[pianotech] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should Really Be on PTG-L)

[Alan Eder]

Dale,


I, too believe that, "... one motivated person can make a difference," which is why I am chiming in on this topic, and where it will best reach an appropriate audience, right here on pianotech.


I find it ironic that your takeaway from Del's eloquent and measured post was the one statement he made that could be (mis?)construed to be in support of the status quo.  What is your take on everything else he wrote?  


Similarly, while I appreciate and am still absorbing your response to selected aspects of my post, I would be most interested to learn your views on the points I made about furthering our own professionalism as an organization, and placing a premium on excellence in instruction.  To my mind, these are two defining issues facing our Guild.


Finally, I apologize if I have passed on an inaccurate calculation as to how much dues would have to be increased in order to make registration at national conventions gratis for members.  Please set me straight by providing the true amount we would have to notch it up to accomplish this intriguing goal.


Thanks,


Alan Eder


-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Probst <dale at wardprobst.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Jun 30, 2011 5:02 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Stuff Which Should Really Be on PTG-L


Hi Alan et al,
 
Whoever told you $10-$50 would do it was misinformed. I think dues would have to double for the convention to be free. With a  large increase we would lose a significant percentage of the membership that makes a moving target that is hard to calculate but that's my best guess. Doubling dues won't have much effect if half the membership resigns
 
I've been reading a lot of posts and have a few comments which I'm sure won't be received in the spirit they are intended but here they are. First, participation in this listserve is down because fewer posts are on topic or piano related. There have been more piano related posts on the new site that's why some of us have spent more time there. Second, I believe some workaround compromise will come about to keep the lists going longer. My question is how many of the people who have complained are ready to serve as admins or do other thankless jobs to keep these antiquated listserves going? Don't bother telling me how much you dislike the Higher Logic site and that these listserves are perfect. I heard complaints for years about these listserves and their jumbled digests, archives and other issues when I was on the Board. 
 
On the topic of instructor reimbursements- it's simple math. With registration prices lower this year, less could be reimbursed to instructors because the budget of PTG depends upon income from the convention to pay bills.  I understand that instructors put a lot of time into presentations, I've taught before. Board members put in a lot of time also, as do examiners and other volunteer members. Del hit it right on the head when he said PTG was a volunteer organization that was built by a generous spirit of volunteerism. I can tell you first hand it still is and we are still building. How to get from a totally volunteer organization to one where some folks get reimbursed has been a problem that we have yet to solve. I do know that it will never be amenable to everyone, no matter what we do.
 
As to "the absence of some of our finest independent instructors" at the annual PTG convention- these will be the first classes I've have had a chance to attend to since 1997 and I'm looking forward to them. There are new classes and new faces and that is not altogether a bad thing. Do I wish some of my old friends would be there? You bet! I also wish that my friends could find some value in attending these new classes whether they were teaching or not. I've been at this 30 years and I've yet to find a class that didn't make me a better tech for attending. I'll grant that some do more of that than others but the worst I ever attended was pretty darn good. 
 
I wish you all the best and I hope to see some of you in KC. 
 
Dale
 
PS Please keep in mind that these folks some of you are criticizing so vehemently are volunteers you elected who take time away from their families and work to serve. In my experience Board service at the RVP level takes a month out of your year and it don't get better if you move up to the Executive Committee. If you really feel motivated to make changes, sign up and get involved. I can tell you from personal experience, one motivated person can make a difference.
 

Dale Probst RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Ward & Probst, Inc.
www.wardprobst.com
dale at wardprobst.com
 

 
 
  
  
-----Original Message-----
From:   pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of   Alan Eder
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2011 6:01 PM
To:   pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] teaching money,(was   Irritated )


Hi Mark,   


  
I am   deeply concerned about the absence of some of our finest independent   instructors at this year's national convention.
  
  
I would     also rather pay higher dues and/or registration than to see the quality of     instruction diminish, but I'm also sensitive to the needs of beginning     technicians who may truly have trouble affording the cost of attending.   
I recently heard that someone (named Carl Lieberman?)   calculated that with a modest increase in dues (was it $50? or $10? Carl?),   convention registration could be free to all comers.  Sure, everyone   would still have to get themselves there and pay for a room (hey, you have to   eat whether you are at home or on the road), but this would enormously   increase the incentive to attend conventions ('cause it's already paid   for--take it, or leave it).  This approach, coupled with the kind of   respect, both verbal and monetary, exemplified by some of our better one-day   seminars and regional conventions, could enable the nationals to not only   return to their former glory, but to surpass it by showing that we truly value   excellence in instruction and seek to promote our own professionalism.
  


  
I appreciate your involvement in this issue and thank you for taking the   time to hear me out.
  


  
Alan Eder

  



 

 
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