For Immediate Release
July 31, 2009
Contact: Charlie Price, Office of the Attorney General
(405) 522-4400

Attorney General to Hold Open Meetings, Records Seminars

Beginning this month Attorney General Drew Edmondson, the Oklahoma Press Association, Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation and FOI Oklahoma will hold seminars on the Oklahoma Open Meetings and Open Records Acts in locations across the state.

The seminars are designed to answer questions concerning the state’s open meeting and records laws and inform elected or appointed officials about their responsibility under the acts. Edmondson will also discuss requirements on access to public records and the conduct of public meetings.

“The vast majority of Oklahomans who hold positions on public bodies do so with a spirit of community service and work hard to follow the law,” Edmondson said. “Our seminars are designed to encourage compliance and promote openness through education.”

Assistant Attorney General Gay Tudor, one of the state’s foremost authorities on the openness laws, will assist Edmondson in presenting the seminars and answering questions.

The seminars are free of charge and open to the public. No reservations are required.

Each session will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
Aug. 6, Muskogee, Indian Capital Technology Center; Aug. 11, Woodward, High Plains Technology Center; Aug. 18, Claremore, Northeast Technology Center; Aug. 20, Altus, Southwest Technology Center; Aug. 31, Tecumseh, Tecumseh City Hall; Sept. 1, Tulsa, Tulsa Select Hotel; Sept. 10, Elk City, Holiday Inn; Sept. 15, Poteau, Carl Albert State College; Sept. 17, Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Center; Sept. 29, Ponca City, Pioneer Technology Center; and Oct. 1, Duncan, Red River Technology Center.

This is the sixth time Edmondson’s office has traveled the state in an effort to educate Oklahomans about openness laws.  Previous seminars were held in 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

The Open Meetings and Open Records Acts are designed to bring government closer to people and to allow the actions of public bodies maximum access and input from their constituents.

“The best government is open and accountable to the people it represents,” Edmondson said. “We are pleased to again work with the Oklahoma Press Association, the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation and FOI Oklahoma to promote good government.”

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