Becoming a Page

Each year about 30 young Vermonters are selected to work as legislative pages in the Vermont State House. Pages deliver messages for the members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the various legislative offices. Serving as a page offers a unique opportunity to observe the workings of the legislature and to witness first-hand the often historic events in Montpelier.

Many Vermont politicians, including members of the current Legislature, got their start working as pages. If you will be an eighth-grade student during the winter of 2001-2002, and are interested in public affairs, and would like to serve as a legislative page, you and your parents must complete the application form and submit it with a cover letter and other supporting information to the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms. This information will be available in June.

Between 125 and 150 applications are received each year, so no one should be disappointed if he or she is not selected. Only 27 pages and 3 executive messengers are chosen from this group each year. Pages must be in the eighth grade the year that they serve. Every effort is made to select at least one page from each county. Only one child per family is allowed to serve; this gives more families a chance to participate in the program.

Pages must have the ability to communicate with both members of the General Assembly and the general public. Discipline is firm but fair. If pages fail to carry out their duties and conduct themselves with decorum befitting their position, they will be subject to dismissal.

Pages are furnished with green blazers. Boys must wear white shirts, grey dress pants, black dress shoes and ties. Girls must wear white blouses, grey skirts (knee length or longer) or dress pants and black dress shoes. Jewelry in good taste is allowed.

Pages are responsible for finding their own transportation to and from Montpelier, as well as finding housing in Montpelier. Pages receive a salary of $104.80 per week, plus $95 per week for those staying in Montpelier. Pages commuting every day receive $60 per week for expenses. Anyone living more than 40 miles from Montpelier must stay in Montpelier due to the necessity of being here by 7:30 a.m.

The 30 pages are divided into three groups, the first two groups each serving for a period of six weeks. The third group may serve for the remainder of the session at the discretion of the Sergeant at Arms. Applicants should be available to serve in any session. This is done to prevent having pages from the same area serving at the same time, and to have an equal number of girls and boys in each session.

Pages begin their work day at 7:30 a.m. and work until 4:30 p.m. or later. Normally the work week is Tuesday through Friday, but there are times when pages may have to work on Mondays and Saturdays.

These rules and regulations must be adhered to, to assure the smooth running of the program.

If you have any questions please feel free to call:

Kermit Spaulding, Sergeant at Arms
Jean Herring, Assistant Sgt. At Arms
Telephone: 802-828-2228 or 1-800-322-5616