Welcome to all members in this our 63rd year. We would like to extend a special welcome to new members, especially those from outside our traditional UK base. As you will be aware, we have tried to become far less insular in our appeal and it is significant that nearly a third of our members now reside outside the UK. Our Benelux Group continues to be a success and we have recently expanded our training activities into the Balkans. Our Journal now carries a separate section with papers published in German; a result of our growing relationship with ANGA, the German trade association and organiser of the most important cable show in Europe. We have also grown our relationship with Cable Europe (ECCA that was) as well as being involved with other pan-European and World event organisers.

In the last two years, we have also changed the direction and appeal of the Society. We have always been fairly agnostic on the range of technologies we cover, both in the Journal and at our Lecture Meetings, but we felt that the message that we cover all communications channels was still not coming through. We therefore changed the name of our Journal from CTE to Broadband and at the same time added a strapline “The Journal of the Society for Broadband professionals”. Our logo too has had a strapline added: “Excellence in Broadband”. Whilst keeping the very strong brand image “SCTE” it is our intent to eventually drop the actual word description “The Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers” which is a bit of a mouthful and often confuses; we will just become “The SCTE, The Society for Broadband Professionals”.

2008 saw the formal signing of a ‘Mutual Cooperation’ agreement between ourselves and the North American SCTE. Our previous ‘International Charter’ had become largely superfluous so a new agreement was overdue. At the SCTE EXPO held in Philadelphia, Tom Gorman, CTO of Comcast and SCTE US Chairman, John Clark SCTE US President and myself put our names to a simple agreement pledging mutual support and understanding. This will result in cross promotion of events, discounts on member benefits including conference fees, books etc.

Our Lecture meetings continue to be successful, despite the lower attendance numbers resulting from restrictions that MSOs place upon their staff. To increase the audience, we have tried off-line webcasts on three of the recent meetings. After a disappointing start, the last one which was provided by the IET, had a total of some 1200 downloads and holds potential for better communication with members not able to get to the physical meetings.

The annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony is even more popular than ever, our last two event held at the House of Commons and at Woburn Abbey were both vastly oversubscribed with many members not being able to obtain tickets. The re-introduction of the SCTE Awards for Excellence is proving popular and will continue to be a feature of the event. Our Social programme is enhanced by an annual Golf tournament and 2008 saw the return of the Summer River Cruise Party.

Our Partnership in IBC Amsterdam continues to provide the Society with additional funding and allows us to invest in marketing, promotional and other activities that would otherwise be impossible. The most significant of the activities has been the purchase in partnership with the CAI, our sister organisation, of our own premises in Watford. The freehold offices, in the middle of Watford, provide a friendly and efficient environment for staff and visitors as well as being a significant and growing asset for the Society.

In the two years since the last Handbook was published, we have seen some amazing changes both within the Society and the industry that we love. The Society is thriving but, as always in closing, I would just like to remind you that in a consolidating European-wide Cable Industry, membership numbers are still difficult to maintain. Our promotional activities are successfully ‘building the brand’ but the sales process for membership is extremely difficult. The most successful recruitment method is always by recommendation (and a little arm-twisting, they will thank you in the end!). This is YOUR society and I implore every one of you to encourage your colleagues and associates to join the Society and ensure its continued success. Joining is easy via the website www.the SCTE.eu or, as an alternative just provide the Society Office with names and contact details of prospective candidates and we will do the chasing.

DR ROGER BLAKEWAY
President