The need to represent all.

I refer to the letter from Murdoch Mann (Hard day’s night for the ICAEW, 26 July). As president of the ICAEW I recognise and support the need for our institute to represent all our members in practices and businesses.

In the past year we have initiated a major programme of member communications including events for small practitioners such as two highly successful consultation days, our new website, new district society newsletters, webcasting, two-way communication through the focuses and of course the considerable number of visits I and others make around the country to meet members.

Of course the number of our passed finalists who join the institute is important. Our latest figures, for a four-year period, show that 98.5% of those who qualify go on to become full members of the institute. But there is no room for complacency, and I am determined to do all I can to persuade the remaining 1.5% that they too should join us!