ONLINE — For those interested in land-use topics affecting communities across Pennsylvania, Penn State Extension is offering the “Winter/Spring 2025 Land Use Webinar Series,” with programs scheduled from February to May.

This series is designed for zoning officials; municipal managers; registered landscape architects; professional engineers; elected municipal officials; professional planners at the county, township, borough or city level; and anyone interested in local land-use issues.

Taking place from noon to 1:15 p.m. Feb. 19, the first webinar in the series, “Motivating and Engaging Volunteers in Local Governance and Community Planning,” will explore how volunteerism plays a role in community and land-use planning, ranging from volunteer planning boards to individuals and organizations undertaking community improvement projects. In this interactive workshop, participants can learn about the role volunteers play in local government and community service.

The program also will explore the latest trends in volunteerism and provide insights into generational and cultural differences that influence volunteer behavior. The session will introduce the ISOTURE Model of Volunteer Management, a comprehensive framework for effectively recruiting, training and retaining volunteers.

Participants can delve into key concepts of volunteer motivation and learning strategies to inspire and engage volunteers to maximize their contributions and satisfaction. Additionally, the workshop will cover best practices for effective communication, ensuring strong relationships and a positive volunteer experience.

The session will close with examples of volunteerism in action in Pennsylvania communities presented by Molly Kathleen Sarver, local government planning specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Governor’s Center for Local Government Services. This session is ideal for anyone working with volunteers, including program coordinators, board members, elected/appointed officials, nonprofit leaders and community organizers seeking practical tools to strengthen their volunteer management skills.

All webinars in the series are recorded and available for future viewing. Other programs in the series include:

— March 12: “Addressing the Housing Crisis: A Collaborative Approach to Building Local Solutions with the New Hampshire Housing Academy and the InvestNH Program.”

— April 16: “Data-Driven Decision-Making: What Does this Term Mean for Community Planning?”

— May 7: “Changes in Pennsylvania Demography.”

— May 21: “The Impact of Tourism and Outdoor Recreation on Local and State Economies.”

The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification-maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost also is $95 for all five sessions for professional engineers needing PDH credits. In addition, registered landscape architects can receive continuing-education credits for a fee of $65.

For anyone interested in a particular topic from the series, individual session registration is available for a fee of $15 per session.

Registration is required to receive the links to access the webinars. Links to each recorded webinar will be emailed to registrants within 10 business days after the live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

More information is available on the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/land-use-webinar.