To: Friends of the Albany Roundtable
Re: 2006-07 Annual Report and Preview of 2007-08 Luncheons
The following highlights Luncheons of the Albany Roundtable Civic Lunch Forum during its 28th season:
2006-07 LUNCHEONS
Assemblyman Jack McEneny led off our season in October when he talked about the proposed Albany Convention Center for the Liberty Square area of downtown Albany. He shared his passion for archeology by talking about his ideas for preserving and showcasing the artifacts likely to be found in the designed site for the Center.
Alan Chartock and his trusted aide David Galletly from WAMC made their first visit to the Albany Roundtable in November. They presented the radio station’s exciting plans plans for upgrading the area around their studios and the Linda auditorium on Central Avenue. Since this Luncheon followed the November elections, Alan could not escape without fielding questions about election results.
County Executive Michael Breslin gave a State of the County presentation at the January Luncheon. This may be the start of a new tradition.
February. Snow, snow and more snow led to the first cancellation of a Roundtable Luncheon since the Luncheons started in 1979. Regrettably, Mayor Gerald Jennings was not available to reschedule to this was also another first, the first year without a State of the City Address at the Roundtable.
Gary Smith from the new boutique hotel 74 State spoke at the March Luncheon. He shared his experiences in the hotel business in this area and told the story of how 74 came about.
Pradeep Halder (MBA, Ph.D. Materials Science) Head, NanoEngineering Constellation, Colllege of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the U. of Albany presented a look at cutting edge developments in the field of energy technologies at the April Luncheon.
Michael Tucker, a long time friend of the Roundtable, spoke about his goals in his new position as President of the Center for Economic Growth and shared his thoughts about the regional economy and its future.
GOOD PATROON AWARD
Fear not, there will be a 2007 Good Patroon Award presented to a deserving recipient, albeit later than usual. Come to the October 10th and see the presentation of the Award.
STUDENT GUESTS
Again, we were fortunate to have quests, students and teachers, from Albany High Schools at many of the Luncheons.
SPECIAL THANKS
Three of out Luncheons were sponsored and we thank the following for their special support:
Key Bank
Berkshire Bank
Legacy Bank
EYP Architects
2007-08 LUNCHEONS
The website http://www.albanyroundtable.com has the latest information on forthcoming luncheons along with information on the civic lunch forum and a click to way to get on the luncheon notice e-mail list.
2007 Luncheons:
October: Deborah Van Amerongen who was appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer on January 25, 2007 to serve as Commissioner of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal will be the Roundtable speaker at the October 10, 2007 Luncheon. In this capacity she is also chair of the Housing Trust Fund Corporation, chair of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the NYS Housing Finance Agency and the State of New York Mortgage Agency, the New York State Affordable Housing Corporation, the New York State Mortgage Loan and Enforcement Agency, the New York State Project Finance Agency, and the Harlem Community Development Corporation.
Before being named Commissioner, Deborah Van Amerongen served as the Director of Multifamily Housing for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the New York City region which includes all of Long Island, New York City, and the suburban areas north of New York City to Sullivan and Ulster Counties. She served in that position from August of 1998 until her current appointment.
November: Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson will be the Roundtable speaker at the November 14, 2007 Luncheon. Scenic Hudson is an environmental organization and land trust working to protect, preserve and restore the Hudson River and its riverfront as a public and natural resource. To realize this vision, the group's experienced leaders and staff of experts combine coalition building, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring natural beauty.