Volunteering is a huge part of Canterbury culture. Most of the Municipal and Community organizations in this town run on volunteer power and we always need more help. Whether you are new to town or have been here for a while, consider getting involved!
Running for Office
Although we list this under volunteering, running for office is essentially applying for a poorly paid or completely un-paid job. The Town needs hard-working, qualified individuals, who are interested in public service and making Canterbury a good place to live and work.
There are a number of elected positions: Board of Selectmen, Treasurer, Town Clerk-Tax Collector, Trustees of the Trustfunds, Supervisors of the Checklist, Planning Board, Library Trustees, and School Board.
For anyone considering running for office, we recommend learning about what the position entails from resources like NH Municipal Association. Their Volunteer Manual has job descriptions for each position and is a good place to start.
Our Town expects a lot from our elected officials, so be prepared to attend all relevant meetings, work with your team, and do annual training to stay up to date.
Elections are held annually at Town Meeting. Most of the terms are staggered, so you can see which seats are opening by visiting the link for each position.
In 2025, you can file for candidacy in person from Wednesday, January 22, 2025 through Friday, January 31, 2025. The Town Clerk will be open normal hours to accept declarations of candidacy, and on the deadline of January 31, 2025 from 3 – 5 pm for last minute applications.
Joining a Board/Committee
All of our boards and committees need more people! Whether you want to step up and join as a Member, or learn the ropes first as an Alternate, we encourage anyone who has an interest to get in contact.
The duties for each board and committee are different, but they all have a few requirements in common. You must be able to work well with a team, attend all meetings, read minutes and other supporting documentation, and attend periodic training to stay up to date on rules and procedures.
We love for people to get involved, but it is important to understand that all board and committee members are subject to State and Local laws. They aren’t too complicated, but if you don’t think you will have the time to attend trainings and the discipline to follow procedures, you may want to consider some of the other volunteer opportunities in Canterbury (see the next section for details).
For anyone considering joining, we recommend learning about what the position entails from resources like NH Municipal Association. Their Volunteer Manual has job descriptions for each position and is a good place to start.
The next step is to attend meetings! All of the boards and committees hold public meetings that anyone can attend. We recommend coming to a few and reading the minutes of others to see what it is all about. There, you can talk to current members to find out more. Ask questions, take notes, find out what projects they are working on and what excites you!
If you decide you want to join, and they decide you are a good fit, the Chair of that board/committee will help you start the onboarding process.
Volunteering Opportunities
There are dozens of volunteering opportunities in Canterbury!
Check out these organizations to find out what they are up to and what kind of help they are looking for.