Volunteers are an important resource for Pennsyvlania local government. Volunteers serve on a multitude of authorities, boards, and commissions, from planning commissions to fire companies. A concern expressed by municipal officials is that some municipalities are having a difficult time attracting volunteers. Good information also is vital for local officials to respond in an appropriate and timely manner to changing needs in their municipality. Little is currently known about their sources of information.
Officials can benefit from knowing where other officials look for information.
In addition, people who work with local officials will find it helpful to know which sources of information those officials use most often, so they can insure their own information is make available through the most popular sources. To answer these and other questions, during the spring of 1994 Penn State Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners, sent two survey questionnaires to every borough and township in Pennsylvania. One of these two questionnaires was sent to the municipality's secretary and the other went to the chair of the board of supervisors, board of commissioners, or borough council, depending upon what type of municipality it was. Questionnaires were mailed to 5025 officials in a total of 2516 municipalities. Attracting Volunteers to Serve on Boards Unpaid volunteers play a vital role in municipal government, providing different perspectives, skills, and manpower to municipal functions.