Daytona Beach News-Journal by Pat Rice
November 10, 2019
Consider this column your invitation to attend a seminar to learn about Florida’s open meetings and public records laws.
I know, that sounds a bit dry. But I guarantee you it will be interesting.
Barbara Petersen, the state’s expert on open government, will lead the seminar. And Petersen is anything but dull. She has a way of making the public’s right to know how government operates vitally important.
Here are some particulars.
Doors will open for the “Sunshine Seminar” at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22. It will be held in Room 150 at Daytona State College, which is also known as the DCS/UFC Hall. The hall is at the corner of White Street and Hilton Avenue on the east side of the campus. There is plenty of parking right in front of the hall. My great thanks to DSC for allowing us to use space on campus for this educational event.
The main sponsors of the event are The News-Journal and the First Amendment Foundation. To sign up, go www.floridafaf.org, and click on “products & services” at the top of the page, then click on “training.” The cost to attend is $10 for students, $20 for foundation members, and $35 for non-members. Proceeds go to cover the cost of the seminar.
Full disclosure: I am a board member of the First Amendment Foundation. (The Florida chapters of the League of Women Voters and Society of Professional Journalists are also supporting the event.) So I am admittedly biased in favor of FAF’s education efforts, and their lobbying work on behalf of citizens to protect our so-called Sunshine laws. I am also a huge fan of Petersen.