.
Click here to download the AGM Flier.
The morning session (for BATA Members only) began with BATA officers' reports. Chairman Mark McCusker (CEO, TextHELP) reported a very successful year with increased membership and subscribers increasing by 173%!
Read Chairman's Report
Retired senior civil servant Barbara Phillips, now our Executive Director, reported on a busy year of research, surveys and events. She was able to set these initiatives in the context of how to influence policy from the days when she was operating on the opposite side of a Minister's desk.
Read Executive Director's Report
BATA Treasurer, Ian Litterick (Executive Chairman, Iansyst) was also able to report on a successful year and adequate reserves although he was very keen to grow BATA's income so that we afford more time from professional staff like the Executive Director to promote the aims of the Association.
Finally the three of the BATA Council (including myself) stood down by rotation as required by the BATA Articles of Association. The Council welcomed new members Dave Stevens of Claro Software and Paul Doyle of Hereward College and I scraped re-election!
The sandwich lunch (helped down with a sponsored glass or two of Oriental Club champagne) saw the numbers swell as journalists and leaders from stakeholder AT organisations joined the noisy networking.
Full Delegate List
Our speakers arrived too. Lady Walmsley has been at all four AGMs introducing Ministers, Shadow Ministers, Communication Champions and National Communication Coordinators. (It was good to see Anna Reeves again - one of last year's speakers who now heads up the new national ACE Centre). BBC Disability Correspondent Peter White joined us too and was quickly in conversation with Shadow Minister Sharon Hodgson MP. |