For more than 120 years, The Pennsylvania Society has been dedicated to uniting members in fellowship with Pennsylvanians from all walks of life who share a deep affection for the state, pride in giving back to the Commonwealth, and a commitment to civil engagement.

And to honor scholarship, students compete annually for the Society's Benjamin Franklin Scholar Award, a writing competition open to Pennsylvania high school juniors.

[6] That public perception continues, with political legend telling of New York-based businessmen summoning Pennsylvania's politicians to New York to receive their instructions for the following year.

[6] However, much of the "real action" takes place in the invitation-only dinners and receptions hosted by businesses, candidates, and lobbying firms throughout the weekend.

[1] In an attempt to attract more attendees, hosts have hired top tier guests, including Jon Stewart,[6] Lewis Black,[7] and George H. W. Bush, who ended his 2003 speech with a reference to Dana Carvey's impression of him by saying, "Not gonna do it.

[1] In 2004, an evening at an Upper East Side cigar lounge hosted by Republican national committeewoman Christine Toretti Olson gained significant praise from attendees.

"[6] Public watchdogs have criticized the event as a chance for "wealthy special interests to mingle with the movers and shakers in state government" or as a gathering for "fat cat" politicians away from their Pennsylvania constituents.

[9] The hosts decorated the capitol with toy pigs, the mascot of the anti-pay-raise movement, and stuffed cows, mocking John Perzel's defense of the pay raise by claiming that "immigrant cow-milkers" make as much as legislators.

In 2003, Ed Rendell suggested that the $20–$40 million economic impact from the event would best be directed to a city in Pennsylvania, but said "since I can't get a budget passed, I'm going to leave that for another day.