The Mysterious Men Who Summon Punxsutawney Phil

A look inside the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, the group responsible for the annual Groundhog Day tradition.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:31pm

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Every year, a secretive group of 15 men from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, known as the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, are responsible for summoning Punxsutawney Phil from his stump to make his winter weather prediction on Groundhog Day. This club was formed in the 1880s and its members each have their own unique titles, such as "Shingle Shaker" and "Moonshine." They claim to communicate with Phil through non-verbal cues and believe he is "above science" as the one true weather prognosticator.

Why it matters

The Groundhog Club's Inner Circle has maintained this quirky Groundhog Day tradition for over a century, capturing the public's imagination and keeping the legend of Punxsutawney Phil alive. Their secrecy and mystique add to the folklore surrounding this annual event, which has become a beloved part of American culture.

The details

The 15 men who make up the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle are responsible for all aspects of the Groundhog Day celebration, from planning the events to caring for Punxsutawney Phil himself. They each have their own unique titles, such as "Shingle Shaker" for the club president, Tom Dunkel, and "Moonshine" for vice president Dan McGinley. The members claim to communicate with Phil through non-verbal cues and believe he is "above science" as the one true weather prognosticator.

  • The Groundhog Club was formed in the 1880s.
  • Tom Dunkel has been a member of the Inner Circle since 2012.
  • Dan McGinley has been a member since 2015.
  • Harry "Butch" Philliber, also known as the Iceman, has been a member since 1988.
  • Jay Lundy, or "Overcast", is the newest member, joining in 2023.

The players

Tom Dunkel

The president of the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, also known as the "Shingle Shaker", who has been a member since 2012.

Dan McGinley

The vice president of the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle, also known as "Moonshine", who has been a member since 2015.

Harry "Butch" Philliber

Also known as the "Iceman", he is the longest-serving member of the Inner Circle, joining in 1988.

Jay Lundy

Also known as "Overcast", he is the newest member of the Inner Circle, joining in 2023.

Punxsutawney Phil

The world's longest-running groundhog meteorologist, whose weather predictions are overseen by the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle.

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What they’re saying

“I communicate through winks, chirps, nods, purrs, things like that. It's not an actual conversation. It's just a vibe of those things between the two of us.”

— Tom Dunkel, President of the Groundhog Club's Inner Circle

“The groundhog is above science and we expect impostors to try to get in the act. There's only one Punxsutawney Phil and he's the only true prognosticator of the weather.”

— Harry "Butch" Philliber, Longest-serving member of the Inner Circle

What’s next

The Groundhog Club's Inner Circle will gather at Gobbler's Knob on February 2nd, 2026 to summon Punxsutawney Phil and hear his annual weather prediction.

The takeaway

The Groundhog Club's Inner Circle has maintained the quirky Groundhog Day tradition for over a century, keeping the legend of Punxsutawney Phil alive through their secrecy, mystique, and unwavering belief in Phil's abilities as the one true weather prognosticator.