<BODY contentEditable=true onload=parent.init()>Glad you made it home safe. I am still on the road. ( For a while yet) :-) Yes it bwas nice putting a few more faces to names, and I agree about the classes. No matter how many conventions one attends, you always learn something new. John Ross Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Sivak <tvaktvak@sbcglobal.net> Date: Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:31 pm Subject: Re: back from K.C. > I'm glad you had such a positive experience; wish I could say the > same.  Sometimes you pick the right classes to go to, and > sometimes, you don't. >   >  Tom Sivak >  Chicago > > J Patrick Draine <jpdraine@gmail.com> wrote: >  Hello list, > Saturday before last (June 16) I left home (Billerica, MA) for the > "Piano Technicans Guild Promoting Piano Service Excellence 50th > Anniversary 1957 - 2007" (that's what it says on my champagne flute) > aka the 2007 Annual PTG Council and Institute, and after skipping > today's Sunday morning classes in order to catch a 7:55 AM flight, I > am home again. > It was a most excellent event! > Aside from the political activities (appropriate for that other list, > ptg-l), there were many opportunities to learn (and relearn) myriad > aspects of our craft(s), renew and make new friendships and industry > contacts, tempt onself with (and succumb to a few) tool purchases, > expensive meals and drinks (and some moderately priced, and some > comped at manufacturers' receptions), etc. > Thanks to one & all -- to mention a few in random order, the tuning > examiners supertuning and administering exams just below my room, the > PTG Home Office staff, the Institute Team (Malinda Powell, Mel Brooks, > Ward Guthrie, Jeff Hickey et al.), the moving team, and the many > excellent instructors (hats off to Roger J., Jon P., Dave A., Mike K., > Debra Cyr, Wally Brooks, for starters but I got up too early, fading > fast, so I'll leave it to others to express their own reflections!) > And of course, great to see many of the pianotech gang (John F., John > R., Cy S., Ron N., and the rest of ya). > Many thanks to all, > Patrick Draine > > </BODY>