When you open your eyes To a brand new morning And the sun shines Above you You pull on your breeches and say Oh well, It’s the start of a brand new day

    No new sunshine law stories at the moment, but two tidbits for you, my readers.  One is House Bill 316 is moving — it had its hearing this week and the next step is a vote out of the General Rules committee.  Calls to legislators are important, as always.

    But even more important is the (ta da!) launch of the Missouri Sunshine Coalition!  A press release follows.   IF YOU CARE ABOUT SUNSHINE IN MISSOURI, THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE ON MARCH 12!! Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

A new organization for people who want to promote government openness  at all levels in Missouri will hold a public reception and program on Thursday, March 12, in Columbia. The event is free. The Missouri Sunshine Coalition is seeking individual and  organization members from all areas of the public. It will hold a 2  p.m. reception and 3 p.m. program at the Reynolds Journalism  Institute at the School of Journalism at MU.

    Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will speak at  the 3 p.m. program. Other speakers will be Charles Davis, director of  the National Freedom of Information Center, which is based at the  School of Journalism; and Mike Wood, director of governmental  relations for the Missouri State Teachers Association.

    The group’s founders have met three times to elect a board of  directors, to approve bylaws and a mission statement, and to plan the  March 12 program. On Jan. 15 the group elected Jim Robertson,  managing editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune, president.

“Open government, from town councils to the governor’s office, is an essential right of every citizen,” Robertson said. “A strong  coalition that represents a variety of needs and viewpoints can help  strengthen the concept and practice of openness, and that’s our goal.”

    Until now, Missouri was one of the few states in the country that did  not have an organization whose mission is to promote government  transparency. This group hopes to bring together all individuals and  organizations in Missouri who want to minimize secrecy in the  operations of local and
state government agencies.  Membership in the coalition costs $25 for an organization or individual.  To RSVP for the meeting, contact Kristie Williams, kwilliams@socket.net, 573-449-4167.