Calling USA Members

Democracy in Action
A program of the Harford Public Library

Would you be prepared to host a gathering with your peers and colleagues to listen to this webcast? If yes, let moira@iap2.org and we will promote to our USA members.

Opening Doors: Finding the Keys to Open Government

Public Participation in the Obama Administration’s Development of the“Open Government Directive” Friday, March 20, 200812:45 pmHartford Public Library, 500 Main Street

Co-sponsored by the Connecticut State Library and Hartford Public Library


On his first day in office, President Obama in his Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government directed his Administration to develop recommendations for an "Open Government Directive" that moves government towards being "transparent," "participatory," and "collaborative." Today’s program presents a great opportunity for the public to be involved in the crafting of this directive. Individuals who are intimately involved in formulating the Administration's policies and agendas will explain, by live web cast from Washington, DC, the initiative's goals, receive feedback from the audience, and let members of the public know how they can continue to participate.

To begin the discussion about open and interactive government, Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org and Ari Schwartz, Vice President of the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) will release a report based on the results of Show Us the Data, a web-based survey used to discover what information the public wants to get access to and use, but cannot.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion between speakers and the audience on what the Obama administration hopes to achieve, the policy issues facing this administration, the Obama administration's vision for e-government, and financial and economic transparency.
Confirmed Speakers: Dan Chenok, a member of President Obama's "Technology, Innovation and Government Reform" transition team, former branch chief for information policy and technology in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and currently senior vice president and general manager of Pragmatics, Katherine McFate, a Program Officer for Government Performance and Accountability in the Ford Foundation's Governance Unit, Beth Noveck, a professor of law and director of the Institute for Information Law and Policy at New York Law School and author of Wiki Government (Brookings 2009), and Vivek Kundra, currently Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the District of Columbia Government.


The live webcast will be followed by a moderated discussion (on-site) facilitated by Jeffrey B. Cohen of the Hartford Courant.

SCHEDULE
12:30: Participants welcome to bring a bag lunch – free beverages provided12:45: Introduction of program

1:00: Live webcast from Washington DC

2:30: Moderated discussion (on-site): Jeffrey B. Cohen, Hartford Courant

For more information call 860-695-6365.


Opening Doors: Finding the Keys to Open Government is a Sunshine Week program. Sunshine Week is a national dialogue on open government and secrecy. For more information go to www.sunshineweek.org.


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