The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group that works to protect public access to meetings and records, is inviting nominations for its 2012-13 Opee awards, recognizing achievements high and low. The awards can recognize actions from February 2012 through to the present day. The awards will be announced in March as part of the Council’s observance of national Sunshine Week, which this year runs from March 10-16, and presented at the annual Wisconsin Watchdog Awards dinner, which this year will be held on April 24. There are seven award categories:
Citizen openness award (“Copee”): For an individual who or group that has worked to advance the cause of open government in Wisconsin
Political openness award (“Popee”): For a public official who or body that has helped advance openness in government
Media openness award (“Mopee”): For a media representative who or outlet that has helped advance the cause
Open Records Scoop of the Year (“Scoopee”): For an individual who or group that has used the Open Records Law to bring critical information to light
Whistleblower of the Year (“Whoopee”): For an individual who or group that has acted courageously to expose official wrongdoing
No Friend of Openness award (“Nopee”): For an individual who or group that has acted contrary to the cause of open government in Wisconsin
Nominations should be sent by Feb. 1 to Bill Lueders at blueders@wisconsinwatch.org. Supporting documentation is appreciated. The award winners will be selected by a subcommittee of the Council.