[pianotech] Our brother's keepers

[David Andersen]

I'm in. I'll do one a month for John as well. He's a great guy, and a  
brother; it's my pleasure. Thanks for being a stud, Mark Schecter.
David Andersen



On May 1, 2009, at 12:56 AM, Mark Schecter wrote:

> To all my brothers and sisters in piano work:
>
> One of the downsides of self-employment is the exposure we have to  
> catastrophic events. Although some of us are employed by  
> institutions or  dealerships, most of us go it alone, and if  
> something happens, we deal with it in the best way we can scrape  
> together, for better or for worse.
>
> Few of us have the resources to survive comfortably through any  
> extended period of unemployment, whether as a result of health  
> issues, macro-economic stresses, or sudden traumas. We just keep on  
> plugging, with our fingers crossed, and if we're fortunate, our  
> spouse or partner will help pull us through in a time of need. If  
> we're the sole support, we're in real trouble.
>
> John Granholm will not be able to work for a good while. I don't  
> have any idea what his financial situation is, but presumably, if he  
> didn't need to be working, like most of us do, he would be fishing  
> or golfing or otherwise relaxing. In other words, he is suddenly  
> facing, among daunting physical difficulties, the prospect of no  
> income, when just last week, the assumption was he would be working  
> for a living.
>
> Having been in similar straits once, though not nearly so severe, I  
> well remember the deep gratitude I felt for my fellow piano  
> technicians who helped me get through in my time of need. Members of  
> my chapter of PTG tuned pianos for me, and gave me the checks. I  
> choke up right now just remembering those acts of love and support.  
> Nothing has ever meant more to me.
>
> So here's what I'm going to do: I will tune one piano a month for  
> John Granholm and send him the check, until he's able to return to  
> work. This is one way I can express my gratitude for PTG; for the  
> generosity of its members, my brothers and sisters, toward their  
> fellows; and to John for his contributions to our world. I want to  
> ease his mind during his recovery. I hope you will join me.
>
> -Mark Schecter, RPT
> San Francisco Chapter since 1979
>
>