<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:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I say, if Jim says they are working on it then let them work on it.  The suggestion to replace the board so that we can be assured of having a better and more accommodating website/list interface is getting a bit ridiculous and a new board is no guarantee of anything.  The message from the users (myself included) is clear, simplicity and ease of use is what’s desired.  It seems to have been heard though not necessarily effectively communicated.   However, if those improvements can be delivered then great.  If not, then people will either suck it up or drop off.  I hope they can deliver something better.  But there’s only one way to find out, let those who are working on it continue to work on it until it’s done and even then there will likely be more changes made over time.   It’s the nature of the beast.  The proof of the pudding will be in the tasting.  <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>David Love<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>www.davidlovepianos.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ryan Sowers<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, January 03, 2012 1:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> pianotech@ptg.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] mailman list<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jim,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Maybe we are not in agreement as to what the word "political" means. When I refer to the decision being political I'm simply saying that it was a governance decision by those currently in power, based on their philosophical orientation towards the PTG and its membership. <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The very statement that  "It is <em><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Inevitable</span></b></em>  that it will end as we know it." is a reflection of the political thinking on the Board." and is an obvious reflection of the Board's political outlook. The political reality is that if a new Board were elected who had a different agenda, then things could work out very differently. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Saying that the old list is like a horse and buggy, or a rotary phone is amusing. To me the NEW site is more like a horse and buggy (emphasis on buggy) and the horse apparently is not well trained.  </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I think this all happened because of a major political disconnect between the main contributors to the old  list and the political leadership. It really is like someone coming in and swapping your beloved old piano and sticking a new digital keyboard with lots of bells and whistles.</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> No matter how much you try to argue that the electronic keyboard is better than the old piano (because it is more modern and full of interesting features), there will be many intelligent and thoughtful people who preferred the old piano. This is not because they are Luddites. It is because it met the needs of the users better. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I'm not really criticizing the Board on this. They have every right, based on the political structure of the Guild, to make the decisions that they do. I'm sure they are doing the best that they can. A new Board may do worse. My original point was that if people are truly unhappy with the direction the PTG has taken in handling this issue, electing new representatives is a reasonable approach. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Whether or not there is the political will within the PTG to enact this kind of change is a completely different issue. </span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ryan</span><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 11:43 AM, Coleman, Jim <<a href="mailto:jcolem21@utk.edu">jcolem21@utk.edu</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><p><span style='color:black'>Folks, there is nothing <em><b>political</b></em> about whether this List survives or not. It is <em><b>Inevitable</b></em>  that it will end as we know it.  Just like the wagon in the pioneer days, party lines, the dial telephone, analog television and cell phones the size of a brick, the world/technology continues to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>PTG, through most of it's history, has been behind the curve.  Many of you will remember a phrase Fern Henry (one of our outstanding Presidents) used back in the '90s...PTG has finally joined the 20th century.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>That was less than 10 years from the <strong><i>21st century</i></strong>!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>It is clearly understood by this Board as well as last year's that the new website was launched too soon and without enough beta testing.  We have good people working on the problems and you will know well in advance when we are ready to reintroduce the improved site.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'>In the meantime let's all work together for a better PTG.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><p><strong><span style='color:black'>Jim Coleman, Jr  RPT</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Staff Piano Technician-</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>   University of Tennessee</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>President-</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>     Piano Technicians Guild</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>Ryan Sowers, RPT<br>Puget Sound Chapter<br>Olympia, WA<br><a href="http://www.pianova.net">www.pianova.net</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>