As a volunteer-led organisation, the Australian Braille Authority is only as good as its members. With a change in executive members expected, we are keen to invite your participation even if you have not been involved with ABA previously. If you are passionate about braille and would like to work with us on braille promotion and development, this is the perfect time to contact us to discuss or consider nominating for the ABA executive. We would love your ideas and input as we work together to increase the profile of braille in Australia and internationally.

Call for Nominations – ABA Executive Committee

Nominations are invited for election to the Executive Committee of the Australian Braille Authority. If required, a ballot will be conducted at the ABA National Meeting, to be held on Saturday 2 May 2020 at Bayview Eden, 6 Queens road, Melbourne, Australia.

Successful candidates will serve from the conclusion of the 2020 National Meeting to the conclusion of the ABA’s 2022 National Meeting.

To be eligible for nomination, a person must be from, and have the support of, a member organisation of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities Inc. Nominations may only be submitted by an authorised representative of a Round Table member organisation.

Current members of the ABA Executive Committee are:
Chair: Jordie Howell, Vision Australia
General Committee Members:
Sam Taylor, Pacific Vision – Minutes Secretary;
Leona Holloway, Monash University – Correspondence Secretary;
Josie Howse, NSW Department of Education and Communities – Convenor of the Proficiency Examination Committee;
Kathy Riessen, South Australian School for Vision Impaired;
Tristan Clare, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children.

Clauses 13 and 14 of the Australian Braille Authority’s Terms of Reference (see below) provide that the only specific position to be nominated is that of Chair. The other five members are nominated as General Executive Committee Members and specific roles will then be appointed from amongst their number. All members of the current Executive are eligible for re-election and may stand for any committee position. If there is more than one nomination for the position of Chair, or if there are more than five nominations for General Executive Committee positions, a ballot will be held at the Annual Meeting.

Emails containing nominations should be based on the following wording:
“I, John Smith, representing Blind Musicians Association, nominate Mary Jones, representing the Society of Blind Potters, for the position of Chair, (or) General Committee Member, on the ABA Executive Committee for the two-year term 2020-2022. I confirm that I am recognised by my organisation to submit this nomination, and that Mary Jones is authorised by her organisation to accept nomination for this position. Mary Jones has indicated to me her willingness and ability to accept this position.”

The nomination must be signed and dated by the nominator. Nominations should be submitted via email by 12.00pm on Wednesday 29 April 2020. An acknowledgement email will be sent to the nominator within 48 hours.

Nominations can be sent to:

• Leona Holloway, ABA Correspondence Secretary, aba@printdisability.org
• Jordie Howell, ABA Chair, jordie.howell@visionaustralia.org

Please follow up with another of the above contacts if confirmation is not received. Separate emails should be submitted for each person nominated and for each position sought.

Australian Braille Authority Terms of Reference
extract

Executive

13) The Executive will consist of the following:
a) Chair;
b) Immediate Past Chair; and
c) five other members.

14) The Chair and other members of the Executive will be elected and the Secretary/Treasurer will be appointed as follows:
a) the Chair is elected by the National Committee;
b) the other members are elected by the National Committee;
c) the Secretary/Treasurer is appointed by the Executive from among its members; and
d) the Immediate Past Chair is confirmed by the National Committee.

15) At least half of the Executive will be touch-readers of braille who are blind.

16) Each member of the Executive will hold office until the close of the second Annual Meeting of the ABA following the date of the member’s election/appointment.

17) The Chair is eligible for election to the same position for a maximum of three consecutive terms.

18) A casual vacancy for the Chair or other members of the Executive may be filled by the Executive for the remainder of the term.

19) Other persons may participate in meetings of the Executive by invitation of the Executive.