Virginia Coalition for Open Government will host annual conference

From The Virginia Gazette: WILLIAMSBURG – Although it will come after November’s elections, the Virginia Coalition for Open Government’s annual conference will explore “Gifts, Disclosure and the Virginia Way,” according to a release.

The day-long conference will be held at the Williamsburg Community Building in early December.

The conference will feature three panels, including “Lax: Are Virginia’s Laws as Bad as They Say?” featuring Center for Responsive Politics Director Sheila Krumholz, political observer Vivian Paige and the Center for Public Integrity Managing Editor Gordon Witkin. Bob Lewis of the Associated Press was also listed in the release.The second panel, “The Virginia Way: Time for a New Path?” features Vectre Corporation President Benson Dendy, Open Virginia founder Waldo Jaquith, political observer Gordon Morse and Virginia Press Association Director Ginger Stanley.

The final panel, “Reform: What Does the Future Hold?” features Stars & Stripes Ombudsman Ernie Gates, Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University Director Quentin Kidd, Bearing Drift’s Brian Schoneman and Virginian-Pilot state government reporter Julian Walker.

The featured lunch-time speaker is Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. chief technology officer and Virginia secretary of technology, whose talk will address open data and government technology.

The private nonprofit will also present its annual open government awards. The coalition is a nonprofit alliance formed to promote expanded access to government records, meetings and other proceedings at the state and local level.

The conference will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in the Williamsburg Community Building. Registration costs $30 for members and $40 for non-members. Please visit www.opengovva.org/access-2013-registration to registrate.

Visit The Virginia Gazette for more.

The Virginia Coalition for Open Government is a member of NFOIC. –eds

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