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The President's Message
by Andy Hilt
 There is snow on the ground, my kids are making their Christmas lists and another legislative session is drawing to a close. It has been an honor to be PAGR’s president these last two years. From my perspective a lot has happened in the last two years but in some respects not much has changed. In other respects everything has changed.
In July of 2007 the General Assembly passed Act 44, which would have tolled I-80 to provide funding for transportation; but 16 months latter we are no closer to tolls on the road.
In the last legislative session they passed Continuing Education for engineers, land surveyors and geologists- we are still working on how to implement that law; not unlike the two years that have been spent on Lobbyist Disclosure Regulations.
A lot has happened with those regulations, numerous meetings (thankfully others from PAGR attended), hours of discussion, and reams of paper written but we have little more clarity than when the process began. But I should not be surprised; I preach to my members that we have a system that is slow and deliberate.
But there are many things that have changed. We are now living in a Harrisburg without CBK, Senators Vince Fumo and Rodger Madigan and many others. I grew up outside of Philadelphia; so there was always Vince Fumo; I started in politics in the mid -1980’s so for me there was always CBK. When I started with the Senate I worked for Senator Mellow in the mid 1990’s and now I deal with transportation issues, so there was always Rodger Madigan.
But the biggest change for me will be Dan Surra not being here. I ran Dan’s campaign in 1992. His victory that year is part of the reason that I ended up in Harrisburg. I remember leaving suburban Philadelphia and heading to very rural Elk County. That was quite an eye opener for me. As I look back on that campaign I feel old! When I showed up in St Mary's Dan had three young kids, Dan is now a grandfather and I have three kids about the same age that Dan’s were in 1992. Where does the time go?
I would like to thank the members of the PAGR Board for running the organization these past two years. I also want to thank Christine Corrigan for really running the organization and more importantly for putting up with all the things that I complain about my volunteers doing (or not doing) that I turned around and did. Thank you for your support of PAGR and Happy Holidays!
Important 2009 Dates
Thursday, Jan 8 - Board Meeting
Monday, Feb 2 - Membership Meeting
Thursday, Mar 5 - Board Meeting
Monday, April 6 - Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 7 - Board Meeting
Monday, June 1 - Membership Meeting
Thursday, July 9 - Board Meeting
Thursday, Sept 3 - Board Meeting
Monday, Oct 5 - Membership Meeting
Thursday, Nov 5 - Board Meeting
Monday, Dec 7 - Membership Meeting
Membership meetings are held 11:30 am—12:30 pm on the 3rd floor of the Firehouse Restaurant, Harrisburg, except on December 7.
ATTENTION MEMBERS: Order your 2009/2010 Legislative Directories today through PAGR.
The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry’s convenient, pocket-size quick reference is available to all PAGR members for just $7.50 a copy.
There’s no minimum to buy.
Order 1, 10 or 100 and it’s just $7.50 a copy!
(Non-members may order for $12.50 per copy)
The cover of the directory will feature a beautiful full-color photo of the capitol and the PAGR logo.
Please send in orders by January 31, 2009.
Payment by check or visa or mastercard due by March 1, 2009
Please click here to download an order form (PDF) and return to PAGR prior to January 31, 2009.
PO Box 116, Harrisburg, PA 17108-0116
(ph) 717-540-4391
(fax) 717-657-9708
(email) info@pagr.org
Meeting Notice
Monday December 1, 2008
4:00—6:00 pm
McGrath’s Pub
Second Floor
202 Locust Street • Harrisburg
We will be voting on 2009 Board of Directors
We will be offering HOLIDAY CHEER (complimentary beer, wine & munchies)
ALL MEMBERS ARE FREE!
ALL GUESTS OF MEMBERS WILL BE CHARGED $20.
PLEASE RSVP BY November 28 TO
717-540-4391 OR INFO@PAGR.ORG.
THANK YOU.
2009 Board of Directors
Officers
President...............................Peter Calcara*
Vice President..........Brinda Carroll Penyak*
Secretary................................Gregg Taylor*
Treasurer..............................Mark Richards*
Board of Directors
Association...............................Brian Barno*
Corporate..................................Kris Snader
Lawyer.......................................Tony Crisci
Independent......................Robert Archibald*
At Large....................................Ted Mowatt*
At Large............................Judy Eschberger
Immediate Past President
Andrew Hilt
Executive Director
Christine Corrigan
*must be voted on by membership
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