Del wrote: >Personally, I would like to see our conventions change some and >focus more directly on those who are a bit more experienced--but I >could be wrong. This is the direction our organization has decided >our conventions should take and as long as that is the case we're >pretty much stuck with the way things are.< He had very good thoughts about the conventions, and the minor quibble I have with the first sentence above is just that, minor. But I use it for the opportunity it provides to chime in about the importance of the conventions. I think he's bang on about the reasons for the conventions being oriented to education. I think the balance is just right myself. We have to keep educating those coming in. If we turn off beginners, we turn off the growth of the profession. I have constantly heard from seasoned RPTs and relentless convention goers that "no matter how often I go, I always learn something new." Beyond the classes, for which I (only 4 years in the profession) am eternally grateful, there is the oppportunity to meet and talk with other folks in between the classes and at meals. Because ours is an isolated profession, we need all the oppportunities we can get to meet our colleagues. And, it's not just the national that is important, the regionals are there for those of us who can't always make it to the nationals. In my four years I've only been to Providence and Arlington. But I was very lucky in that the year I started, the national was in Providence and I was able to drive. I was completely blown away. Though I was exhausted each evening when I got back to my room, I still wished that there was a piano in my room so I could go through what I'd learned that day. But the next year I went to our regional in Quebec and was again hit with information overload and wanted a piano in my room. Supporting your regional by attending is a good way to support the PTG on a local level. The more people who come, the more the chapters are encouraged to do the massive work involved. The work is the same whether 100 people or 200 come to the regional. In short, I know of no other organization which has a convention so valuable for its attendees. I've been to conventions in the areas of Mediaeval History and Literature, Computer Science, Technical Writing, and Graphic Arts. None of them have provided the kind of information that the PTG conventions do. Most were heavy on socializing and partying. I prefer to do that stuff, if at all, at home and with my friends--it's cheaper :) There is an energy in the PTG which comes out at these times that makes you feel good about what you do, that makes you want to do more, to learn more, to just "be better" at what you do. It truly is a wonderful opportunity. Though I couldn't make it to Reno or Chicago because of money, nor will I be able to go to Dallas, my hope is that I can make it to Nashville and then every other year after that. I thank the PTG Institute for its work, and those in the home office for taking care of us so well. Cheers, Clair -- Clair's Piano Service http://www.vt2000.com/cps
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