PTG, to join or not to join ?

[Eugenia Carter]

Bob,

Join!

The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Gina
PS Come to the North Carolina Regional Conference in Richmond Va Oct 22 -25.
You'll experience first hand some of the great advantages. If you want more
info, email me direct at GinaCart@email.msn.com and I'll send you the
Conference info.

Gina Carter
Charlotte, NC


-----Original Message-----
From: Hite, Bob <bhite@dmci.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Thursday, September 03, 1998 10:46 PM
Subject: PTG, to join or not to join ?


>Pianotech List:
>
>I am a hobbyist.  I love working on pianos.  I am working on my second
rebuild.
>Over the last two and a half years, I have utilized the services of two
>professional technicians, one an associate, the other, a RPT.  Both have
suggested
>that I join their chapter of the PTG.  No pressure, just a suggestion.
Clearly
>the ball was left in my court,  and I am seriously considering doing so.
>
>Now, before I commit to join yet another organization, I would like to
avail
>myself of as much information as i can.
>
>Of course I realize that individual chapters will have their differences,
as
>personalities in the world differ.
>
>What I would like to do here, is to articulate my thoughts and solicit some
ideas
>from knowledgeable folks at the pianotech list.
>
>So, here we go:
>
>    1.  I do wish to avail myself to as much knowledge and experience as
possible
>in the field of piano technology.
>And I do wish to receive the PTG Journal.  I know it is available by
subscription,
>with or without membership.
>There must be other benefits too, training siminars etc.  Please don't tell
me
>about the group insurance or discount car rental.
>
>    2.  Currently, I doubt if I will ever upgrade to RPT.  This is only a
hobby
>for me, and I wish to keep it that way.  I don't
>particularly enjoy tuning, although I have practiced some and  using
tunelab, I
>can rough tune, and have no problem chipping up to pitch after restringing.
This
>could possible change as I grow.
>
>    3.  I don't feel that I have skills, knowledge, or experience to share
with
>working, professional technicians.  Not really comfortable with the concept
of
>taking and not returning, and yet, at the same time,  I quest for
knowledge.
>
>    4.  Not interested in serving on committees, holding office, fund
raising,
>etc.
>
>     5.  In the year or more that I have been lurking here, I have picked
up on
>some negative attitudes (stories mostly) toward associate members.  I
suspect that
>there may be some quiet discussion at the national level about the
"associate
>problem".  If there is a problem, then I certainly don't want to be a part
of it.
>(the problem that is)
>
>    6.  I am willing to attend meetings and some activities, not sure what
they
>might be. Are there any ?
>
>    7.  I am very happy with the professional technician - client
relationship
>established with the technician who offered to
>sponsor my associate membership.  I wouldn't want that relationship diluted
or
>changed in any way.
>
>The technician who tunes my piano and advises on rebuilding concerns is
scheduled
>to come here next month.  At that
>time, I am going to mention these concerns to him directly.  In the mean
time, I
>would appreciate some of your thoughts
>concerning the above.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Bob Hite
>