passopenrecords.org

We recently received a comment that users couldn’t download our worksheet. I’m not sure what the glitch is, but in the meantime, I’ve pasted the Worksheet in text format below. (Click “more”)

PA Open Records Challenge 2007

To illustrate the problems Pennsylvania’s citizens face in obtaining public records, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, together with its open records reform blog, passopenrecords.org, is holding the first-ever PA Open Records Challenge.
The Challenge is open to all Pennsylvania residents, including students. To participate, follow the instructions below. Completed worksheets should be faxed by October 5 to Melissa Melewsky, PNA media law counsel, at (717) 703-3001. Winners will be selected from among the completed, correct entries submitted to the challenge. Grand Prize winners (2) will win a one-year subscription to their local newspaper. Ten additional winners will receive Pennsylvania Newspaper Association First Amendment boxes.
Participants are asked to share their stories about their requests for information on the blog and to attend an event at the state Capitol building on October 15.
For a complete list of rules, please visit www.passopenrecords.org.

PA Open Records Challenge 2007
Official Contest Worksheet

1) Find Pennsylvania’s ranking in the Better Government Association’s 2002 survey of state open records laws. Where does PA rank? Which states rank below PA?

2) Check out www.passopenrecords.org, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s blog on open records issues and check to see if your legislators have signed on in support of improving Pennsylvania’s open records law. If they have, list their names on your answer sheet. If not, send them an e-mail asking why they haven’t and send their response to passopenrecords.org as a comment to http://passopenrecords.org/pennsylvania-legislative-advocates/ If you need help locating your legislators’ e-mails, or don’t know who your legislator is, look here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/

3) Try to obtain one of the following records by making an open records request (you can find a sample request letter here: http://www.pa-newspaper.org/web/2005/10/right_to_know_sample_letter.aspx):

a) The contract of a school superintendent, township manager, or county executive.
b) The document or documents reflecting the total amount spent on legal fees by your school district, township, county, borough, or town for the year 2006.
c) A settlement agreement between your municipality and any other person or entity (you’ll need to be as specific as possible, and you should identify the parties if you know them).
d) Minutes from the last two public meetings of your municipality, school board, board of trustees or other public agency.
4) Tell us about your experience in obtaining the above records by sending your story to passopenrecords.org (Look for “Share Your Stories!” and click on “send us your story”)
Good Luck!