Webcast Government Meetings

Why not Louisiana?  New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer's Executive Order Number Three requires that each state agency and public authority shall, by March 1, "Submit to the secretary to the governor a plan that: (a) identifies all meetings of such agency or authority that are subject to the Open Meetings Law; and (b) specifies a timetable for ensuring that all such meetings are broadcast on the Internet." The order contains provisions for exemption, but other than that: "All agency and authority meetings that are subject to the Open Meetings Law shall be broadcast on the Internet commencing no later than July 1, 2007. Every agency and public authority shall submit a report to the secretary to the governor by December 31, 2007, setting forth the number of meetings webcast during the prior year, together with a summary of any comments received from the public regarding the webcasting, and any recommendations for changes or improvements to the program."

World War II Museum

As the New Orleans tourism industry continues its post-Katrina recovery, The National World War II Museum hit an important attendance milestone last weekend when it attracted 1,000 visitors last Saturday, February 24, marking the first time it has reached that level since the storm devastated the city and its top industry on August 29, 2005.

Louisiana World Trade—Panama Mission

The U.S. Commercial Service, Louisiana Economic Development,  Louisiana District Export Council and the World Trade Center are organizing a second trade mission for Louisiana companies to Panama, April 15-19, 2007.   The first trade mission occurred prior to Katrina.

The people of Panama recently approved a project to expand the capacity of the Panama Canal via a national referendum vote. The cost of the project is estimated at $5.3 billion and should take about 7-8 years to complete.  This massive project will provide tremendous opportunities for U.S. providers of goods & services, including but not limited to: Dredging Equipment & Services, Engineering & Architectural Services, Project Management, Risk Management & Legal Consulting Services, Construction Equipment, Materials & Supplies, Maritime Equipment & Supplies and other related industries. 

            To give Louisiana companies a better understanding of the opportunities available in Panama, Robert Jones, Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Panama, will be in New Orleans at the World Trade Center on March 13^th to deliver a presentation during the "Doing Business with Panama" breakfast briefing.   Topics of discussion will include the Canal expansion and procurement process, exporting to Latin America via Panama’s Colon Free Trade Zone, major opportunities in the energy and construction industries and promoting Louisiana tourism and education in Panama.  Mr. Jones will be available after the briefing for individual meetings by appointment.  Additional information and registration is available on the World Trade Center website www.wtcno.org.

For additional information on the trade mission or to request an application packet, contact the Louisiana District Export Council at (504) 589-6703, or via email at marisol.canedo@mail.doc.gov.

Jazz and Heritage Foundation

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc., will hold a workshop on Wednesday, March 7, to explain its Community Partnership Grants program and to assist applicants with their proposals.

The grants program will distribute $250,000 to local arts and education organizations in amounts of up to $10,000. Artists, musicians, filmmakers, arts-related business and nonprofit organizations involved in the arts or education are encouraged to apply.  

Grant applications and guidelines are available online at www.nojhf.org, or by calling the Jazz & Heritage Foundation at (504) 558-6100.

The workshop will take place at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Community Center, 1130 North Rampart Street.

For more information, please contact the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation at (504) 558-6100.

Chalmette

The 12^th Annual Tulane Law Environmental Conference will feature a 2 hour theatrical performance of the play, Welcome To Chalmette, documenting the Hurricane Katrina Murphy Oil Spill (what is the largest residential oil spill in the history of mankind involving 900,000 gallons of crude oil), and its effects on the lives of St. Bernard Parish residents.   Welcome to Chalmette will be performed Wednesday, March 7, at 7pm and again Friday, March 9, at 6:30pm at the Freeman Auditorium, located in the Woldenberg Arts Center on Tulane University’s Uptown Campus.

Louisiana Open
Tuesday's kicked off four weeks of activities surrounding the $500,000 Nationwide Tour, Louisiana Open golf event in Lafayette.

Social Security Numbers

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott rendered an opinion last week that government bodies are prohibited from disclosing Social Security Numbers in government records, and that disclosing such information is a criminal offense under the Public Information Act.

The opinion has created a furor among county clerks.