Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Portfolio by Samantha Mendaros
Portfolio by Samantha Mendaros
Communications Portfolio
November 2011
Table of Contents
Resume ..................................................................................... 1
Published Work ......................................................................... 2
The first example in this section is a newspaper column I drafted as press intern for Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray. The objective was to highlight several international partnerships formed under Senator Murrays leadership, and my role included researching the Commonwealths biotechnology and life sciences industries and preparing the final copy. The piece was published under the Senate Presidents name on July 6, 2012, in The Barnstable Patriot, which reaches over 12,000 readers in southeastern Massachusetts. The second example is a blog post I drafted for Senator Murrays Plymouth Patch blog. The objective was to highlight several of the state Senates legislative accomplishments and explain how they will benefit constituents in the Senate Presidents District.
Resume
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Journalism Boston University, College of Communication Major in News-Editorial Journalism, Minors in Political Science & Public Relations Expected Graduation: May 2013
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Press Intern | Office of Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray May 2012 to Present (Boston, MA) Monitor news coverage of the Senate President in print and online publications Gather clips from state and local media outlets and distribute to staff each morning Write press releases for distribution in the Senate Presidents District; secured clips in the Cape Cod Times, Old Colony Memorial, Plymouth Patch, Falmouth Patch, Sandwich Enterprise, Bourne Enterprise, Kingston Reporter and Barnstable Patriot Compile issue briefs on topics ranging from Cape Cods tourism industry to drug abuse in Massachusetts for the Senate President to use when presenting speeches, giving interviews and participating in panel discussions Assist the press team with writing speeches and preparing talking points for media interviews Contribute to the expansion of the Senate Presidents social media presence Draft and format monthly newsletters sent to 3,000 constituents (view at www.theresemurray.com/form/newsletter) Compose entries for the Senate Presidents Plymouth Patch blog (view at www.plymouth.patch.com/users/therese-murray/blog_posts) Take photographs and manage image content on the Senate Presidents website (view at www.theresemurray.com)
Title Assistant | Pacific Corporate & Title Services May 2010 to August 2010 (Sacramento, CA) Researched chain of title and prepared reports for the Los Angeles County Assessor and Los Angeles County Tax Collector
Administrative Assistant | Global Real Estate June 2006 to August 2009 (San Jose, CA) Greeted clients, answered phone calls, scheduled appointments, prepared business correspondence, ordered office supplies, managed incoming and outgoing mail and completed other administrative tasks as needed
Curriculum Designer | Ann Sobrato High School June 2008 to June 2009 (Morgan Hill, CA) Worked with faculty to create a revamped curriculum for Ann Sobrato High Schools fledgling journalism program Designed and directed in-class workshops to teach students newswriting principles and design fundamentals Implemented new organizational system to facilitate more efficient workflow
Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Design Editor | The Watchdog September 2007 to June 2009 (Morgan Hill, CA) Wrote original news, feature and opinion articles for Ann Sobrato High Schools monthly newspaper, The Watchdog Designed newspaper layout using Adobes InDesign software and formatted files for high-volume printing Guided and edited the work of student contributors from story idea to story publication Managed budget and production timelines and negotiated with third-party vendors including printers and advertisers
Published Work
Senate Passes Crime, Government and Finance Reform, and Economic Development Legislation
By Therese Murray, Massachusetts State Senate President Posted on July 26, 2012 Last week, the Senate moved forward with three very important bills. First, we sent a tough and balanced sentencing bill to the governor for his signature. This bill will keep the most dangerous criminals out of our communities and makes necessary changes to our sentencing laws and parole guidelines. According to the law, the habitual offender tag will be placed on anyone convicted of two crimes from a list of the most serious offenses, including murder, rape and kidnapping. The bill mandates that any habitual offender found guilty of a third offense from the list of most serious crimes would be ineligible for parole. For others serving a life sentence, the bill raises the parole eligibility threshold to a two-thirds vote of the parole board from the current majority vote. Public safety is always a top priority and this bill takes some important steps forward in improving sentencing laws and parole guidelines. This legislation will keep the most dangerous criminals out of our communities and we will look to do more reforms in the next legislative session after a complete analysis of our criminal justice system. Those reforms should include updated wiretapping laws for law enforcement to better counteract gang violence, human trafficking and other illegal activities. Second, the Senate sent the governor legislation that provides much-needed updates to our state finance laws and implements performance measurement requirements for all government agencies and programs to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability. I filed this bill in April 2011 and it fundamentally reforms how state government works by requiring all state agencies and programs to start measuring performance and outcomes. Through data-driven evaluations, we can provide real transparency and accountability, and build budgets on what really works. The legislation requires the use of data to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of agencies and programs throughout state government, including the executive branch. For the first time, each agency will be required to have a performance management system in place and develop a strategic plan for measuring performance that can be evaluated publicly and by the Legislature and Governor. Additionally, the bill establishes a commission to make recommendations on the feasibility of moving the Commonwealth from traditional maintenance-based budgeting to a modern zero-based budgeting process for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. This budgeting method is finding great success in some states, including Utah and Virginia. And, third, the Senate passed a bill that focuses on economic development and job creation in the Commonwealth by assisting small businesses and the manufacturing industry, investing in research and development projects, and strengthening and reforming workforce development efforts. The bill also establishes a sales tax holiday for August 11 and 12, making it the seventh year the Commonwealth provides a sales tax exemption for two days and the eighth year with at least one salestax-free day. The Senate has consistently supported a sales tax holiday since it began eight years ago. As in previous years, the sales tax holiday will apply to purchases under $2,500. Additionally, it excludes vehicles, motorized boats, tobacco, meals and utilities. Because of some differences on this bill between the Senate and the House, a conference committee will convene to produce a final bill for passage and consideration by the governor. In Massachusetts, we have a strong competitive environment and fast-growing core industries, but its important that we continue to support and invest in each sector to ensure our continued growth. To read more about these bills, please visit www.ThereseMurray.com or www.Facebook.com/SenatePresidentMurray.
MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN: Deanna Nealey recognized as Unsung Heroine
Wicked Local Plymouth Posted May 30, 2012 @ 06:00 AM BOSTON Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, has announced that Deanna Nealey, of Plymouth, has been recognized as an Unsung Heroine of 2012 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Deanna meets the true definition of an unsung heroine, Murray said. Her passion and dedication to education and charity are a testament to her strong character, and I want to thank her for her hard work and extensive service to the Plymouth community. It is my great pleasure to congratulate Deanna on this well-deserved honor. Our Unsung Heroines are women who dont make the news, but make the difference, MCSW Director Jill Ashton said. They are women who selflessly offer their time and talents to their communities and, in doing so, make their cities or towns better places to live and work. Nealey is a central figure in many of the educational and charitable groups in the town of Plymouth. As an active member of the Plymouth League of Women Voters, she works to educate young women about past generations work for womens rights and the importance of political participation. Her volunteer efforts range from fundraising for the Plymouth Center for the Arts to collecting holiday gifts for needy children through the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless Childrens Holiday Fund. Nominated by elected officials, colleagues, families and friends, 100 extraordinary women from across the commonwealth are recognized MCSW each year.
Deanna Nealey was recognized as an Unsung Heroine of 2012 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, Senate President Therese Murray announced. Deanna meets the true definition of an unsung heroine, Murray said. Her passion and dedication to education and charity are a testament to her strong character, and I want to thank her for her hard work and extensive service to the Plymouth community. Nealey is a central figure in many of the educational and charitable groups in the Town of Plymouth. As an active member of the Plymouth League of Women Voters, Deanna works to educate young women about past generations work for womens rights and the importance of political participation. In addition, her volunteer efforts range from fundraising for the Plymouth Center for the Arts to collecting holiday gifts for needy children through the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homelesss Childrens Holiday Fund. Our Unsung Heroines are women who dont make the news, but make the difference, said Jill Ashton, MCSW Director. They are women who selflessly offer their time and talents to their communities and in doing so make their cities or towns better places to live and work.
By Conor Powers-Smith July 2, 2012 The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation announced last week that it will award Falmouth $50,000 for much-needed bulkhead repairs, as part of its Rivers and Harbors Grant Program. President of the Senate Therese Murray said in a press release, This funding will ensure that these important bulkheads will remain viable and prevent even more costly and in-depth work in the years to come. I commend the Towns initiative in trying to fix this problem before it gets worse. Falmouth Harbormaster Greeg P. Fraser thanked Murray for her help in securing the grant. I am very grateful for all the assistance I have received over the years from Senator Murray, said Fraser. With her help we have rebuilt the Commercial Fishing Pier in Woods Hole, constr ucted new boat ramps at Falmouth Inner Harbor and Green Pond, and now we will be able to move forward with this very important infrastructure improvement. The Tides Bulkhead is the first thing boaters see when visiting Falmouth Harbor and I am excited to be able to fix it up to match the high quality of the rest of the town marina. The grant will allow Falmouth to stop using the temporary measures it has been employing to keep its deteriorating bulkheads operational, in favor of a more permanent fix. Thanks to the state money, issues such as failing tie back hardware and wood sheathing will be dealt with. The town will likely begin accepting bids for the work by the end of the summer, with construction beginning as early as October.
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Finally, the legislation requires the board of MassDOT to develop a long-term transportation financing plan for the state by December 31, 2012. And it requires MassDOT to issue a report on the estimated cost of restoring weekend service on the Old Colony commuter rail line.
### Senator Murray represents the people of Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Sandwich, and precincts 10, 11 and 12 in Barnstable. On March 21, 2007 she became the first woman Senate President in Massachusetts history. From January 2003 through March 2007, she chaired the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. She is currently serving her 10th term in the Massachusetts Senate. For more information, please visit www.ThereseMurray.com.
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Speechwriting Samples
Good morning! I am so happy to be here today to celebrate the exciting projects underway in our cultural community. Here in Southeastern Massachusetts, our neighborhoods are alive with history, art and innovation. We are lucky to have organizations like the Falmouth Historical Society that preserve our traditions, educate our children and deeply enhance our quality of life. This latest round of funding will help support the expansion of several nonprofit cultural institutions in the region. And, I know that our communities throughout Southeastern Massachusetts will greatly benefit from these investments. Our cultural institutions are critical to the character of this Commonwealth. They draw visitors from across the nation and around the world who are interested in our history and way of life. And, by investing in these institutions, we have found a wonderful opportunity to promote economic activity and create jobs while strengthening our art, history and science organizations. Throughout my career in the Senate, I have made sure that supporting our cultural facilities and bolstering local tourism have remained top priorities in the Legislature. As Chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2006, I was proud to sponsor the 2006 economic stimulus bill that created the Cultural Facilities Fund. And, as Senate President in 2008, I sponsored the bond bill that authorized the Governor to include the Fund in his annual capital plans. In the years since its creation, the Cultural Facilities Fund has been a great success. So far, the Fund has invested more than $50 million in Massachusettss nonprofit cultural sector. These funds came at a time when the economy was slowing and private sources of support were becoming harder to find. These grants made possible many improvements that boosted the construction industry and created thousands of jobs for residents across the Commonwealth. The organizations receiving past grants attracted 15 million visitors in 2010, five million of whom were from out-of-state. They generated admission and ticket revenues of nearly $151 million, and more than $199 million in revenues from gift shops and concessions. And, in 2010, these organizations supported families throughout the Commonwealth with a payroll of more than $385 million.
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Our cultural institutions, like the Thornton W. Burgess Society in Sandwich, the Falmouth Artists Guild, and the Centerville Public Library Association, are powerful economic engines and we must continue to make strategic investments in these kinds of organizations, even during challenging times. The latest round of Cultural Facilities Fund grants alone will provide more than $400 million in additional spending on expansion and development projects that will create new jobs, bring new visitors to our state, and strengthen our cultural organizations to better serve the generations to come. Like all of you here today, I understand the value that institutions like these bring to our communities, and that is why I have advocated for these organizations to receive state funding. I want to express my deep appreciation for all of the institutions receiving grants today. Thank you for working to preserve our heritage, educate our children, and strengthen the fabric of our communities. Keep up the good work, and congratulations!
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Speech: Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical Schools Practical Nurse Program Class of 2012 Commencement
Senate President Therese Murray delivered these remarks during the commencement ceremony for the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical Schools Practical Nurse Program on June 21, 2012.
Good evening, everybody, and thank you for inviting me to join you here today. I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to the Class of 2012 Graduates of the Upper Cape Regional Tech Schools Practical Nurse Program. It is my great pleasure to join you in celebrating this wonderful achievement in the company of your peers, mentors, families and friends. I want to take a moment to acknowledge your teachers, who have played an indispensable role in your getting here today. They have spent countless hours working, passing on their knowledge and wisdom, and preparing you to be future nurses with fulfilling careers. I hope that you take the time to thank them, and I urge you to put the skills you have acquired here to good use, wherever life might take you. Before she opened the worlds first secular nursing school, Florence Nightingale said that nursing is not only a Fine Art, but the Finest of Arts. She said, It requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation as any painters or sculptors workfor what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body? All of you sitting here this evening are familiar with the intensive preparation that is required of a nurse. In making it here today, you have demonstrated intelligence, compassion, dedication, patience and diligence. You should be proud of yourselves for completing this difficult and demanding program. Now, finally, after many late nights spent studying, many lengthy papers written, many difficult projects completed, and many tough challenges conquered, you are here, about to receive your Certificate of Completion. I hope that, like many who have come before you, you will find that your time was well spent. Today, we recognize 58 new nurses who have made a commitment to caring for those who need it: the sick, the injured, the convalescent and the disabled. You have chosen to work, not only to make a living, but to serve a greater purpose. This is nothing short of heroic, and I admire each and every one of you. I wish you the best in your endeavors, and I am confident that you will go forward to accomplish great things. Be proud, celebrate, and be excited. All the possibilities in the world are open to you. Thank you. ###
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Good morning, everyone. This annual event is tremendously important and I want to thank you for inviting me back this year. Today, we gather to honor and remember all of the children who have gone missing from our lives. Though they are not here with us, their lives and their dreams and their smiling faces still touch us deeply. They are in our hearts, forever. As a mother, I cannot begin to imagine your pain, and your sorrow. It is a burden that no parent should ever have to bear. I want to express my admiration for Magi and John Bish, who put together this event every year to remember the missing children of Massachusetts. The Molly Bish Foundation helps parents and families keep their children safe and keep awareness about child safety at the forefront of all of our thoughts. With an extraordinary display of courage and a passion, fueled by their love for Molly, the Bish family turned their own tragedy into a beacon of hope for others. The Foundation provides essential resources for families and local communities. By working to prevent abductions, they hope to create a world where all children might live, work and play safely. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that nearly 800,000 children younger than 18 are missing each year. Thats an average of 2,185 children reported missing each day. Today, we get the chance to come together and renew our commitment to those children, and to the families who have suffered the worst kind of loss. We are grateful to all of those who have worked to create a safe and healthy environment for our children families, teachers, law enforcement agents, missing childrens organizations, family services, and other dedicated individuals who have childrens best interests at heart. There are also powerful tools, such as the AMBER Alert program, that we as a community need to utilize. Since the AMBER Alert program was established in 1996, it has brought 584 missing children back home. Together, it is our responsibility to protect our children and that must always be our number one priority. One missing child is one too many. Thank you. ###
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Newsletter Example
In This Issue
Bourne Main Street Streetscape Ribbon-Cutting Nicole's Law EU-US eHealth Marketplace Plymouth Women's Club Citizens' Legislative Seminar Moira McCarthy of Plymouth Plymouth Retired Employees Association Lawrence Innovation School Convocation Plymouth County Development Council's 40th Meeting Senator Murray Participates in Foreclosure Roundtable Pocasset Community Club Centennial Celebration UMass Cranberry Station Visit Go Public Smaller Business Association of New England Business Forum Plymouth Career Center Receives Mark Sanders Award
Dear Friends,
In the Plymouth and Barnstable District and throughout the Commonwealth, we are still feeling the impacts of Hurricane Sandy. Many of our communities lost power from the damaging winds and our coastlines suffered flooding and beach erosion. On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit most of the communities in my District to view the extent of the storm damage and to discuss with the Towns how to move forward.
(Senator Murray in Falmouth) In Falmouth, I visited a number of storm impacted sites, including Falmouth Heights, with Town Manager Julian Suso, Selectwoman Mary Pat Flynn, DPW Director Ray Jacks and Engineer Peter McConarty. And, in Sandwich, I visited Sandwich Town Beach to view the storm damage with Town Manager Bud Dunham, Town Selectman John Kennan, Emergency Director Brian Gallant, Director of Natural Resources Mark Galkowski and Assistant Director of Natural Resources Dave DeConto. Thank you to all the Town Managers and local officials who joined me to take a look at the damage and talk about what our communities need to recover quickly.
(Senator Murray and Commander Hyams at the Tops in Blue concert in October.)
I am proud to name Owen Hyams of Plymouth as my November constituent of the month. Owen is the Commander of the Plymouth VFW Post, which
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sponsored the Tops in Blue concert in Plymouth in October. Owen has taken the initiative to run several charity events to support and pay the expenses of wounded military heroes returning to Plymouth. In addition, he continues to provide support for families who have lost family members in Afghanistan or Iraq. On behalf of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, thank you for your selfless work.
Utility workers, public safety and emergency personnel are working very hard to restore power and keep people safe. If you need to contact NSTAR, please call 1-800-592-2000. National Grid is 1-800867-5222. In addition, 2-1-1 is available for non-emergency assistance to help you find appropriate services for your needs. To stay up-to-date on my public schedule, visit my website and myFacebook and Twitter pages. I hope to see you soon in the Plymouth and Barnstable District!
Sincerely,
Terry Murray
Constituent Spotlight
To nominate a friend, family member or someone you admire in the community for "Constituent of the Month," please send a short description explaining why they deserve this recognition and a photo toTherese.Murray@masenate.gov.
Find Me Online
Contact Me
Website:
www.ThereseMurray.com Email: Therese.Murray@masenate.gov District Office: 10 Cordage Park Circle, Room 229 Plymouth, MA 02360 P: (508) 746-9332 F: (508) 746-4910 Boston Office: State House, Room 332 Boston, MA 02133 P: (617) 722-1500 F: (617) 248-3840
In the fiscal year 2007 budget, the Senate included $250,000 to fund the majority of the market and density analyses, and wastewater and other infrastructure studies necessary for the revitalization to move forward. In November 2011, the Senate directed $1.25 million toward the Town of Bourne in a supplemental budget bill to provide the necessary funds to complete this project. Thank you to the Town of Bourne for the endless amounts of hard work put into this project. Revitalizing our main streets is economic development and job creation at its most local. The goal of this project is to bring commercial and residential developments to Main Street and create a compact, pedestrian-oriented downtown that will serve as a destination for both residents and visitors. This is a project that will bring back a vibrant main street and provide good jobs for the residents of Bourne. Read more about the event.
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(Senate President Murray handing out free carbon monoxide alarms at the Pembroke Council on Aging.) Nicole's Law was passed after 7-year-old Nicole Garofalo of Manomet lost her life to carbon monoxide poisoning. The alarms were donated by Kidde, a leading supplier of residential and commercial smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other life safety products.
(Senate President Murray with Tom Sri from Kidde, Sandwich Fire Chief George Russell and State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan.)
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Massachusetts was chosen to host this conference because of the work we have done to put us on top when it comes to the connected health and eHealth industries. Since the Legislature passed the landmark Health Care Reform Act in 2006, we have led a consistent legislative approach to addressing health care quality, access and cost concerns. On the first day of this event, I joined Chancellor Marty Meehan from UMass Lowell and a delegation representing Northern Ireland and the University of Ulster for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to promote a new research partnership advancing international collaboration in the fast-growing field of eHealth and medical technology.
Read more about this global health collaboration with Northern Ireland.
Senator Murray Speaks at the Plymouth Women's Club Centennial Anniversary Luncheon
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Last month, I had the pleasure of joining the Plymouth Womens Club as they celebrated their centennial anniversary. One of the most important things a woman can do is empower the women around her and the Plymouth Womens Club has been doingthis for 100 years. These women have made such a positive difference in our community. I am grateful for all that the Plymouth Womens Club has done and will continue to do and wish them a very happy anniversary. Read more in the Plymouth Patch.
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In October, I was invited to speak with members of the Plymouth Retired Employees Association at the American Legion Post 40. I was happy to report progress in both our employment numbers and our economic competitiveness, and discuss the strides we have made during this past legislative session in improving our health care and veteran services. This is all great news, and we are continuing to push forward to make Massachusetts even stronger.
Senator Murray Speaks at Plymouth County Development Councils 40th Annual Meeting
In October, I attended the Plymouth County Development Councils 40th Annual Meeting and was proud to report that our regions tourism industry is thriving, despite a highly competitive market. The Development Council has taken proactive steps to attract international visitors to Massachusetts, and especially to the South Shore and Cape Cod, and their hard work has paid off. Through their efforts, we have strong connections in Plymouth County with France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.
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Senator Murray Joins Attorney General Coakley in Discussion on Foreclosure Reform Legislation
Last month, I met with Attorney General Martha Coakley and representatives from area housing organizations in Falmouth for a roundtable discussion on local foreclosure prevention efforts. Read more in the Cape Cod Times.
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Last month, I had the opportunity to speak with small business owners at the Smaller Business Association of New Englands Capital Connections event in Kingston. We discussed important issues that affect small business growth, such has business capitalization and how to find and obtain funding. These businesses are the backbone of our local and state economies, and we must continue to work with them so that we can continue our economic growth.
Read more in the Old Colony Memorial.
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