One Happy Family

[Stephen Airy]

With me, the problem with joining PTG right  now
(although I would like to sometime) is...

1.  $$$
2.  Time  (college & homework takes up my time)


--- Joseph Garrett <joegarrett@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Terry, 
> Excellent post.
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Farrell 
>   To: pianotech@ptg.org 
>   Sent: Thursday, May 03, 2001 6:47 AM
>   Subject: Re: One Happy Family
> 
> 
>   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 ----- 
>     From: Mike McCoy 
>     To: ptg-l@ptg.org 
>     Cc: Pianotech 
>     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! 
>      
>     Thanks! Ever Onward   
> 
>      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 ----- 
>       From: Denele Campbell 
>       To: ptg-l@ptg.org 
>       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. 
> 
>       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. 
> 
>       Denele Campbell, RPT
>       NWArk 
> 
>         ----- Original Message ----- 
>         From: Wimblees@aol.com 
>         To: ptg-l@ptg.org 
>         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 
=== message truncated ===


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