New Era of BDA

For any organisation, movement or indeed the nation, periods of reflection and change are important to adapt to the ever-changing world we live in. The BDA is one of the oldest charities, and more importantly for us is that it still represents our core values of the Deaf Community, BSL and being Deaf-led in its nature.
There are negative aspects brought about by our financial difficulties in the past few years that forced us to carefully readjust our finances to become more prudent and balanced and thus securing the BDA's future. The BDA today is quite leaner compared to a year ago and we are confident of being back on track and balancing our books fully in a year's time. We know there is room for improvement in the BDA, to implement more changes that will bring the BDA closer to our stated vision of being more representative of the Deaf Community and of our members.

The BDA will remain a member-led organisation, and furthermore we will in the long term ensure that the issues that concern the Deaf Community will be heard, discussed and influenced into the wider United Kingdom community as well as within the political arena.

I had written about the importance of partnership and working together towards a common goal in an article for this magazine last year. This was also a key part of the new era of the BDA where we strive to better achieve the shared goal by working with other organisations and at the same time ensuring that the BDA will properly provide leadership for the Deaf Community on a UK level. A strong BDA is important not just for us but for everyone, including you.

The recruitment of a new Chief Executive Officer, CEO, will help to take the BDA forward, to reinvigorate the organisation and to take the BDA further along with our visions and reassert the important place BDA has for everyone. The Board is sincere and truly committed to the role we currently have in appointing the best possible person that the BDA requires for the job.

My term as Chair of the BDA, after taking over from Doug Alker, will end on 31st December 2008, likewise the end of term for our Vice Chair Sylvia Simmonds. I have certainly continued to enjoy my involvement with the BDA in an important time, and appreciate the team work with the whole Board who have likewise been very committed with the BDA and the crucial support from the management and staff in this quite challenging time.
The nominations for the election of the new Chair and Vice Chair will be sent to members well before the BDA annual conference in Cardiff on 9th and 10th August 2008. I can confirm that I will not be seeking the 2009-2011 three years' term due to personal circumstances with my career and a young family. The Board is looking forward to seeing the democratic process at work and would love to work with the new Chair and Vice Chair whoever will be successfully elected by the BDA members.

I have started my article on the New Era of BDA, and how the continual changes are a key makeup of keeping any organisation relevant to the times. The new CEO recruitment process has already started, in May, and we aim to introduce the new appointed CEO of the BDA to members at the Cardiff Conference. With the new CEO and then the to-be-elected Chair in place by early 2009, stable finances, and crucially the need of support from everyone, members and the wider community, the BDA can only move forwards to better realise our much shared values.