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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2004
CONTACT: Kathleen Richardson, Iowa FOI Council, (515) 271-2295
STRENTZ TO BE HONORED AT IOWA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COUNCIL MEETING
Herb Strentz, retired professor in the Drake University School of Journalism
and Mass Communication, will be inducted into the national “Open Government
Hall of Fame”Friday, Oct. 8, in Des Moines.
Strentz will be honored during the annual business meeting of the Iowa Freedom
of Information Council, a non-profit organization devoted to open government
that he served as executive secretary from its founding in 1976 until 2000.
The “Open Government Hall of Fame” is sponsored by the Society of
Professional Journalists and the National Freedom of Information Coalition.
The business meeting will begin at 11 a.m. over lunch at the Cub Club at Principal
Park (formerly Sec Taylor Stadium) in downtown Des Moines. In addition to Strentz’s
honor, the meeting promises to focus on discussion of open meetings and records
problems besetting Iowans and possible legislative solutions.
At 1 p.m., the conference moves to the new Iowa Judicial Branch Building at
1111 E. Court Ave., two blocks south of the Capitol. The afternoon workshop,
featuring a panel of Iowa judges and legal experts, will discuss the selection
and retention of Iowa judges and related topics.
The discussion will be moderated by Allan Sobel, director of the American Judicature
Society, a non-profit organization based at Drake University that works to increase
public understanding of the justice system.
The workshop will include an opportunity for questions from the audience, a
reception with judges and tour of the judicial building.
The conference is co-sponsored by the Iowa FOI Council, the Judicial Branch,
the American Judicature Society and the Iowa Newspaper Foundation.
Cost for the luncheon and workshop is $15, which includes annual membership
in the IFOIC. Reservations can be made by calling (515) 271-2295 or sending
an e-mail message to kathleen.richardson@drake.edu.
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