Group honors University of Albany activist

Group honors University of Albany activist

by Staff Writer
The Times Union (Albany)
August 4, 2006

ALBANY - Charlie Albanetti, president of the University at Albany Chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy, has been tabbed to receive an Outstanding Student Leader Award from the group's national chapter for his efforts in organizing town hall meetings on U.S.-Asian relations and other subjects.

Americans for Informed Democracy is a nonpartisan organization working to raise awareness and generate dialogue on social and political issues of global importance.

"Our chapter's receipt of this national recognition shows that the UAlbany AID is a leader in confronting important global issues," said Albanetti in a statement released on Tuesday.

"It also serves as a reminder that our world-class student body is eager to become more informed about those issues with a goal of affecting positive change," he added.

In 2006, more than 75 chapters of Americans for Informed Democracy held events across the United States to raise global awareness on their respective campuses, officials of the group said. Those events brought together more than 7,500 students for videoconference dialogues, town hall meetings and documentary screenings and summits on issues ranging from the environment to immigration.

The group has also held leadership summits on topics such as the International Criminal Court and fighting global AIDS.

Albanetti was also involved in organizing meetings on the International Criminal Court, among other subjects.

For more information about the National chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy, visit httP://www.aidemocracy.org, or visit the UAlbany chapter at http://www.albanyaid.org.

The University at Albany has 17,000 students in 10 schools and colleges. For more information about the institution, visit http://www.albany.edu.