One Happy Family

[Farrell]

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This may be a radical idea, but I like the PTG just the way it is. I =
think the RPT thing, like it is with the testing, etc. is great. =
Something to shoot for and a great educational experience. Might be nice =
to have something like that for rebuilders, etc. The PTG strikes me =
mostly though as one great big educational MEGA opportunity. A couple =
other professional organizations I have belonged to when in my previous =
career were a big ZERO compared to what the PTG has to offer. For =
someone in the beginning of their piano career, the opportunities are =
absolutely endless. And so often I see techs at classes at conventions =
with lots of experience obviously learning new things.

I'm largely a shy kind of guy who can be subject to an occasional lack =
of confidence. I used to go to Chamber of Commerce meetings and events =
(in previous career) and just kinda melt into a corner. I thought it was =
mostly a good old boy network with no opportunity for me. Well, to tell =
the truth, I still think that situation was/is like that. I think some =
of the folks that speak ill of the PTG might feel that way also. I =
sometimes feel the same way at a PTG convention. But I know it is just =
me. It is not PTG. There are just too many talented folks willing to =
share their skills and philosophies with others to think of the big =
picture as some group of uppity RPTs. PTG is great! It is so different =
from my other professional-organization experiences. The PTG is so open =
and working hard to spread so much fabulous information.

Every organization has personalities that are going to conflict. I think =
the big picture of PTG is a willingness to share expertise. This is rare =
and is fabulous. I wish some folks would worry less about the =
RPT/Associate thing and keep their eyes on the big picture. PTG is just =
a way for all of us to learn from one another. If one wishes to pursue =
the RPT thing - great - I think it is an excellent learning experience. =
And if an RPT capitalizes on the RPT experience and keeps learning, =
his/her income and social/professional status in their profession will =
be their reward. It will show. Let's keep our focus on inclusiveness, =
rather than exclusiveness though. It helps keep the mind healthy and the =
world a better place.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Mike McCoy=20
  To: ptg-l@ptg.org=20
  Cc: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 8:42 AM
  Subject: Re: One Happy Family


  Hi All,

   Unfortunately we are not living in a perfect world. The bottom line =
of the PTG, like most other organizations, is funding, and our funding =
comes from member dues, so any attempt to reduce the ranks or make it =
more difficult for people to join will be met with silence. The current =
direction the PTG seems to be taking is a drive for new members, as seen =
in a letter to Chapter Presidents last year I believe it was, we were to =
beat the bushes trying to get non-member techs to join. I would LOVE to =
think the purpose is to bring them into the fold, test them and make =
sure everyone working on pianos out there meets a basic minimum of =
skills, alas I suspect the new member drive was to increase funding, =
quantity not quality.
  We, the PTG, are now concerned with the ratio of RPT's to =
Associates... when you bring new members in what else can be expected? =
What to do? How do we get Associates that work on Pianos to "upgrade"?, =
and I quote upgrade because the exams would not upgrade everyone's =
skills but upgrade their status in PTG, from Associate to RPT. What =
incentives can PTG offer to make RPT attractive? Make the exams easier? =
Hardly, and not if I have a say in it, the exams are easy enough and =
fair to someone who knows what they are doing, and that is the point, to =
get everyone on a base level playing field. Many who take the exams =
breeze through them, others who have been in the business 10 or even =
more years have a tough time, but everyone learns something!

   Any incentives the PTG can offer to make RPT more attractive will =
cost money and we're back at the beginning again, bring in new members =
or raise dues. Personally I have no idea what the budgets look like or =
if it would help if the PTG advertise heavily to promote the Guild and =
it's members. I don't have a solution that would not cost a ton of =
money.

   To those leaving the Guild or thinking about it, please reconsider. =
If all the members with clever ideas and business savvy walk away the =
Guild will fold for sure, we need everyone and your ideas, think them =
through and write to your Regional Vice Pres to have your and your =
Chapter's ideas voiced at the board meetings, you could be one of the =
people making these decisions someday, just keep in mind that most every =
idea costs money and we all know where it comes from.

   So there is no misunderstanding of my post, I would like to see every =
Technician actively working on pianos in a customers home or school be =
an RPT, the idea being we become a professional organization, dress and =
act like professionals and CHARGE ACCORDINGLY. All new members with =
in-home,school type service intentions would be Associates or whatever =
title and be on a fast track to RPT with time limits on testing, I.E.: =
you have 6 months to take the written, a year or so after that for the =
Technical etc. All other members, rebuilders and so on would have their =
own title.

   Please don't sit around and complain, get involved in your Chapters, =
get on a first name basis with your Regional VP and make your wishes =
known and vote! All of us that are members ARE the PTG and we can make =
changes to OUR organization.

   Any confusion or doubt about the intent of my note please call or =
write directly!=20
  =20
  Thanks! Ever Onward  =20

   I'm clicking "send" now and hope I don't regret it in the morning

  Mike McCoy RPT
  Northeast Rep, Technical Exam Sub-Committee
  So Central Pa Chapter 170 & SEPA 190 PTG
  Langhorne, Pa
  Mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net

    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Denele Campbell=20
    To: ptg-l@ptg.org=20
    Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 6:27 PM
    Subject: Re: One Happy Family


    Last time I wrote, there was a great silence for over two months. In =
that message, I made the modest proposal that Guild membership be =
limited to those who pass all tests. In other words, to be a member of =
the Guild, you have to be an RPT.=20

    Along with this conversation stopper, I suggested that an affiliate =
organization -- call it whatever -- would provide all the education, =
testing, and other services now supporting those called Associates.

    Details would flow from this fundamental structural definition, such =
as those who just rebuild, or who teaches the associates, and who votes =
in chapter meetings, etc etc etc.

    This would return some value and meaning to Guild membership and =
would give an unambiguous message in our advertising -- hire a Guild =
member, and you get a technician who has been tested to show minimum =
levels of proficiency in piano care. Otherwise, I don't see any future =
for the Guild and may find myself following in Walter's -- and many =
others' -- footsteps.=20

    Denele Campbell, RPT
    NWArk=20

      ----- Original Message -----=20
      From: Wimblees@aol.com=20
      To: ptg-l@ptg.org=20
      Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 8:41 AM
      Subject: Re: One Happy Family


      In a message dated 5/2/01 12:42:13 AM Central Daylight Time,=20
      dean8gem@1stnetusa.com writes:=20



        Back to the original problem of dissension. Would the =
substitution of=20
        convention classes for exams change the dynamic?  Yes, but not =
because=20
        of the elimination of testing per se; applicants would not be =
admitted=20
        to membership until after the completion of the minimum =
standards=20
        curriculum.  In other words, there would be only one class, one =
happy=20
        family.  We could, of course, create a single class membership =
through=20
        examination, but is would certainly be a small one.=20

        Dean Boesen, RPT=20


        Dean=20

        Your idea is not new. I have been touting PTG for RPT's for over =
10 years.=20
        Realizing that will be a very hard nut to swallow for the =
membership, I am=20
        now trying to convince the general membership that passing the =
written exam=20
        at 50% should be the minimum requirement for membership in the =
PTG. We can=20
        still have two classes of membership, but mostly for internal =
use only. The=20
        general public would only know that a member of the PTG has some =
basic=20
        knowledge of piano work. Every member would have the same voting =
rights and=20
        be counted as a full member of the PTG. Perhaps we could limit =
the=20
        executive Board to RPT's. But being and RPT doesn't necessarily =
mean a=20
        member has political savvy. The only committee where one must be =
an RPT=20
        would be the examinations committee.=20

        Your idea is great. Pass it along.=20

        Willem



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