Maintaining openness in government is a key responsibility for a library’s board of trustees. It is critical for every board of trustees, and the staff who support them, to have a working knowledge of the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). While enforcement of KOMA is typically corrective, the Act allows for civil penalties of up to $500 per knowing violation, per individual. This webinar, presented by Nicole Prouix Aiken of the League of Kansas Municipalities, will provide an in-depth analysis of KOMA. Attendees will learn:

• • Types of governmental meetings and bodies covered by KOMA;
• • Requirements of the Act;
• • Executive sessions; and
• • Enforcement and penalties.

Registration is now open: https://forms.office.com/r/UsepaVRxqR

Registration closes at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18.

The webinar will be held live on Thursday, February 19, from 5:30–7:00 p.m. A recording will be available for sixty days—the link will be sent to all registrants. The webinar is open to NEKLS member libraries only. Registrants will receive the webinar link by email prior to the event.

When viewed in its entirety and discussed by the board of trustees, this training satisfies the trustee continuing education accreditation requirement for NEKLS member public libraries.

Nicole Proulx Aiken is communications & education counsel for the League of Kansas Municipalities. In this position, Nicole enjoys conducting trainings on topics like the Kansas Open Meetings Act and the Kansas Open Records Act. Nicole graduated from Benedictine College with a B.A. in political science and attended the University of Kansas School of Law. After law school, Nicole clerked for the Kansas Supreme Court and has been practicing municipal law for over 15 years.

The League of Kansas Municipalities is a membership association that advocates on behalf of cities, offers training and guidance to city appointed and elected officials, and has a clear purpose of strengthening Kansas communities. Since 1910, the League has been a resource for cities across Kansas and has acted as a body to share ideas, facilitate communication between members, and provide information on best practices in city operations. League membership consists of cities with populations from 20 to over 390,000.