The run of a lifetime

Interning in Washington, D.C. has been quite an experience. Just being here changes your perspective on the way our country is run. It does not take long to see the hustle and bustle of the city and the urgency that everyone has to meet the demands on their time. This is especially true on “the hill.” It is amazing the things that you can see, even just walking around the city. Just last week I saw the President of the United States, twice! The first time I saw him was at the President’s Dinner, one of the big fund raising events for the Republican Party where many of the Republican Representatives and Senators are in attendance. That was quite an event. The second time is kind of a cool story. I like to run and I don’t think there is any place better to run in the country than on the National Mall in the middle of Washington, D.C. The Mall is where all the monuments are located, including the Washington Monument and the Capitol building. I was running back from the Lincoln Memorial towards the Washington Monument when I saw a large group of Secret Service agents huddled around 16th and D streets, right next to the reflection pool where Martin Luther King made his famous “I have a dream speech.” I decided to stop and watch what was going on. The Secret Service was keeping people back as a crowd started to form. Everyone was speculating what they thought was going on, but no one really knew. Not even ten minutes passed when the roar of a helicopter came overhead. Sure enough, Marine One helicopter landed 100 feet from me and President Bush stepped off waving to the crowd. That was probably the most unbelievable run I have ever had.

I intern at the Pentagon, which is a pretty cool thing in itself. The constant focus on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan makes you really appreciate the job we have there and what our troops are sacrificing for our freedom. I am interning with Defense Secretary Gates’ speech writing group. We have been working on several speeches he will be delivering soon and to be a part of that is a great experience. One of the things I am working on is a project that our office started called Heroes in the War on Terror. The program finds different members of the armed forces who have fought bravely in the War on Terror and writes their story. I just finished writing a story about a truly inspiring Marine. If you get a chance, check out www.defenselink.mil/heroes and check out Major Doug Zembiec, the Lion of Fallujah. It’s an extremely inspiring story of a Marine who courageously fought and died for his country. I would also encourage you to check out all of the heroes on the website. They deserve everything we can give for what they have done for our country.

In the Writers Group, we also work closely with several other divisions in the Pentagon including the Press and Media, which means you get to meet some pretty famous people. Just today, I was at a press conference with Charlie Daniels, the famous country music artist, where he was presented a medal from the Department of Defense and the Defense Secretary for his continued support of the troops overseas. It was pretty neat to shake his hand and get his autograph. Who knows, maybe next time it will be Toby Keith or Carrie Underwood.

I am also currently working on volunteering for an advance trip with the Defense Secretary. These trips set everything up for the Secretary before he arrives to give a speech or attend an event. The advance team sets up the press and media, attendance, security, arrival and departure, and many other things for the Secretary before he arrives at a location to give a speech or attend a function. Hopefully soon, I will be shadowing the Director of Advance for the Secretary of Defense and possibly going on trips with them. Not bad for a summer intern.

Even simple things in Washington, D.C. can be pretty surreal. Every day, I walk to the metro on my way to work and every day I see a different building that is home to another government agency or department that you only read about in books. For example, just blocks from our apartment are the Department of Interior, Department of Labor, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, and several embassies. Not even two blocks from our apart sits the White House where I run past almost every day. From our rooftop balcony, you can see nearly every monument including a spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, General Lee’s house atop the hill in Arlington National Cemetery, the Old Executive Office Building, and in the distance the Capitol Building. Just last Friday, we were on the roof top balcony and fireworks were going off over the Potomac River on the Virginia side. It was awesome.

The other thing about being in Washington, D.C. is the people you are around that you can get in contact with. Last Friday, all the KA interns had a luncheon with several other KAs that work in Washington. The luncheon was held at the offices of Meyers and Associates, a lobbying firm in Washington. The President of Meyers and Associates is Larry Meyers who was the Number I for the Gamma Chi chapter at Texas Tech University, which is the same chapter where I am a brother. Mr. Meyers and I joked about former Knight Commander and Gamma Chi Chapter brother, Dr. Idris Traylor, being Mr. Meyers’ little brother while Dr. Traylor was pledging. I mistakenly made Larry feel old by saying Dr. Traylor was more of a mentor to me than a little brother and we all just laughed it off. We asked the KA alumni questions about working on “the hill” and what kinds of opportunities are available for young students like ourselves in Washington, D.C. They stressed the importance of taking internships if you really want to work in D.C. in the future. The luncheon was great and I thought it was truly amazing to find KAs at their level of their careers still wanting to help young brothers of the Order.

Nightlife in Washington is great too. Georgetown is by far my favorite place to go besides maybe our rooftop balcony. There is also a restaurant on the top of Hotel Washington that has a great view of the White House and the Washington Monument. This place is especially good for dates. It even has a bar with a view for after hour’s drinks. So far Washington, D.C. really has been a blast. Something exciting is always going on here. Meeting all the other interns and students has been really great as well. D.C. is the melting pot for students from all over the country. For example, in my office there are two girls from California, a girl from Washington state, a guy from upstate New York, and a guy from North Carolina, to name a few. On our apartment hall there are students from Michigan, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We met three girls from Georgia who are friends with Bryan, and then every day we meet even more people from different places. It is really great to meet so many different people and hear them talk about where they are from. People hear that I am from Texas and they always give me a hard time that “everything is bigger in Texas.” I never argue with them and just smile as big as I can.

-Chris Huff (Gamma Chi – Texas Tech ’05)

Summer's here (almost)

Judging by Georgia standards, DC has yet to get into real summer weather. It's a good thing because this week has been by far the busiest. I have been working hard on researching for the campaign, taking RSVPs for and planning the Leadership Conference in July, and compiling donor lists. On Tuesday, I attended a cocktail party at the penthouse apartment of a large supporter. There were about 40 of the largest Republican supporters present and about 8 Senators. It was certainly an amazing experience to be in the company of such large supporters. On Wednesday, we had the Patriot Breakfast in the morning and a political conference in the afternoon. From there, I accompanied Senator Thune to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to make fundraising calls. By the time we wrapped up there, it was time to head to the President's Dinner. At the dinner, I arrived with Senator Thune and staffed him until the dinner was over. Most of us got great seats up front for dinner and were able to hear the President speak. We all stayed for the concert and got a chance to meet Congressmen and other interns. Over the weekend we had the pleasure of touring the White House with an E. Fleming Mason alum, Chris Cook. In the morning we toured the East Wing then had lunch together. The afternoon was dedicated to a tour of the Executive Office Buildings and West Wing. Not many people get to see this part of the White House anymore, so we all felt very lucky. As a group I think we all appreciated the fact that a former E. Fleming Intern was now giving us a tour of the White House. After a great weekend of sightseeing it was back to the grindstone of work on "The Hill."

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

At the White House

The 2007 internship class at the White House. Left to right: Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georgia '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05).

Bryan Schivera, PACman

Arriving on Saturday, June 2 at Reagan National Airport, I was met by a smiling Rusty Foster who brought me to the George Washington University campus to meet the rest of the interns. Everyone certainly has high expectations for the next two months. I was impressed with the variety and diversity of chapters represented. Along with that diversity, however, the common thread that connects all KA men is apparent. Looking ahead at the summer, the group will have numerous opportunities to experience DC in a way most other interns will not.

My particular internship position is with Senator John Thune’s Finance Director. Day-to-day, I work with her on the Heartland Values PAC Leadership Conference, which all of us interns will attend and volunteer for in July. Some of the internship position involves compiling donor lists and planning the Leadership Conference, and I get to attend many events with the Finance Director. Last week, Philip Davis and I went to a fundraiser for Mitt Romney. There are several senatorial briefings, donor dinners, and fundraising events that I am scheduled to attend this summer. The internship position with Senator Thune is an amazing opportunity to gain experience with campaign work as well as having the opportunity to attend numerous DC political events. I am grateful to be here with four other KA brothers whom I have already become great friends. We will undoubtedly have the summer of a lifetime.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Arriving on Saturday, June 2 at Reagan National Airport, I was met by a smiling Rusty Foster who brought me to the George Washington University campus to meet the rest of the interns. Everyone certainly has high expectations for the next two months. I was impressed with the variety and diversity of chapters represented. Along with that diversity, however, the common thread that connects all KA men is apparent. Looking ahead at the summer, the group will have numerous opportunities to experience DC in a way most other interns will not.

My particular internship position is with Senator John Thune’s Finance Director. Day-to-day, I work with her on the Heartland Values PAC Leadership Conference, which all of us interns will attend and volunteer for in July. Some of the internship position involves compiling donor lists and planning the Leadership Conference, and I get to attend many events with the Finance Director. Last week, Philip Davis and I went to a fundraiser for Mitt Romney. There are several senatorial briefings, donor dinners, and fundraising events that I am scheduled to attend this summer. The internship position with Senator Thune is an amazing opportunity to gain experience with campaign work as well as having the opportunity to attend numerous DC political events. I am grateful to be here with four other KA brothers whom I have already become great friends. We will undoubtedly have the summer of a lifetime.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Face time with Mitt

Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georgia '04), Governor Mitt Romney and Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03) at a campaign rally for Mitt Romney's presidential bid.

The first week in Washington, DC has been a great start to the summer. I am interning at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and it has been a great placement. In a typical day, I will normally do research or visit a congressional office. This week the NRCC is taking all of the interns for a tour of the US Capitol. The entire NRCC staff is really supportive in helping each intern promote themselves and to gain a great experience.

Bryan and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. We were able to meet him and to take a picture together. So much has happened in the first week that it seems as if we have already been in Washington, DC for a month. The five of us living together have had a great time, whether visiting the sites of DC, going out to Georgetown or spending time at the apartment – it has all made for a great time. We have all begun to settle into the city and our internships quite well after the first full week.

-Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State – ’03)

Tate settles in

I arrived in Washington, D.C. at Reagan International Airport at 2:10pm on Friday, June 1 and was greeted by Rusty Foster and Erik Showalter, two Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation staff members. We waited at the airport for an hour and a half for Philip and Chris to arrive. Upon Chris and Philip’s arrival, we hailed cabs and headed to The George Washington University to check-in to our apartment. We arrived at the apartment around 4:30pm and began unloading and unpacking all of our belongings. I could not believe how well supplied our apartment was by the George Washington University and by the KAOEF. Everything we needed, from pillows to a toaster oven, was supplied by the KAOEF.

I began interning at the American Business Development Group on Tuesday, June 5. The first week was slow because most of the employees in my office were on a business trip in Anchorage, Alaska. I spent the majority of my first week settling in and helping to rearrange the office. Overall, the first week was about adjusting to working and living in the city. Getting accustomed to waking up early and riding the Metro was simple. In addition, the Metro prices are relatively inexpensive and the Metro system is extensive enough to take a person within walking distance of any point in the city.

-Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)

Arrival in D.C.

The 2007 internship class on the rooftop terrace of their aparment building in downtown DC. Left to right: Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georiga '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05).

June 12, 2007

Being the first intern to arrive in Washington, DC by almost a week, I must admit that I was a little nervous coming into a big, unfamiliar city by myself, but I stepped off the plane at Washington-Reagan International Airport with great anticipation and excitement to start my summer off as an E. Fleming Mason Memorial Intern. After I checked into the George Washington University (GW), I decided to go out into the city to explore and to find where I would be working the next day. I walked the National Mall and saw the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums and the Lincoln Memorial, eventually finding my way to the Foggy Bottom Metro Station. Riding the Metro for the first time was an experience. I got lost and had to ask for directions at every stop. I think the Metro Officials were glad to see me get off the Metro. After that fiasco, I decided to head back to GW and to get a good night sleep before my first day of interning.

My internship started smoothly, even though first days can be a little hectic (learning names, agency policies and what I would actually be doing this summer). The first week went along without a hitch, and my supervisor was already giving me tougher assignments. I intern in the Policy Department of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, and I do a number of different tasks such as analyzing data and generating graphs to be used in staff meetings and doing research for my supervisor. I am really satisfied with my internship this summer and foresee not only a summer of hard work, but also a summer of learning about the Department of Labor.

The social scene in DC has been great too. I have been fortunate that many of my fellow KAs at Duke have moved to DC after graduation and they have shown me around. Going out in DC affords many interns a chance to meet other interns outside of a formal working environment. My favorite areas thus far are Georgetown and Capitol Hill.

I am looking forward to my busy week coming up. On Wednesday, we are volunteering at the President’s Dinner. This will be a great opportunity to hear the President speak, and I am especially excited because I’ve never see the President in person. This weekend, we get a behind the scenes tour of the White House. At work, I have a big project due Friday in which I have to put together a PowerPoint presentation and research paper to present to my supervisor. Therefore, I will be putting in long hours in the Department of Labor’s library to finish this assignment by Friday.

-Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi – Duke ’04)

DC here we come

The first week in Washington, DC has been a great start to the summer. I am interning at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and it has been a great placement. In a typical day, I will normally do research or visit a congressional office. This week the NRCC is taking all of the interns for a tour of the US Capitol. The entire NRCC staff is really supportive in helping each intern promote themselves and to gain a great experience.

Bryan and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. We were able to meet him and to take a picture together. So much has happened in the first week that it seems as if we have already been in Washington, DC for a month. The five of us living together have had a great time, whether visiting the sites of DC, going out to Georgetown or spending time at the apartment – it has all made for a great time. We have all begun to settle into the city and our internships quite well after the first full week.

-Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State – ’03)

Meet the interns...

Tate Daniel Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)
Tate is rising senior at Elon University where he is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business Administration. He is a Justin Holloway Memorial Scholarship and Elon Presidential Scholarship recipient. Tate has been on the Dean’s List, is currently on the President’s List, and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Order of Omega. Within the Epsilon Mu chapter, Tate is currently the Number I, has been the Parliamentarian, Standards Committee Chairman and Chairman of the Judicial Committee. He wants to graduate from Elon University with honors and be accepted into a law school preferably in the Washington, DC area where he’ll pursue a JD/MBA degree. Tate is interning with the American Business Development Group.

Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State ’03)
Philip is a senior at Oklahoma State University where he will graduate this fall with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. He has been on the Dean’s List and is a KAOEF Scholarship recipient. Philip has been the Rush, Scholarship and Social Chairman, not to mention the Number IX, III, and I of Beta Xi chapter. In the past year, Philip has lead a bible study and serves the largest Christian ministry on campus, “Overflow.” After graduation, Philip wants to pursue a dual masters degree in Public Administration and Psychology. Philip has served on and volunteered for several local congressional campaigns in Oklahoma. Philip is interning with the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Alexander Bunnen Feinberg (Alpha Phi – Duke ’04)
Alex is a recent graduate of Duke University where he majored in History. Alex has been on the National Dean’s List, the Dean’s List at Duke and on the Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll. He has volunteered his time at the Durham Literacy Center and traveled to New Orleans to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina. He was a four-year member of the Duke Varsity football team. Alex served Alpha Phi chapter as Number III during his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Alabama in the fall. Alex is interning with the Department of Labor.

Christopher Allen Huff (Gamma Chi – Texas Tech ’05)
Chris is a recent graduate of Texas Tech University where he received a BBA in International Business. Chris has been the recipient of several academic and community awards: Dean’s List, Robert H. Ewalt Student Government Association Scholarship, Alpha Phi Omega Leadership Scholarship, Order of Omega and Lewis N. Jones Pledge Leadership Award to name a few. Within the Gamma Chi chapter, Chris was Pledge Class President and Number I. This past spring, Chris completed his term as External Vice President for the Student Government Association. Chris is interning with the Department of Defense.

Bryan Alexander Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)
Bryan is a rising senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Political Science. He is on the Dean’s List and is a HOPE Scholar. Bryan is an active volunteer with HERO for Children, a philanthropy that raises money for children affected by HIV. In 2006, Bryan was the top fundraiser for HERO. Within the Gamma chapter, Bryan has served as Number IV, Sports Committee and Rush Committee Chairman. After graduation, Bryan hopes to join the Kappa Alpha Order staff as an Associate Director of Chapter Services and eventually apply to law school. Bryan is interning with Senator John Thune (R-SD).

The 2007 internship class on the rooftop terrace of their aparment building in downtown DC. Left to right: Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georiga '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05).