Randy Evans, Iowa Freedom of Information Council

The picture above is not of the esteemed Randy Evans, executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, our special podcast guest in this episode. It is meant to portray a stereotype of secretive public officials who don’t want you, the taxpayer, to know things, like lawsuits filed against public officials or cost overruns on public expenditures. There’s a lot of stonewalling going on, more than ever, and this tiny nonprofit organization stands up tall to hold our ‘representative’ government accountable. Why does it matter? You have a right to know how taxpayer dollars are being spent; sometimes, they are misspent. And if government officials don’t think anyone is watching, how can they be held accountable? This picture below is Randy Evans, a hero some of you might not know. Please listen to the podcast and read the transcript of this meaningful conversation. My biggest takeaway is how underfunded this vital cause is. To read more about specific cases in which the IFOIC is involved and how you can be in support:Iowa Freedom of Information CouncilAttention writers: Randy Evans will speak during the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. He’ll also participate in a ‘Masterclass on Reporting’ panel and conduct small group workshops on accessing public information. Finding public information can be critical to a project, whether working on a nonfiction book, essay, or memoir. The Early Bird discount ends July 1. Click on the purple link to learn about the 60+ speakers coming to the Okoboji Writers’ and Songwriters’ Retreat. If you use the enrollment button below, $100 of your fee will go to the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. Enroll Now: OWR IV - Iowa Freedom of Information Our upcoming Monday Zoom guest is Kevin Brooks, lead singer of the Annapolis based musical group, The Eastport Oyster Boys. Here’s Kevin and the Boys:A link to the Zoom call will be sent to subscribers on Monday Morning:Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeStay tuned for announcements regarding two new Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members.Each member is an independent writer. The connection members have is that we are professional journalists and authors who share an interest in Iowa. Please subscribe if you would like to receive a Sunday Roundup of columns posted the previous week. Iowa Writers Collaborative. It is free. The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative RosterNicole Baart: This Stays Here, Sioux CenterRay Young Bear: From Red Earth Drive, Meskwaki SettlementLaura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor HeightsTory Brecht: Brecht’s Beat, Quad CitiesDartanyan L. Brown: My Integrated Live, Des MoinesJane Burns, The Crossover, Des MoinesDave Busiek, Dave Busiek on Media, Des MoinesIowa Writers Collaborative, RoundupSteph C: It Was Never a Dress, JohnstonArt Cullen, Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm LakeSuzanna de Baca, Dispatches from the Heartland, HuxleyDebra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison CountyDaniel P. Finney, Paragraph Stacker, Des MoinesArnold Garson: Second Thoughts, Okoboji and Sioux FallsJulie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and OkobojiFern Kupfer and Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, AmesJody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des MoinesRob Gray's Area: Rob Gray’s Area, AnkenyBecome Inspired... Nik Heftman, IowaBeth Hoffman: In the Dirt, LovillaIowa Capital Dispatch, an alliance with IWCBlack Iowa News: Dana James, IowaChris Jones: Chris’s Substack, Iowa CityPat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, WaterlooRobert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, BusseyLetters From Iowans, IowaDarcy Maulsby: Keepin’ It Rural, Calhoun CountyHola Iowa: IowaAlison McGaughey: The Inquisitive Quad Citizen, Quad CitiesKurtis Meyer: Showing Up, St. AnsgarVicki Minor: Relatively Minor, WintersetWini Moranville: Wini’s Food Stories, Des MoinesJeff Morrison: Between Two Rivers, Cedar RapidsKyle Munson: Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des MoinesJane Nguyen: The Asian Iowan, West Des MoinesJohn Naughton: My Life in Color, Des MoinesChuck Offenburger : Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des MoinesBarry Piatt: Piatt on Politics Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.Dave Price: Dave Price’s Perspective, Des MoinesIce Cube Press: The Pulse of A Heartland Publisher, North LibertyMacey Shofroth: The Midwest Creative, NorwalkLarry Stone: Listening to the Land, ElkaderMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, KalonaMary Swander's Emerging Voices: Emerging Voices, KalonaCheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone CountyEd Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, DavenportJason Walsmith : The Racontourist, EarlhamKali White VanBaale : 988: Mental Healthcare in Iowa, BondurantTeresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe