Silent auction raises nearly $500 for Sunshine Fund to defend open government

FOI Oklahoma's silent auction raised nearly $500 for its Sunshine Fund to defend open government, said Bryan Dean, the organization's president.

The auction, held during the Sunshine Week Conference on Saturday in Oklahoma City, was the non-profit's first such attempt to raise money for the fund.

"Not bad for a first effort," said Dean, a reporter for The Oklahoman. "Next year, it will be bigger and better, so save up your money now."

In January, FOI Oklahoma awarded its first $1,000 grant from the fund to help support the costs of an Open Meeting Act lawsuit filed by non-journalists.

Through grants to plaintiffs and by initiating its own lawsuits, the organization hopes to discourage "obvious and egregious" violations of the state's Open Meeting and Open Records laws.

Donations to the Sunshine Fund also can be mailed to 215 E. Sixth St., Edmond, OK 73034. Please make checks payable to FOI Oklahoma Inc. but note that the donation is for the Sunshine Fund.

OPUBCO suite for 40 at Redhawks game, one-night stay in a Colcord Hotel suite among items in silent auction to benefit Sunshine Fund defending open government

An evening in the OPUBCO suite for up to 40 people at an Oklahoma City Redhawks game of the winning bidder's choice is among the items in a silent auction Saturday during the Sunshine Week conference in Oklahoma City.

The money raised will go into FOI Oklahoma's Sunshine Fund. In January, the organization awarded its first $1,000 grant from the fund to help support the costs of an Open Meeting Act lawsuit filed by non-journalists.

Bidders don't have to attend the conference at The Oklahoman, 9000 N. Broadway, which begins at 9 a.m. (Enter from Britton Road.)

Bidding will close at 3:45 p.m. Other items in the auction are:

• A one-night stay, good through Oct. 15, in the Colcord Hotel's Executive King Suite.


• A $40 gift certificate to Earl's Rib Palace in Edmond.


• An original, framed landscape painting by Sue Hale of In Your Eye Studio and Gallery.


• A framed, black-and-white print of Oklahoma City's famed Milk Bottle Building by Greg Burns.


• Arena Legacy: The Heritage of American Rodeo (The Western Legacies Series) by Richard C. Rattenbury.


• CD: "Bob Dylan: The Witmark Demos, 1962-1964" All version of the songs were previously unreleased.


• CD/DVD: "Leonard Cohen: Songs from the Road" Live from the 2008-2009 tour; 12 songs on CD and DVD.


• Baseball in the Cross Timbers: The Story of the Sooner State League, by Peter G. Pierce.


• Jazz CD collection: Charles Mingus (Mingus Ah Um. 2 disc set); Miles David (Sketches of Spain); and Dave Brubeck (Legacy of a Legend, 2 disc set). Each CD was released in 2009 or 2010 and are legacy events.


• Sony tabletop HD Radio with IPOD Docking Stand.


• Two sets of nails or gel manicures at Le Fringe Salon & Spa in downtown Oklahoma City.

FOI Oklahoma Inc. also is accepting donations for the Sunshine Fund. Through grants to plaintiffs and by initiating its own lawsuits, the organization hopes to discourage "obvious and egregious" violations of the state's Open Meeting and Open Records laws.


Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications