About Us

Established in 2013, Right to Know NH (RTKNH) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen coalition working to improve access to New Hampshire state, county, and local governments. We advocate to strengthen New Hampshire state laws, particularly the Right-to-Know law known as RSA 91-A, as well as Right-to-Know governmental policies. We serve as a resource on Right to Know in our state with the goal of making government more open and transparent.  We educate citizens on their Right to Know and aid them in exercising their rights under the law. We educate public officials on improving their adherence to the law and delivering greater government transparency to their constituents.

As the preamble to RSA 91-A states:

Openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure both the greatest possible public access to the actions, discussions and records of all public bodies, and their accountability to the people.

Our mission rests on the principle that openness in the conduct of public business is essential to a democratic society.  Access to governmental meetings and records is critical to a democracy where citizens can engage and participate with information and knowledge and hold their government accountable to the people.

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion. – Thomas  Jefferson

The Right-to-Know Law is New Hampshire’s statute that applies to Freedom of Information ( FOIA ), Open Records, Open Meetings, and Open Government.

For more information about Right To Know NH:

• Right To Know NH Brochure
• Right To Know NH Brochure  (Trifold Version designed for duplex printing on 1 page)
• RTKNH Bylaws
  
• First Amendment Award 2017 Video

RTKNH is a non-profit NH corporation which does not have IRS 501(c)(3) status.

Right to Know NH Board Members:

Laurie Ortolano – President

Katherine Kokko – Vice President

Laura Colquhoun – Treasurer

Tracy Walbridge – Secretary

Carla Gericke – Member At Large

Rudy Gelsi – Member at Large

Vicki Ayer – Member At Large

Right to Know NH Membership:

Membership is free, and the knowledge you’ll gain is invaluable.  To join, simply attend our next meeting and request to become a member.  Our meeting schedule is listed on the right side of this page.

Right to Know NH gladly grants permission to anyone wanting to reproduce the content on this website (unless otherwise copyrighted).  We only require that you include the following attribution:

Used by permission of Right to Know NH, a New Hampshire nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving adherence to and strengthening the Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A). www.RightToKnowNH.org

DISCLAIMERS:

Information on this Blog is intended for informational purposes only.  Right to Know NH does not provide legal advice or counsel. The opinions and views expressed on this site or by any RTKNH representative do not constitute a legal opinion.

All site content is presented AS-IS WITH NO WARRANTIES OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.