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Suburban Snapshot’s day two in New York

Saturday morning was another premiere event— the PMA/Wachovia breakfast. For over 30 years Fred Anton, Chairman of the powerful PA Manufacturers’ Association, has held a breakfast that brings together an interesting mix of electeds and candidates. This year, Sam Rohrer, Joe Hoeffel, Jim Gerlach, Dan Onorato, Pat Toomey, Jack Wagner and Tom Corbett all spoke. Hugh Long, Wachovia’s president, singled out Tom Judge, who retired as Delco GOP chair after 33 years of service. A class act!

After that, we trotted over to the Corbett event at “Smith and Wolensky’s. Never had shrimp the size of a fist—excellent. The room was packed with Pennsylvania’s movers and shakers. Corbett was shaking everyone’s hand. In addition, many declared Lt. Gov. candidates were in the room, including Jim Cawley, Carol Aichele and Joe Watkins. Speaking of Watkins, I headed over to his reception at the Benjamin Hotel.  Very nice, with lots of Mediterranean food!

Saturday evening started with the 4:30 cocktail reception with Buchanan Ingersoll. This well-known law firm lays out quite a spread—everything from sushi to champagne.

Upstairs in the Grand Ballroom was the 111th annual dinner of The Pennsylvania Society. For anyone who has never been to a black-tie event before at the Waldorf, it takes your breath away. To be sitting where kings and queens have sat, beloved presidents and actors, Popes and possible saints (I’m referring to Bishop Sheen, who is being considered for sainthood), it is an amazing feeling. It doesn’t matter if you have been here before, but to look up at this awesome ballroom and see all the twinkling stars, Christmas ornaments, and many Pennsylvania icons, it makes you very proud to be from Pennsylvania—and to be at the Waldorf Astoria for this memorable dinner. Carol Fitzgerald, Executive Director, welcomed us, followed by Roy Zimmerman, president of the PA Society. Then a truly Philadelphia musical happening—two singers from the world famous Curtis Institute of Music. Allison Sanders and Brandon Fedel, sang “God Bless Americam” accompanied by Lisa Keller, a piano instructor at Curtis as well.

After dinner, we went to the Governor’s Reception, sponsored by Wodjak & Associates. Gov. Ed Rendell shook everyone’s hand as you walked in, and it was elbow-to-elbow, with many of Pennsylvania’s wonderful philanthropists including Nick DeBenedictis, Manny Stamatakis, and Bill Sasso. Next was on to the Dilworth Paxson reception, where the Philadelphia law firm named for Richardson Dilworth held it’s annual soiree. At this party, many movers and shakers were also in attendance including Michael Tierney, partner at Dilworth who specializes in corporate law and his brother Brian, CEO and publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  Then it was on to the last party of the evening, the Energy Association’s dance party, which for the past four years has been amazing. This year was no exception. You couldn’t move on the dance floor, and the doo-wop music was terrific.

Even though many may think this weekend was nothing but a two-day bacchanal, it is much more. This year, especially, the PA Society was a celebration with the subtle focus of dialogue on connecting with people, the history of our commonwealth, and our direction for the future. This year there were many moments of reflection and about rebuilding Pennsylvania’s strong heritage through the vision of original PA Society businessmen extraordinaire like Andrew Carnegie, Edward Stotesbury, and Asa Packer. Pennsylvania is the state the pulls together the other states to form “a more perfect union.” Pulling together could be a metaphor for what this weekend was about. We were pulled from Pennsylvania to go to New York to pull together ideas that will pull us forward to make our state better and stronger.

Being united is what the Pennsylvania Society weekend is about regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background or socioeconomic status. Last weekend, those at the PA Society were respectful and shared moments of gratitude for the things they had and talked about the values and beliefs of our roots so that we can move forward in 2010 with a reenergized focus on what is most important—our families, our traditions, and economic stability for all Pennsylvanians.

As an attendee for the past four years, I am grateful for such talented men and women who give much of their time, energies, and financial support to make a difference in Pennsylvania. To whom much is given, much is expected. Without these wonderful and gifted philanthropic people, Pennsylvania would just be another state. Because of their talents, we are the beneficiaries. And, the PA Society continues to grow and work in concert with making the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania a better place to be.

December 15, 2009 at 2:37 pm

--Beth Hegedus

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