ACFA News - Chairman's Report 2011

Chairmans Report 2011

I am pleased to report on a successful year for the Association, in that we have continued the ‘wider vision’ and engaged the Christian public as never before. We are becoming the Christian voice on savings and macro-economic issues for the Christian media.

Some highlights in this respect:

Conferences Represented:

• New Wine Shepton Mallet (July/Aug) - 2 weeks. This involved Graham Cleveland, Mark Crofts, Tim Woodward, Arwyn Bailey, myself as well as our friends Mark & Rhoda Lloydbottom of Crown Financial Ministries.

• Grapevine Lincolnshire (Aug bank holiday) – Richard Brett and the Lloydbottoms.

Notes –

Next year, we have booked into the Christian Resources Exhibition.

Mark Hassell and myself attended Pims Exhibition (Aurora) partly to promote ACFA.

Thanks to the Derek Williams Partnership for donating Childrens Resources.

Articles for media, ably co-ordinated by Andrew Boyd:

• The debt crises - following on from last year’s conference.
• The banking crises - greed!
• The Budget - more debt!
• The Greek debt crises - wisdom of Solomon!

Note - Coming up shortly: Justice in public sector pensions; and a series of articles for Families First magazine (Mothers Union).

Radio/TV (on other topics too eg. Mansion House speech, unemployment etc)

• Revelation TV (3 appearances)
• BBC local radio (2/7) - 5 stations
• Premier (by at least 4 different people)
• UCB (3)
• Cross Rhythms (2)
• Transworld (3)
• New Wine Radio (2)

External Articles

• Cross Rhythms
• Christian Today
• Christianity Today
• Catholic media - Independent Catholic News, The British Church newsfeed

Aside from this, ACFA has a representation on Facebook and Twitter.

The website was reviewed and we are retaining the current format for the time being - Ben Powell is ably putting updates on.

Internal Articles - I feel that I am just scratching the surface on the talent which is out there, but would like to thank all of the following:

• Philip Milton - Trusted adviser status
• Arwyn Bailey - Long term neglect
• Mark Hassell - Work, life balance
• Graham Cleveland - Clients and philanthropy
• Andrew Meade - Why make a will?

Note - Please consider what you are passionate about and would put pen to paper on!

There is much to be done, and it will be Derek Williams, as 2012 Chairman, to see how we can influence the Profession’s legislation and culture and help our own business practices. There have been some referrals, not necessarily money making, from the website but I would like to see these increase.

ACFA would be impossible to operate without Cathy Cleveland, our fantastic administrator - thank you.

Thanks too for 4 hard-working years from Mark Crofts, who has served the Lord so faithfully and well, despite all! If God is nudging you to serve on the committee then please do consider this.

Yours in Christ, our saviour
Aidan Vaughan