eHop Mission Statement
eHop’s mission is to provide timely and factual information about key town matters with the goal of increasing government transparency and fostering civic engagement.
eHop Membership
Membership is currently free and the only requirements are that you subscribe to our email list and you are resident of Hopkinton. Members are welcome to attend board meetings, serve on a committee or run for a board position. To become a member click the following link to subscribe, supply your full name and Hopkinton street address. eHop Updates emails are sent approximately once a week. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Board Meetings and Minutes
Board Meeting dates are posted to the eHop online calendar. All members are welcome to attend, please contact us with any questions about meeting dates, times and locations. Board Meeting minutes are available upon request, please email questions@ehop.org.
Introduction and Background
Over the past twenty years, mechanisms for supporting public school and town budgets have decentralized, shifting more and more decision making to the general public. With Proposition 2 1/2, passed in 1980, towns can raise property taxes no more than 2 1/2% without the approval of the voters. This means that an active, informed public, involved in resource decision-making, is more important than ever before.
Recognizing that it is impossible for every citizen to become fully informed on every issue, eHop (formerly Educate Hopkinton) was created in 2007 to provide accurate, timely, and relevant information – easily accessible – to help Hopkinton voters understand town and school budget-related issues and make informed choices.
Non-Profit Status
In June 2011, eHop applied for 501(c)(4) status with the IRS. In October 2012 eHop officially received our approval letter from the IRS determining that we are an exempt 501(c)(4) organization.
Update: On October 14, 2023, eHop applied with the IRS to switch to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We updated our bylaws on October 12, 2023 to reflect this change in our organizational structure. We are awaiting a response from the IRS to confirm our new status. Stay tuned…
Guiding Principles
- eHop should stay in front of the issues and will remain responsive to the changing needs and issues of the town.
- It is critical that eHop maintain a reputation of professionalism and accuracy in all information and activities.
- eHop will maintain a public portal that provides access to our ongoing archive of voter education and town government materials.
- eHop will strive to be a communication bridge between town government and residents.
- An ideal Board of Directors includes a diverse representation of volunteers with a variety of skills, perspectives, affiliations, and knowledge.
- We strive to be an inclusive and welcoming organization and a resource for all Hopkinton residents.
- As a volunteer civic organization, we are not a comprehensive news outlet, but strive for balanced and representative coverage of local issues related to our mission.
eHop By-Laws
Originally adopted at the eHop Board Meeting on July 13, 2011, they were amended at our Annual Meetings in 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2023. eHop Bylaws (2023)
A list of the eHop Board of Directors is available on our Contact Us page.