To: Friends of the Albany Roundtable

From: Paul M. Bray and Dana Broadaway

Re: 2002-2003 Annual Report

The following highlights the Luncheons and activities of the Albany Roundtable Civic Luncheon Forum during 2002-2003:

LUNCHEONS

The Roundtable's 24th year as Albany's civic lunch forum had its usual full schedule of timely and distinguished presentations on subjects including local press and media, the Albany public schools, the Palace and high tech.

Chris Brunner from 24-hour news Channel 9 gave a preview at the October luncheon of the new news channel that debuted in the Fall of 2002.

Rex Smith shared his thoughts and priorities in November with regard to his appointment to be Editor of the Times Union.

Mayor Gerald Jennings offered his thoughts on the state of the city and for the coming year when he spoke at the January Luncheon.

Patricia Fahey who is President of the Board of Education for the Albany School District updated the February Roundtable audience on progress of the school facilities plan and other public school initiatives.

Fred H. Daniels who is leading the physical renovation and program enhancement of Albany's Palace Theater spoke about this project at the March Luncheon.

Lynn Taylor, President of the Albany Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, reported to the audience at the April Luncheon the fast developing tech valley and what it may mean for us in the future.

Tom X. Geisel, President of Key Bank's Capital Region District, shared his initial upbeat impressions of the Capital Region at the May Luncheon though he did keep mentioning the cold and snow of our winter.

GOOD PATROON AWARD

This year the Albany Roundtable presented the Good Patroon Award to Senior Services of Albany and its Executive Director Ann DiSarro.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

This year four of luncheons were sponsored. Thank you to our sponsors for your generous support.

Guy Alonge, III
The Law Firm of O'Connell and Aronowitz
Key Bank sponsored the State of the City Luncheon
Bank of America sponsored the 25th Anniversary Luncheon


2003-2004 LUNCHEONS AND ACTIVITIES

The Albany Roundtable's next season of Luncheons marks the 25th ANNIVERSARY of Albany's Civic Lunch Forum. Beginning in November 1979 with a talk by then Mayor Erastus Corning, more than 150 luncheon presentations and other lectures sponsored by the Roundtable have been made to audiences made up of local residents from all walks of life. This anniversary year will begin with the launching of the website http:www.albanyroundtable.org that will have the latest information on forthcoming Roundtable programs along with other information on the civic lunch forum.

The Luncheon dates for 2003-04 are: October 15th, November 12th, January 14th, February 11th, March 10th, April 14th and May 12th.

Ken Green is the speaker on October 15th. He is known as "Mr. Jobs" in Saratoga County, is President of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, a
non-profit, private sector, economic development corporation serving the County of Saratoga. SEDC has developed financing for over $1 billion in new business capital investments, which represents over 14,000 new jobs for Saratoga County.

Matt Lindstrom and Amy Braig-Lindstrom will be our speakers on November 12th. They will talk about the tremendous success of the year round Troy Waterfront Farmer's Market that has grown from a couple of hundred shoppers to over 2000 shoppers at the outdoor market.