Do you want to help build up the West? Western Planner has volunteer opportunities for all who want to get involved and give back.

Editorial Board Member
The Western Planner journal is a double-blind, peer review e-journal written by planners, for planners. We have an active editorial board who help source and review all articles submitted. Editorial board members are assigned different issues to review, and have been newly tasked with content creation/sourcing as well. Time commitment 3-5 hr / quarter.

  • Review and edit assigned articles once per quarter (1-2 hrs)

  • Support WPR publications through solicitation of at least 1-2 articles per year and other content, per quarter (2-3 hr)

  • Nominate and select the article of the year award winner (0.5 hr / year)

Regional Conference Committee Member
New position — we are working to develop regional and smaller gatherings to better support more rural areas of the states. We’ll be launching the first Western Matters Rural Summit in 2026 and we want to start creating a specific committee dedicated to working on supporting state conferences and helping to work on these smaller gatherings. This is an evolving position. Time commitment 2-3 hrs / month avg.

  • Participate in monthly committee meetings (1 hr/month)

  • Support state planning conferences (7-10 hr/year)

  • Help to plan and organize workshops and small regional gatherings (10+ hr/year).

Emerging Planner Committee Member
New position — we are working to develop greater connection and networking opportunities to those starting out in planning in the West. This is still in development, but we want to start creating a specific network committee dedicated to working on supporting emerging planners. This is an evolving position. Time commitment 2-3 hrs / month avg.

  • Participate in monthly committee meetings (1 hr/month)

  • Connect with planning programs in your assigned state (1-2 hr/quarter).

  • Connect with emerging planner programs in your assigned state (as applicable) (1-2 hr/quarter).

  • Help with career development and networking events as needed (1 hr/quarter)

  • Support initiatives of the Emerging Planner Committee

Reach out to editor@westernplanner.org if you’re interested.