Weekly Log #1: 1/13-1/15/10

Days worked: Wednesday-Friday

Hours worked: 18 hours

Activities:

Wednesday - Attended meeting over future of mass ground transportation and national security
Reading on the Center's current and upcoming projects regarding revitalizing NATO in Afghanistan.

Thursday - Conducted online searches of important people's contact information including CIA
Director Leon Panetta, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and General Stanley McChrystal. Wrote an e-mail invitation for our project's "Expert Advisory Group." Proofread letter going to CIA Director Panetta. Typed up letter for Brent Scowcroft. Continued reading paperwork on the Center's projects.

Friday - Wrote an e-mail invitation for our project's "Ambassadors" who assisted in research. Printed out, scanned, and made labels for letters that would be going to Panetta and Gates.

Overall Reflections:

I'm starting my first internship at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress just a few weeks before they present what is looking like to be their biggest project they have ever worked on. This "Assessment" on capabilities NATO members have yet to commit to Afghanistan is attracting big names including General Petraeus who will be coming into the Center next Friday to give his input and to hear what this Assessment has to say. Needless to say, I really am jumping in mid-stream here at the Center and while I still feel somewhat overwhelmed, I know this will be a positive experience come the end of April. My immediate supervisor, Ryan, who is the project leader, is very down to earth and I feel he and I won't have any problems working together. The rest of the staff are also very friendly and close-knit as the Center only employs 30 staffers. I look forward to working at the Center as it seems to be a very exciting time for them. From what Ryan tells me, despite not getting paid, I will be treated as a full time employee and will get a very vast education on the subject material and on working in D.C.