An excerpt from outgoing president Bob O'Neil at VCOG's 4th Annual Conference, Access 2002, on Nov. 15 in Richmond

. . . A few of you may be aware that I assumed this position quite by accident. When the Coalition was being formed . . . several of us agreed to serve as the initial nominating committee. That group had in mind a couple of people who seemed eminently qualified to become the first president. In a weak moment, I assured my committee colleagues that if no one else would take the job, I would do so — though I was quite confident one of our favorites would spare me that burden. To my surprise and dismay, both of our prime candidates declined, though for quite different reasons. So in the middle of the summer of our formative year, John Edwards called and asked if I recalled a promise I had made weeks earlier, because it was now about to be implemented. The rest, I guess, is history, though a bit of reinforced modesty never hurts.

The origins of the Coalition bear a moment of reminiscence. They trace back to a meeting at the Hyatt Regency on West Broad Street in the fall of 1995. The usual suspects were present — among them John Edwards, Ed Jones, Ginger Stanley, Peter Easter, and of course Larry Richardson, without whom quite clearly the rest of us would not have been there. Getting together to create an organization from scratch is a daunting task, however noble the purpose and however firm the resolve. This prospect made sense from the start not only because of a clear sense of mission, but because we had the providential opportunity to enlist a Roanoke editor we all knew and greatly admired, and who seemed ready to consider new conquests. So with Frosty as our putative leader, and with a commitment of financial and moral support from both the VPA and the VAB, we resolved to proceed. The Coalition soon thereafter came into being, obtained a tax exemption, adopted bylaws and did all the other things a fledgling organization must do in those early months.

. . . [Besides constant attention and vigilance,] ensuring access also requires organization and structure. What has happened during the brief life of VCOG is that Virginia has moved as an FOI state from somewhere near the back of the pack to a position very close to the forefront. We have helped the General Assembly create a permanent office and a council to advise that office, in far less time than most observers — even optimists — would ever have thought possible just a few years ago. This stunning achievement is, of course, the product of the joint efforts of many people, most of whom are here today. That small group of planners who convened in the Hyatt dining room nearly seven years ago launched the process, and have stayed with it to a remarkable degree. All this would not have happened without the strong backing of those in the General Assembly who shared our hopes — most specially Delegate Chip Woodrum, who has been our patron in far more than the literal sense of one who sponsors legislation.

Those who have served on the board of directors since the start have been major sources of support in ways that are both tangible and intangible. Here I would note a special gratitude to Stewart Bryan, who has been a kind of wise godfather to our enterprise, never flagging in his confidence that we were doing something sound and important for the Commonwealth and its citizens, and not only for the news media. And of course Ginger Stanley and Peter Easter have assured the constant commitment of, and invariably close ties with, their respective organizations, as well as guiding us through the perilous political process.

The greatest debt of all goes, however, to those who have guided and shaped the Coalition on a day to day basis. Megan Rhyne's return to Virginia was one of the happiest moments to us. . . ..

Finally, and most important of all, there is Frosty Landon, who truly is the Coalition . . . I recall some early and lively meetings with Frosty in the editorial boardroom of the Roanoke Times — indeed, after the first such encounter I mistakenly believed his nickname was in fact "Feisty," which somehow seemed more suitable. . . . His devout belief in access and openness, coupled with a practical wisdom derived from long experience, made him the ideal mentor not only for the Coalition, but for the creation of an FOI council. Little did we know that in this new role, Frosty would be tapped to head the National FOI Council. . . .

Let me close with a brief personal perspective. Anyone who served for twenty years as a state university president, chancellor or provost might be ambivalent about freedom of information. I'll confess that on a few occasions I have disputed with a conscientious reporter whether a document was a public record or an official gathering a public body. I'll also confess that, when it comes to university presidential searches and foundation records, I part company with most of my FOI colleagues in believing that access should not extend that far. Happily during my VCOG term we have never had to air our differences in those areas, despite my initial warning that if such a time ever came I would respectfully dissent.

Yet on balance, I would have to say that my many years of administrative experience only strengthened my commitment to openness as a means of accountability and integrity in the conduct of public business. Those of us who have nothing to hide should, and do, welcome media scrutiny. We should therefore applaud the remarkable progress that Virginia has made in moving to the head of the pack as a state that cares about freedom of information. Reflecting upon the last six years and the chance to lead this coalition, I deeply value the opportunity you have given me. It has been quite a trip — and in many respects the best part of that journey is just beginning.