Opinion: Pennsylvania Society attendees enrich New York
On the old “You Bet Your Life” TV quiz program hosted by Groucho Marx, a consolation question would be given to any couple who wagered all of their money and lost:
“Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?” No, this is not a trick question. The answer is Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president.
So in the same vein, if I were to ask “Where does the Pennsylvania Society hold its annual dinner meeting?” If you said “Pennsylvania,” you would be wrong. It is always held in New York City.
If you’re wondering why A-list Pennsylvania politicians, lobbyists and others who want a piece of the political action, many of them pledged to help the business climate and employment picture in the commonwealth during these tough economic times, are off spending millions of dollars in the Big Apple, well, I am wondering with you.
They gather in prolific numbers to plan, schmooze, attend private parties and fundraisers and, generally, get to know each other better and to bank some political capital for a rainy day.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with this picture, say the staunch backers of the society. They point with pride to the 122-year-old tradition that started in 1899 when native Pennsylvanian James Barr Ferree, who was living in New York City at the time, invited 55 other fellow Pennsylvanians living in New York to join him for dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria.
“While feasting on oysters and Delmonico steaks, they decided to form a group originally known as the Pennsylvania Society of New York,” according to the Society’s historical records. In 1903, the group shortened its name to “The Pennsylvania Society.”
The lavish menu items at New York’s famed hotel continued until several years ago when the hotel closed to undergo extensive renovations. Now, the event is held at the much less posh New York Hilton Midtown where a dinner ticket costs $600. The weekend event was held in early December and concluded on Dec. 5. The one and only time that the event was canceled was last year because of the pandemic.
Several attendees to whom I spoke, who didn’t want their names used because members are encouraged not to bad-mouth the society, said the event is just a skeleton of the gaudy and elaborate glory days of yesteryear. They said the COVID-19 pandemic is mostly the issue, but some politicians who champion frugality do not want to be seen spending several hundred dollars on filet mignon and Champagne.
There were a lot of no-shows this year among members of both political parties, especially the Democrats. Among the who’s who attendees was GOP gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta of Hazleton.
According to its mission statement, the goal of the society is to unite “all Pennsylvanians at home and away from home in bonds of friendship to their native or adopted state.”
It is not affiliated with any particular political party, business or profession. Its purpose, the mission statement continues, is to honor achievement, to reward excellence, to promote good will and understanding and to celebrate service to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to humanity in general.
This year, the society awarded its coveted Gold Medal to Dr. Ala Stanford of Philadelphia, CEO and founder of the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, who has “`worked tirelessly to create a testing and vaccination alternative specifically for Pennsylvanians diagnosed at a higher rate than other groups.’’
The society also sponsors the annual Benjamin Franklin essay contest scholarship for high school students. This year’s first-prize winner of $6,000 was Sophie Lu of North Allegheny High School.
Becoming a member of The Pennsylvania Society is relatively easy. One needs be a native-born Pennsylvanian, a descendant of a native-born Pennsylvanian, a former Pennsylvania resident who has been back for seven consecutive years or a graduate of a Pennsylvania college or university.
New members pay a one-time entry fee of $300. Dues are $100 a year. An optional life membership is $1,500, regardless of a member’s age.
The issue of holding the society’s annual dinner in the Big Apple comes up periodically. Some politicians have even talked about bucking tradition and trying to move the event to a large venue in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or maybe even the rejuvenated Allentown area or the Poconos, but, in the end, it has been just that - talk. State Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, who was not among attendees, said he would love to host the event in Jim Thorpe with the Opera House as the focal point for activities for the participants.
We can only imagine what the thousands of minimum-wage workers and unemployed Pennsylvanians, who are getting by on meager meals and trying to cut corners to save a buck, are thinking about the events at the society’s weekend as their elected politicians are off to another state enjoying prime rib, fine wines and top entertainment. At the very least, couldn’t this small fortune be spent in Pennsylvania to help our residents?
By Bruce Frassinelli | tneditor@tnonline.com
The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.