For Immediate Release
 

August 08, 2003
Contact: Terry Sebastian or Chris Kellogg (502) 564-2611
 

Gov. Patton to chair NGA summer meeting in Indy
 

FRANKFORT, KY. - Gov. Paul Patton will chair next week’s National Governors Association’s Summer Meeting in Indianapolis when he will be joined by other state leaders to discuss state and national policies. At the conclusion of the meeting, Gov. Patton will relinquish his chairmanship to Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. 

"To be able to exchange ideas with someone who is facing the same problems, with someone going through the same challenges is just extremely, extremely valuable," Patton said during a press conference with Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon last week to publicize the meeting. "And when governors get together and learn from each other, the people benefit. That is the essence of the National Governors' Association meeting."

The NGA meeting, Aug. 16-19 at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, invites the state governors along with the leaders of five territories to discuss and share ideas for solving state problems, Patton said.

Credentialing

Media who plan to cover any aspect of the meeting must have an official NGA 2003 press credential.  Members of the media may pre-register online at NGA’s Annual Meeting Web site, <http://www.nga.org/AM03jro/gen>.

Media services

The NGA media office will be offering a variety of media relations services, including a satellite television news bureau, audio feeds to radio stations and digital photography.  You can call 202/624-5333 or the NGA Summer Meeting Media Headquarters at 317/715-9425.

Press conferences

Patton will join governors Kempthorne and O’Bannon for an opening press conference Saturday, Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m. (CST). It will be held at Blackford Street Bridge, behind the Indiana State Museum, in White River State Park.

There will be a closing press conference Tuesday, Aug. 19^th at 11:45 a.m. (CST) in the Marriott Ballrooms 3 & 4 with Gov. Kempthorne and the incoming vice chairman.

Photo-ops

·    Saturday, August 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., “Back Home Again in Indiana”
Indiana State Museum, White River State Park. Governors and their families arrive for reception/dinner greeted by Garfield the Cat and The Key Strummers.

·    Sunday, August 17: Media should plan to arrive at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:00 p.m., “Zoofari Adventure” Indianapolis Zoo. News Media to meet at zoo administration building for escort to and from the zoo. Team Dolphin vs. Larry Bird entertain governors and their families.

·    Monday, August 18: 5:45 p.m. to 7:00p.m., “Backyard at The Brickyard” Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Start-Finish Line. Governors will be driven around the track in Brickyard 400 pace cars.

Social events

(The following events are not news events. An NGA Meeting credential will be required for admittance. Tickets may be purchased at General Registration. Shuttle bus service will be available from the Marriott.)  

·    Saturday, August 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7: 30 p.m., Reception for News Media Attendees, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, White River State Park. There is no cost to attend this event.

·    Saturday, August 16, 8:30 p.m., Concert Featuring Carrier Newcomer and Steve Wariner, The Lawn at White River State Park, The cost to attend this event is $25.

·    Sunday, August 17, 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Zoofari Adventure: Reception, Dinner and Entertainment. The cost to attend this event is $50.

·    Monday, August 18, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Backyard at the Brickyard. The cost to attend this event is $50.
 

For more information, contact the NGA Office of Public Affairs, 202/624-5334 or the Media Headquarters in Indianapolis, 317/715-9425. <http://www.nga.org/AM03jro/gen>

Business sessions will be held in the Marriott unless otherwise indicated.
Special credentials notice: NGA meeting credentials will be required for admittance to the hotel. Once you have registered for the meeting, be sure to wear your credentials and have your identification with you at all times while you are in the hotel for business sessions and while traveling to and attending the social events.

10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.               General and News Media Registration
Michigan/Texas Rooms
1^st Floor
 

Business sessions will be held in the Marriott unless otherwise indicated.

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.                 General and News Media Registration
Michigan/Texas Rooms, 1^st Floor

Business sessions will be held in the Marriott unless otherwise indicated.

7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.                 General and News Media Registration
Michigan/Texas Rooms, 1^st Floor

                                                Governor Paul E. Patton, Kentucky, Chairman
Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Idaho, Vice Chairman
   

                                                n   Welcome

      Governor Paul E. Patton, Kentucky, Chairman

      Governor Frank O’Bannon, Indiana, Host Governor
·          “Reaching New Heights”
       Panelists:
       Teachers and Students, Indianapolis Public Schools Francis Scott Key School 103

 “Knowing the Right Thing to Do For School Improvement”

Guest:

Richard Elmore, Professor of Education, Harvard University

·          Distinguished Service Awards

·          Corporate Fellows Awards

·          Executive Committee Business

* Special reserved seating will be designated for this session. Your cooperation is appreciated.

                                                Special Session for All Meeting Attendees
                                               

                                                Guest:

                                                Mark Zandi, Chief Economist and Co-founder, Economy.com

Business sessions will be held in the Marriott unless otherwise indicated.

7:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.                 General and News Media Registration
Michigan/Texas Rooms
1st Floor

                                                Governor Mike Johanns, Nebraska, Chair
Governor James E. McGreevey, New Jersey, Vice Chair

·          “Biotechnology: Developing Regional Economies”

Guests:

      Dan Berglund, President and CEO, State Science and Technology Initiatives

Walter Plosila, Ph.D., Vice President, Technology Partnership Practice, Battelle Memorial Institute

·          Consideration of Proposed Policies and Amendments
 

                                                Governor Frank O’Bannon, Indiana, Chair
 Governor John Hoeven, North Dakota, Vice Chair

·          “Closing the Gap: Strategies to Ensure No Child is Left Behind”

Guest:

      Hugh B. Price, former President and CEO, National Urban League

      Panelists:

      John Bailey, Director, Office of Education Technology, U.S. Department of Education

      Barbara Byrd Bennett, CEO, Cleveland Municipal School District

      Brad Duggan, President and CEO, Just for the Kids

      Tom Vander Ark, Executive Director of Education, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation              

·          Consideration of Proposed Policies and Amendments

                                                Governor Bob Wise, West Virginia, Chair
Governor Bill Owens, Colorado, Vice Chair

·          Remarks

Guest:

                                                      The Honorable Gale A. Norton, Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior

·          “The Natural Gas Shortage: What’s Ahead for States?”

Guests:

Dr. Charles Mankin, Director and State Geologist, Sarkeys Energy Center, University of Oklahoma

      John F. Nunley III, Manager, State Energy Programs, Wyoming Business Council

      John Mork, Energy Corporation of America, Denver, Colorado (INVITED)

·          “FutureGen: Is Hydrogen the Long-Term Solution?”

Guests:

      Carl Michael Smith, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (INVITED)

      Frank Burke, CONSOL Energy, Inc., South Park, Pennsylvania

·          Consideration of Proposed Policies and Amendments

                                                ·          “Reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act”
Guest:
The Honorable James L. Oberstar, Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives
·          “Homeland Security”
Guest:
The Honorable Thomas J. Ridge, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (INVITED)
 

Business sessions will be held in the Marriott unless otherwise indicated.

7:30 a.m.-12:00 noon              General and News Media Registration
Michigan/Texas Rooms
1^st Floor

                                                Governor Paul E. Patton, Kentucky, Chairman
Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Vice Chairman
·          “Changing World Alliances and the Global Economy”
Guests:
The Honorable William S. Cohen, Former United States Secretary of Defense; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Cohen Group
David Ignatius, Editorial Page Columnist and Associate Editor, The Washington Post
·          Consideration of Proposed Policies
·          Recognition of Departing Governors
·          Remarks of the 2003-2004 Chairman
* Special reserved seating will be designated for this session.
Your cooperation is appreciated.

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