Aug. 20, 2004

Revisions to Sunshine Law address electronic meetings, records

Revisions to Missouri’s Open Meetings and Records Law will take effect Aug. 28. The changes:

• clarify that meetings and votes conducted by phone, videoconference or the Internet are covered by the Sunshine Law;

• ensure that e-mails exchanged among a majority of a public body with four or more members, or among all members of a public body with three members, are open to the public unless covered by a specific exception;

• secure the public’s right to audiotape and videotape open meetings;

• require public bodies to keep minutes of closed meetings;

• clarify what public bodies can charge for searches and copying, capping fees for standard copies at 10 cents per page;

• increase penalties for violations of the Sunshine Law but also provide that a member of a public body who properly objects to a vote by the body to close a meeting, vote or record has a defense against claims for violation of the Sunshine Law,

“As public bodies, county extension council members must understand and comply with the Sunshine Law,” said Tony DeLong, coordinator of extension council membership and marketing.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office publishes a booklet that includes the statutes, case law, attorney general opinions and sample forms. Booklets may be ordered via e-mail,  (include name, mailing address and number of copies needed), or by phone, (800) 392-8222.

MELD IV applications due Aug. 27

Applications for the Missouri Extension Leadership Development program are due Aug. 27. The 16-month program, which begins in October, is designed to expand leadership among University of Missouri employees and increase individual capacity to meet the changing needs of Missouri residents.

MELD is open to regional faculty, and campus staff and faculty from the four University campuses and Lincoln University with at least a .75 FTE extension appointment.

Applications

Picnic and golf outing set for Sept. 24

The 2004 Hugh Keith Memorial Extension Picnic and Golf Outing will be Sept. 24 in Columbia. The three-person scramble begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start at A.L. Gustin Golf Course. The picnic will begin about 1 p.m.

The cost for golf and the picnic is $15 per person; lunch only is $10. Checks, payable to Joe Lear, should be sent before Sept. 24 to 22 Heinkel Building, Columbia, MO 65211. Greens fee and cart rental are payable to the golf course on the day of the event. For more information, contact Lear at (573) 884-3629 or via e-mail.

MU Extension shirts can be ordered

The Missouri Association of County Agricultural Agents is coordinating another order for shirts embroidered with the University of Missouri Extension logo. Orders should be placed by Aug. 27. Styles, prices and ordering information

		Eileen Yager, yagere@umsystem.edu Weekly News Editor Last modified: January 08, 2007
© 1993 to 2007 Curators of the University of Missouri, all rights reserved. DMCA and other copyright information University of Missouri Extension is an equal opportunity/ADA institution