Letter to Michael Gove MP

Michael Gove’s appearance on the Today Programme about the reading deficit in eleven-year-old boys sparked a flurry of activity at BATA HQ. I dashed off a quick letter to Mr Gove while Ian Litterick (Iansyst) coordinated our literacy panel to produce a full press release before the close of business that day.

Read all about it on Merlin John Online.

Baroness Walmsley is BATA patron

I’m delighted to report that Lady Walmsley accepted our invitation to become BATA’s first patron. It was a collaboration with Lady Walmsley which led to the lively meeting on the Terrace of the House of Lords which I believe gave rise to the Bercow Report and all that has followed. We are delighted to have her continuing help. Lady Walmsley will be introducing Jean Gross at the AGM.

Jean Gross at BATA AGM

The evening of Thursday 13th will be the hot ticket at BETT and the Fringe. After brief formal business, our first AGM is to be addressed by the Communication Champion, Jean Gross. Then the full Champagne Reception, sponsored by Texthelp, and a chance to catch up after an eventful year.

Download the full programme here.

We need a slight change to the BATA Articles of Association and I have attached the formal notice. While we have always been able to co-opt additional members to the Council the total number of council members has not been allowed to exceed nine and this is getting in our way a bit (this year, for instance, we would like Deborah Goodbody of ACE and Trish Davison of CENMAC to join us and represent the not-for-profit sector).

At the meeting, our Articles say, we need 75% of the full members present to support this change.