Constitutional Group Selects New Officers
For Immediate Release
Contact: 717-228-7524
CONSTITUTIONAL GROUP SELECTS NEW OFFICERS
(Lebanon) – The Constitutional Organization Of Lebanon (COOL), a conservative, non-partisan political action committee registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced that new officers have been elected for 2009.
Laurel Lynn Petolicchio of Jackson Township, who has extensive experience in areas related to Constitutional studies, and Monica Carpenter, an education professional from South Lebanon Township, will serve as chairman and treasurer, respectively.
"I’m really excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for COOL in 2009," Petolicchio said. "In the last couple of years, people have become more and more interested in learning about the Constitution, and the recent elections have also spurred additional interest."
According to Petolicchio, COOL will be building on its achievements in the next year.
"Last year we refined our premiere education program, the Institute On The Constitution, and then added a new introductory course, A More Perfect Union," she said. "We are now making preparations to create a course on the Pennsylvania Constitution, and other courses are being evaluated for inclusion in our curriculum."
In addition to Petolicchio and Carpenter, Brenda Keefer of Jonestown was elected to serve as Vice Chairman and Sheila Folmer of Lebanon was elected to serve as Secretary.
State Senator Mike Folmer, who served as the original chairman of COOL, was also elected to serve on the Board of COOL, as were Mark Thomas of Cornwall and Herb Braden of Lebanon.
"I’m looking forward to working with COOL in 2009," Folmer said. "I really feel that the next year will be critical to the American people in understanding where their Constitution came from and what it really means, versus what politicians tell us it means."
"Our Constitution is a great document, and the freedoms we hold dear must be taught to our children," he said. "If we don’t understand our rights and work to preserve them, then we are destined to lose them."
Carpenter said she thinks the opportunities COOL provides are not limited to Lebanon County but the entire south central Pennsylvania region.
"We have membership not just in Lebanon County but in Lancaster County, Berks County and Chester County," she said. "Interest in the Constitution is growing, and Lebanon County happens to have one of the few organizations in the state actively working to educate people about the Constitution."
Petolicchio is a real estate professional from Jackson Township and Carpenter lives in South Lebanon Township.
Membership in COOL is open to everyone regardless of political affiliation for an annual fee of $15 per person or $25 per household, and includes complementary participation in one of COOL’s education courses. COOL can be contacted at 717-228-7524.