The following events recognizing Sunshine Week 2016 were reported to NFOIC from its state and regional affiliates. Read more about Sunshine Week and NFOIC.
3/15/16 6:30pm – 9pm at The National Press Club — Mayor Muriel E. Bowser will discuss government transparency at the fifth annual Sunshine Week program co-hosted by the D.C. Open Government Coalition at the National Press. More information on the event can be found here.
DELAWARE COALITION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
3/15/16 6pm at Widener University Delaware Law School—
“Adapting the First Amendment to the Changing World of Journalism”, a free event presented by Delaware PressAssociation & Delaware Coalition for Open Government. Delaware Law School dean, Rod Smolla, will examine how – in light of the way journalists report the news at a breathtaking and ever-evolving pace – this stalwart amendment adapts in our use of modern communication channels. For more information email DelawarePress@aol.com.
IOWA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL
3/17/16The Iowa Freedom of Information Council will be hosting a breakfast reception in the rotunda of the Iowa Capitolon the Thursday of Sunshine Week for the 150 members of the Iowa Legislature who are in session that day. There will be a couple dozen members of the Iowa FOI Council on hand to greet and talk with individual legislators.
The council also will be distributing through the Iowa Newspaper Associationa guest editorial about the importance of sunshine — on meetings of government boards, on documents government agencies compile and on such new technology as video from cameras worn by law officers.
3/14/16 7PM in Carnegie Room, Central Library at STL Public Library — The Missouri Sunshine Coalition presents “Police Body Cameras: A question of Access”. The panel includes Jim Salter, Sheldon Lineback, Jeffrey Mittman, Rep. Tommie Pierson and David Streubel. For more information, contact Jonathan Groves at 417-873-7347.
NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION
3/15/16 7PM at Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications — “The Right to Know in New Hampshire: Where are we, where are we going?” Presented by the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and the New England First Amendment Coalition. Public officials, attorneys and other First Amendment experts will join a panel discussion on freedom of information issues
NEW JERSEY FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
3/15/16 7pm-9pmat Belleville High school — NJFOG is planning a Sunshine Week seminaron OPRA & OPMA. The 2-hr evening seminar is free, but they are asking attendees to register so enough materials can be produced.
NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
NJFOG will be We are holding a social media Haiku contest for poems about government transparency using the hashtag #SunshineHaiku
3/16/16 6PM at La Farge Public Library in Sante Fe — "One Person, One Vote?"
3/23/16 5:30PM at Zuhl Library in Las Cruces — "Sunshine in the Shade: Uncovering Outside Influence in Local Elections"
4/02/2016 6pm at The District House — “A Night of Sunshine: FOI Oklahoma’s Annual Sunshine Awards”. FOI Oklahoma will celebrate the best — and worst — in open government during a fundraising dinner at The District House in Oklahoma City. In addition to presenting its FOI Awards, the group will hear from Frank LoMonte of the Student Press Law Center and Robert Henry of Oklahoma City University.
TENNESSEE COALITION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
3/18/2016 11am – 12pm at Knoxville News Sentinel — The East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists will host a talk by Deborah Fisher, director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. For details, see the chapter website.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION FOUNDATION OF TEXAS
The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas will be circulating a column and will publicize Texas Sunshine stories on their website.
WISCONSIN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL
3/15/16 – 3/17/16 The “Open Government Traveling Show”will take place from Tuesday, March 15, through Thursday, March 17, as part of national Sunshine Week, the annual “celebration of access to public information.” Participants will include representatives of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, the Madison chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, the Center for Media and Democracy, the MacIver Institute for Public Policyand Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The tour is also supported by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. Each stop has its own local sponsor.
3/15/16 7pm – 8:30pm at Reynolds Journalism Institute, University of Missouri-Columbia — “Is our government too open?” Presented by theDonald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute and Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri
Professors Bruce Cain from Stanford University and Charles Lewis of American University will debate whether the push for transparency is hurting lawmakers’ ability to reach agreement on policies. Registration is free but recommended. Live streaming of the event can be found here.