Eleanor Gloor Gable of Bluemont will serve as a page in the Senate of Virginia during the 2013 session of the General Assembly. Ellie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Gable and attends Blue Ridge Middle School. She was appointed by Senator Ryan T. McDougle of Hanover.

Pages and messengers reported to the State Capitol for orientation Sunday, January 6, and serve until the session adjourns Saturday, February 23. The rigorous, three-day orientation and training program prepares Senate pages and messengers to successfully fulfill workplace responsibilities.

The chief duty of Senate pages and messengers is to assist the Senators during floor sessions and committee meetings. In addition to their chief responsibilities, Senate pages and messengers run errands, answer telephones, work in the bill room, post office, Clerk's Office, assist in the public information office, staff information desks, and speak with visiting school groups.

While in Richmond, all pages and messengers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining their schoolwork and assignments. A mandatory two-hour study session is administered Monday through Thursday evenings.

Senate pages and messengers must be 13 or 14 years of age at the time of election or appointment. On a rotating basis, Senators choose 11 of the pages while leaders appoint another five, including a page for the lieutenant governor. Senate messengers are appointed by the Clerk of the Senate at the recommendation of Senators who do not make an appointment that year.

As early as 1848, nearly 100 years after the legislature convened in Thomas Jefferson's "Temple on the Hill," the first mention of pages appears in the Senate Journal. The program has evolved into an engaging experience for students interested in history, civics, government and politics.

Recognized for excellence by the Virginia Board of Education, the program prepares young people to be effective leaders and responsible citizens in their community. The National Conference of State Legislatures featured Virginia's page program in its August 2012 issue of State Legislatures magazine.