Open government workshops set for Pocatello, Idaho Falls this week
Wondering what’s a public document, and what’s not? What’s supposed to be open? Since 2004, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Idahoans for Openness in Government (IDOG) have been holding open government workshops around the state to help answer these questions, and they’re coming to eastern Idaho this week.
Sessions Wednesday evening in Pocatello and Thursday evening in Idaho Falls are intended for citizens, reporters, public officials and their staff who are interested in the public’s rights under Idaho law for access to public records and meetings. Here’s the info for the two this week:
►WED. Oct. 19, POCATELLO – Co-sponsored by the Idaho State Journal and Idaho State University. Wood River Room, Pond Student Union, ISU, 921 W. 8th St., 6-9:30 p.m. RSVP to Courtney Lee, clee@journalnet.com
►THURS. Oct. 20, IDAHO FALLS - Co-sponsored by the Post Register. Longfellow Elementary, 2500 S. Higbee, 6-9:30 p.m. RSVP to Monte LaOrange, 542-6795 or mlaorange@postregister.com
A third session will be scheduled in TWIN FALLS before the end of the year.
It’s a chance to learn what is covered by these important laws and how to comply, in a fun and accessible format. Presenters in addition to Wasden will include Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane and IDOG President Betsy Russell (yes, that’s me). Government agency employees, public officials, reporters, editors and photographers from all media, and interested citizens all are invited.
These sessions are recommended by the Office of the Attorney General, the Association of Idaho Cities, the Idaho Association of Counties and the Idaho Press Club. They are free and include refreshments; because space is limited, attendees are asked to RSVP.
IDOG and Wasden have been holding these sessions around the state since 2004. They are funded in part by grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation through the National Freedom of Information Coalition, the Best of the West Foundation, and the Idaho Media Project at Boise State University.
IDOG is a non-profit coalition for open government whose mission is to promote open government and freedom of information. There’s more information, plus an online “User’s Guide” to Idaho’s open government laws, available at IDOG’s website, www.openidaho.org.
Last year, IDOG held workshops in Boise, Nampa and McCall; the year before, they were in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Moscow.
