WASHINGTON STATE OPEN GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE IS THIS SATURDAY, JAN. 16,

Friends—

 

It has been a pleasure for the Washington Coalition for Open Government in working with its partners the Society of Professional Journalists and the UW Department of Communication in planning this Saturday’s Washington State Open Government Conference (Jan. 16, 8:20 a.m. to 2 p.m. in UW’s Kane and Parrington halls).  The WCOT staff has done an excellent job of designing the program agenda handout and it is now posted at http://www.washingtoncog.org/pdfs/WCOG_Conference_Handout.pdf.  

 

In that handout, the audience will have the one-paragraph descriptions of what each presentation/discussion group will address, as worked out with the group conveners in December for our successful application for Continuing Legal Education accreditation.  It wouldn’t hurt for the group participants to review those descriptions, to make sure that the topics mentioned receive at least glancing mention in your presentation/discussion group!  By the way, one and possibly both sessions of each group will be video recorded, and it is our hope to produce a video afterwards.  If you have any questions, or think we’ve forgotten anything in the conference preparations, just let me know.

 

Also, below is a brief announcement of the Jan. 16 conference and the Jan. 15 pre-conference reception in case you might want to remind friends a final time.  At this point, there are 116 signed up for the conference and 33 for the reception—healthy numbers, but there’s room for more in both.  The reception will be lovely, so please come, whether or not you make a donation.  And who’s to know how soon we will do another conference of this scope?  Let’s make sure others don’t miss the chance—and let’s determine to enjoy it ourselves, despite all the hard work.  Thanks for all you’ve done to make these the very successful and memorable events they will be!

 

Chris Leman (206) 322-5463

Coordinator of the conference and reception

 

 

WASHINGTON STATE OPEN GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE IS THIS SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 8:30-2 P.M. AT UW'S KANE AND PARRINGTON HALLS; THERE'S ALSO A DOWNTOWN PRE-CONFERENCE RECEPTION FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 5-7 P.M. AT THE WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY CLUB

 

Learn your rights to open government and get practical tips on exercising them at the federal, state, and local levels.  Hear the latest on court battles, issues expected at the 2010 legislative session, and the Obama administration's open government initiatives.  Network with other community leaders, and meet the most knowledgeable experts in the field--all at the Washington State Open Government Conference this Saturday, Jan. 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UW's Kane and Parrington halls.  The conference is presented by the Washington Coalition for Open Government, Society of Professional Journalists, and University of Washington Department of Communication.  The program is now posted at http://www.washingtoncog.org/pdfs/WCOG_Conference_Handout.pdf.  Registration for the conference is $35, at the door or preferably online: http://www.washingtoncog.org/20100116_registration.html.   

 

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna will give the opening address and British-American journalist Heather Brooke will give the closing address.  Brooke, a UW graduate with dual U.K. and U.S. citizenship who has worked as a journalist in both countries, recently used open government techniques first learned in Washington state to expose improper use of government funds by members of Parliament, triggering the largest scandal of its kind in British history.  The BBC is filming “Bringing Down the House,” a one-hour satirical drama starring Anna Maxwell Martin as Heather Brooke, and to air in early 2010.  

 

Conference attendees can choose among four presentation/discussion groups (held twice in succession) that each explain existing laws and practices of open government, how citizens can assert their rights, possible improvements in the laws, and proactive steps toward greater openness that governments can take beyond the minimum requirements of laws.  The group leaders are attorney William Crittenden (on state and local public records), attorney Michelle Earl-Hubbard (on state and local open public meetings),  Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Eric Nalder (on federal, state, and local campaign finance and lobby disclosure), and attorney and environmental leader Gerry Pollet (on federal public records and open public meetings).  Other speakers include former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld, environmental leader Tom Carpenter, attorney Bruce Johnson, and journalists Steve Miletich and Daniel Lathrop.  Journalist Kirsten Grind will speak about her fight to force the Office of Thrift Supervision to release documents about its seizure of Washington Mutual.   

  
On the previous evening at the Women's University Club, 1105 Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle, WCOG and SPJ are also presenting a reception (Friday, Jan. 15, 5-7 p.m.) to honor Heather Brooke.  Hosts of the reception include TV commentator Enrique Cerna, Bullitt Foundation director Denis Hayes, Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes, labor union leader Anna Jancewicz, State House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, musician Krist Novoselic, radio personality Dave Ross, State Auditor Brian Sonntag, and Alliance of People with disAbilities director Lucille Walls.  For information and to register on-line (with $25 the suggested minimum donation):   http://www.washingtoncog.org/20100115_reception.html.