COOL ADDS TWO NEW OFFICERS

Myerstown, PA - The Constitutional Organization Of Lebanon (COOL), a conservative, non-partisan political action committee registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, has announced that two new officers have been selected to serve on the board of directors for 2008. 

Herb Braden, who lives in Lebanon and has served in various public service capacities, was elected to serve as COOL’s Vice Chairman, and Margaret Firoozmand, of Cleona, was chosen as Secretary. 

“Herb and Margaret are an excellent fit for COOL,” said Louis Petolicchio, Chairman.  “They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience which will really complement the goals COOL has set for this year.”

Braden and Firoozmands join Petolicchio, Treasurer Roland Carpenter and Immediate Past Chairman State Senator Mike Folmer in directing the course of COOL in the next year.

“It is the primary objective of COOL to bring a higher level of awareness to the general population regarding the duties and rights of citizens as enumerated in our founding documents,” Braden said.  “COOL will notify the public of departures from the rules of the Constitution by members of the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches of government, and will encourage and brief potential candidates for public office on their obligations as enumerated in the Constitution.”

Braden pointed to State Representative Angel Cruz (D-Philadelphia) as an example of how constitutional education is needed even among Pennsylvania’s elected officials.

“During the 2006 election cycle, Representative Cruz, when accused of violating sections of the Pennsylvania Constitution in his vote for the illegal pay raise, admitted that he had never read the Constitution,” he noted.  “But during his swearing-in ceremony to the General Assembly, Cruz had sworn to obey and to protect the Constitution.”

“The ignorance of Representative Cruz is not unique in that the Constitution and other historic documents have become de-emphasized in high school and college history curricula,” Braden said.  “And as a consequence, the courts are escaping criticism when they ignore and fail to enforce the Constitution.”

Firoozmand said that she was honored by the opportunity to work with COOL because of the educational efforts that COOL is promoting.

“I’m looking forward to working with other like-minded citizens who are concerned about our Constitution and about our history and teaching people about the real meaning of our Founding Fathers and their vision for our country,” she said.

COOL’s Immediate Past Chairman, Pennsylvania State Senator Mike Folmer, said that he thinks that COOL’s educational platform, the Institute On The Constitution (IOTC) is an excellent basis on which to build any knowledge of American history.

“It is my conviction that those principles and ideal which led to the drafting and ratification of the Constitution are necessary to ensuring that we remain a free people,” Folmer said. 

Membership in COOL is open to everyone regardless of political affiliation for an annual fee of $15 per person or $25 per household, which includes complimentary participation in the Institute on the Constitution.  COOL can be contacted at 717-228-7524.

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January 10, 2008

NEW OFFICERS SELECTED FOR LOCAL CONSTITUTIONAL GROUP

(Lebanon, PA) - 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 2008. 

Louis Petolicchio, who had served as facilitator for COOL’s educational program, Institute On The Constitution (IOTC), and Roland Carpenter, will serve as chairman and treasurer, respectively.

“We are looking forward to an exciting year in Lebanon County,” Petolicchio said.  “In the last couple of years, people have become more and more interested in learning more about the Constitution and what inspired our Founding Fathers, and COOL will provide conservatives and constitutionalists with an avenue to network together.”

According to Petolicchio, COOL has three primary goals it would like to accomplish.

“We want to educate people about the Constitution and the history behind it, we want to enlighten voters about the various issues which are impacting them at the state and local level, and we want to encourage people to become more involved in the political process,” he said.

The original chairman of COOL, state Senator Mike Folmer, decided to step down due to his responsibilities as a legislator but remained excited about COOL and the educational opportunities it provides.

“We have this great document [Constitution] and these wonderful freedoms, and they need to be taught to our children,” Folmer said. “COOL is going forward with new officers and are pursuing getting people connected with their rights again.”

Russ Diamond, chairman of PACleanSweep, concurred with Folmer’s assessment.

“Across Pennsylvania and across the nation we’re witnessing a distinct re-awakening to constitutional concepts,” he said.  “Groups such as COOL, meeting in homes and communities, will serve to nurture that movement and make it grow.”

Petolicchio noted that the chief educational tool used by COOL is the “The Institute on the Constitution”, which is a concentrated study that reintroduces students to the legal, social, and religious concepts that directly influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution.

Carpenter, who will be taking over as Treasurer from Laurel Lynn Petolicchio, also expressed excitement about working with COOL.

“My wife Monica and I are pleased to be a part of this grassroots movement to educate the public about the principles our country was founded upon,” he said.  “We are looking forward to learning as much as we can and meeting others who share the same beliefs we do.”

Petolicchio is a former Judge of Elections and Past-President of the Kiwanis Club of Elizabethtown and resides in the Myerstown area.  Carpenter is an educator with a MS in Secondary Education and lives in South Lebanon Township.

Membership in COOL is open to everyone regardless of political affiliation for an annual fee of $15.  The cost to participate in the Institute on the Constitution is $25, and a one-year membership in COOL is included with that fee. Donations are also accepted.  COOL can be contacted at 717-228-7524.

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