By Mark Brooks
March 16, 2011 is James Madison’s birthday. It is also during Sunshine Week for this year.
Megan Rhyne, Director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, has a post on her blog with some early information. Her organization (VCOG), is the Virginia coordinator for Sunshine Week.
The Freedom of Information Act is a cornerstone of citizen participation in their government. It gives the right to the citizens to request information from public bodies (councils, boards, government itself) so that they might better understand how government works and where the government spends our money.
It is most times the last recourse a citizen has in getting to the truth. Newspapers and other news organizations also use FOIA to report on this information and the operation of our government. Sunshine Week is an effort led by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. (ASNE)
Megan Rhyne’s blog post has more news that is really helpful. I’ll let her explain:
1. Here’s a link to a page soliciting nominees for the Local Heroes program. ASNE will recognize at least three everyday citizens who used their state’s public records law to make a difference in their community. Last year, a Waynesboro couple placed third nationally!
2. Here’s a link describing a webcast presented by OpenTheGovernment.org (they do a webinar every year). This one will be transparency in the Obama administration after two years.
3. National FOI Day at the Freedom Forum in D.C. is March 16. Registration is free. Programs in the past have been fantastic for access-geeks like myself.
(Link revisions mine.)
I’ll have a post closer to the date. I am sure there will be much more news about Sunshine Week.
[Note: Edited for an incorrect date.]
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