ALBANY—The chief executives of the New York State Independent System Operator (NYISO) and the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) are among scheduled speakers at The Business Council's Annual Meeting, which will take place Wednesday-Friday Sept. 17-19 at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing, Warren County.

The annual discussion of policy issues that affect New York's business climate will also include sessions on the future of education in New York State and on how established companies can innovate to find opportunities for new business.

Reporters are invited to cover the meeting and any event outlined here. There will be a press table at the dinner event both Thursday and Friday.

Agenda highlights include:

• Presentation of the prestigious Corning Award for Excellence to Lewis Golub, chairman of the Golub Corporation and Price Chopper Supermarkets. The presentation will take place during dinner festivities beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. For details on the award, visit www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/2003/0902pca.htm.)
  
  
• Remarks by William Museler, president and CEO of the Independent System Operator. He is scheduled to speak around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. The ISO is an independent not-for-profit entity charged with overseeing New York's electricity grid and its electricity markets.
  
  
• Remarks by William Flynn, the chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC). He is scheduled to speak around 9:15 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19.
  
  
• A discussion of issues related to school funding in New York State. This session is scheduled to begin around 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.
  
  Scheduled participants in the discussion include: Michael Rebell, head of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE), the New York City advocacy group that brought the suit; Sen. Stephen Saland (R-Poughkeepsie), chair of the Senate Education Committee; and James R. Tallon, a member of the state Board of Regents and president of the United Hospital Fund of New York. David F. Shaffer, president of The Public Policy Institute and a member of a commission on education funding established earlier this month by Governor Pataki, will moderate the discussion.
  
  In June, the state's highest court ruled that New York City is not adequately teaching its schoolchildren, and that the city and state must do more to ensure a "sound basic education." This case may have significant implications for how New York State funds all of its schools.
  
  
• A discussion of how mature corporations can develop innovations into opportunities for new business. This session is scheduled to begin around 9:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19.
  
  Scheduled participants include: Mark Cleverley, e-business Solutions Specialist with IBM's Public Sector, Americas group; Dona Flamme, vice president of the display group for Eastman Kodak; Thomas R. Hinman, vice president and general manager of Diesel Technologies for Corning Incorporated; and Philip A. Teel, sector vice president for airborne early warning and electronic warfare systems for Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Background on The Council's Annual Meeting: The Business Council's Annual Meeting each year attracts about 500 of the top business and government leaders in the state for discussions on issues of importance to the state's business community. The meeting is open to all Business Council members.

The Business Council is New York's largest broad-based business group, representing nearly 4,000 member companies large and small across the state. Based in Albany, it lobbies for a better business climate and offers cost-cutting services to its members. Council members represent employers of well over 1 million New Yorkers in all parts of the state and all sectors of business, industry, education, and not-for-profit activity.

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