<font color='navy' size='2' face='Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif'><font size="2"><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif">John<br>  Ok, I got my soap box....<br>  </font></font>SO <font color="navy" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif" size="2">once again the weight of the government/governing body and its concerns outweighs the real needs of those who pay to support it?  Is this the case? hmmm>?<br>     <br> We need the organization to add a mission statement that this organization, PTG, is primarily an educational entity. Should seem obvious but not if you look at what instructors are <u>NOT</u> at the national convention this year. Back surgeries aside,...Is it just me, but are the Non-sponsored instructors less valued than the sponsored ones? Answer....Follow the money.<br>     <br>  Sponsored ones cost the organization zip. Non-sponsored ones are not reimbursed enough to even pay there expenses let alone the time off to prepare and travel etc. Seems short sighted planning considering many of the  non-sponsored, non marketing, ones often bring in more paying attendees. I get the,  oh but , yes, but, this is the way we give back to the organization. My answer....But, many have been for a looong time and at their own expense. I wonder how many registrants would actually come sign up  if they were penalized a weeks salary, plus pay the registration fes/hotel fees to attend. <br> <br>  May I humbly submit that all Instructors routinely spend more than that prepping for classes.<br>  <br>  Very Seriously.....For me and others, considering the economy, sometimes its the choice between me paying out of my own pocket to teach others or.... taking a vacation.  hmmm...think I'm going fishing in Alaska next month. <br> <br>   Just another organizational beef I'd like to air while we're at it. Perhaps change the topic header next time<br> <div> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div style="clear:both"><font size="1"><b><font color="indigo" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif">Dale S. Erwin<br> www.Erwinspiano.com<br> 209-577-8397</font></b></font><font size="1"><b><br> 209-985-0990</b><br> <span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D"></span><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"></span></i></b></font><font color="navy" face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif" size="1"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:black"></span></i></font><span style="font-style: italic;"><b><font size="1">Ronsen hammers/prep<br> Sitka Sound boards<br> Belly packages<br> </font></b></span><br> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div> <br> </div> <div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br> From: John Ross <jrpiano@eastlink.ca><br> To: pianotech@ptg.org<br> Sent: Wed, Jun 29, 2011 10:53 am<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Really, really irritated with the New forum system<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_7b089400-7e1e-46f4-b511-f59375791a83"> Possibly the list was becoming too powerful, and meant more than the PTG, so this was a way of trimming it's wings, and getting the focus back to PTG. <div>I always thought that the list was never given the recognition it deserved.<br> <div>How's that for a way out thought? </div> <div>Of course, I know it isn't true.</div> <div>John Ross</div> <div>Windsor, Nova Scotia<br> <div> <div>On 2011-06-29, at 2:46 PM, Ron Nossaman wrote:</div> <br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"> <div>On 6/29/2011 12:17 PM, David Andersen wrote:<br> <br> <blockquote type="cite">It's almost like this list was resented by someone---although I'm the<br> </blockquote><blockquote type="cite">furthest thing from a paranoid conspiracy guy.<br> </blockquote><br> I don't think it's that sinister. I think the decision was implemented by people who have no use for the list, don't traffic it, and see no value in it. We just never were on the radar as a concern. Didn't count then, don't count now.<br> <br> Ron N<br> </div> </blockquote></div> <br> </div> </div> = </div>  </div> </font></font>