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Horizons in Hemophilia, December 2011
By Michelle Putnam, Associate Director of Research and Advocacy
Some of us may remember the Schoolhouse Rock song, “I’m Just a Bill,” and that about sums up our knowledge of legislatures and how laws are passed. But do we really know what goes on at our state Capitol each year? Aside from Hemophilia Day at the Capitol, many of us do not get the chance to interact with our legislators very often. The page program at the Georgia General Assembly, however, gives young people age 12 and older an opportunity to see government up close and personal and really gain perspective on how our laws are passed.
Pages work for one day during the legislative session and are responsible for delivering messages and correspondence to representatives and senators. Because the General Assembly meets during the school year, from January to April, pages are granted an excused absence from their schools. Pages are provided lunch and given $10 in compensation for the day. At the end of their service, they have their picture taken with the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor and receive a certificate signed by Governor Deal.
Signing up to be a page is easy. Simply contact your Representative or Senator and let them know that you would like to be a page. If you are selected, your representative will notify you about your day of service and tell you when to arrive.
All in all, it is a good deal for our young people: civil service, education, and an invaluable experience. It is also important on another level. Many legislators have never met a person with a bleeding disorder. You are able to share your story with them first-hand, which can make a big difference.
Additional information is available online about the page programs in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Don’t hesitate to email me at mputnam@hog.org if you have any trouble contacting your Representative or Senator. You can find out who your representatives are and their contact information by putting in your zip code here.
If you are selected to be a page, please tell us about it. We would love to highlight your service and to feature future pages in our newsletter.