President's Message Holiday Meeting & Social 2005 Slate of Candidates The 2004 Starner·Spialny Memorial Golf Outing Order your 2005/2006 Legislative Directories from PAGR Welcome New Members Thanks to Ted Mowatt and Mary Ellen McMillen

The President's Message

When I started this article earlier in the week, I wanted to provide you with a sort of "State of PAGR" address prior to my leaving office. I wanted to tell you that PAGR as an organization has grown larger and stronger since the day it first began. I wanted to ask you to continue to support it and work toward its' growth and I wanted to thank you for allowing me to serve as your President these past two years - its been my honor and privilege to work with a group of people dedicated to the growth of our profession as lobbyists in an ethical fashion.

Two years ago when I began my term as President, I would not have thought that my last message to PAGR would be the one you are about to read, because it is more personal than professional in nature - I'd ask that you indulge me...

As many of you know, I came to Harrisburg via Pittsburgh where I went to law school and practiced insurance defense litigation, but a part of my heart will always be in Buffalo, NY where I grew up because that's where most of my family lives.

Soon after I arrived in Harrisburg, while working for Senator Lincoln, there was a particularly partisan debate on the Senate floor one evening, tempers were flaring and tensions were running high among the Legislature and the Governor's office - not all that different from the mood throughout this most recent two year session. I was trying to figure out whether I should go home for a family event that would take me out of the office on a Friday and the first part of Monday in mid-June.

Senator Lincoln merely said, "Listen, everyone in this place has families - they don't act it sometimes, but they do and your family is important so go home and spend the time you need to spend with them. The Capitol will still be here when you get back and we'll probably still be working on the same things." He was right, of course. I went home, came back and the debating until late in the night continues - they even extend into the holidays and weekends now.

Those of you that know me well, know that I really enjoy my career and when I think about it, I realize that many of the things that I like most about it are things that my mom and dad taught me to enjoy. My mom passed away earlier today after a brief and sudden illness and I can say I don't regret for a minute leaving the Capitol to spend time with my family - if anything, I wish I had spent more time with her.

The Capitol will be there when the Legislature returns in January to begin dealing with the issues that face Pennsylvania as well as the lobbying community. My hope for all of you is that before the Legislature returns, you treasure the time with your families and enjoy a wonderful holiday with them.

Holiday Meeting & Social
Monday, December 6th
4:00-6:00 PM
McGrath's Pub
202 Locust Street . Harrisburg
We will be voting on 2005 Board of Directors
We will be presenting our 2004 Starner-Spitalny contributions We will be honoring two departing Board Members HOLIDAY CHEER (open bar and munchies)

ALL MEMBERS WHO RSVP IN ADVANCE WILL BE CHARGED $5 AT THE DOOR. ALL MEMBERS WHO DO NOT RSVP WILL BE CHARGED $10 AT THE DOOR. ALL GUESTS WILL BE CHARGED $25. PLEASE RSVP BY DECEMBER 3RD TO 717-540-4391 OR INFO@PAGR.ORG. THANK YOU.

2005 Slate of Candidates:

The 2004 Starner·Spialny Memorial Golf Outing
has raised $20,000 for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Natinoal Multiple Sclerosis Society
This brings our 12 year total to more than $210,000!
Many thanks to all who supported this effort.

Attention Members: Order your 2005/2006 Legislative Directories from PAGR
The PA Chambers' convenient, pocket-size quick reference is available to all PAGR members for just $7 per copy. (Non-members will be charged $12 per copy) There's no minimum to buy. The cover of the directory will feature a beautiful full-color photo of the Capitol and the PAGR logo

All orders must be received by Wednesday, January 12, 2005. Please complete the following and return to PAGR. PO Box 116, Harrisburg, PA 17108-0116
(fax) 717-657-9708 Y (email) info@pagr.org

Welcome New Members

PAGR finishes the year with 326 members - an all-time high!

Attention Members:
In Grateful Appreciation to
TED MOWATT
and
MARY ELLEN McMILLEN
For their contributions and commitment as members of the PAGR Board of Directors.

Ted has been on the board since 1997 and served as president from 2000-2002. Mary Ellen has served on the board since 1999. Thank you both for your time and talents over the years - you will be missed!

August 2004 June 2004 May 2004 March 2004 January 2004 September 2003