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

[pianoman]

Hi Gina,
Please don't take this wrong.  It was the fear of government regulations
coming in to play more than the fear of women.
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G.
 St. Louis, MO.
Competent Service since 1962
 Do what is right and do no harm
         Creator of  Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups 
pianoman@inlink.com        

----------
> From: Eugenia Carter <ginacarter@email.msn.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: PTG, to join or not to join ? - Newton's reply
> Date: Friday, September 04, 1998 5:56 AM
> 
> 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
> >
>