Sex offender clearance, was "vetted by the CRB"

[Fenton Murray]

This has all been hashed out here before. It seemed to me the PTG might take 
advantage of this credentialing as a requirement for member ship. Just an 
idea, don't know if it would work or maybe create other problems. There 
might be opposition to it as well from the membership.
Fenton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Graham" <grahampianos at yahoo.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 9:18 PM
Subject: Sex offender clearance, was "vetted by the CRB"


> Fenton,
>
> The local school districts in Pennsylvania require their staff to have FBI 
> and State Police background checks.  The Boy Scouts and many churches are 
> requiring anyone with direct contact with vulnerable individuals 
> (children, or handicapped adults) to have the same FBI and State Police 
> clearances.
>
> I have not been asked for clearance by any of the institutions I tune for, 
> but it is probably going to happen.  The schools, churches and scouts are, 
> certainly, interested in protecting children.  But the policies set in 
> motion in recent years are designed to keep them from having to make the 
> type of court settlements the Catholic Church has endured.  In the same 
> spirit of self-preservation, local school districts and universities will 
> probably get around to requiring vendor clearance.
>
> The only problem with all the clearance stuff is that it only shows that 
> you are not a KNOWN offender YET.  It is a half measure.
>
> Many scout and church child protection policies include a two-adult rule. 
> At least two adults must be in any room with children.  This does much 
> more to protect children than background checks, and has a legal defense 
> benefit.  The adults keep an eye on each other, and can testify for each 
> other.
>
> The flip side of this is protecting yourself.  Never allow yourself to be 
> alone with a child.  Always have another adult with you when children are 
> in the room.  You will have someone to verify your side of the story if 
> the child cries "Witch!".  (Had it happen to me as a scout leader, and 
> having two other unbiased adults in the room at the moment in question 
> quickly ended what would otherwise have been a disaster.)
>
> So when Mrs. Jones says "I have to run to the market.  My 14 year old son 
> or daughter is in the next room if you need anything.", what do you do?
>
> I used to keep on tuning without a thought, but now I want to run for my 
> life!  Beware, brother, beware!
>
> Greg Graham
>
>> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:21:11 -0700
>> From: "Fenton Murray" <fmurray at cruzio.com>
>> Subject: Re: Tokiwa piano parts now vetted by the CRB
>
>> Barrie,
>> I use Pacific Piano and Pianotek her in the US, that may not help you.
>> NOW,
>> I noticed the following on your web site.
>> "I have been vetted by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and approved to
>> work in situations with vulnerable adults or children."
>>
>> I wonder if something like this exists here in the US and might be of use 
>> by the PTG for it's members?
>>
>> Comments?
>>
>> Fenton
>>
>
>