It's hard to believe, but three more interns-Patrick Ayers, Laurie Van Hall, and myself-are coming to the end of their ten-week stay at the Great Divide Ranch. While I can hardly pretend to speak for everyone, I personally had an amazing time. The three of us were all members of the Key Votes department, and while parsing literally thousands of pages of legislation is hardly a way to spend a weekend, it is rewarding work. Not only does one gain a greater understanding of how legislation actually works, but also by the end of the day, you know that you have translated the seemingly imperceptible ‘legalese' into something that the voting public will understand. If you haven't had a chance yet, take the time to check out our State Key Votes department, and see what your state legislature has been up to in the last couple of years.

Yet one of the great appeals of working at the Ranch is the fact that it is a retreat, about as far away from the Beltway as an intern can get. We work intensely during the week, but we are also able to appreciate the natural splendor in which we reside. From the PVS Olympics (featured in an earlier entry) to camping trips to Glacier National Park and Kaiser Lake, I can say unequivocally that I managed to have a great time, all while working towards saving American democracy.

--Evan Lisull, Key Votes Intern, Summer 2007