From Florida First Amendment Foundation:
Two events highlight the First Amendment Foundation's 2013 observance of Sunshine Week, the national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week 2013 runs from March 10-16.
Sunshine Recognition Luncheon
The foundation's annual Sunshine Recognition Luncheon will be held on March 14 at the Governor's Club in downtown Tallahassee. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater is the keynote speaker. State Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, will receive the 2012 Pete Weitzel/Friend of the First Amendment Award.
If you would like to attend, please go here: http://www.floridafaf.org/faf-store/special-events.
The Pete Weitzel/Friend of the First Amendment Award was created in 1995 to recognize the significant contribution made by Pete Weitzel, former managing editor of The Miami Herald, and founder and past president of the First Amendment Foundation, in the area of open government. The Award is given annually to someone in Florida who has made a significant contribution to the cause of furthering open government. The nomination for the award was based on actions taken by Senator Fasano during the 2012 legislative session that ensured that the people's interests were represented in the Florida Senate and that the legislative process remained open and accessible to its people. By those actions, Senator Fasano has set a standard all those in government should emulate.
Everyone Needs Sunshine!
Florida's Third Annual Sunshine Summit is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, in Seminole, FL, a short drive from downtown St. Petersburg or Tampa. Sponsored by the First Amendment Foundation and hosted by St. Petersburg College, the event will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Noted Florida author and political commentator Diane K. Roberts will kick off the summit as the keynote speaker. In addition, FAF President Barbara Petersen will engage the audience in a lively discussion about how we can work together to reform Florida's open government laws. Florida's open government laws have long been the envy of other states. But these days, the Sunshine State isn't looking so bright. The right of citizens to speak in public meetings, the right of taxpayers to know how their money is being spent, the right of the free press to report is under assault.
The Sunshine Summit is free and open to all, so please register now by clicking here: http://2013sunshinesummit.eventbrite.com/#.
Lunch will be provided to all who register before March 14. The First Amendment Foundation, based in Tallahassee, is a private, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that acts as an advocate for the public's right to oversee its government through application of Florida's open government laws.
The Florida First Amendment Foundation is a member of NFOIC. –eds