The British Deaf Association is delighted to announce that Terry Riley has been elected as the new Chair of the organisation for 2009 - 2011.

Terry will take over as Chair from Francis Murphy in January 2009.

Current Chair, Francis Murphy, said: "I am very pleased to be working with Terry as I approach the end of my term and we will be working together to ease the transition period.

"The Board is enthusiastic about working with Terry over the next few years, with our shared ambition to take the BDA forward in a fit state for the new century."

Terry, who is perhaps best known for his long-term involvement with BBC's See Hear magazine programme and is a familiar face to many BDA members, will lead the Board over the next three years.

He was previously a member of the Board of Trustees and was also Vice President of the European Union of the Deaf (EUD).

Terry added: "I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who elected me as Chair. The BDA is truly a Democratic Organisation. I think it only right and proper to express my thanks to the outgoing Chair, Francis, who stepped in at a very difficult period and, along with the Board, they have steered the BDA from a very rough few years. It is through this period of change that we are now in much calmer waters.

"I cannot promise you a major and radical shift back to the good old days, but over these past few weeks I have listened to your comments and I give you my visions for the BDA future:     

1). To ensure that the Deaf Community is respected and has its rightful place in society like any other community. 
2) The BDA must once again become the lead organisation for the sign language community.
3) The BDA has to come back to the community itself. 

"I promise to work to achieve these goals. The BDA now faces a period of consolidation and rebuilding, reaching out to the community. With your help we can once again become the organisation you, the members, want. It is a partnership.  

"I have also said many times that I see the BDA like an Oak tree, and now see myself as the leaves at the top of the tree, The Board as the solid trunk and the members as the strong roots on which to build; together we can make it happen. My final battle cry is to those members who for one reason or another have left the BDA; come back and join us, make the BDA your organisation as Dot Miles' poem went: The BDA is you and me, together we will fight for equality."