Jim,<div><br></div><div>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. <br> <div><br></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">The very statement that "It is <strong><em>Inevitable</em></strong> 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. </font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, 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. </font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, 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.</font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, 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. </font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, 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. </font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> Whether or not there is the political will within the PTG to enact this kind of change is a completely different issue. </font></div> <div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Ryan</font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br> </font></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 11:43 AM, Coleman, Jim <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jcolem21@utk.edu">jcolem21@utk.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"> <div> <div style="direction:ltr;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000000;font-size:12pt"> <p> </p> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:16px"> <div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;DIRECTION:ltr;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12pt"> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:16px"> <div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:Times New Roman;DIRECTION:ltr;COLOR:#000000;FONT-SIZE:12pt"> <p>Folks, there is nothing <strong><em>political</em></strong> about whether this List survives or not. It is <strong><em>Inevitable</em></strong> 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.</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p>That was less than 10 years from the <em><strong>21st century</strong></em>!</p> <p> </p> <p>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.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the meantime let's all work together for a better PTG.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div> <div style="FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma;FONT-SIZE:13px"> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><strong>Jim Coleman, Jr RPT</strong></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">Staff Piano Technician-</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman"> University of Tennessee</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">President-</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman"> Piano Technicians Guild</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Ryan Sowers, RPT<br>Puget Sound Chapter<br>Olympia, WA<br><a href="http://www.pianova.net">www.pianova.net</a><br> </div></div>