The Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS) will hold its annual Legislative/Leadership Conference Jan. 15-16 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. 

CANYS is in association of chambers of commerce and their executives. Its goals are to focus the influence and work of the state's local and regional chambers, and to enhance the growth of member chambers and their executives. CANYS is managed by Denise Murphy McGraw, director regional affairs for The Business Council.

The January CANYS meeting is open to the executives and members of chambers of commerce that are CANYS members.

Its agenda includes:

• A reception and dinner for all conference participants beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 15, at the Sign of the Tree restaurant. Fredric U. Dicker, Albany bureau chief of the New York Post, will speak at the dinner.
  
  
• An overview of current trends in government affairs, including: a presentation on "electronic advocacy" by Ed Reinfurt, vice president of The Business Council; a presentation on political action committees by Jean Kase, vice president of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce; a presentation on grants and member items, by Deborah Bogdanski of the Chamber of Commerce of Orange County; and a presentation on government affairs at smaller chambers, by Michael Linehan, president of the Yates County Chamber of Commerce.
  
  
• A legislative luncheon at noon at which Eliot Spitzer, New York State Attorney General, will be the keynote speaker.
  
  
• A presentation on media relations by Matthew Maguire at 1:30 p.m.
  
  
• A dialogue on health insurance changes affecting chambers of commerce, featuring representatives of the state Insurance Department and the state Assembly and Senate at 3 p.m.
  
  
• A presentation on successful board and committee leadership, featuring voluntary chamber of commerce leaders from around the state, at 1:30 p.m.
  
  
• A presentation on "The Power of Influence" by Jack Railing, president and founder of Coach, Inc., at 3 p.m.

All Jan. 16 sessions will take place in Meeting Rooms 1 through 6 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.

On Jan. 16, conference participants are also invited to attend the 10 a.m. meeting of The Business Council's Government Affairs Council and The Business Council's annual legislative reception at 6 p.m. at the crown Plaza hotel.

For registration information and/or details on the agenda, contact Denise Murphy-McGraw at 1-800/358-1202.