Dear Journal Readers, Most of you are aware that I have been contracted by PTG to act as the Journal’s Illustrator. This has been a job I have enjoyed immensely, in large part due to the many e-mails and phone calls in which you have expressed your kind support and friendly encouragement. I can’t fully express what this has meant to Chris and I over the last four years except to say that your words help us to get through each month’s work and ease us over the many rough spots along the way. I feel particularly proud that the work I have been doing has helped to facilitate the many of you who have written articles for the Journal and encourages others to make plans to share their experiences with the membership of PTG. Unfortunately, I find myself at an impasse that will make it impossible for me to continue. In the May issue of the Journal you will read in the “Executive Outlook” a call for people interested in becoming the Journal’s Illustrator to apply for the position. There is also an ad running toward the back of the Journal stating the same. As of this date I have not been officially notified by the home office of their intent to terminate my contract. I find it totally unacceptable to continue to provide artwork for the Journal while our Board of directors seeks my replacement. From what I hear from you, and can see with my own eyes, it is obvious that the Journal is serving the membership better that ever before. Advertising has substantially increased in the last four years which goes a long way toward funding the artwork you now enjoy. Due to the efforts of all of us working on the Journal you no longer expect it to arrive weeks or even months late. Journal authors can now expect better support than ever before. Their ideas will come to life with professional quality illustration and photography. Articles are given the full attention of a qualified graphic artist, Chris Hartman, so that the artwork will blend perfectly with their words. I ask: what’s wrong with the Journal and why does the Board now feel compelled to make these changes? While for the most part I enjoy this job very much, in the last two years I have been burdened with the ill will of our executive Board. Last year they charged Bob Hohf, our Journal editor, with the job of searching for my replacement. This was done behind all of our backs. I was extremely hurt by their actions and have not yet received any explanation for their dissatisfaction with my performance. This activity along with the complete lack of support from our PTG leaders over the last two years has cast a dark shadow over all of us working to produce the Journal. There is a lot more I could go into but this letter is long enough as it is. Contrary to how it may look in the May issue I have not quit this job and for now I have not received my pink slip from the home office. So I will continue on in this job in protest until our leaders make up their minds to either stop harassing me or fire me outright. Doing this job in protest will mean that I will not be creating illustrations or taking high resolution photos for your articles. There will not be any new high quality article layouts or custom made covers. In short Chris and I will sit here doing nothing until our leaders make up their minds. You should expect to begin seeing the results of these changes in the July issue. Again, thank you for your support and encouragement, John Hartman Chris Hartman John Hartman Pianos [link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015] Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin Grand Pianos Since 1979 Piano Technician's Journal Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor
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