<font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><br> <div style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3px"> <div>So the piano has been delivered and the client is not happy with the new hammers. Luckily, we kept the old hammers, shanks and flanges and we can keep them until we figure out if there is a better solution for the client.  </div> </BLOCKQUOTE></div> <div>As much as I don't like the new concept, in this case, sometimes it's just a case of the client getting used to the new hammers. </div> <div> </div> <div>To get a little technical here, I tell my clients up front that because the hammers were worn out, she wasn't hearing the real sound of the piano. But that after I rebuild the piano, the piano is going to sound different than what she was used to, and what she is hearing it is really the way the piano is supposed to sound like.</div> <div> </div> <div>So back to this issue, perhaps what happened was that we weren't told ahead of time that there was a serious problem with the list serve, and that not only will the new format be different, but it will be the way it supposed to be done, and that we need to get used to it. <br> </div> <div>I would like Ron, Andrew, the HO, or someone, to post correct, easy to understand, step by step instructions, that computer illiterate people like me can understand, how the new system works, and how we can best navigate around the new format. </div> <div> </div> <div>Wim<br> </div> <div style="CLEAR: both"></div> <br> <br> <div style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original Message-----<br> From: Ryan Sowers <tunerryan@gmail.com><br> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Wed, Mar 9, 2011 8:00 am<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] New Format<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_1_ae484eb2-428f-49af-be37-d49a57b3b5e6>Wow. It's been very interesting to follow this topic.  <div><br> </div> <div>1. Obviously messing with this list was a huge mistake for the Board. There is a very recognizable group of top 10 individuals who have been the major contributors on this list for well over a decade. The fact that none of these individuals were asked to participate was a plain and simple mistake. It happens. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>2. I would suggest that using the democratic process that we have will be more effective than complaining on this list. If you want to keep this list the way it is, members should exercise their political will. Contact the Board members. They are listed here:</div> <div><A href="http://www.ptg.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=161&Time=813079143&SessionID=23794jau2eyk9amqum6pw786w6mo7giyokm5u724b8a0p4pzc5e10g0u4nn8658h&MenuKey=Menu6" target=_blank>http://www.ptg.org/Scripts/4Disapi.dll/4DCGI/cms/review.html?Action=CMS_Document&DocID=161&Time=813079143&SessionID=23794jau2eyk9amqum6pw786w6mo7giyokm5u724b8a0p4pzc5e10g0u4nn8658h&MenuKey=Menu6</A> </div> <div><br> </div> <div>3. Keeping the list the way it is can be put on the agenda of the Council session and voted on by members. If there is majority support, it will pass. I believe that if a petition were read in front of counsel with some of the most influential piano rebuilders and technicians in the guild on the petition, it would have a major influence. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>4. Democracies make mistakes but are self-correcting. Just like a piano, people don't complain when everything is working fine. After a hundred hour project making thousands of adjustments, the client will only notice what's not right.  They won't notice how perfect 999 of the adjustments you made were if the key is sticking. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>5. We should be thankful that there are individuals who are willing to do the dirty work of running our organization. They most often do it because nobody else will step forward.  They are most often the busiest individuals you know and have families, thriving businesses, and are involved in other volunteer projects in their communities. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>THANK YOU to Allan and the Board for the countless hours that they put it and the many thousands of $$ that it costs them personally to do it. They deserve our respect and support.  </div> <div><br> </div> <div>So the piano has been delivered and the client is not happy with the new hammers. Luckily, we kept the old hammers, shanks and flanges and we can keep them until we figure out if there is a better solution for the client.  </div> <div><br> </div> <div><br> </div> </div> </div> </font>