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Moore office praises exceptional work ethic of unpaid interns

Summer, past academic year produces standouts in veteran lawmaker’s office

August 19, 2009 ... In amongst the hustle and bustle of Sen. Richard T. Moore’s, D-Uxbridge, State House office, daily operations seem to become better and better as the years go on. Many would cite this solely because of the dedication of his paid staff. However, the Senator will be the first to tell everyone that the commitments of volunteer interns are a valuable supplement. This summer and during the school year, Sen. Moore welcomed legislative interns to his office, as he always has in past years. These volunteers produced invaluable resources to guide public policy, and keep the general operations of his office moving in a positive direction.

“The labor of our unpaid interns has always been appreciated by me and my staff members throughout the years,” Sen. Moore stated. “While every year has their standouts, we have certainly seen some exceptional students this past summer and the previous academic year.”

According to the Corporation for Public and Community Service and the Independent Sector’s recent report published in USA Today, volunteer interns’ work is valued around $20.50 an hour. Based on this data, Sen. Moore’s two summer interns alone have saved the Commonwealth close to $7,000 in labor—no small amount in a strained economy. These numbers are perhaps even more meaningful to Sen. Moore this year, as he voluntarily reduced his staff from six members to five, after two senior members left in April. The Senator chose to fill only one of the positions due to the current economic climate.

Interns with sharp intellect and a thirst for knowledge are by no means a new phenomenon in Moore’s office. Throughout the years, Sen. Moore has welcomed future lawyers, future state officials, and even future elected officials who have worked strongly and diligently as unpaid assistants. Though many times, interns will help staff members accomplish many of the ordinary, day to day tasks of a Senator’s office, each has taken the opportunity to make the experience their own, and to make an impact in the Senator’s work as a lawmaker serving the constituents of the fourteen towns that comprise the Worcester & Norfolk District.

Vanessa Lynskey of the Town of Webster, offered her services not only during the Fall of 2008, but the Spring of 2009, during her senior year at Tufts University. While in Sen. Moore’s office, Ms. Lynskey helped propose a valuable report on colleges’ health insurance options for students, and addressed the need for reforms within the current Qualifying Student Health Insurance Plans (QSHIP). That report was instrumental in helping to craft one of Sen. Moore’s bills this session, SB 609, which would repeal the current QSHIP program and improve the student health insurance product so that it meets the state’s definition of “creditable coverage,” thereby complying fully with health reform.

“The common perception of interns is making copies and answering the phones,” Moore offered. “I am happy to say however, that my interns have taken learning and working to a whole other level, and have made the positions their own, under mine and my staff members’ guidance. I can easily say that many of our interns’ reports, at least in the past year, have been invaluable to helping me in my job as a state legislator.”

Two of the Senator’s Summer ‘09 interns, Amanda Ethridge of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Louis DiCrescentis of Uxbridge, MA, are the latest to provide him with detailed reports. Ms. Ethridge, who is a student at Sen. Moore’s alma mater of Clark University in Worcester, offered an analysis of elderly drivers involved in car crashes—a current, hot-button issue within the Commonwealth. As a bill that mandates tests for elderly drivers moves through the Legislature, the Senator expressed the fact that the report’s contents will be helpful in making decisions when voting on the legislation. Moore has even circulated the report amongst his colleagues in the Senate and House of Representatives, offering the evaluation as a background for any future debate.

DiCrescentis, a student at Assumption College in Worcester, assessed Veterans’ benefits, including their health care, and privileges like veterans license plates. Of the report, Moore stated, “Every American honors and appreciates the sacrifice of our veterans, past and present. I want to make sure that veterans in my district receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. They need to live with dignity in recognition of their service to America, and Louis’s report certainly conveys this message.”

While Sen. Moore’s office attracts interns largely from the Worcester & Norfolk District, the Senator has worked throughout the years with interns from the State House’s Legislative Education Office, headed by Anne Ziaja and Susan Wojtas. Together, the two have worked with Sen. Moore on the Citizens’ Legislative Seminar, the State House’s Annual Student Government Day, and the summer’s Legislative Intern Seminar series. The Seminar allows Sen. Moore’s interns, in addition to other interns throughout the State House, to meet with lawmakers and state officials, gaining valuable information on the Massachusetts legislative process. In addition to the Seminar, Ms. Ziaja and Ms. Wojtas offer a comprehensive intern handbook that prepares interns for work within the State House.

“The enthusiasm and idealism the interns bring to the Legislative offices energizes all of us who are committed to public service. Conversely, the students are fortunate to work under the tutelage of leaders of Sen. Moore’s caliber,” said Anne Ziaja.

“We’ve been honored with the work commitment in my office alone,” said Sen. Moore. “That’s not to say however, that this caliber of an intern is non-existent in other State House offices. I think the people of the Commonwealth would be surprised to see how important these college workers are in not only offering us valuable information, but in easily getting us through the daily tasks. The dollars that should be paid to these dedicated individuals, throughout at least my life in public service, is probably insurmountable,” he concluded.

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