Category: Events
Sunshine Week Event: Keeping the Light On
Next week is Sunshine Week across the country. Sunshine week is an annual focus on the importance of the Right to Know for governmental accountability. The highlight in New Hampshire for Sunshine Week is a panel discussion called Keeping the Light On and Holding Government Accountable in New Hampshire sponsored by the New England First Amendment Coalition, the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and Saint Anselm College.
This discussion is free and open to the public. It will be on Monday, March 11, 2024 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. The address is 100 St. Anselm Drive.
How to promote or support a bill in the NH legislature webinar Monday Sept. 19th
“Let Your Voice Be Heard: How to promote or support a bill in the NH legislature,” is a detailed explanation of the life of a bill idea – from conception to law. Conducted by David Saad of Right to Know NH, and Eric Pauer, President SDGA of NH.
Monday, September 19, 2022 7pm – 9 pm
Registration is free, but required in order to receive a Zoom invitation.
Register here by September 18th: https://sdganh.org/event/webinar-let-your-voice-be-heard-how-to-promote-or-support-a-bill-in-the-nh-legislature/?instance_id=426
FREE webinar on the Right to Know Law
Right to Know NH will conduct a FREE virtual webinar titled “Introduction to the Right-to-Know Law” on Tuesday, December 28th from 6:30pm – 7:30pm.
David Saad, RTKNH president, will be presenting and will include time for Q&A.
Registration is free but required in order to receive a Zoom invitation.
To register click here: https://forms.gle/p5eGhDkvp3x5WNmRA
Questions? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at righttoknownh@gmail.com
Right to Know NH (RTKNH) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen coalition working to improve access to NH state, county, and local governments. We advocate strengthening NH state laws, particularly the Right-to-Know.
Learn the Open Meeting Laws Webinar Nov. 8th @ 7:30 pm
The School District Governance Association in partnership with Right to Know NH will conduct a FREE webinar on the Right-to-Know Law regarding Public meetings and non-public sessions. Webinar will be held Monday November 8th 7:30-8:30PM via zoom. David Saad, RTHNH president, is the presenter and will include time for Q&A.
Registration for this webinar is free, but required in order to receive a zoom invitation.
To register click here
Videos of Sunshine Week Events Available
Video of “The Story of the Keene State Five: A Fight for Public Access” is now available.
The City of Keene denied the Right-to-Know requests of five Keene State College journalism students made as part of a an annual classroom assignment. The students decided to fight back.
Their teacher, Dr.Marianne Salcetti, who represented them, and David K. Taylor, Vice President of Right to Know NH, who helped them, tell the story. The case took the team from the classroom, through the Cheshire County Superior Court, and to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Learn how they did it, and how you can use the Right to Know law in your own community. Moderated by Attorney Gregory V. Sullivan, the pro bono legal representative in the 2020 NH Supreme Court case.
Presented by The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and Right to Know NH.
Dr. Marianne Salcetti was honored with the 2020 Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications First Amendment Award for her leadership in this case.
Video of “Keeping the Light On: Holding Government Accountable” is now available.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides for the “right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” But what does that mean and how does it work? The New England First Amendment Coalition and the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications are celebrating Sunshine Week with an online expert panel discussion called Keeping the Light On: Holding Government Accountable. The webinar will examine the values of open and responsive government and how all citizens play a role.
Speakers Include:
GILLES BISSONNETTE Legal Director for the ACLU of New Hampshire
THE HON. N. WILLIAM DELKER New Hampshire Superior Court Justice
CASEY MCDERMOTT (moderator) Reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio
EMILY GRAY RICE City Solicitor for the City of Manchester, New Hampshire
GREGORY V. SULLIVAN First Amendment Attorney at Malloy & Sullivan
Sunshine Week is March 14 – 20
Sunshine Week (March 14-20) is a nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community.
Right to Know NH (RTKNH) is dedicated to raising awareness of your right to a government which is open, accessible, and accountable.
“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” – James Madison
“The right of freely examining public characters & measures, & of free communication thereon, is the only effectual guardian of every other right” – James Madison
“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government” – Thomas Jefferson
The Story of the Keene State Five: A Fight for Public Access
CELEBRATING SUNSHINE WEEK AND YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
Award-winning First Amendment activism
ONLINE EVENT – Free to the Public – Register at loebschool.org
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
7 PM – 8:30 PM
THE STORY OF THE KEENE STATE FIVE:A FIGHT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS
The City of Keene denied the Right-to-Know requests of five Keene State College journalism students made as part of a an annual classroom assignment. The students decided to fight back.
Their teacher, Dr.Marianne Salcetti, who represented them, and David K. Taylor, Vice President of Right to Know NH, who helped them, tell the story. The case took the team from the classroom, through the Cheshire County Superior Court, and to the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Learn how they did it, and how you can use the Right to Know law in your own community. Moderated by Attorney Gregory V. Sullivan, the pro bono legal representative in the 2020 NH Supreme Court case.
Presented by The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications and Right to Know NH.
Dr. Marianne Salcetti was honored with the 2020 Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications First Amendment Award for her leadership in this case.
This online event is Free and Open to the Public. Register at loebschool.org
Keeping the Light On in New Hampshire: Celebrating Sunshine Week
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org |
 The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides for the “right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” But what does that mean and how does it work? The New England First Amendment Coalition and the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications are celebrating Sunshine Week with an online expert panel discussion called Keeping the Light On: Holding Government Accountable. The webinar will examine the values of open and responsive government and how all citizens play a role. The discussion will be held online from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 15. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. |
 Keeping the Light On: Holding Government Accountable March 15 | 6:30 p.m. Register Here or Email loebschool@loebschool.org Speakers Include: GILLES BISSONNETTE Legal Director for the ACLU of New Hampshire THE HON. N. WILLIAM DELKER New Hampshire Superior Court Justice CASEY MCDERMOTT (moderator) Reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio EMILY GRAY RICE City Solicitor for the City of Manchester, New Hampshire GREGORY V. SULLIVAN First Amendment Attorney at Malloy & Sullivan |
How to Make a Right to Know Request video now available
Right to Know NH (RTKNH) and The School District Governance Association (SDGA) recently conducted a webinar on how to make an effective Right to Know request. The Right-to-Know law (RSA 91-A) is straightforward but the inexperienced can stumble over pitfalls.
Some of the common pitfalls citizens may experience regarding filing right to know requests are:
- Not knowing your rights before submitting request
- Submitting request to someone other than the custodian of the records
- Failing to be specific enough in describing records
- Failing to verify record exemptions claimed by the custodian
- Paying for copies when inspection of records would suffice
Watch the Video Recording of the webinar here to learn about your rights to access public records.
Webinar on How to Make a Right to Know Request Friday 1/22 @ 7:30 pm
The School District Governance Association (SDGA) and Right to Know NH (RTKNH) will conduct a webinar on how to make an effective Right to Know request. David Saad, President of RTKNH will be the presenter. The Right-to-Know law (RSA 91-A) is straightforward but the inexperienced can stumble over pitfalls. Did you know, for instance, that the law does not require any public body to answer questions? You must ask for existing documents or your curiosity will go unsatisfied. Learn many more useful tips during this free webinar scheduled for Friday, January 22, 7:30 – 8:30 pm.
Registration is free, but required in order to receive a Zoom invitation.
To register click here: SDGA Right to Know Webinar
Video of Webinar here.
Right to Know NH 
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