Hi Steve. I was the one that posted the $818 price for two additional family members to tour the exhibit hall. This was strictly pertaining to the Chicago convention. And please understand - I was asking about policy - not trying to dictate or label anything. I see your MARC registration form has a spouse/family member registration. That seems like a really neat thing. That is basically what I was asking about for the Annual Convention in Chicago. I do not see any published way to accomdate a spouse withing to tour the exhibit hall in Chicago. The $818 reflects full registration fee for two non-members, which appears to be the way one would need to go, unless of course there is some family policy I am not aware of - that is why I was asking! Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Taylor, Convention Director" <stevetaylor@ptgmarc.org> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2002 1:08 PM Subject: Re: Family rates at the Convention ----- Original Message ----- From: Carol R. Beigel To: michaelmccoy@ptgmarc.org Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 10:38 PM Subject: family registration for MARC I would like to bring my young adult daugher to the convention, and she would like to attend some classes. She is thinking about becoming a piano technician and join me in the family business. I am an RPT. We would both like to attend the Disklavier seminar. Can she register as a family member? Or do I have to pay a non-guild member technician rate for her? Carol Beigel I thought it would be appropriate to begin this with the actual e-mail sent to us with the request for Carol's "young adult daughter" to attend the Mid-Atlantic Regional Convention, presented by the Pennsylvania State Conference, in addition to the special all day Thursday seminar. When I saw the first post in the Pianotech group, my initial reaction was to simply let it go. Many posts later and appearing to continue, a reply must be made. I have seen the Mid-Atlantic referred to by Carol as "unfair", "appalling" and "outrageous". I am not concerned about the perception of the conference since we are heading towards another sold out convention with the anticipated walk-in registration and an outside opportunity of reaching over 400 registrations. What disturbs me the most is the work of many volunteers spending literally thousands of hours to put on a first class event, some actually taking time off from their business to make this happen, be associated in the same sentence with words like "unfair" and "appalling". Carol, you may have found some of those who responded to your rantings as "crude" but I personally find your misrepresentations made on this public forum, compared to the original e-mail sent to us, as obnoxious and rude. It is with great surprise that I have to find out on this public discussion forum that we did not read the original e-mail closely enough. Based on your posts on these forums; our registration has increased to $1,100 for 2 people ... or was that 3 ... maybe even 4 (actual basic member registration is $215 and guest registration is $315) and your daughter was only going to attend a couple of business classes, to name just two of the numerous inconsistencies. It is most irritating to watch the story change to fit whatever argument or agenda you are trying to communicate. I apologize that we did not explain the all day classes clearly enough because you and your daughter obviously mistook the all day Disklavier class as a business class. I must admit to being relieved by this error because I could not figure out why anyone would want to introduce someone for the first time to piano technology by making them sit through an 8 hour class on the inner workings of an electronic device that makes a piano play. In addition, there are comments that it would cost a family $800 to just visit the Exhibit Hall, I am at a loss to even understand why it seems necessary to repeat these fabrications. We have an extensive Family program from complete guided tours to ala-carte menus so that everyone can be involved as their schedule will allow. There is a small fee of $20 a day for the Exhibit Hall due to providing a Continental Breakfast, 2 breaks with Beverage/Snacks and Lunch each day. These fees were clearly published in the mailed brochure and online at www.ptgmarc.org registration pages. What I find immensely unfair is how anyone that has any sense of financial aptitude could not see the extremely reasonable value in an organization that is providing a venue for 45 top instructors, national and international, with 120 Classes in comparison to the registration fees. If anything the fees are embarrassingly low in relation to what any other "professional" organization would charge for a similar event. I digress, because this is another topic in great need of discussion and will have to wait for another time, other than to say that in June a major topic of discussion is going to be how much to increase the annual dues for all members to keep the PTG solvent. We do not have a policy of reduced admissions for anyone outside of PTG members. I am more convinced today it is the correct action than when I became involved with the PA State Conference now going on the 4th year. I know that being tagged as a non-member is perceived by many as a negative, especially sensitive if it is a family member. We choose to go a different path and treat guest technicians with respect and dignity, not confusing how one is treated with maintaining high standards. We do not charge a non-member more because it is "punishment"; the member fees are simply "value" and "reward" of membership. It has proven very successful; most of the chapters in our area have increased their membership and have a great mixture of young and older members. I do not have the recent Journal available to me at the moment but the latest one had an announcement of all the chapters that increased their membership this past year, most increasing more than 10%, that will receive an award. Out of a total of 161 chapters in the PTG, only a small number of chapters were listed in this announcement, yet another topic of discussion for another time, other than to note that out of all the chapters listed, almost 20% of the ones increasing membership came from our area. Especially gratifying because none of those chapters put out a "Members Wanted" sign and, in addition, have firm entrance requirements and guidelines. Every year we receive numerous requests similar to the one from Carol and with each one we have replied with thanks for the request, inviting them to join us and the fee is as published. Just last month we received a similar request from a potential piano tech/member with a PTG member connection with the common promise "I might consider joining if" statement and usual request for a member rate, discount or free. In response to our follow up to the request, we received the following reply which is typical of at least several new members each year; ".... if I have to pay that much more than I might as well join, already sponsored, besides I'll get my own copy of the Journal . Thanks for inviting me . ". Unlike the suggestion Carol made that it would be different if it were a Father and Son, this is simply not true. My family is paying full fare, and if my father would want to attend the convention and institute, even though not a piano tech, he would be most welcome and would pay the guest technician rate. Forgive my long post, but I have a passion for the issues that affect this Conference and the PTG. It has been my goal since associating with this Conference to work towards adding "Value" to the PTG and "Awareness" of the RPT. These are the most important issues that face the national organizations future and stability. Value and Awareness must be accomplished in a measurable manner, which in turn will translate into a strong, financially sound and formidable organization. It is time for a new vision to be put in place and set into action; no longer can we afford complacency and bureaucracy to be the rule of the day.
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