Archived Events
See below for a retrospective of past DELCOG events.
The League of Women Voters of Delaware
&
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government
Cordially invite you to
Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of
DELAWARE'S FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
Monday, July 25, 2011
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
House Caucus Room, Legislative Hall*
411 Legislative Avenue
Dover, Delaware
Carol Jones, President LWVDE
Welcome & Introduction
John Flaherty, President of DelCOG
Presentation of Freedom of Information Award
to
Senator Karen E. Peterson
Mickey McKay, Chairman, LWVDE FOIA Project
FOIA Audit
Presentation of Open-Government Awards
*Photo ID is required to enter Legislative Hall
Get directions to Legislative Hall
For more info, contact DelCOG Pres. John Flaherty: 302-319-1213 or JDF0000@aol.com.
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government
&
The Greenwatch Institute
Present a Public Workshop
"How to Be an Effective Advocate
in the Delaware General Assembly"
Legislative Hall, 2nd floor
Senate Hearing Room
Court Street & Legislative Avenue
Dover, Delaware
Wednesday, March 30
9:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
The workshop is free and open to the public.
Information on various lobbying techniques, methods, and practical ways that citizens can impact the legislative process to advance their agendas in the General Assembly will be discussed.
If his schedule permits, State Senator Harris B. McDowell, Senate Energy Committee Chair, is expected to address the participants on the many issues that compete for a legislator's attention.
Mark Brunswick, former Education Chair for the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and Richard Schneider, environmental activist, will discuss bill drafting, tracking a bill's progress, reaching agreement on issues and securing support for a bill -- especially when one lacks financial resources.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants can attend committee hearings as well as a session of the General Assembly.
A copy of the Lobby Handbook, compiled by the League of Women Voters of Delaware and printed with funds from the Delaware Commission for Women, will be available along with "Tips on Meeting with and Writing to Your Elected Officials," compiled by the ACLU.
Get directions to Legislative Hall
For more info, contact DelCOG President John Flaherty: 302-521-0394 or JDF0000@aol.com.
New Castle County Council President Debates
Monday, January 10
Tuesday, January 11
New Castle County Election
Thursday, January 13
Tom Kovach (R) and Tim Sheldon (D), candidates for President of the New Castle County Council, will attend the special election forum co-sponsored by the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association and the Civic League for New Castle County in conjunction with the Community News.
DEBATES
Monday, January 10
1150-AM WDEL NewsTalk Radio
Moderator: Allan Loudell
6 p.m.
_____________________________________
Tuesday, January 11
Hockessin Fire Company's Memorial Hall
Lancaster Pike (Rte 48) in downtown Hockessin
6 to 7 p.m.
This is the only public, live debate that will occur before the election on Thursday, January 13. The Community News plans for an interview article covering both candidates and some telephone public feedback in this week's edition, via paper delivery and online.
DelCOG Hosts
Elected Officials Reception
Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club
800 North Dupont Road
Wilmington, Delaware
Thursday, December 9
6 - 8 p.m.
Hors d'oeuvres and Cash Bar
Open to the public
Join the members of the Delaware Coalition for Open Government at the Ed "Porky" Oliver Golf Club on Thursday, December 9, to greet the Delaware officials elected on November 2 and enjoy some refreshments. Cost: $3 at the door. See you there!
Get directions to the Ed Oliver Golf Club
The Greenwatch Institute
&
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government
Present a public workshop
"Be an effective advocate in the General Assembly"
Legislative Hall, 2nd floor
House of Representative hearing room
Dover, Delaware
Wednesday, March 31
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The workshop is free and open to the public.
Information on various lobbying techniques, methods, and practical ways that citizens can impact the legislative process to advance their agendas in the General Assembly will be discussed.
State Representative John Kowalko, House of Representatives Energy Committee Chair,will address the participants on the many issues that compete for a legislator's attention, if his schedule permits
Mark Brunswick, former Education Chair for the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and Richard Schneider, environmental activist, will discuss bill drafting, tracking a bill's progress, reaching agreement on issues and securing support for a bill -- especially when one lacks financial resources.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants can attend committee hearings as well as a session of the General Assembly.
A copy of the Lobby Handbook, compiled by the League of Women Voters of Delaware and printed with funds from the Delaware Commission for Women, will be available along with "Tips on Meeting with and Writing to Your Elected Officials," compiled by the ACLU.
In addition, a how-to-citizens' guide for obtaining information about regulatory actions affecting the Delaware River Watershed, compiled by the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Law Clinic, is available electronically by request.
Get directions to Legislative Hall
For more info, contact John Flaherty: 302-521-0394 or JDF0000@aol.com.
DELCOG is proud to co-sponsor the League of Women Voters'
League Day in Dover
"Redistricting: Does Your Vote Count?"
The Duncan Center
500 W. Loockerman Street
Dover, Delaware
Wednesday, March 24
9:30 a.m. - Registration
10 a.m. - Program
12 p.m. - Lunch (with legislators invited)
1:30 p.m. - Observe Committee Hearings
Registration: $25 (includes lunch)
Ed Ratledge, Director, University of Delaware Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research, will address the basics of redistricting.
John Flaherty, President, Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DelCOG) and former lobbyist for Common Cause, then will introduce the panel and briefly highlight how the process worked in New Castle County when a commission did the redistricting after the 2000 Census.
Panelists
► The Honorable Patty Blevins (Senator), prime sponsor of S.B. 20 which would establish a commission to undertake redistricting.
► The Honorable Gary Simpson (Senator), a co-sponsor of S.B. 20.
► Frank Sims, President, Delaware Redistricting Reform Coalition who was active in the 2000-2002 redistricting process and filed and won a law suit in Chancery Court which forced the General Assembly to finish and adopt a redistricting plan.
► Ed Ratledge, Director, University of Delaware Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research
In the afternoon, the League's registered lobbyists will lead attendees in a "Legislative Experience" by taking them to observe committee hearings at Legislative Hall.
Register for League Day in Dover by March 19:
Send your name, address, phone no. and e-mail together with a check -- payable to LWVDE -- to:
League of Women Voters Delaware
2400 W. 17TH Street
Clash Wing, Room 1, Lower Level
Wilmington, DE 19806-1311
Questions? Contact LWV Office: 302-571-8948 or lwvde@voicenet.com.
Panel Discussion Presented By
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government
"The Annual Delaware Budget Bind:
Show Me the Money (Before You Take the Vote)"
Moderator
Allan Loudell
Panelists
State Senator Colin Bonini (R-16 Dover South)
State Representative Gregory Lavelle (R-11 Sharpley)
State Representative Brad Bennett (D-32 Dover)
John Flaherty, DELCOG President
Ginger Gibson, News Journal reporter
Nancy Willing, author of "Delaware Way" blog
Kent County Levy Court
555 Bay Road
Dover, Delaware
Get Directions to Levy Court Building
March 17, 2010
Light refreshments will be served
Free and Open to the Public
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government (DELCOG) is hosting a panel discussion, "The Annual Delaware Budget Bind: Show Me the Money (Before You Take the Vote)," followed by Q & A, that will focus on the Delaware state budget process:
- how the budget is put together.
- why it is made available to the legislators who will vote on it only a few minutes before the vote is taken.
- what can be done to improve the timing so that both the legislators and the public can read the budget bill well before the vote.
Sen. Bonini and Rep. Lavelle are sponsors of several bills to reform the budget process, including H.B. 13 and H.B. 84, which would amend the Delaware Code to "give the Legislature and the public at least 3 legislative days to review the Budget Bill and at least 2 legislative days to review the Bond Bill" before voting takes place June 30.
Rep. Bennett was the primary sponsor of H.B. 300 (passed in the House on Jan. 26) to enhance the Delaware Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by "setting a deadline when public bodies must respond to a FOI Request."
Flaherty and Willing are open government advocates, and Gibson is a reporter who frequently covers First Amentment / open government matters. The discussion will be moderated by WDEL 1150-AM News Talk Radio news anchor/host Allan Loudell.
"The Annual Delaware Budget Bind: Show Me the Money" will be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, in the Kent County Levy Court Building, 555 Bay Road, Dover, Delaware. Doors to the Levy Court Chamber will open at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. FREE and open to the public.
For more info, contact John Flaherty: 302-521-0394 or JDF0000@aol.com.
Lecture and Panel Discussion Presented By
Delaware Press Association &
The Delaware Coalition for Open Government
"What Really Happened to Our Economy:
The Consequences of Not Knowing"
Keynote Speaker: Michael Greenberger
Nationally renowned lawyer, professor and advisor
Panel Discussion followed by Q&A
Delaware Theatre Company
200 Water Street
Wilmington, Delaware
Get Directions to Delaware Theatre Company
September 17, 2009
Reception following the Panel Discussion
Free and Open to the Public
Program sponsors DelCOG and DPA cordially invite you to come to a free and informative public forum on the topic "WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO OUR ECONOMY: The Consequences of Not Knowing." The event will be held at Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water Street, Wilmington, on Thursday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m.