This season: a celebration of LIGHT in Virginia

We each have our own family and religious traditions at this time of year. Together they make the season special and memorable to us all.

One element common to nearly every tradition is LIGHT. The candles in the window, on the menorah or kinara, at the feast table; the glittering strings draped around the tree; and the image of the star leading Wise Men across the desert.

LIGHT symbolizes hope and promise, openness and honesty.

Begging pardon for mixing of the sublime with the arcane, we at the Virginia Coalition for Open Government seek openness and honesty and LIGHT all through the year when it comes to the records, meetings and proceedings of state and local government.

Each year, through telephone, e-mail and Web site hotlines, VCOG LIGHTS the way for citizens, government and media to understand their rights and responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act. We are also the only lobbying presence in the state dedicated solely to access issues.

We offer so much more, too.

More than two-thirds of our modest budget comes from membership dues and gifts/donations. Unless designated for a specific use, every penny of our income goes towards our operating budget: from salary and printing, to insurance, ink cartridges and stamps.

This holiday season, then, let the LIGHT shine across Virginia. Become a VCOG member or make a 100% tax deductible contribution.

With your help, the hope and promise of the season can stay with us all year long.

All the best to you and yours,

Megan Rhyne, VCOG Executive Director

Become a LIGHT in the Virginia Coalition for Open Government:
Click here for membership

Already a LIGHT in VCOG?
Click here to make a gift or additional donation

Clicking "join" and "donate" on the above pages will take users to a secure credit card processing site. The above pages also include links to our IRS W9 form and our tax ID. The "Join" page includes a link to a hard-copy membership applications, and additional gifts can be added on to those forms.