<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space;-khtml-line-break: after-white-space'> <div class=Section1> David:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You make a good point about the size of the audience on PTG-L. While there are 820 subscribers to this list, there are but 155 people subscribed to PTG-L. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would like to encourage all PTG members to subscribe to the PTG-L list since that is the place designated to discuss PTG business, motions to council, items for all leadership etc. The traffic is generally very light (OK, right before the Council session it gets a little heavier) and discussions there can really help keep communication to flow.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You can subscribe by clicking <a href="http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/PTG-L">HERE</a>. You do have to be a member in good standing to subscribe but if you are a member you can really help PTG by participating in this list.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> dave<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David M. Porritt<o:p></o:p> <a href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Andersen Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 7:19 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div> On Apr 24, 2007, at 8:50 AM, Conrad Hoffsommer wrote:<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt' type=cite> Dave, et al,<o:p></o:p> It may be time to shift this very interesting discussion to PTG-L. I'm not saying it shouldn't be discussed, just that this general list may not be the most appropriate venue.<o:p></o:p> My 2¢...<o:p></o:p> </blockquote> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Thank you, Conrad, for your respectful suggestion. Because I know the kind of man you are from reading your posts for five years, I take anything you say humbly and seriously. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> At the same time, I don't know if relegating, if that's the word, this very interesting and important dialog that, in my view, speaks to an issue which is crucially relevant  to the organization as a whole and the atmosphere in which it operates.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Take, for instance, this list. It has incredibly, massively, enriched the professional and personal lives of many hundreds of people, and it has been a profound change agent for what corporate America is now trumpeting as "radical transparency," which is simply telling the truth about what you produce, how you produce it, who helps you, and being open and flexible to feedback and constructive criticism---something that list heroes like Ron Overs, Dale Erwin, Ron Nossaman, P.R.Jones, David Hughes and many others have been practicing for years. Most, if not all, of the active list participants are in the Guild. Is there acknowledgement, affirmation, recognition, collegial conversation, collaborative visioning, hanging out----any of that taking place on the part of leadership of PTG vis a vis the Pianotech list? <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Our list contributes an important part of the Journal every month---at least. It's an immense public piano resource, and has, I believe, raised the bar of piano service some, and will continue to do so as cyberspace becomes more and more omnipresent. If a good friend of yours was doing something really good and worthwhile, and that helped you as well, wouldn't it feel good to praise and recognize that person---tell them "good job?" Why don't we as an organization simply practice the Golden Rule?<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Small exhibitors, most of them Guild members, should be deeply encouraged to come, and be subsidized, through lower fees, by the higher fees of the big boys. This is just wise leadership; every good niche market knows how to make it easy for the "custom" guys to sell their stuff---because their stuff serves the quality, the high end, and that's what serves and drives the whole piano business. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> This is not rocket science; it's common sense. There are people in our Guild who know without question how to operate from this sensibility---I understand that both the northeast and the northwest regional conferences are consistently successful in every realm, and exhibitors feel respected and treated with the true regard they deserve. Why can't we replicate that on the national level, at our biggest, and best, and most memorable conference? <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> I am sad. Really. I'm proud of the PTG; I think it's the highest quality continuing education in the world. I want to feel good about my participation; I will teach and exhibit at conventions for the rest of my life, and plan to become involved with the Foundation (more than just monetarily) in the near future. I want only the best for the Guild. Part of that pride and desire compels me to ask sometimes difficult and public questions. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> If nobody reads the PTG-L, then the effectiveness and impact of my posting there is zero. This is sent with humility and respect.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> David Andersen<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Malibu</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>