PTG, to join or not to join ? - Newton's reply

[Eugenia Carter]

Now Newton,

Quite a bit of your post was right on the money, but you really had to Hunt
for some disinformation, didn't you? :-)

When I joined PTG in 1983 (as a student member), we women comprised 8% of
the total population. When I upgraded to RTT in 1984, we women were still at
8%. When PTG changed its membership categories in 1986, I think we had
finally reached 9% of the total population. (BTW, I was one of those who
radicals who spoke ad nauseam in that '86 Council _against_ changing our
categories.)

I sure am glad to learn that 9% of the total PTG population was so powerful
that we were able to change the minds of the other 91% males. (Well, I guess
it wasn't quite 9% of the total female population, since I and many of my
female friends were also against changing that status.)

Do you think that since we women have now reached 10% of the PTG population,
we'll be successful in changing our categories back to something more
reasonable?

Hugs,

Gina

Gina Carter
Charlotte, NC


-----Original Message-----
From: Newton Hunt <nhunt@jagat.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Friday, September 04, 1998 12:14 AM
Subject: Re: PTG, to join or not to join ?


>" I suspect that there may be some quiet discussion at the national
>level about the "associate problem". "
>
>The greatest pool of knowledge is in the membership of the Guild.  You
>can be a member, an associate, for as long as you like.  RPT is a goal
>of quality, knowledge and experience the helps lead to a successful
>business.
>
>We all have something to offer another and I am sure you will have
>something to offer us as well.
>
>As for the above quote, there is a debate in the council and at
>conventions and seminars about how to classify others that are not RPTs
>and have to intention of becoming one, either because of their position
>in the industry (like supply house owners and employees), who don't want
>to make piano technology their life's work or those who will never
>develop the knowledge and skills to pass the examinations.
>
>This all began some thirty years ago when some radical feminists
>objected to the then classification of "craftsman".  They felt demeaned
>by it and wanted it changed to something else.  Since they were very
>vocal and irrational, they won, but this has been a very long lasting
>debate that has sapped the energy, resources and direction of the Guild
>for many years.
>
>You need not be concerned with this debacle, after all, many members of
>the Guild who are RPTs know little or nothing about the origins of RPT.
>
>THen we had craftsmen, apprentices, associates and allied tradesmen.
>Now we have a mess.
>
>Join the Guild and learn from it and in return teach something to us;
>all is fair in the war of ignorance and companions.
>
>We will welcome you.
>
>        Newton
>