<HTML><HEAD> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19120"></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face="MS Sans Serif">Bill,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face="MS Sans Serif">If you would lose the "me great" attitude and get on with how you should be addressing this problem, then...maybe some good would come out of this. You have attacked the wrong people. My suggestion is: Take and Pass the Tests! Become an RPT! Get into the political aspect of PTG and get  on the Executive Board. Make the changes happen! If you can't do that then ..</FONT>???? I have nothing else to say to you, because you and The Heckler Just Don't Get It!!</DIV> <DIV>Joe</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>P.S.</DIV> <DIV>I am forwarding this to the pianotech list, because others need to see and realize what you are really about.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial>the real issue is Quality Service by PTG members.  I'd be real surprised if you didn't agree w/ this.</DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"> <DIV>If you do, read on.  (If not, we have nothing further to discuss.  You're too full of yourself to listen to anyone.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My original intent was to point out that in any craft, there are people who, w/ age or lessened interest or whatever, who should not retain their "title" or "qualifications".  I'm not saying they should be forced out of the PTG, but I am saying they no longer qualify for today's high level RPT status (vs yesterday's "gee that sounds good, ok your a Craftsman")</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So the next question is:  What is the PTG doing about that issue?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I certainly don't see anything... though I'm hoping that there is a move afoot, aka Sep 2011 PTJournal p6</DIV> <DIV>And that prompted me to send out that "example" of an RPT's work, which should not have happened.  An RPT who was referred to the customer via the PTG website.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Regards...   Bill<BR><BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: arial,helvetica; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett@earthlink.net><BR>To: Bill Fritz <pianofritz50@aol.com><BR>Sent: Wed, Aug 31, 2011 11:35 pm<BR>Subject: RE: PRIVATE: [pianotech] is this work by an RPT?<BR><BR> <DIV id=AOLMsgPart_1_c3403717-eebc-4dd2-9816-43e7520eb7d1> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face="MS Sans Serif">Bill,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face="MS Sans Serif">Your last statement is pure bullshit! Show me an Associate that can "...run rings around me"! That's a joke and you know it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2 face="MS Sans Serif">JG</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=pianofritz50@aol.com href="mailto:pianofritz50@aol.com">Bill Fritz</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">joegarrett@earthlink.net</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 8/31/2011 7:57:11 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> PRIVATE: [pianotech] is this work by an RPT?</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial> <DIV>Hi Joe, well, privately, here's the scoop.  Even though I got back into piano tuning (my Dad taught me when I was a teen) about 10 years ago, I didn't retire from Hewlett Packard's Test Equipment group until about 3 years ago.  I worked w/ high end, exotic electronic test equipment, and worked w/ guys who built the B2 Bomber Electronic Counter Measures, designed the current Cellphones, assisted guys who invented WiMAX... which I hear Sprint calls MiFi...  worked w/ the AT&T guys on Drive Test Equipment & software to test & improve cell sites... etc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So no, you could say I'm relatively new at this... albeit attending 5 PTG National Conventions & the Little Red Schoolhouse.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm not viewing this Piano Technician job as a "slam bam thank you maam" type of job like some do.  Influenced by Virgil Smith in Chicago, along w/ some Yamaha Consultants, I take 1 1/2 hours to tune a piano typically... working thru it twice w/ my Verituner, and giving more time tweaking unisons w/ scales & pieces, the Verituner customized for various sized pianos (also influenced by Ron Koval).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>so I take my time...  I enjoy the craft... I'm learning, and am being mentored by one of the Yamaha Consultants, besides working w/ other top tuners in the St Louis area, including Liz Baker, who recently moved to Massachusetts.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do I think I have the stuff to pass the tests?  Maybe, Probably.</DIV> <DIV>Do I consider them a priority?  No</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I spend a bit of time working (volunteering) as the St Louis newsletter editor, instead.. along w/ my continued learning etc. And at the age of 61, I'm enjoying life a bit.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You obviously misread what I wrote... try reading it again.  Did you look at the pics?  I didn't say all RPTs are bad, the same as I'm sure you'd point out that not all Associates are bad, either.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I did say is...   if the PTG is going to push a qualification, then the people putting the RPT after their name should be able to do much better work that was pictured.  Here's a big point, Joe.. Do you agree?  If so, we probably have things to talk about.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If not, well, you won't get the point anyway.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><EM>"Until that happens, you're simply blowing smoke."</EM>  Joe, there are indeed Associates who could run circles around you.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best of Luck to you, anyway...   Bill</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px" noWrap>From:</TD> <TD style="FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000">Joseph Garrett <<A href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">joegarrett@earthlink.net</A>></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">To:</TD> <TD style="FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000">pianotech <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Subject:</TD> <TD style="FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000">Re: [pianotech] is this work by an RPT?</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Date:</TD> <TD style="FONT: 11px arial; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; COLOR: #000000">Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:31:58 -0700</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <DIV style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff; MARGIN: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; COLOR: #000; FONT-SIZE: 12px" id=AOLMsgPart_7_30f0c452-d290-406c-ae7a-3b2d31bcbae6><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>Bill, My point, more than anything else, is this: it is apparent to me that you have not been able to or don't wish to, take and pass the exams. This, I will have to assume, (hate that word), because you are an Associate. And, from your own admission, have been a member for over 10 years!! Yet, you feel qualified to not only criticize RPTs, the tests that they took the time to pass, but feel qualified to further say that we, (RPTs), need to take more tests, just to prove to a subordinate such as you, that we are qualified! You really have a lota balls to go that far buddy! I'll reiterate: Take and Pass the exams! That, IMO, will give you the Right to criticize all you want! Until that happens, you're simply blowing smoke. Joe Garrett, R.P.T. </TT></PRE></DIV> <DIV style="CLEAR: both"></DIV></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>