At the recent UKAAF AGM, held on 22 June at the Augustana Centre London, four board appointments were made: two Officers were elected (both unopposed); one ordinary board member was re-elected; and one new ordinary board member joined the board, all for a term of up to three years.

Dr. Sarah Morley Wilkins from RNIB was re-elected in the role of Vice Chair, Ann Ruddick was elected as the Chair of UKAAF's  User Advisory Group (having been co-opted to date), and Mike Parr, of Seeing Differently was re-elected as an ordinary member. Alongside these stalwarts of the UKAAF Board, Jim McCafferty from Scottish Braille Press was newly elected as an ordinary Board member.

Pete Osborne, the Chair of UKAAF said: “It is always good to get new blood onto the Board and change can make a huge difference to how we conduct our business. I must admit though that the thought of not having Sarah alongside me gives me the shudders - she works so hard and delivers a great deal to support UKAAF. Mike too, he manages our website and makes everything that we want to do technically so much easier for us.”

Pete added: “Jim is well known in the world of visual impairment for his expertise around accessible formats and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with him on the Board. I must say it is sad that we cannot elect everyone who was nominated, but that is the democratic way and these people had the most votes. I would not let this put off anyone who wishes to stand again, and of course there are always the subject groups who are looking for members.”

Jim McCafferty, as the newest member is excited by this opportunity, he said: “I am a true supporter of the work being undertaken by UKAAF and hope that we can continue to build on the hard work already done over the last few years.” When asked about his background Jim offered this:

“I have worked at the Scottish Braille Press in Edinburgh for over 33 years, initially as a Transcriber and currently as Proofreader.  I was a member of the Braille Authority for almost 30 years, and now represent Scottish Braille Press on UKAAF, and serve on the Braille Production and Technology group which is part of the Braille subject area. Braille is my main method of communication.  Like many visually impaired people I use other means of access to information, and I am keen to promote any medium which enhances choice, and improves the ability to communicate.”

Pete Osborne concluded, “All of the Board are determined that the provision of accessible, quality information remains a high priority. We will do this with the constant support of Lord Low our President, and through the hard work of not only the UKAAF Board, but also through the determination of its members.” Four more Board posts become eligible for election at the next AGM in 2012.

UKAAF
Because format quality matters