History of The Western Planner

On November 29, 1979, a group of dedicated planners—Stan Steadman, Art Greenburg, Jim Richard, Fred Roach from Montana; Allan Merta from North Dakota; Ben Orsbon from South Dakota; and Dale Pernula from Wyoming—gathered at the Western Coal Planning Assistance project office in Billings, Montana, to establish The Western Planner (WP). Originally created in newspaper format, WP was envisioned as a "journal of information and ideas for planners, their boards and commissions, and their multiple publics." From the outset, its mission has been to elevate the quality of planning across the Mountain-Plains region by fostering the exchange of ideas, planning news, and practical strategies.

For the first nine years, Stan Steadman operated WP as a sole proprietorship, with editorial direction provided by the affiliated member states through an editorial board that included Stan. The member states shared control of WP, benefiting mutually from their collaboration.

The initial member organizations in 1979 were Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, soon joined by the American Planning Association (APA) chapters in Colorado (1980), Utah (1980), Nebraska (1981), Washington (1982), the Western Central Chapter of APA (1983), Alaska (1984), and Idaho (1984).

In 1987, during the Western Regional Planning Conference in Billings, Montana, the editorial board voted to create Western Planning Resources, Inc. (WPR), adopting bylaws and electing officers. WPR's mission expanded on WP's foundation, incorporating the publication of educational materials and the hosting of continuing education seminars.

By January 1989, WPR had negotiated a purchase agreement with Stan Steadman to acquire WP, making it part of WPR's portfolio. Since then, WP has been owned and operated by WPR under the guidance of its Board of Directors. The list of WP editors has included David Conine, Steve Kurtz, Debbie Ehlers, and Rachel Girt.

Today, planning associations continue to play an active role in the governance of WP by appointing members to the WPR Board of Directors, which operates much like the original editorial board. These board members serve without compensation, offering their expertise in service to their planning organizations and the broader planning community.

Business meetings, held in conjunction with the annual conference, address a range of activities, including the development of WP’s annual operating plan and budget. While the Mountain-Plains region and the field of planning have evolved since WP’s founding in 1979, the WP community remains a strong, vibrant, and collegial group dedicated to its original mission of advancing planning practices across the West.