<html> <body> Dear Norman, Thank you for the update. As you are no doubt aware, the danger of a posting such as this, as well intentioned as it is, is its capacity to rekindle the inflammatory list-related conversations, just when they were being supplanted by more piano-centered discussions.  Ideally, there would be room for both.  My intention, In commenting on your message, is simply to clarify what, in my view, seem to be some misconceptions.  At 09:11 PM 1/11/2012,  Norman Cantrell wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Dear List Some have expressed concern regarding a general lack of information about progress on the Higher Logic site.</blockquote> In fact, in posting your update to this list - pianotech@ptg.org - I don't think your description quite captures the essence of the expressed concerns, which are less about progress with the HL site than a fundamental re-thinking of the objectives of the whole project.  Website list users who are looking for 'improvements' are more likely to be found on the web-based Pianotech, the UserGroup list (also the website), or PTG-L.  <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> We wanted to let you know that during the early part of December PTG sent four representatives to Washington, DC for a Higher Logic Symposium.  Those attending were Barbara Cassaday and Kathy Maxwell from the Home Office along with Phil Bondi and Paul Brown who have both served on the Electronic Communications Committee and currently serve as Regional Vice Presidents on the PTG Board of Directors.  The symposium was formatted similar to a PTG convention with several different class topics offered.  Our group split up and attended classes that interested them and this allowed the group to cover a broad range of topics.  Each has provided a written report after returning home from the symposium.  These reports will all be reviewed at the upcoming Mid Year Board meeting January 30 through February 1, 2012.  </blockquote> In the spirit of transparency, when, and how much of that information would be subsequently made available to the membership?  What 'classes' did our people attend?  Does the Electronic Communications Committee have any role in these considerations?   <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> We continue to look at ways to improve the new website.  Our goal is to improve the discussion groups,  increase the overall speed to load and improve the user experience.</blockquote> Frankly, I'm not sure what any of this means?  "Improve discussion groups" in what way, other than speed and rationality of options and process?  Is the nature of the conversation itself needing of improvement? <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> In the mean time the Pianotech list will continue to operate but there are challenges to maintaining the servers which we foresee as having limitations.</blockquote> It's probable that many of us would find a thoroughly technical description of these challenges difficult to fully understand, and yet, however unintentionally it may be, sweeping generalizations like the one above end up generating more un-ease than they do to dispel it.   I have made a suggestion more than once, of late.  How much would it cost to transcribe the proceedings of the pianotech meeting that took place this past summer at the convention?   Can we impose upon a cross section of those who have been involved - Ron Berry or even Andy Rudoff (pay him even) to objectively summarize the situation, so that any discussion going forth is based on facts?  {Even Norman's response to Duaine"s post:  <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Keeping all this going is part of the challenge to which I referred.</blockquote>leaves a certain vagueness.   Yes, it is a challenge, but is it do-able, or, if not (in technical and economic terms), is the current offering the best we can hope for to replace it? In the long term, I see no positive purpose in having two 'pianotech' lists, however, at the moment, if nothing else, this list provides an objective vantage point from which it is possible to examine the what is currently being  proposed, and to remind us that there might be other, alternative life-forms out there. Thanks again - David Skolnik Hastings on Hudson, NY </body> </html>