New Jersey Foundation for Open Government

PO Box 271 Jamesburg, NJ 08831 For immediate release For more information: Walter M. Luers, Esq., NJFOG President 908-894-5656 / 201-892-4316 wluers@njfog.org http://www.njfog.org/ Open Government Group Offers Public Workshop Branchburg, NJ Members of the public and journalists are invited to a one-day workshop to learn about their rights to attend public meetings and to obtain public documents at all levels of government in New Jersey, from town councils and boards of education to state government. The New Jersey Foundation for Open Government, the states only group devoted solely to protecting and expanding the publics access to public meetings and documents, is sponsoring the workshop Sept. 22, 2012 at Raritan Valley Community College. The workshop will offer panel discussions and hands-on workshops in which participants will learn their rights and how best to access public records and meetings under New Jerseys Open Public Records Act (OPRA), the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and the Common Law Right of Access. Various sessions will offer expert advice from attorneys specializing in public access, best practices from government employees and officials and tips and lessons learned from citizen activists. Speakers include Walter Luers, Esq., President of NJFOG; John Paff, Chairman of NJ Libertarian Party's Open Government Advocacy Project; Tom McLeod, Esq., American Civil Liberties Union of NJ; Ian Shore, Former Municipal Clerk; and Krystal Knapp, Journalist. The $15 online registration ($20 at the door; $3 for students with valid ID) includes continental breakfast and an awards luncheon. WHEN: Saturday, September 22, 2012, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. WHERE: Raritan Valley Community College, Conference Center Room B 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, New Jersey 08876 AGENDA: See Below

AGENDA: 9:30 - 10 a.m. 10 - 10:15 a.m.

New Jersey Foundation for Open Government Workshop, 9/22/2012 Registration and continental breakfast Welcome and Opening Remarks Walter Luers, Esq., NJFOG President Proposed Legislative Changes to OPRA and OPMA (includes 15 minutes for questions) Walter Luers and John Paff Role of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey in Open Government Tom McLeod, Esq. Lunch and Awards Ceremony Break Key OPRA and OPMA Policy Issues and Related Judicial Decisions and Government Records Council Opinions Walter Luers and John Paff OPRA Requests: How to Write a Proper Request What and What Not to Include Krystal Knapp and Ian Shore OPMA: Curtailing Free Speech, Videotaping Public Meetings, Allowable Regular and Executive Session Minutes Ian Shore and John Paff Questions and comments

10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

12 p.m.-1:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.-2:15 p.m.

2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

2:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m.

3:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

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