Sunshine Week is an effort spearheaded by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. Spanning the week of March 16, which is the birthday of James Madison, the patron saint of open records, the effort seeks to highlight the ways in which public records figures into our everyday lives.

The Virginia Coalition for Open Government is the Virginia coordinator for Sunshine Week.

Below are a few things on tap for this Sunshine Week.

1. Here's a link to a page soliciting nominees for the Local Heroes program. ASNE will recognize at least three everyday citizens who used their state's public records law to make a difference in their community. Last year, a Waynesboro couple placed third nationally!

http://sunshineweek.org/LocalHeroes.aspx

2. Here's a link describing a webcast presented by OpenTheGovernment.org (they do a webinar every year). This one will be transparency in the Obama administration after two years.

http://www.openthegovernment.org/article/articleview/463/

3. National FOI Day at the Freedom Forum in D.C. is March 16. Registration is free. Programs in the past have been fantastic for access-geeks like myself.

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/press/information/topic.aspx?topic=FOI_Day

We'll also post a round-up of access news stories and editorials around the state during the week.

Any questions, comments, tips? This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or post them below.

Megan