I need to say this just for the record

[Paul]

Thanks, Brian. My sentiments also!

Paul Chick
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Trout <btrout@desupernet.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2000 11:22 PM
Subject: Re: I need to say this just for the record


> I can't help but add my two cents here.  I've come at it from several
> different directions.
>
> As an 'outsider', one who once looked upon the guild as the good ol' boys
> club, I didn't have many friends in the guild.  I figured I didn't need
them
> and they didn't need me.  With that kind of attitude, what could I expect?
>
> 15 years later, I joined the guild, and although a number of members were
> very welcoming, there were a few who were 'stand-off-ish'.  Here's this
new
> guy who knows (or doesn't know) something about pianos.  Why has he
decided
> to join?  It was kind of an introductory period.  Call it what you want.
> Cordial, and certainly pleasant, but not as open.
>
> After spending some time in the guild (I'm a member about 1 year now), I
> think the people around me, both my local area and the cyber world, have
> come to know a little more about why I'm here.  I'm interested in the free
> exchange of ideas.  I'm interested in what others are doing.  I'm
interested
> in learning.  I'm interested in contributing what I may have learned along
> the way.  I want to grow, and help those around me to grow too.
>
> I can't help but think that there is a segment of the 'learned' tech
> population that might be a little reluctant to divulge every bit of info
> they've ever come across or discovered through years of hard work to every
> newbie that comes along.  But I have found that those same techs are much
> more interested in sharing their thoughts, their wisdom, their experience
> with people who are not just there to skim the best info they can and run
> off into their own little corner to play with their new toy(s).  When you
> come to the group with the obvious intent of being a contributing member
and
> a part of the 'team', the perspective changes.  There is a sense of
> camaraderie that develops over time which breaks down a lot of the
barriers.
>
> For me, I get back what I put out.  I'll be blunt.  I love people.  I care
> what's going on in other people's lives.  When somebody has a problem and
I
> have even a little part of the answer, it gives me great happiness to be a
> part of the solution.  I've got to tell you, it has come back to me ten
> fold.  When I have a problem or need help with something, I have friends
who
> are there to help.
>
> Do you want something from one of the 'big boys'?  Let me just ask, then,
> what would you be willing to give them?  I have discovered that even the
> 'big boys' as I called them, those who we put on a pedestal, don't know
> everything.  When you get to know them, you find out they have questions
and
> areas of interest where they don't have all the answers either.  Have you
> ever taken enough time with one of them to find out where even one of
their
> areas of questioning might lie?  or do you even have a little tidbit of
> information that they might be thankful for?  Offer it.  I had a wonderful
> experience with a well known,  high end rebuilder.  He was looking for
some
> info on a piano.  I had some info.  I sent it gladly, without any strings
> attached.  I sent it because I consider him a friend.  His response was
"if
> there's ever anything you need, let me know", and he was sincere.
>
> What I'm driving at, the guild is, for many, what they put into it.  If
> you've committed yourself to be a growing, thriving, integral part of this
> wonderful body of technicians, you won't likely be an 'outsider'.  If you
> choose to be separate, distanced, and aloof, can you really expect the
warm
> fuzzies?
>
> There are some areas where people have gotten messed up in the political
> stuff, and I hope I will be able to avoid those problems.  I tend to stick
> to the more technical stuff.  And no matter what the organization, there's
> good people and not so good people.  It's a lot like high school, or
church,
> or any number of organizations.  You can find what you want to find.  You
> want criticism?  You'll find it.  You want backbiting?  You'll find it.
You
> want jerks?  You'll find them.  You want warm, caring, sharing, good
> friends?  You'll find lots of them.  You want to share ideas and
information
> with the best minds the PTG has?  You will find them too.
>
> You hold a lot more of the power than you may give yourself credit for.
> Think about it.  :-)
>
> (Time to get off the soapbox...)
>
> I just couldn't help myself...
>
> Brian Trout
> Quarryville, PA
> btrout@desupernet.net
>