From: Les Ruark <leswruark@gmail.com> Date: April 18, 2014 5:06:40 PM PDT To: mcginnc@pdx.edu Cc: lgleim@pdx.

edu Subject: Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture

18 April 2014

Cat McGinnis Operations and Communications Manager Oregon Consensus Oregon Solutions Network@Portland State University Laura Gleim Communications Coordinator Institute for Sustainable Solutions Portland State University Cat; Laura: I request to receive via email at leswruark@gmail.com,or fax at (541) 454-2065, notice of and agendas for all meetings of the Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture, beginning retroactively with the notice and agenda issued for the task force's initial meeting held Thursday, April 10, 2014. Please provide me with an email confirmation that my name and contact information has been placed on whatever distribution list achieves this purpose. Please know that I will anticipate that the notice issued and the agendas prepared for the task force meetings will conform to the state's public records and meetings statutes and, therefore, will be issued so as to provide actual advance notice of the meetings and that the agendas will include a listing or identification of the topics anticipated to be considered. I will also anticipate that minutes of each of the task force meetings will be available within a reasonable time after the meeting; and that they can be made available upon request once in draft form without the need of first being approved before being disclosed. I will further anticipate being able to obtain copy, on occasion, via email or fax, of support material provided to the task force as part of the full agenda packet task force members may receive, including draft versions of its written presentation or final report to the Governor. Also, I would appreciate receiving via email a listing of the specific Oregon Consensus and/or Institute for Sustainable Solutions staff assigned to or who otherwise will be assisting the task force, listing each by name, area of responsibility, and contact information (telephone or email); aside from staff of the Governor's Office of Natural

Resources Advisor or staff of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (which I am already aware of). Thank you for your help in enabling me, as an interested citizen, to follow from afar the significantly constructive conversation I'm confident the task force will foster. Sincerely,

Les Ruark
12888 Lower Rock Creek Lane Arlington, Oregon 97812 tel (541) 454-2511 fax (541)454-2065 leswruark@gmail.com

On Apr 20, 2014, at 8:46 PM, Les Ruark wrote: Rachel Wray Acting Press Secretary Governor's Office Salem, Oregon 97310 Rachel: As a longtime observer, and a supporter, of the Governor, and someone he knows, I'm not all that surprised by his apparent attempt to keep a close hand on just how much his newly created Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture does to begin with. However, I am surprised, and disappointed, at what certainly, from afar, appears to be a matter of intentionally issuing short notice of both the announcement of the task force membership and it's initial meeting. As John knows, the initial organizing meeting of any task force is often among the most important of its meetings. For this to have been held so closely to the chest, so to speak, with less than a couple days notice, is not the normal or so called "Oregon way" that John himself helped to create. Perhaps there was greater notice, and an agenda, issued than simply the Governor's press release. But if not, I'm hopeful the important and serious issue here of the public's right to actual and timely notice won't be a continuing one. Sincerely,

Les Ruark
leswruark@gmail.com or (541) 454-2511

From: Les Ruark <leswruark@gmail.com> Date: April 22, 2014 8:56:17 PM PDT To: mcginnc@pdx.edu, lgleim@pdx.edu Cc: dan.j.arp@oregonstate.edu, kcoba@oda.state.or.us, jhallen@pdx.edu, Richard.M.Whitman@state.or.us Subject: Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture

22 April 2014

Cat McGinnis Operations and Communications Manager Oregon Consensus Portland State University Laura Gleim Communications Manager Institute for Sustainable Solutions Portland State University Cat; Laura: I ask for an acknowledgement by Friday, April 25, of my previous email communication requesting to receive notice of and agendas for all meetings of the Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture. And I ask again that this include confirmation that my name has been placed on whatever distribution list achieves providing me with the notice and agendas I've requested (most commonly known as an "interested persons" list). Unless my understanding is incorrect that Oregon Consensus, with help from the Institute for Sustainable Solutions (among others), is the primary entity providing administrative support to the task force, I will expect to hear from you by Friday. My interest in the work of the task force is sincere, and serious. Oregonians should be able to receive actual notice of and appropriate identification of agenda items for each meeting of the task force; notwithstanding the apparent attempt to structure the task force so as to limit application of the state's public records and meetings statutes. Sincerely,

Les Ruark

leswruark@gmail.com or (541) 454-2511 c: Dan Arp Jennifer Allen Richard Whitman Katy Coba

From: "WRAY Rachel * GOV" <rachel.wray@state.or.us> Date: April 23, 2014 10:47:13 AM PDT To: Les Ruark <leswruark@gmail.com> Cc: Jennifer Allen <jhallen@pdx.edu>, Peter Harkema <pharkema@pdx.edu>, "Cathy McGinnis" <mcginnc@pdx.edu>, Laurel Singer <laurels@pdx.edu> Subject: Re: corrected email initially sent April 18 re GTFGEA

Les, Thank you for your interest in Governor Kitzhaber's GE Task Force. For more information about this group, please visit the Task Force website (http://www.oregon.gov/gov/GNRO/Pages/index.aspx), which has been established for the public to stay involved with the work of the Task Force. Items related to the Task Force will be posted on the site, including meeting notes, and public comments will be welcome through the site. Task Force coordinators are in the process of finalizing a meeting schedule through fall of 2014. Once this is confirmed, it will be posted to the website. Please note that the Task Force is not subject to open meetings laws. However, the group recognizes the strong public investment in its work and is committed to keeping the public informed and providing opportunities for input into the process. A description of the public engagement process will be included in the Task Force Operating Principles, which will be posted the website once they have been finalized. Please let us know if you have additional questions or concerns. Sincerely,

Rachel Wray Press Secretary, Office of Governor John Kitzhaber 503.378.3336 Office | 503.559.1277 Cell
www.facebook.com/johnkitzhaber | @govkitz

From: Les Ruark <leswruark@gmail.com> Date: April 24, 2014 1:44:43 PM PDT To: rachel.wray@state.or.us Subject: Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture

24 April 2014 IMPORTANT: Please respond as soon as possible. Thank you.

Rachel Wray Press Secretary Office of the Governor Salem, Oregon 97310 Rachel: Your email to me of yesterday prompts the need to ask several questions. So I trust you will make good on your offer to answer additional questions concerning the Governor's Task Force on Genetically Engineered Agriculture. My questions are as follows: 1. Why the does the Governor's office believe the task force is not subject to the state's public records and meetings statutes, ORS chapter 192? It would be helpful if your answer would please identify the specifics this determination is based on. 2. Why can't or why hasn't the Governor's office chosen to apply chapter 192 to the work of the task force? Again, it would be helpful to learn the specifics. 3. Why is your office responding to my email request to receive notice of and agendas for meetings of the task force, when it is the staff of Oregon Consensus that has been designated the support entity for providing assistance to the task force and it was that staff that my email was addressed to? Why is it that the staff of Oregon Consensus cannot itself respond? After all, are they not the entity the $125,000 in pass thru dollars has been appropriated to for providing support assistance to the task force? 4. Why didn't the website for the Governor's Natural Resources Office include advance announcement of both the membership and the initial meeting of the task force? 5. Why can't the Governor's Natural Resources Office website include a link to enable interested citizens to signup for email notification of the task force meetings, such as many governing bodies (and other entities) provide for? I should be able to receive either an email copy of the notice and agenda for task force meetings or an alert that provides me an instant link to that information, without necessitating having to continually visit the website.

6. Who, specifically, among the various staffs working to assist the task force is drafting the "Task Force Operating Principles" you refer to in your email as yet to be finalized? Why was this document not specifically identified as a topic of consideration at the initial meeting? Why has there been no meaningful opportunity for the public to comment on this document before its finalization? Rachel, if the task force is truly, as you state, "...committed to keeping the public informed and providing opportunities for input into the process", then there really is little reason why the task force cannot actually abide by at least the spirit of the state's public meetings statutes, if not in fact the statutes themselves. As it stands today, the task force is portrayed as an open affair yet it's being, for all practical purposes, functionally orchestrated. A situation I recognize is intended to exemplify a unique approach, but one that is actually and simultaneously exemplifying an inappropriate image. And unnecessarily inhibiting the public's right to know. The use of Oregon Consensus can still occur. It doesn't have to include avoiding use of the so called "Oregon way" of governing. And it shouldn't. I await your email response., Rachel. Hopefully, it can arrive by Friday and will include complete answers to my questions. And, presumably, a thought or two about my accompanying observations. Additionally, if you want to call and discuss this with me, I'm available today and tomorrow by phone, although I will be traveling in the morning hours on Friday. I can be reached at either (541) 454-2511 or my cell at (503) 931-9145. Thank you. Sincerely,

Les Ruark
12888 Lower Rock Creek Lane Arlington, Oregon 97812 tel (541) 454-2511 fax (541) 454-2065 leswruark@gmail.com

From: Les Ruark <leswruark@gmail.com> Date: April 24, 2014 2:45:04 PM PDT To: laurels@pdx.edu Subject: GTFGEA

24 April 2014

Laurel Singer, Director Oregon Consensus Portland State University Laurel: Notwithstanding Rachel Wray's email to me of yesterday, I still expect to receive a response from Oregon Consensus to my April 18 and April 22 email requests by tomorrow, Friday, April 25. Thank you. Sincerely,

Les Ruark
leswruark@gmail.com or (541) 454-2511