"building blocks"

[Mark Cramer]

Tomorrow I will head to the lake bright and early and slap together some
concrete forms for our new summer cottage... the old one met a timely fate
in the path of a charging bulldozer.

Once I get the foundation poured, I will turn the project over to our
builder, and likely just show up on weekends, to frustrate his progress. :>)

Anyhow, "foundation first, and then we build."

Reading posts on our list though, I wonder if we might be finding it
tempting to 'build' before a 'foundation' is properly established.

I've been studying the revised "guidelines" in depth, and think we have
something of 'real substance' here.

At the same time, I'm reading all the discussion about specialized CAUT
credentialing, revised testing, etc... and for the most part, I'm quite
interested.

But have we layed our "foundation" yet?

Several years ago, a well known institution battled to keep a close friend
and colleague of mine on staff, due to his exceptional skill and
quialifications. The government beurocracy in that instance argued that in
fact there was NO UNIQUE SKILL OR QUALIFICATION REQUIRED (beyond being "Joe
Piano-tuner") to service pianos in a high-level music institution.

In that instance, there was NO acknowledgement of the "guidelines" and
little more than a preference expressed for the credentials of RPT, by this
high-level music institution. Shame!

I agree that being a CAUT, and/or concert-technician and/or rebuilder calls
for 'more' than the basic skills of a Registered Piano Technician, but at
very least 'does indeed' require the basic skills of an RPT.

Like Richard, over the years I have 'bandied about' thoughts on what
components might be included in a "rebuilders" exam, and when the time comes
would be glad to participate.

Meanwhile, I would like to provoke my valued CAUT colleagues to do
everything possible to entrench the credentials of RPT in your institutions,
to register endorsement of the new guidelines "yesterday or sooner" and to
prevail upon all your colleagues to do the same.

IMHO, 'these' are foundational.

Yes, they may require revision from time to time, but we've demonstrated
capability/willingness to do so. Let's get them 'firmly' in place though, so
some of the 'exceptional' ideas currently being shared have a place to build
on.

End of metaphor.

Look forward to meeting y'all in Dallas.

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University