<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Tahoma; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } P { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; FONT-FAMILY: = "Times New Roman" } P.Style1 { FONT-SIZE: 14pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } LI.Style1 { FONT-SIZE: 14pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } DIV.Style1 { FONT-SIZE: 14pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } SPAN.EmailStyle18 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial } SPAN.EmailStyle19 { FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-STYLE: normal; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial; TEXT-DECORATION: none } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=blue link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV>Hi Richard,</DIV> <DIV>I'm glad Im joing the guild.  Unfortunately = I don' t have anyone to work under or with,b ut I have a great chapter I'm = joining plus this list and  God's help all wrapped in one educational = bundle.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I joined a guild that's going to make it a = little of a challange to get to, but my wife and I can stay over night and bring our = 6month old, and that works out pretty well.  I'm so excited about joining, = and as my wife says, I don' t get excited aboutmuch of anything except her, = God, piano tuning and freelance writing. ;)  </DIV> <DIV>Marshall</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black">From: <A title=remoody@midstatesd.net = href="mailto:remoody@midstatesd.net">Richard Moody</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">To: <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 = 3:07 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">Subject: RE: Upgrading.....JUST = DO IT!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=Section1> The “upgrading” = problem could be solved I think, if there were a third category of members, that of Apprentice---   apropos of an organization calling itself a guild.    A  piano tuner = technician, I have had 12 years full time self employed experience after 6 years of apprenticeship and working for others in a major metropolitan = area.  I wasn’t a Guild member because the people I studied under were = not.   They being over 60 in 1972, preceded the Guild.   But I knew = about the Guild and substituted tuning for 2 Guild members and they for me = on occasion.  But business was so good I had no time for meetings or = the convention even.  One member offered to let me read his Journals = and I didn’t even take advantage of that.  (but I should have).    After I = moved to the country and became “semi retired” and 8 years later  I found =  <A href="http://www.ptg.org/">www.ptg.org</A>  on line and finally = decided to join which makes you Associate with the opportunity/option to = upgrade to RPT   But so far the category = of “associate” is fine for me as it includes a subscription to the = Journal, the membership rates for the conventions and access to ptg  on line services.  From the conventions and internet I know more than a = few technicians and “members of allied trades” who are chose to remain = “associate” mainly because they specialize in tuning only or rebuilding (and = don’t tune), design and/or manufacture pianos (but don’t tune) and one retired = professor who as a  teenager spent a summer with a piano tuner thinking he = might pursue that career.   Good thing he got his PhD in music and = ended up in academia.  But good for us as he is a major supporter and contributor to his local chapter.     For me local = chapter involvement has always been out of the question.  Back in the = 80’s I was simply to busy and now it is nearly 300 miles round trip to  meet = with 3 or 4 techs that I could do by online conference if that was available. =   Now if there were a = category of “apprentice” then the debate about upgrading would be relegated = there. Then the “apprentice” would have the encouragement and resources of = both RPTs and Associates to upgrade to RPT.      I also believe RPT = should be eligible for certificates they could add to their resumes like aural = tuning, machine tuning, “Certified Rebuilder”  a certificate = indicating playing level, or a level above RPT called Master.  The name Guild begs = this IMHO.   Richard = Moody     Ass.     oops   associate…… <A href="http://www.pnotec.com/">www.pnotec.com</A>   "One doesn't discover = new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." André Gide = (1859-1951); French writer.             <DIV style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: = medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of RON MAY, = RPT Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2006 2:11 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Upgrading.....JUST = DO IT!   <DIV>  Marshall and all = other Associates.</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> If you have had any = training in tuning, get in touch with several of the RPT's in your group. Have = them check your tuning. Don't be afraid--they are there to help not hurt.  = If they think you are anywhere ready for the tuning exam, TAKE IT. It = will be the best (I think it is ) $90 bucks you have or will spend. If you flunk = the test like many do you will still walk away from the test knowing all of = your weak spots and know what to work on. </DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> Ron May. RPT</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: = medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt = 4pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: = medium none"> <DIV> ----- Original Message = ----- </DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> From: <A title=pianotune05@comcast.net href="mailto:pianotune05@comcast.net">pianotune05</A> </DIV> <DIV> To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV> <DIV> Sent: Saturday, February 11, = 2006 7:53 AM</DIV> <DIV> Subject: Re: Upgrading.....</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> I've heard quite a bit = about upgrading.  I'm going to m first meeting on the 21st of the = month, and I can hardly wait. :)  My question to you guys is this, how = long should an associate wait until they become an RPT?  Perhaps there's a = comfort zone factor involved with some associates, fear of taking the test etc.  I'm just guessing of course, but perhaps there's a fear a = failure.  I know I personally struggle with this, but at the = same time, I'm determined to become an RPT.  </DIV> <DIV> Marshall</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: = medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt = 4pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: = medium none"> <DIV> ----- Original = Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="font-color: black"> From: <A title=john@formsmapiano.com = href="mailto:john@formsmapiano.com">John Formsma</A> </DIV> <DIV> To: <A title=pianotech@ptg.org = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</A> </DIV> <DIV> Sent: Saturday, February = 11, 2006 12:06 AM</DIV> <DIV> Subject: RE: Upgrading.....</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> Ron,     Yes, = yes – there must be a way to promote excellence. And, “Craftsman” and = “Certified” are much more descriptive. I prefer either of those to “Registered.”   Isn’t = it a problem that PTG comes up with the terms, but it’s we who have = to do the educating?   John Formsma   <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" = align=center> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </DIV> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] = On Behalf Of RON MAY, = RPT Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 = 10:27 = PM To: Pianotech = List Subject: Re: Upgrading.....</DIV>   <DIV> Hi People</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> Until the day comes = that the public  becomes educated,  aware and demands expertise = and professional performance or heaven forbid the government becomes = involved and demands licensing such as that demanded for other  trades = such as plumbers and electricians, we are just lighting a fire under = and empty skillet. Now that anyone can show themselves as a member of = PTG and we have come up with "Registered" members, which no one has the = slightest idea about instead off craftsman ratings or some other descriptive = rating there is only one motivation and that is from within.. = Unfortunately not very many seem to have this motivation or pride in their = work and profession. Whether we are RPTs, Certified Tuner Technicians,or craftsman, getting the message out is up to we = individual technicians and most of us are busy and have become = very complacent about the problem. To me Certified says a whole lot more than = registered. I'm "Registered" to vote in Florida and we all know what that means but obviously some don't know how to = do it.</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> We as PTG just = continue to shoot ourselves in the foot on this issue. Something needs to = be done and it needs to become a priority.</DIV> <DIV>  </DIV> <DIV> Ron May </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; = BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: = 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; = BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV>  </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOT= E></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>