<div dir="ltr"><div><p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">To CMA members and</span><a name="_GoBack" style="font-size:12pt"></a><span style="font-size:12pt"> friends,</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">This year the CMA
celebrates 32 years as the principal organisation championing the extraordinary
development of community media in the UK. Over these decades of rapid change
the CMA has come into its own when advocating and lobbying for the best
interests of the community end of the media spectrum. The work we did that led
to the creation of licensed community radio in the 2003 Communications Act is a
good example of this. With over 260 stations now on air or preparing to launch
in our first ten years we have exceeded expectation. The 2014 Radio Academy
Nations & Regions awards gave over 50% of the awards to community
broadcasters. This proves that volunteer-based radio that engages people,
communities and audiences has truly arrived in a landscape previously and
exclusively occupied by the BBC and commercial networks.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">Whilst the CMA can take
some of the credit in helping create the environment for community media to
flourish I believe we have also missed some opportunities to offer full
leadership to all areas of growth in our sector. The CMA has, of course, not
been immune from the funding challenges that beset most of us delivering
community media. Sometimes the reality of sustaining the CMA has resulted in
the need to pursue project delivery which can prove distracting on delivering
our core purposes of representation and advocacy. Last year the CMA embarked on
a process of change that will produce an organisation fit to lead and meet the
challenges of our times.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">Our first priority has
been to get our own house in order. I am very grateful to our members who have
so positively responded to the new invoicing system and Cathy Brooks for her
professional leadership as our finance manager. In this we have also been well
served by our new credit controller Adrian Hill who joined us in January. The
restructuring of the CMA meant we had to cut our Arts Coordination role. Tamar
Millen had been central to developing community media in the arts. As I travel
round the country visiting our members I have often heard how Tamar’s work has
made a difference. We wish her well in the hopes that our paths will cross
again in the future.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">The CMA currently has only
one full-time employee. Bill Best is doing an extraordinary job in making sure
the CMA delivers on its commitments and I would like to publically thank him
for his tireless work and dedication. His energy is the bridge that will take
us from the past to a future of an organisation with increased capacity.
Clearly the current situation is transitionary and is untenable in the long
run. We are at the midpoint of the process of change. We need to get resources
up at the heart of the CMA to give Bill some much needed support. As we manage
the transition I am very pleased to let you know that our governing Council has
stepped up to the mark with members taking a share of operational delivery.
This helps ensure we continue to represent the best interests of members whilst
we restructure.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">As the CMA remerges with a
strategy in place that ensures it is adequately resourced to deliver on our
core objectives we are also focused on the funding needs of the sector we
represent. The CMA has embarked on a journey that places it at the centre of
developing credible regional and national funding strategies. On top of
managing the process of change within the CMA, how we reverse the current trend
of failing sector sustainability is my principal preoccupation in chairing the
CMA.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">We are now on the right
course for the CMA to offer real and vibrant sector leadership. The vision is
in place. </span></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">We have a very busy year ahead
and I promise you regular updates on progression. The CMA works at its best
when bringing people together. I look forward to welcoming everyone to
Saturday’s Community Media Conference. Let us come together, share our
successes and be inspired to realise the full potential of community media in
the UK.</span><br></p>
<p class=""><span style="font-size:12pt">Best to all,</span><br></p>
<p class=""><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(112,48,160)">Dom Chambers</span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)">Chair<br>
<br>
</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:14pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">CMA AGM/Conference
Saturday 12th September 2015<br>
</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)"><br>
Mobile</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)">: </span><a href="tel:%2B44%20%280%29%207802%20457%20396" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">+44 (0) 7802
457 396</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)"><br>
<b>Direct Line</b>: </span><a href="tel:%2B44%20%280%29%201761%20568%20004" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">+44 (0) 1761 568 004</span></a><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)">
<br>
CMA Office: </span></b><a href="tel:%2B44%20%280%29%201142%20795%20219" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">+44 (0) 1142 795 219</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(127,127,127)"><br>
<b>Email:</b> </span><a href="mailto:Chair@Commedia.org.uk" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:gray">Chair@Commedia.org.uk</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:gray"><br>
<b>Personal Twitter:</b> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://twitter.com/thedomchambers" target="_blank">@TheDomChambers</a></span></p></div>
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