By Benita Dodd

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE GEORGIA PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION

Atlanta – Happy New Year! Enjoy your holiday celebrations with family and friends, and make it your New Year’s resolution to register for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation’s exciting series of Policy Briefing Luncheons and Leadership Breakfasts in 2010 – starting with these three events: 

►The Foundation’s first Leadership Breakfast features internationally acclaimed author George Gilder in, “Preparing for the Exaflood: How State Telecom Policy Impacts Economic Growth.” With modernization of state telecommunication regulations expected to produce billions of dollars in investment and economic impact in the next five years, it’s imperative that Georgia seize the opportunity to lead in this critical area. The economist, technology guru and venture capitalist who was President Reagan’s most frequently quoted living author shares how at 8 a.m. on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at the Georgian Club in Marietta. For more information and to register for this event, visit www.gppf.org/default.asp?pt=eventdescr&EI=68

►The first Policy Briefing Luncheon of the year is, “A Toolkit For The Budget-Conscious Government,” keynoted by Leonard Gilroy, Reason Foundation’s director of Government Reform, who discusses practical approaches to effective and efficient government around the nation. Gilroy has a diversified background in policy research and implementation, with particular emphases on public-private partnerships, competition, government efficiency, transparency, accountability and government performance. He has worked closely with legislators and elected officials in numerous states on efforts to design and implement market-based policy approaches, improve government performance, enhance accountability in government programs, and reduce government spending. This Policy Briefing Luncheon is at noon on Tuesday, January 26, at Atlanta’s Commerce Club. For more information and to register for this event, visit www.gppf.org/default.asp?pt=eventdescr&EI=67

►“The Changing Climate of Climate Change,” the first 2010 event of the Foundation’s Climate Change Education Project, is keynoted by Paul Chesser, director of the Heartland Institute’s Climate Strategies Watch, which assesses the development of global warming policies in the states. Chesser is considered a top authority on climate change policy development at the state level and with regional initiatives. Chesser exposed the secret work by the new Alliance for Climate Education to infiltrate high schools with global warming alarmism and to recruit students for their cause; involvement of the Western Governors Association in the Western Climate Initiative without unanimous consent of member governors (as is required by their bylaws), and plans by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, chairman of the Southern Governors Association, to promote a Southern regional cap-and-trade plan at this year’s annual SGA meeting. This Policy Briefing Luncheon is at noon on Thursday, February 11, at Atlanta’s Commerce Club. For more information and to register for this event, visit www.gppf.org/default.asp?pt=eventdescr&EI=66. 

(Trouble registering online? Call 404-256-4050 to register by phone. Media interested in these events contact Benita Dodd at 404-256-4050.
About the Georgia Public Policy Foundation: The Foundation is an independent, state-based think tank that proposes practical, market-oriented approaches to public policy to improve the lives of Georgians. The Foundation’s regular events include Leadership Breakfasts and Policy Briefing Luncheons. Weekly publications are the Friday Facts and Friday Idea commentaries. Visithttp://www.gppf.org to read about innovative solutions to the state’s challenges or to watch streaming online video of Foundation events. Join the Foundation’s Facebook Fan Page or follow us on Twitter at
http://www.twitter.com/gppf.