Blog 3: Free Write

I was able to experience a very interesting and historic part of the state today. A woman from my department gave me a tour of the state capitol museum. Being from Illinois and living there my entire life up until a couple months ago, Illinois is all I have ever known. I am very unfamiliar with the state of Arizona government and how things work in this state in general. The woman mentioned that it would be a great experience and a great step in this intricate learning process.

The state capitol museum consists of three floors and is behind the new capital building, but still connected. It's strictly used for tourist purposes only. I would say the coolest experience was being in one of the old hearing rooms where many famous people throughout history have worked. President Taft was among the many people who, at one point in time, was speaking and doing business in this room. Also, there was an office with a wax statue of Arizona's first Governor, George W. P. Hunt. Although the statue was a bit creepy, it was really interesting seeing what took place in that specific room and all the documents that they had in there, including the states constitution.

I recommend, if you have never been, check out this museum and learn all about the state's history. It was such a wonderful experience. Once I got back to the office, the executive director gave me a book on the Arizona constitution and history, which I look forward to diving into!

Blog 3: Career Service Write-Up

I attended the ASU job fair this week, which presented many opportunities for full-time employment. I have bene proactive in looking for a job, so when the internship ends, hopefully I can carry everything I have learned into a full time position. The job fair consisted of many different employers from a diverse group of occupations. I personally talked with five different employers, 2 in which I felt would be a great fit for myself. Those two were Health Service Advisory Group and The Office of the Auditor General.

The Office of the Auditor General consisted of positions that obviously involve auditing. Although, this would be completely new to me, I feel that my current work at the internship can be a great building block for some of the work that I would be performing at this job. Health Service Advisory Groups, also known as HSAG, has a project coordinator position open, which I feel would suit me well. I received my bachelor's from NIU in healthcare administration and now I am working on my master's in public administration at ASU. I feel that these degrees and the work experience from my healthcare internship and current internship at CSA would bring success working as a project coordinator. The woman I spoke with took notice in all the research experience I have and said that I would be working more on the analytical research side of the things, if all works out.

Overall, this was an awesome networking event that ASU held for their students. I was able to meet with several people and have really good discussion about employment opportunities. I look forward to reconnecting with these individuals in the future!

Blog 3: Free Write

Hello Everyone,

A new week has brought on a new project. First, I would like to make a quick comment based on one of my post's last week. Liz Archuleta has left Arizona and has begun interviewing in different states using the packet of information that I put together last week for her. I wish her the best and I will keep everyone posted on how the election turns out for the position of NACo 2nd Vice President. On another note, a new week in the office has brought on a new project that will be done over the course of the next couple weeks as more information is presented to the department and myself.

Basically, I am putting a folder together that contains all the budgets for all 15 counties. We are in that stage where most counties are beginning to put their tentative budgets together, therefore,  I am trying to get all the tentative budgets together and briefly scan over them to make sure everything makes sense. As time goes on, each county will begin to send over their adopted budgets for the new fiscal year.

We have meetings coming up in Navajo County, where we will sit in and listed to several different counties discuss their budget and need for more funding. As we all know, the financial situation differs tremendously from county to county. There will be attorneys, a few members from the house and senate, the policy analyst from CSA, and a few others sitting in on the meetings. I will briefly discuss what happens in these meetings at another time, once they occur.

Blog 2: What is a typical day like?

Although, I just recently started this internship at CSA, I am finding out that my typical day consist of mainly being in the office with the opportunity of attending a few meetings, when on the schedule. When I get to work in the morning, I check in with my boss and see what's on the agenda for the day. If I am working on a project, we tend to just go over any questions I may have with the project and then discuss any meetings that are happening that day or in the near future. I have my own desk, computer, filing system, supplies, etc.

This is a fast paced work environment, with a lot going on at once. In the department is the executive director, policy analyst, legislative liaison, director of legislative affairs, and the secretary. Everyone in this department, except the secretary, is a registered lobbyist. With that being said, the employees are in and out throughout the day attending meetings. I work at my desk for the majority of the day, but I do get out when meetings arise that I am able to attend, or if there is a hearing going on at the state house of representatives or state senate. I feel comfortable in the environment that I work in, but it can get a bit overwhelming at times. Everyone I work with is very helpful and polite. I could definitely see myself working in an environment like this for my career!

Blog 2: Free Write

I had the opportunity to attend a hearing in the Senate that covered topics such as tribal roads, schooling for Native American children and the possibility of implementing the indian school bus route maintenance program. There were a few senate and house members, as well as tribal members in attendance. Basically, there is a demand for more tax money to be allocated to better the school systems, roads to get to those schools, and the bus systems that allow the children to get to school safely.

States and counties that have indian reservations within their borders share an interest in tribal roads because both tribal members and non-members use them. To be certified by the state and comply with state and county school standards, each school must be accessible. There are still schools throughout Arizona that have dirt roads as the only access point to the school. The lowest grades around the state come from rural school districts, the biggest reason being lack of attendance. Funding is necessary in order to help desperate areas in Arizona and to raise the success rates of children going through school systems in these areas.

I had the opportunity to personally meet Senator Begay at this meeting and a few other members from the AD Hoc Committee. Once the hearing was adjourned, I went on to create a newsletter for the counties regarding the hearing. This was a wonderful experience and I look forward to attending other hearings in the upcoming weeks.

Blog 2: Free Write

The first week of work was quite interesting and very fast paced, which was a little overwhelming because I was expecting more of a slow week to ease into the role. The first project given to me was to help Liz Archuleta, who is a County Supervisor from Coconino, prepare for her election for NACo 2nd Vice President. NACo is the National Association of Counties. I worked on a document for her that consisted of 54 pages of information to help her quickly prepare for each interview she will be going to. Basically, because she will be meeting with so many people in the next couple weeks from all over the US, she will not have the time to do research herself, and find out information about all the people she will be meeting with.

The document I created for Liz did end up taking me the entire first week of work to complete. It was an enjoyable experience, being able to familiarize myself with many faces around the country, current bills that are being worked on, and other miscellaneous information. By the end of the week, I was able to give Liz a packet that consisted of information for all 50 states. The importance of this document is for Liz to be able to flip to the page that corresponds with the state that she is in, so she can familiarize herself with the faces and names of the people she will be meeting with and the current government related information that has been of debate recently, all at a quick glance. In a future blog, I will mention how the election turned out for Liz.

Blog 2: Where do I work?

The organization I am working for is the County Supervisors Association (CSA) of Arizona. This specific organization collaborates with all 15 counties in the state of Arizona. County supervisors provides regional leadership over critical policy areas, including policies necessary to ensure safe communities, protect public health, promote economic development, and plan and manage land use for sustainable development. Specifically, CSA has worked together as a non-partisan forum for county officials, delivering efficient, responsive local public services. Within the CSA membership are 61 elected supervisors through out the 15 counties of Arizona.

Over the course of my internship, I will have the opportunity of meeting several county supervisors by attending meetings. Additionally, I will be working on newsletters, conducting analytical research, working with budgets, gathering information for candidates running for positions, attending legislative hearings in both the house and senate, and finally attending general meetings.