NOTE:  The information below is subject to revision.  For updates on scheduling, contact Cheryl Fondon of the Governor’s Office at  Cheryl.Fondon@governor.alabama.gov

 

 

 

Dear Interns:

 

Greetings!  We are excited to have you spend part of your summer with us! We trust you will have an educational and enjoyable time!

All of you should have received your welcome letter and packet of information in the mail. If you have not, please call us soon. 

 

As a reminder there are three groups who participate in our program each year.

Please note that most of the information is written for those involved for 6 weeks and all reference to Montgomery Experience is usually noted with ME.  

 

UA Montgomery Experience (ME) (3 weeks) May 11- May 29

Summer I         (6 weeks)       May 11 -June 19

Summer II        (6 weeks)       June 22- July 31 

 

I have included the information you will need for your first day at the bottom of this email. There are three additional items I need to bring to your attention.

 

1) Students of both groups are invited to attend the special events and activities we have scheduled but must sign up in advance.

Such activities include Departments of Public Safety (fingerprint, crime analysis, bomb detection demonstration, state trooper school & museum), Tourism (statewide attractions, public relations), Conservation (state parks, land conservation, water & boat safety, enforcement), Alcohol Beverage Control (warehouse tour, law enforcement, underage drinking consequences), Corrections (tour of a prison-optional), Development Office (economic development, tour of Hyundai plant), National Guard (tour of military facility, demonstration of emergency response), Transportation (engineering, hurricane response-lane switching) and Education (state board meetings).

 

Elected officials include meeting and photo opportunity with the Governor, attending the Governor's public press conferences and appearances, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, member of the Legislature, Justices and Judges of the Supreme and Appellate Court along with a tour of the Judicial Bldg & Law Library.  

 

Events are grouped together so students attend together and stay as one group.

 

Monday May 11th

9:30am - 11:30am  Orientation (can include tour of State House)

11:30 - Meet & Greet Photo with Governor Riley

 

Wednesday May 13th

2:30pm - 3:00pm Meet & Greet Photo with State Treasurer Kay Ivey

3:00pm - 3:30pm Meet & Greet Photo with State Auditor Samantha 'Sam' Shaw

3:30pm - 4:00pm Meet & Greet Photo with Secretary of State Beth Chapman

 

Friday May 15th

 TBD  Attend Day of the Legislative Session; Sit in on the Senate/House Chamber Debates

  

Monday May 18th

3:00pm - 4:00pm Meet & Greet Photo with State Judges & Tour of Supreme Court & Law Library

 

Wednesday May 20th

1:00pm - 3:30pm  Presentation and Tour of the Hyundai Car Manufacturing Plant

4:00pm - 5:00pm  MANDATORY Pre Meeting to attend Prison on Friday

                           (After hearing information students may opt out of going but if they miss meeting they cannot attend PERIOD.)

 

Thursday May 21st

8:00am - 9:00am Alcohol Control Board Tour and Meet Investigators

9:00am - 10:00am National Guard & 2009 Hurricane Emergency Drill

10:00am - 11:00am Transportation Dept

 

Friday May 22nd

8:00am - 12:00pm Prison Tour

 

Wednesday May 27th

1:30pm - 2:30pm Department of Public Safety

2:30pm - 3:30pm Department of Conservation

3:30pm - 4:30pm Department of Tourism

4:30pm - 5:30pm Mansion Tour & Ice Cream Social with Governor & First Lady

 

Thursday May 28th

10:00am-11:00am State Board of Education Meeting

 

PRISON TOUR:  You will have the opportunity to choose to tour a state prison. If you choose to go, the following attire must be worn so please consider this in your wardrobe choices. 

(Required dress: NO WHITE IN CLOTHING: khaki pants, loose fitting casual colored top with short sleeves (buttoned or pullover) - with no writing, no T-shirts; Shoes - closed toe & heel & flat footed - like tennis shoes, boat shoes, loafers, etc. Tennis shoes can have some white but not predominately white. Some of the flooring is metal grating - NO heels) FYI: You will also need a valid driver's license to attend. 

 

2)WOMEN: In addition to the proper dress/shoes code outlined below, you may want to bring flats to walk and carry dress shoes/heels in an oversize purse to wear in the office. Generally there is a lot of walking around the state complex and on the scheduled activities.  Flip-flops are NOT to be worn while working or attending special events. 

 

3) FIRST DAY PARKING AND INFORMATION:  May 11 for Summer I and ME students.  The instructions below for parking at Cramton Bowl are for Summer I students only because you will be arriving at 8:30am and meeting in my office Room EB-06 and will be where you park for the time of your internship. The shuttle/trolley only runs from 7:30-8:30 so all of the Montgomery Experience students who will not be arriving till 9:30am will need to locate parking around the Capitol. This will be difficult because there is not much metered parking. Most of the guest parking is located on the front side of the Capitol on Dexter Ave & Bainbridge Street.  

DO NOT PARK in any of the "Reserved Governor's Staff" spaces. We apologize for any of the inconvenience but it is just the nature of the downtown area. ME students, if you wish to come early in order to ride the trolley, there is seating in the rotunda or you're free to look about until the group arrives. I would also encourage carpooling from AUM. When the ME group arrives at 9:30am in the rotunda, you will first go out on the Capitol Steps and take your group photo (without Governor) that is traditionally made each year. Then proceed to the meeting space on the 3rd Floor of the Capitol where all the students will be together for an orientation meeting. At 11:30 we will go to to the Governor's Executive Suite for a meet, greet and photo opportunity with Governor Riley. You will have an individual photo and one large group taken in which you will receive before the end of your internship. Personal cameras will not be allowed during this time. Following this meeting all students will be free to leave and go to lunch. ME students will then go to their assigned places and Summer I students will return to my office in Room EB-06. Staff will come to my office to take you to your location of work. (ME students: Amber, Victor, Griffith, Nicole will return back to Rm EB-06 as well.)   At the end of the day, the trolley picks back up from 4:30pm-5:30pm so on this first day we try to help so feel free to meet at the back doors of the Capitol on Union Street at 4:45-5:00pm and we will assist with catching the trolley and getting you back to Cramton Bowl parking lot.                

 

 

 

 

 

Governor’s Office Internship Program

 

 

WELCOME! We are glad to have you join Governor Bob Riley’s office this summer. We trust this opportunity will be both educational and enjoyable as you pursue a greater understanding of how your government works.

 

FIRST DAY SCHEDULE:

 

  8:30am  -  9:00am    RM: EB-06     Meet with Cheryl Fondon

Director, Administration and Internship Coordinator

  9:00am -   9:30am    CAPITOL       Introduce Interns to Governor’s Staff

  9:30am  - 11:30am     CAPITOL       Orientation (Meet Rotunda – 3rd Floor)

                                                            UA Montgomery Experience Join Us 

11:30am –  12:00am CAPITOL        Meet,Greet,Photo with Governor Riley

12:00am –   1:30pm   Lunch

  1:30pm –   1:30pm   RM: EB-06     Receive Department Assignments

Meet with your Department Supervisors

  1:30pm –   5:00pm   TBD                Spend afternoon in your assigned area

 

 

 

PARKING:

 

Due to the limited number of parking spaces around the capitol complex, you must park at Cramton Bowl (local football stadium) located at 1022 Madison Avenue and turn onto Hilliard Street. The parking lot is behind the stadium off Hilliard Street not on Madison Avenue. The parking lot is huge and has many cars (approx 300-400) in it from state workers. If you park in a lot that has no or few cars you are at the wrong lot. There is free shuttle service that transports workers to all of the state buildings in the area.

 

The shuttle runs every 10 minutes from 6:30am – 8:30am and 3:30pm – 5:30pm. You will be picked up from the parking lot that runs along Hilliard Street.  Exit the shuttle at the State House stop on the corner of Washington and Union Street. 

 

TIP: Tell the trolley driver that you are a Governor’s Office intern and normally to assist you with your first day they will drive you right to the back door entrance to the Capitol on Union St.

 

Enter the Capitol from the rear entrance off Union Street.

Proceed up the staircase and you will be greeted in the east basement corridor and granted access, proceed to room EB-06 located on your left.

 

 

Housing information for summer internships only. We do not provide direct housing but have been granted permission for our interns to contact Auburn University of Montgomery and request temporary housing that allows our interns to stay in their dormitories.  This arrangement is made directly between the student and AUM. AUM charges a very nominal fee per night but payment is made in advance for your entire stay. For more information please contact Daryl Morris at 334-244-3717 or dmorris@mail.aum.edu.

 

 

Holidays:      Holidays that will be observed during your internship.

                      Summer I – Monday, May 25th – Memorial Day

                                          Monday, June 1 – Jefferson Davis Birthday

                      Summer II- Friday, July 3rdh – Fourth of July    

 

Schedule:         Work hours for Governor’s Office is 8:00am – 5:00pm.

                        Please allow shuttle time so that you are in your office ready to work at 8

                        **  FIRST DAY ONLY ARRIVE at 8:30am.

 

Lunch:             Lunch is for 1 hour between the hours of 11:00am – 1:30pm. 

            Several places within walking distance:

                        State Employee Cafeteria – Folsom Bldg basement (Union Street)

                        RSA Plaza Café – RSA Plaza 1st Floor (Washington Avenue)

                        Subway – RSA Union 1st Floor (Union & Monroe)

                        Trolley stops around many eateries in downtown area.

                       

Dress/Attire  

 

For the men: It is appropriate to wear a coat and tie everyday. This can consists of a suit or slacks, sports coat and tie.  While working in your designated area you may have the option to remove your coat but it is appropriate to put it on if traveling to other offices or attending meetings and other events. 

 

For the ladies:  It is appropriate to wear a suit with jacket, slacks or skirts or a dress, blouse and skirt/slacks outfit.  All skirts should be at a modest length and shirts and blouses should be appropriate for office attire. Ladies are not required to wear hosiery and open toe dressy sandals are permitted (but no flip-flops,etc.)   

 

Our office maintains a very professional and conservative environment and all employees and interns are asked to comply. 

A good rule of thumb in regards to your clothing choices is

1) if you have a question about it, it's probably not appropriate and

2) your appearance should be neat, clean and professional at all times.

 

                           

Working in the Governor’s Office is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.  We aspire to hold ourselves to a higher standard and expect all those representing the Governor to do the same.

 

We ask our interns to bring an open mind, working hands and a willing heart!

 

We are glad you’re here and looking forward to a great summer!

 

Cheryl Fondon

Director, Administration

Internship Coordinator

(334) 353-7510 and Cheryl.Fondon@governor.alabama.gov