NATIONAL SPEAKERS CONFERENCE WILL RAISE FUNDS FOR NEW YORK'S FINEST

Hawaii Speaker Calvin Say to be named first vice president at meeting

Rep. Calvin K. Y. Say, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, today said the National Speakers Conference scheduled for next week in Charleston, South Carolina, has decided to use the opportunity to raise funds for New York's firefighters and police departments. The gathering of speakers from all 50 states and U.S. territories has also amended its original program to focus on terrorism and will include briefings from federal officials on the September 11 national tragedy.

Say said he has reaffirmed his attendance to the conference because he agrees with National Speakers Conference President David Wilkins' assessment that, "to change our plans would be to do just what these terrorists hoped to achieve -- using fear as a weapon to destroy and disrupt our personal freedoms. We cannot allow them to succeed."

The four-day conference begins September 26 and is sponsored by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Say, who currently serves as second vice president of the organization, will be elevated to first vice president at the meeting.

As a member of the group's executive committee, Say will be heavily involved in the planning and execution of fundraising events. Say said he will also use the opportunity to further plan the group's scheduled 2003 meeting in Hawaii.

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