Adventures as a Legislative Page

  He was the most nervous I'd seen him in a long time.  This morning Bubby was getting ready to go off to the Kansas capitol and work as a legislative page for the day and he was dragging his feet.  I knew he'd have fun and be totally enthralled with it all, but sometimes you just can't tell them, they have to experience it.  So, I shipped him out the door with Hubby for a day he wasn't so sure was an adventure.

But it was.  Truly, it was the best day to be a page.  He didn't get to meet the governor because it was such a busy day for politics, but the action of the day - it was the payoff.  He got to tour the capitol from bottom to top (literally, he got to go out on the cupola, which is good because after last time I told him I'd not be the one to take him up there again *shudder*).  Then he was in helping during the House session the rest of the time.  He got to bring copies of a bill to the chamber for those needing it and then watch as they debated the same bill and tried to amend it.  He was so thrilled with the entire process that when I arrived he asked if we could watch some more so he could see them vote on it again.  Now he's ready to go back again next year!
  It was a relatively easy process to get signed up.  You send your name and a short description of why you want to be a page to one of your local representatives.  We chose Rep. Ken Corbet.  Representative Corbet responded that same afternoon and gave us further instructions on what to do.  His assistant followed up when the official paperwork was sent out.  They had us arrive at a certain time on our chosen day and receive a briefing. Aside from bringing copies of the bill to those that needed them, he ran other paperwork and messages to representatives on the floor.  What a way to learn the political process!  I wish I'd had that opportunity when I was a kiddo!  Hubby was a page when he was Bubby's age and they shared stories this evening.  Bubby has already been talking up the experience to a reluctant Mookie.  Although, it sounds like she'll have someone willing to go and show her the ropes ;)