[CAUT] Guidelines, CAUT, PTG

[Scott E. Thile]

Les, here is the direct link to the Guidelines page on the CAUT site:
http://www.ptg.org/caut.php/guidlines_pg.htm
 
and here is one to the Guidelines themselves:
http://www.ptg.org/caut.php/Guidelines/guidelines.pdf
 
The home office also sells a nicely printed version that would be more
impressive as a stand alone document.
 
While some might have experienced some benefit to administrators reading
this themselves, I've had the most success using it in combination with a
custom document or presentation based on what I think the situation is
currently, and what will be most beneficial for the school. I've used a lot
of the info from the guidelines to build my cases. I also include the entire
document so they can see it for themselves if they want to. 
 
Don is right. This document is very useful, and it has been very helpful to
me and many others, but it's not something you can plop down on a desk and
expect it to make a big difference without backing it up with your own
professional evaluation of the pianos and needs of the institution.
 
PTG has been great for me, and owe a lot to members that helped me out
directly, as well as conference presentations and seminars I've attended.
All very worth while. I've also learned a great deal from some very
excellent technicians that were not members. It's not that PTG members are
better technicians so much as that many are committed to helping others
becoming better technicians, and interested in the opportunities for
bettering themselves and the profession. That says a lot, but it's not
bottom line.
 
I think PTG membership carries a little weight with faculty and
administrators in that they like to see a commitment to the education
process, and value their own experiences in similar organizations. And,
while they're looking for more than minimal competency, it's nice to know
that an applicant has at least that! Most will know better than to think
that RPT means more than that. They'll also know the limitations of a CAUT
credential of some sort, but may likewise appreciate what it does mean, more
focused competency, and a commitment to developing special skills for a
school setting. That commitment means a lot and my guess is that it will
bump an applicant up to an interview out of a pool of applicants. It may
even be something that schools start to look for and advertise.
 
We all know great techs who are not members, and terrible techs that are.
School administrators know this kind of thing exists because they run into
it with faculty all the time.
 
Thanks to the committee and others for all the hard work on the Guidelines,
and developing the credential. I think it's a definite step in the right
direction.
 
In pianos, Scott
Scott E. Thile, RPT
Piano/Instrument Technician
---------------------------
Dept. of Music, Murray State University
504 Fine Arts Building, Murray, KY 42071
Office Phone: 270-809-4396
http://campus.murraystate.edu/staff/scott.thile/index.html


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Leslie
Bartlett
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 4:45 PM
To: 'College and University Technicians'
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Guidelines, CAUT, PTG


>From an ignorant:   Are the guidelines on the PTG site?  I have a little
college account, and they're open to at least consider becoming educated.
there's a chance to start and grow something which will serve them well in
the future.
thanks
les bartlett

  _____  

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Donald
McKechnie
Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:55 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Guidelines, CAUT, PTG


This just needs to be said yet again; The Guidelines document is a great
tool for CAUT's, and all, to use. It is not the end all and be all. Each
situation is different. Use it wisely and to your best advantage. One does
not just drop the Guidelines into the lap of an administrator and expect
them to see the light. More often it is a matter of plugging away year after
year (much like Barbara) until things get done. I believe using the
Guidelines in the documentation you present will help in some small or large
way. 

I have been plugging away here at IC to get the maintenance program up to
where it needs to be. No, I have not succeeded completely. There is still
much to accomplish. But, if I look back at where this program was when I
first arrived there have been many successes thanks in part to the
Guidelines. If it does not work for you, well, we tried. There is one thing
I am certain about; this publication has helped many in one way or another.

This is an exciting time in the history of the CAUT committee. What we are
up to right now is the seed of tremendous potential. All we ask is that you
keep an open mind and hopefully the thought that a bit of change is healthy.
(Change is inevitable in life, regardless of how much we fight it. :-) By
all means, let's continue debate. This will also lead to greater
understanding. 

Please keep in mind that once PTG has a firm set of policies, etc. regarding
CAUT, then it is time to market to academia in a greater way than what we
have been doing. If you take the time to look you will see we have made some
inroads already. For several years now the CAUT committee has attended and
presented at the College Music Society conventions. There have been PTG
booths regularly at MTNA conventions. Although NASM tries to ignore our
message, they keep hearing from us. We have sent out many mailings with
information. There is a foothold in place if you look. Yep, it is going to
take time to arrive at an even greater visibility but in the end we on the
CAUT committee feel academia, for the most part, will understand what we are
all about. And just maybe, a bigger salary!

We are still a work in progress here at IC. It would be great if I can see
everything I want before it is time to leave. The reality is that this may
not happen. Many of us who have served on the CAUT committee over the years
share a deep commitment to improve the piano maintenance programs across
academia. It has been a long haul since 1987 but again, look back and you
can see a lot of success. Happy 20th to CAUT!

As stated above, I may not see the full fruits of all this effort. If that
is to be, so what. There is pleasure knowing I fought the good fight and may
have helped others, and my successor, along the way. If one wants to just
complain and not join the effort to change that's your decision. If that is
the case, be happy. We hope you will join or at least support the efforts to
expand the PTG. It is going to take some time but in the end I have no doubt
it will have been worth it. 

This past week I had the privilege of hearing one of the happiest people in
the world give a lecture here at IC. The Dalia Lama of Tibet cannot even
return to his own country yet this is one happy guy! I try my best to learn
from folks like him on what it means to be content with what I have. But at
the same time, being happy is not enough. Seeking knowledge is always key in
the teachings of people like the Dalia Lama. PTG has made me (and many, many
others) a happy camper. All the resources it provides for knowledge and
understanding in our profession is astounding at times. If one chooses not
to partake it is truly their loss.

Regards,
Don

P.S. Whoa! What a segue from The Dalia Lama to PTG! :-))



Don McKechnie
Piano Technician
Ithaca College
dmckech at ithaca.edu
607-274-3908






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