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The President's Message
by Andy Hilt
 I took a trip this weekend. That's not rare lately; between state and National meetings I spent most of late April and early May “on the road”. But this trip was different, this one was personal, and solo. No wife, no kids, no meeting to be prepared for, just me and four hours of open road. I was going to see my younger brother in Geneva, NY. He and his wife moved from South Philly a year ago to open a tavern in the college town at the north end of Seneca Lake. They finally opened two weeks ago, but I was at my association's national meeting and fly-in in Washington, D.C. and missed the opening weekend.
So after my son's T-ball practice I hopped in the car for the four hour journey. I popped an audio book in the CD player (My Life by Bill Clinton) and hit the road. Route 15 is a beautiful ride. For much of the trip the road follows the Susquehanna. Once you get north of Williamsport you feel that you are in the middle of nowhere. Your next brief view of civilization in Corning, NY.
Listening to Clinton talk about the 1992 campaign brought back a flood of memories. The campaigns that I worked on that year were my first paying jobs in politics and quite frankly got me where I am today.
I have often said that Pennsylvania's natural beauty is unrivaled. But I'll tell you Seneca Lake is amazing. You catch the first glimpse as you leave Watkins Glenn. You see the most amazing blue through the buildings and boats at the south end of the lake. Its a deep blue, that words can't do justice. The lake isn't very wide; I would guess a mile or two tops, but it is 38 miles long. All along the trip up Route 14 the lake comes in and out of view from behind vineyards and vacation homes.
I arrived at the Red Dove Tavern, took my seat at the bar and had the first of (too) many draft beers. I spent the night talking to my brother's customers and friends. I listened to one guy explain how all of their tax money goes to New York City and that if they could just get rid of the city Upstate New York would flourish and the city would wither without the financial support of Upstate. The argument sounded vaguely familiar. I didn't point out that almost half the people in the state live in the city. Tonight I'm just a guy in a bar.
My brother and I sat and talked with two professors from the college it turns out that they were both from Pennsylvania. He from Pittsburgh, she from Pottsville. Then she told me that her father used to lobby for Penn State.
We finally got to bed around 4 AM.
My brother and his wife went back to the restaurant at about 10 AM to open for brunch. I stayed in bed. I got over to the Red Dove about a half hour before they opened for brunch. I had some breakfast and since they were getting busy I decided to head home.
The drive home was mostly rainy, and it was quite a contrast from the sunny ride up. I got home and waited for my wife and kids to return from their trip to my sister-in-laws.
After my wife and I recapped our weekends and she went to bed I sat down to write my PAGR President's Message.
Now its back to reality. As I write this we are just a few hours from the start of the "fake budget" debate. By the time you read this who knows what will be happening. But when its all over I would encourage you to hope in your car, alone, and drive. And if your drive takes you north to The Red Dove tell them Andy sent you.
2007/2008 Legislative Directories Are HERE!
PAGR ordered extra copies. If you would like to order some, contact Christine at the PAGR office. They will be sold on a first come basis.
Cost is $7.50 each for PAGR members.
Directories are available right now.
Membership Update
PAGR has 330 Members for the Year 2007...An All Time High!
Welcome New Members
- Judy Archibald -
Waste Management
- Rosemary Chiavetta -
Chiavetta Consulting
- Melissa Grimm -
Aqua America
- Paul Hindmarsh -
Triad Strategies
- Paul Supowitz -
University of Pittsburgh
- Russel Swanger -
Harsco Corporation
- Stephen Swarney -
Associated Builders and Contractors
- Debra Tingley -
County Commissioners Assn Of PA
- Damian Wachter -
Columbia Gas of PA
- Jay Wiederhold -
PA Beer Wholesalers Assn
- Tracy Wingenroth -
McFarren Group
- Beth Winters -
PA School Boards Association
- Thomas Wrigley -
Independence Blue Cross
- Jack Zimmer -
Associated Builders and Contractors
Meeting Notice
Monday, June 4, 2007
11:30 am—12:30 pm
Firehouse Restaurant
Third floor
606 N. 2nd Street • Harrisburg
OUR GUEST WILL BE:
Rep. Bill DeWeese
Majority Floor Leader
ALL MEMBERS WILL BE CHARGED $10.
ALL GUESTS OF MEMBERS WILL BE CHARGED $20.
PLEASE RSVP BY June 1 TO
717-540-4391 OR INFO@PAGR.ORG.
THANK YOU.
2007 Board of Directors
Officers
President...................................Andrew Hilt
Vice President........................Peter Calcara
Secretary.....................................Deb Kisela
Treasurer.................................Gregg Taylor
Board of Directors
Association................Brinda Carroll Penyak
Corporate...................................Kris Snader
Lawyer........................................Tony Crisci
Independent...............................Ted Mowatt
At Large.............................Judy Eschberger
At Large.................................Mark Richards
Immediate Past President
Brian Barno
Executive Director
Christine Corrigan
Attention Members:
If you did not receive this Newsletter electronically, we do not have your email address. Please send it to info@pagr.org immediately. You are missing out on important and time sensitive information.
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