Members of the BSA Scotland Committee 2005 gather outside the Birnam Institute.

Nominations invited for BSA Scotland Committee Are you interested in taking a leading role in BSA Scotland? If you are a BSA member living in Scotland, you can nominate yourself to stand for election to the BSA Scotland Committee. More...

The BSA Scotland Committee has primary responsibility for determining the future direction and priorities of BSA Scotland (with reference to and by negotiation with the BSA General Committee, to which it is ultimately accountable).

2007-2008 committee

There are six elected places on the BSA Scotland Committee, of which two come up for election every year. In 2007 the number of candidates matched the number of spaces available and it was agreed that the vacancies would be filled, unopposed, by Carolyn Allen and Liz O' Connell.

Even more recently two Scottish BSA members stood and were successfully elected to the BSA General Committee. Hence, congratulations to Frank Geoghegan-Quinn and Pete Hancock who now automatically assume ex-officio roles on the BSA Scotland Committee.

Currently on the committee:

Following the Committee meeting in October 2007, John Mann continues as Convenor of BSA Scotland for another year.

Claire Pirnie takes the role of Deputy for the year.

The two Scottish Trustees on the BSA General Committee, Pete Hancock and Frank Geoghegan-Quinn, will both play a key role on this year's Committee.

Liz O'Connell and Carolyn Allen, who have filled the two three-year places that fell vacant in the summer, are speech and language therapists who have been consistently active on behalf of BSA Scotland.

Robin Lickley, Roz Urquhart and Gary Boyd have accepted invitations to serve as coopted members. Robin is a senior lecturer with a special interest in stammering and dysfluency at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Roz is an art therapist, woman who stammers and Chair of the Edinburgh self help group. Gary is the parent of one of the 2007 Summer 'Scool participants and the only brand new face at the Committee table!

We thank Eddie Phillips (former BSA Trustee), Callum Wells (former elected member) and Dev Arumugam (former co-optee) as they step down, wish them the very best and hope for continuing association. We welcome our new and returning members enthusiastically and look forwards to their involvement in future developments.

James Stewart, parliamentary researcher to Kenneth Gibson MSP and person who stammers, was co-opted onto the committee in February 2008.

Sandra Stewart, former Vice Convenor, died on January 5th 2008. She is sadly missed by members of the committee, past and present. In memory of Sandra Stewart...

Election and co-option of committee members

Elections are held annually. Two elected places fall vacant each year and are filled by an elected ballot of members. The result of the election is subject ratification by the BSA General Committee. Elected terms of office are for three years. Co-options are for one year. The majority of the Committee should be people who stammer.

Sub-committees

The BSA Scotland Committee has a very full agenda and all recognise it is not possible to do justice to this within the existing two full day meetings per annum. It has been decided that sub-committees should form to focus on specific areas.

The following sub-committees have been proposed:
1.Strategy and policy
2.Fundraising
3.Events
4.Projects
5.Education and young people

Operation and role

The BSA Scotland Committee, like its predecessor, the Scottish Steering Committee, operates under the guidelines set for BSA sub-committees. At least two BSA trustees should be members of the BSA Scotland Committee (currently Frank Geoghegan-Quinn and Pete Hancock).

The BSA Scotland Committee operates within the financial and policy framework agreed with the BSA General Committee. Regular reports are submitted to the quarterly meetings of the BSA General Committee on the operational and financial activities of BSA Scotland.

The BSA Scotland Committee aims to direct and guide the operations of BSA Scotland. In consultation with BSA, it has powers to establish co-operative arrangements with other bodies; to print and publish material; to obtain money through fund-raising and other contributions.

BSA Scotland conforms to BSA's membership scheme that remains UK-wide.

For the time being at least, the BSA General Committee will be responsible for approving major new developments recommended by BSA Scotland; for the establishment of formal partnerships with other bodies; and, for issues relating to property and assets.

BSA Scotland can determine its own ways of working, including the appointment of office-bearers, processes of election and rotation of members, frequency of meetings, the creation of sub-committees, the delegation of responsibility for decision-making and expenditure to the Convenor or to staff etc.

Starting out - the inaugural Scottish Steering Committee

BSA Scotland had a wide range of people on the inaugural Steering Committee. From left: Muriel Logan, Liz O'Connell, Carolyn Allen, Roger Pim, Eddie Phillips, Jan Anderson, Allan McGroarty, Frank Geoghegan-Quinn (Convener), Pete Hancock, Roberta Lees.

Before the elected 'BSA Scotland Committee' (above) took over in September 2005, the work of BSA Scotland was managed by the Scottish Steering Committee.

The inaugural Scottish Steering Committee (SSC) - see picture - was selected by a combination of approaching people with necessary and diverse knowledge and skills and welcoming people who specifically expressed their willingness to participate at this level. The members included people who stammer, parents of stammering children, speech and language therapists and researchers. The majority of participants stammer themselves.

The Scottish Steering Committee first met on March 27, 2004 in Edinburgh. The group began to establish a constructive working relationship and priorities from which to move forwards. Areas of particular interest and concern to committee members included raising awareness of stammering and promoting BSA (Scotland), improving SLT training and therapy provision, research, supporting parents, exploring students' experiences of stammering in further education and fundraising.

At the September 2004 meeting the committee appointed a Convenor, rather than a Chair. Frank Geoghegan-Quinn agreed to serve as our inaugural Convenor for an initial period of a year, during which time he oversaw: the formal launch of the organisation; our first Open Day in Aberdeen; the birth of 'Blether' (the Scottish newsletter); participation in the Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Inquiry; the establishment of our branch office and much more... Frank also helped clarify the procedures by which the Convenor and committee would be selected in future, enabling us to hold our first elections smoothly over the summer of 2005.

Updated February 2008

Message from the Convener - John Mann
Frank Geoghegan-Quinn - tribute to the BSA Scotland Convenor, October 2004 - 2005
In memory of Sandra Stewart - BSA Scotland Vice Convener 2005-2007

About BSA Scotland