In collaboration with Knowledge as Power, the Oregon State University Foundation and the GOSCON 2010 conference are pleased to host the Open Data Summit. The summit will bring together attendees with government, civic, and technology interests to collaborate on standards issues. The summit is intended for IT managers for governments, CIOs, government clerks, policy staff, communications staff, those involved with data.gov programs, open government leadership, academics, government-related application or online service developers. All levels and areas of government welcome.

Space is limited to 30 attendees. You can view the full list of planned sessions and request an invitation on the Open Data Summit site.

Join attendees of Government Open Source Conference (GOSCON) 2010 and the Open Data Summit for a pre-conference meet up.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meetup. This event will give local government open source, open government and government transparency aficionados the opportunity to meet, mingle and enjoy a game of billiards. We will convene in The Library Room at the Nines Hotel. The Library Room serves cocktails and light refreshments, but folks looking for more substantial fare may wish to dine in the adjacent hotel restaurant, Urban Farmer.

GOSCON is the Government Open Source Conference, an annual event produced by Oregon State University's Open Source Lab. Now in its fifth year, the conference focuses on the role of open source software and collaboration as an enabler of leading Open Government and Transparency initiatives throughout the United States. Speakers come from all levels of government, from City Officials to Federal Agencies. Notable past speakers include Aneesh Chopra, now Chief Technology Officer of the United States, Vivek Kundra, now Chief Information Officer of the United States, and Dugan Petty, Chief Information Officer of the State of Oregon. The conference has welcomed visitors from as far afield as Brazil, Belgium, Japan and Russia.

Attendees will be treated to in-depth explorations of Open technology strategy, policy, acquisitions, operations, organizational readiness, exemplary projects and use cases in our breakout sessions. Conference content includes lessons learned in the development and integration of open source solutions into agency environments, exposure to projects and existing software applications and services, and opportunities to establish and foster relationships for collaboration around shared interests. GOSCON offers a place for government and industry luminaries and to gather, present and network with representatives from both public and private sectors, in a non-commercial setting.

Come work and have conversations at Collective Agency during our First Fridays Free Days, and join an optional potluck lunch.

Members, come as usual, and you can bring guests, it’ll be the same for you as it is every day but with more people here.

There are 2 requirements: 1) RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/groups/collectiveagency/ or http://www.meetup.com/Collective-Agency-community-workplace/ or Twitter @CollectiveAgenC with the time you expect to be here, what you’ll be working on (you can include a link to a website or social media), and what you’re looking for. This will be posted on our website, RSVP pages, and here on the wall. 2) While you’re here, aside from lunch, you’ll find ways to talk with at least 2 people here for at least 30 minutes total.

Schedule: • 9am – Open for free • 12pm – Optional potluck lunch • 5pm – End of Open House

People here for free will have access to the big loft room, the kitchen, and restrooms, but not: conference rooms, locker storage, computer monitors. You can come in groups of up to 14 people but everybody has to qualify and do the actions described above. There are no age restrictions.

The community guidelines are the core of the terms of service: http://collectiveagency.co/community-guidelines

Note: This meeting starts at 6:30 PM, later than our normal time. Doors will be monitored for access until 6:40 PM. If you arrive after that time, please post a note to the meeting page on Meetup, and we'll work to respond and let you in.

Reporters regularly bring us breaking news about government activities, including acts of malfeasance. They, of course, get tips from sources but also rely greatly on information found in public records requests. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted in 1966 to make government more transparent so journalists and the general public could hold the government accountable for its actions.

Surprisingly, though, the news media accounts for less than 10% of all FOIA requests![1] The largest three categories of requestors are businesses, individuals, and law firms, but other groups, such as universities and non-profits, also file requests.

The basic purpose of the act is to ensure an informed citizenry, which is vital to the functioning of a democratic society. While FOIA only applies to federal records, each state has its own laws and processes related to public records, and Oregon is no exception.

Getting started in submitting public records requests can be intimidating. What exactly is a public record, and how does an individual request one? Are there fees involved? What options are available if a request is denied?

The people at Lucy Parsons Labs have filed many requests for records, uncovering corruption and other wrongdoing in the Chicago area, and are willing to share their experiences and expertise with us! At this meeting, LPL's Community Organizing Chair will speak to us via teleconference and share tools and tips for submitting requests so we can keep government agencies both transparent and accountable to the people.

Join us for a great presentation and discussion about FOIA and public records requests! We'll have snacks, and there will be an opportunity for networking afterwards. We hope to see you there!

Schedule: 6:20 PM: Doors 6:30 PM: Introductions 6:35 PM: Presentation

Speaker bio:

Lucy Parsons Labs is a charitable Chicago-based collaboration between data scientists, transparency activists, artists, and technologists that sheds light on the intersection of digital rights and on-the-streets issues.

1. Schouten, Cory (March 17, 2017). "Who files the most FOIA requests? It's not who you think". Columbia Journalism Review: https://www.cjr.org/analysis/foia-report-media-journalists-business-mapper.php

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Sunshine Week is a national initiative started in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors. It was established with the goal of bringing awareness to the public about government transparency and freedom of information. The week coincides with the birthday of James Madison, who was a key proponent of the Bill of Rights and of governmental checks and balances. He was born on March 16th, and this year, Sunshine Week takes place March 15 - 21.

Robin Ryan will join us this month to share ways to find hard-to-reach data about our government. She'll lead a workshop that guides us through a series of websites and other resources that reveal details that can help us shine light onto our government and keep it accountable.

This event will be a hands-on workshop, so please bring a laptop or tablet along with your ideas and questions!

We'll have snacks, and there will be an opportunity for networking afterwards. We hope to see you there!

Schedule: 6:00 PM: Doors 6:10 PM: Introductions 6:15 PM: Presentation

Speaker bio:

Robin Ryan identifies as an investigative reporter and radio journalist focused on issues of social and economic justice. The Transparency Tool Teach-in is a workshop inspired by Sunshine Week, an annual convergence held to promote transparency and accountability in American government. The program is designed to show people how to navigate data-driven websites containing information on everything from money in politics to governmental spending from the hyper-local to the federal level. In the age of fake news, one immediate route to reliability means taking an active role in getting information unfiltered by editorial review.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

Last year, staff at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office joined us to discuss the results of their audit of police intelligence gathering and surveillance during the 2020 protests. The objective of the audit was to answer the question "Did police gather intelligence and conduct criminal investigations in a manner that protected privacy and civil liberties during the protests that occurred between May 2020 and May 2021?".

Further details about the audit are available here: https://www.portland.gov/audit-services/news/2021/8/17/police-intelligence-gathering-and-surveillance-audit-end-planning

As part of their report, the auditors made a number of recommendations to the city on ways to better protect the privacy and civil liberties of the community during protests and any related investigations.

What were the auditor's recommendations? How many of the proposed changes were implemented, and what are the results so far? What is the likelihood that any remaining suggestions will also be put into effect? Have any new practices or procedures been adopted in the past year that go against the auditor's guidance?

Join us this month when Elizabeth Pape, from the City of Portland Auditor’s Office, shares an update on the status of the recommendations and their enactment. She'll also provide details about the path forward on future police surveillance in the city. Bring your questions, and join the conversation!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Elizabeth Pape is a Performance Auditor at the City of Portland Auditor’s Office in Portland, Oregon. She has a seventeen-year background working in diverse government settings from Washington County Oregon, to New Orleans, Louisiana, to Prague, in the Czech Republic. Elizabeth just finished an audit related to the process the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) uses to inspect and pay for capital projects. She also coordinates the Fraud Hotline for the Portland City Auditor. Elizabeth has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning degree from Portland State University.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.

As you likely know, cities around the world are increasingly adopting surveillance technologies in the hope of solving a variety of problems. While these technologies may have potential benefits for a city's residents, they can also harm some communities and can have a negative impact on people's civil liberties.

Earlier this year, Portland's City Council passed a surveillance policy resolution to increase transparency and accountability in the use of surveillance technologies in Portland. As part of the resolution, Smart City PDX has been tasked with designing and implementing a citywide inventory of surveillance technologies owned or used by City Bureaus — and they want your input!

At this month's meeting, Hector Dominguez, Open Data Coordinator at Smart City PDX, within Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will join us to share information about the surveillance technology inventory and how its development is progressing.

His team has put together a survey where you can submit your thoughts about what information should be included in the inventory: https://arcg.is/10u9Cf0

Take the survey; then come to the meeting, and bring your questions and ideas about what information should be included in the inventory!

Please RSVP via this Meetup page or by sending an email to [email protected].

Speaker bio:

Hector Dominguez is the Open Data Coordinator at the City of Portland. In 2009, Portland became the first city in the United States to adopt an Open Data Resolution to encourage the expansion of the technological community by promoting open data and partnerships between City government and the public, private and nonprofit sectors, academia, and labor.

By attending this TA3M meeting, you agree to follow our Code of Conduct: https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/

{short} Code of Conduct Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Mondays is dedicated to providing an informative and positive experience for everyone who participates in or supports our community, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, caste, or creed.

Our events are intended to educate and share information related to technology and activism, and anyone who is there for this purpose is welcome. Because we value the safety and security of our members and strive to have an inclusive community, we do not tolerate harassment of members or event participants in any form.

Audio and video recording are not permitted at meetings without prior approval.

Our Code of Conduct (https://www.meetup.com/Portlands-Techno-Activism-3rd-Mondays/pages/22681732/Code_of_Conduct/) applies to all events run by Portland's TA3M. Please report any incidents to the event organizer.