"building blocks"

[Jim Busby]

Mark and list,

As some of you may know, a five year plan will be presented to PTG
council by a RVP which proposes restructuring PTG as we know it. It
won't be ready this session, and I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE it at this point.
Every year we revisit the topic and nothing gets accomplished. Last year
our chapter tried to pass an "allied tradesman" category and the vote
was 3 to everyone else against... Mark is right. It didn't pass because
it wasn't a "foundation" issue, but merely an attempt to restructure bit
by bit. 

Mark, this long term plan may be the "foundation" you alluded to. Check
it out. (Ask me, if you don't hear about it first)

Ric Brekne's ideas of having "skills areas" in which we would certify
are included in this plan, but they're called "endorsements", and his
idea of having an "administrative" endorsement was since added to the
long term plan. (Thanks Ric)

I agree with Rick Florence, we need to stop complaining and find
creative ways to 1. make ourselves indispensable, and 2. use comparisons
of other programs, etc. (Hey Rick, is that a PC way of saying "Talk's
cheap" or "poop, or get off the pot"?)

Anyway, I for one am in favor of restructuring even though I know it
will be difficult. This "plan" may make things better for CAUT in the
long run because it brings manufacturers and others in the industry on
board. They will make recommendations to consumers. This voice may help
give us more clout. Let's keep our ears, and minds open.

Regards
Jim Busby - BYU




-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Mark Cramer
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 9:23 AM
To: CAUT
Subject: "building blocks"

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








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