I have averaged about 1.8 pianos a day for several years. Now it is slightly
down after open heart surgery. I gave up a job which was 1/3 of my income a
year ago because I just don't work politics well. So, you who crunch
numbers- I ain't one of them what's got benefits from some lucrative career,
and any retirement at all, since slaves working in churches never got
benefits until I got out of it full time. So someone is talking about a
whole lot of people making a whole lot more income than this guy, and YES
lack of funds is affecting where I direct money.
I have said for years PTG is going to have to redefine itself or it won't
survive. Mostly said it to myself, because I have no political voice
anywhere. But doing things the way they have always been done, and beating
those who will not or cannot afford to keep doing things the same old ways
isn't going to fix any ills. Neither, in my opinion, is driving dues up to
where people like simply don't have funds to pay them. I will be darned glad
to get social security in less than a year, and will have to work till they
put me in a medicare slum nursing home. Probably I'm way out of line
because I haven't been reading every rant about this (these) issues. Sorry.
But people are now arguing about things which will cause me to choose
between dues, meds, and food. I know my choices are limited.
"We need to get more members" I did church choirs for 40 years. That was
the going cry everywhere every year. But "we" and "get" were really tough
issues to rise above. It doesn't happen automatically and what seems to be
happening right now surely doesn't seem like it's going to make PTG look
like a fun place to be for newbies. No one asked my opinion- so I'll quit.
But the wars which seem to be going on right now, put me in a place where it
affects my ability to survive. It ceases, then, to be fun.
Sincerely
Leslie Bartlett
_____
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Ross
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 2:32 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] [OT] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should
Really Be on PTG-L)
I would imagine that the amount of unemployment, and the downturn in the
economy, is having an effect, on the registration.
There just isn't the amount of disposable income around, as there was.
This would also be in the equation of raising the dues.
Putting food on the table is a priority for a lot now.
I haven't seen any numbers.
The established tuners are probably ok, but the others must be feeling the
crunch.
I might be wrong, possibly all the piano owners are still working.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia
On 2011-07-01, at 4:19 PM, tnrwim at aol.com wrote:
Less than half of our membership are full time technicians, check the
surveys
Not only that, but our median age in almost 60. That means there are part
time technicians for whom this profession is a second career, which they got
into after retiring form another lucrative career, from which they are
receiving retirement benefits. They belong the to PTG for a variety of
reasons, but if the dues become more than they think justifies their
benefits, they will drop their membership.
I agree with Dale, a $100 increase in dues will drop our membership to below
3000, if not 2500. Yes, these will be the most dedicated members, but
unfortunately, we can't afford such a drastic cut in income.
We need to come up with better ways to increase attendance at conventions,
and increase membership. I've made some suggestions, but we need more input
from more members. Someday, someone will come up with a magic solution, and
we'll all say. "Now why didn't I think of that?"
Wim
-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Probst <dale at wardprobst.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, Jul 1, 2011 1:01 pm
Subject: Re: [pianotech] [OT] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should
Really Be on PTG-L)
Less than half of our membership are full time technicians, check the
surveys. I don't think you should underestimate the downside to raising dues
100%. I'm in favor of rational increases, I voted for and campaigned for
every dues increase while on the board . I'm in favor of doing our best to
close the gap without losing many of our valued members who have other
professions. You are assuming less members and more money, will make this a
"top notch organization".
I don't buy it..
DP
Dale Probst RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Ward & Probst, Inc.
www.wardprobst.com <http://www.wardprobst.com/>
dale at wardprobst.com
-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
<mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org?> ] On Behalf Of Ryan Sowers
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2011 1:39 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Right Here, Right Now (was Stuff Which Should
Really Be on PTG-L)(OT)
Like our piano service businesses, when you raise your rates, you mostly
lose the lowest level of your clientele and keep the bottom feeders out of
range. I think most technicians underestimate what they can charge. I don't
think we should underestimate members willingness to pay for a top notch
organization.
If you are a full time technician $450 a year is a drop in the bucket in
your yearly expenses.
Ryan Sowers
On Fri, Jul 1, 2011 at 10:05 AM, Coleman, Jim <jcolem21 at utk.edu> wrote:
Alan & All,
About 3 years ago my report to Council stated that for PTG to be a dues
based operation the dues would have to be around $350. Since then the cost
of doing everything has gone up. In today's dollars they would probably
need to be $400-$450.
Personally I think that is where we should be (and it would still be a
bargin) but as Dale Probst has stated, we do not know what the fall-out
would be in terms of losing members.
See you in KC!
Jim Coleman, Jr RPT
Staff Piano Technician
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
(865) 748-0998
(602) 989-0005
--
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net <http://www.pianova.net/>
_____
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