Podcast with Charles Davis

http://www.mncogi.org/podcasts/FOI_Summit_Davis_podcast.mp3

Podcast wtih Patrice McDermott

http://www.mncogi.org/podcasts/FOI_Summit_McDermott_podcast.mp3

Podcast with James Shiffer

http://www.mncogi.org/podcasts/FOI_Summit_Shiffer_podcast.mp3

Vendor Evaluation Reports Online

Many times web access is a vast improvement over paper sitting on shelves - not only for sheer accessibility, but in terms of how the information can be used. The Department of Administration has just released one of those vast improvements to a report that was mandated by the Legislature several years ago. Minnesota Statutes 16C.08, subd. 4(c), requires that upon completion of a contract over $50,000, agencies submit a one-page report, summarizing the purpose of the contract, stating the amount spent on the contract, and including a written performance evaluation of the work done under the contract. Previously, those reports were available only in print, in the Library, in the binders shown in the image to the left. Now it is possible to learn of agencies' experiences with various vendors by searching online. Reports since March 1, 2009, have been posted, will be updated weekly, and can be searched by agency or vendor name. This is great progress.

Robbie LaFleur (originally published on the Legislative Reference Library website)

Freedom of Information Coalition Summit

Freedom of Information Coalition Summit
June 5-6
Minneapolis Marriott City Center

Friday at noon, we begin the conference with a luncheon and the ever-popular FOI Salon, followed that afternoon by two panels on Coalition Sustainability.

Saturday, we'll have panels on FOI & Infrastructure, Financial Transparency, and FOI as Civic Education. At Saturday's luncheon, for our keynote address we're proud to present Paul Anger, vice president and editor of the Detroit Free Press.

For further information:
http://www.nfoic.org/2009-summit-schedule

** added update - students can now attend for free (if they forego lunch)

Wrong...not correct... A line-by-line review

See the posting below for Don Gemberling's thoughts on the recently-released report, Accessing Government: How difficult is it? Comments on specific lines and sections can be found in this annotated copy. His comments are astute, even if his handwriting is sometimes cryptic!

Accessing Government: A copy with Don's Comments

Robbie LaFleur

"The Public's Right to Know"

An editorial today in the Minnesota Daily (the student newspaper at the U of M) describes two data practices-related bills in play at the Legislature. It closes with "At a public university, the thirst for knowledge and information ought not to be squelched for lust of money. It is imperative that Minnesota lawmakers land on the side of transparency on both bills, which would dangerously close the channels of public information if passed." (More information on the "Tubby Smith" bill at the Star Tribune, "Legislators Debate Tubby Smith Act: Data vs Privacy.")