The Pennsylvania Society facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Pennsylvania Society |
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| Date(s) | Second weekend in December |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | New York City |
| Inaugurated | 1899 |
The Pennsylvania Society is a special yearly gathering for important people from Pennsylvania. These include politicians, who make laws, and business leaders, who run companies. They meet for a weekend in New York City.
This event started way back in 1899. It began as a meeting for Pennsylvanians who lived in New York City. They would get together once a year to talk about what was happening back home in Pennsylvania. Over time, these meetings grew into a big weekend event. It became a place where people could connect and raise money for political causes. This all happens in fancy clubs, restaurants, and hotels in New York.
The main part of the weekend is the "Pennsylvania Society Dinner." This dinner is put on by "The Pennsylvania Society," which is a group that doesn't aim to make a profit. Lately, other parties and gatherings hosted by groups that try to influence government have become very important too. Some people have criticized the event. They say it's like a "smoke-filled room" where special interest groups can easily talk to government officials. There have also been concerns about some officials using public money to attend. Others wonder why the event is held in New York instead of in Pennsylvania.
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What Is The Pennsylvania Society?
The tradition of this special gathering for Pennsylvania's leaders began in 1899. A man named James Barr Ferree, who was from Pennsylvania but lived in New York, invited 55 other Pennsylvanians to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. They met to talk about current events in their home state.
This dinner became a regular event, and the group called themselves "The Pennsylvania Society of New York." Later, it became an annual meeting for Pennsylvania politicians and business people. They met on what they called "neutral ground" in New York. The group eventually changed its name to The Pennsylvania Society and became a nonprofit organization. It was officially formed in 1903 and now has about 2,000 members. While the group also sponsors a high school essay contest, its main job is to organize this big weekend gathering.
At first, the gathering was mostly for members of the Republican political party. But now, many Democrats also attend. In the early years, the meetings were seen as secret, like a "smoke-filled room." This is where powerful people from the steel, coal, and oil industries in Pennsylvania would meet privately. They would choose which political candidates to support. Some people still believe that powerful New York business people tell Pennsylvania politicians what to do for the next year.
Weekend Activities and Parties
The biggest event of the weekend is the "Pennsylvania Society Dinner." It's a fancy "black tie" event held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on the last night. In 2005, about 1,500 people went to the dinner.
However, many important discussions and deals happen at smaller, invitation-only dinners and parties. These are hosted by businesses, politicians running for office, and groups that try to influence government. To attract more people, hosts have invited famous guests. These have included Jon Stewart, Lewis Black, and even former President George H. W. Bush.
Some events are well-known for bringing in very important guests. For example, parties hosted by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association are popular. In 2004, a party at a cigar lounge in New York City was a big hit. It was hosted by a Republican leader named Christine Toretti Olson.
The Pennsylvania Society is often called the "unofficial start of the next year's big political season." This is because it's a place where people who want to run for office can meet important contacts. They can also find people to help them raise money and become known early in the election process.
A former leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Bill DeWeese, once said in 2003 that the event is like a grand re-creation of the "Gilded Age". This was a time in the late 1800s when very rich and powerful business people, sometimes called "robber barons," controlled much of Pennsylvania's business and politics. He said that while some of its original purpose remains, it's mostly "a hell of a party."
Criticism and Other Events
Groups that watch government closely have criticized the event. They say it's a chance for "wealthy special interests" to mix with important state government officials. They also call it a gathering for "fat cat" politicians, meaning rich and powerful ones, who are far away from the people they represent in Pennsylvania.
In 2005, during the Pennsylvania Society weekend, two activists named Gene Stilp and Eric Epstein held a different event. They were working for government reform and against a controversial pay raise for lawmakers. They hosted the "Pennsylvania People's Dinner." This was a simple potluck dinner held in the cold, dimly lit East Wing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. This was happening while the members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly were in New York City.
The event was described as partly a joke and partly a celebration. It marked the repeal of the unpopular pay raise. People brought their own food and sat on folding chairs. The hosts decorated the Capitol with toy pigs, which were a symbol of the anti-pay-raise movement. They also used stuffed cows to make fun of a politician who had defended the pay raise by comparing lawmakers' salaries to those of "immigrant cow-milkers." This "People's Dinner" has now become a yearly event. The lack of light and heat has even become part of its tradition. It has had different names, like the "Pennsylvania New Society Dinner" and the "Real Pennsylvania Society Dinner."
Why New York City?
People who attend the Pennsylvania Society often enjoy New York City's attractions. They like Broadway shows and shopping on Fifth Avenue. They might enjoy these things almost as much as, or even more than, the political meetings.
Many political experts often point out that it's strange to hold the Pennsylvania Society in New York. In 2003, Ed Rendell, a former governor, suggested that the millions of dollars the event brings in would be better spent in a city in Pennsylvania. But he said he had other things to worry about first. In 2005, the Philadelphia City Council voted to ask for the event to be moved to Pennsylvania.
Some people who attend the event try to downplay its image as a place for corruption. Ken Davis, a Republican Party leader, told The Philadelphia Inquirer: "I don't know anybody who's been bought at Pennsylvania Society. Rented, maybe – but not bought."
