<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.3314.2100" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=4>Terry, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=4>Excellent post.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=4>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.</FONT></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com" title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>Farrell</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 03, 2001 = 6:47 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: One Happy = Family</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>This may be a radical idea, but I like the PTG just the way it = is. I think the RPT thing, like it is with the testing, etc. is great. = Something to shoot for and a great educational experience. Might be nice to have = something like that for rebuilders, etc. The PTG strikes me mostly though as one = great big educational MEGA opportunity. A couple other professional = organizations I have belonged to when in my previous career were a big ZERO compared = to what the PTG has to offer. For someone in the beginning of their piano = career, the opportunities are absolutely endless. And so often I see techs at = classes at conventions with lots of experience obviously learning new = things.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm largely a shy kind of guy who can be subject to an occasional = lack of confidence. I used to go to Chamber of Commerce meetings and events = (in previous career) and just kinda melt into a corner. I thought it was = mostly a good old boy network with no opportunity for me. Well, to tell the = truth, I still think that situation was/is like that. I think some of the folks = that speak ill of the PTG might feel that way also. I sometimes feel the = same way at a PTG convention. But I know it is just me. It is not PTG. There = are just too many talented folks willing to share their skills and philosophies = with others to think of the big picture as some group of uppity RPTs. PTG = is great! It is so different from my other professional-organization = experiences. The PTG is so open and working hard to spread so much fabulous = information.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Every organization has personalities that are going to conflict. = I think the big picture of PTG is a willingness to share expertise. This is = rare and is fabulous. I wish some folks would worry less about the = RPT/Associate thing and keep their eyes on the big picture. PTG is just a way for all of = us to learn from one another. If one wishes to pursue the RPT thing = - great - I think it is an excellent learning experience. And if an RPT = capitalizes on the RPT experience and keeps learning, his/her income and social/professional status in their profession will be their reward. = It will show. Let's keep our focus on inclusiveness, rather than exclusiveness = though. It helps keep the mind healthy and the world a better place.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Terry Farrell<BR>Piano Tuning & Service<BR>Tampa, = Florida<BR><A = href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</A></DI= V> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net" title=mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net>Mike McCoy</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:ptg-l@ptg.org" title=ptg-l@ptg.org>ptg-l@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title=pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, May 03, 2001 = 8:42 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: One Happy = Family</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi All,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Unfortunately we are not = living in a perfect world. The bottom line of the PTG, like most other = organizations, is funding, and our funding comes from member dues, so any attempt to = reduce the ranks or make it more difficult for people to join will be met = with silence. The current direction the PTG seems to be taking is a = drive for new members, as seen in a letter to Chapter Presidents last year = I believe it was, we were to beat the bushes trying to get non-member = techs to join. I would LOVE to think the purpose is to bring them into the = fold, test them and make sure everyone working on pianos out there meets a = basic minimum of skills, alas I suspect the new member drive was to = increase funding, quantity not quality.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We, the PTG, are now concerned with = the ratio of RPT's to Associates... when you bring new members in what else = can be expected? What to do? How do we get Associates that work on Pianos = to "upgrade"?, and I quote upgrade because the exams would not upgrade everyone's skills but upgrade their status in PTG, from Associate to = RPT. What incentives can PTG offer to make RPT attractive? Make the exams = easier? Hardly, and not if I have a say in it, the exams are easy = enough and fair to someone who knows what they are doing, and that is the = point, to get everyone on a base level playing field. Many who take the exams = breeze through them, others who have been in the business 10 or even more = years have a tough time, but everyone learns something!</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Any incentives the PTG can = offer to make RPT more attractive will cost money and we're back at the beginning = again, bring in new members or raise dues. Personally I have no idea what = the budgets look like or if it would help if the PTG advertise heavily = to promote the Guild and it's members. I don't have a solution that = would not cost a ton of money.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> To those leaving the Guild or = thinking about it, please reconsider. If all the members with clever ideas = and business savvy walk away the Guild will fold for sure, we need = everyone and your ideas, think them through and write to your Regional Vice Pres = to have your and your Chapter's ideas voiced at the board meetings, you = could be one of the people making these decisions someday, just keep in mind that = most every idea costs money and we all know where it comes = from.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> So there is no = misunderstanding of my post, I would like to see every Technician actively working on = pianos in a customers home or school be an RPT, the idea being we become a = professional organization, dress and act like professionals and CHARGE = ACCORDINGLY. All new members with in-home,school type service intentions would be = Associates or whatever title and be on a fast track to RPT with time limits on = testing, I.E.: you have 6 months to take the written, a year or so after that = for the Technical etc. All other members, rebuilders and so on would have = their own title.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Please don't sit around and = complain, get involved in your Chapters, get on a first name basis with your = Regional VP and make your wishes known and vote! All of us that are members ARE = the PTG and we can make changes to OUR organization.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Any confusion or doubt about = the intent of my note please call or write directly! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks! Ever Onward   = </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> I'm clicking "send" now and = hope I don't regret it in the morning</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Mike McCoy RPT</DIV> <DIV>Northeast Rep, Technical Exam Sub-Committee<BR>So Central Pa = Chapter 170 & SEPA 190 PTG<BR>Langhorne, Pa<BR><A = href="mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net">Mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net<= /A><BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- = </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:dcampbell@sprynet.com" = title=dcampbell@sprynet.com>Denele Campbell</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:ptg-l@ptg.org" title=ptg-l@ptg.org>ptg-l@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 02, = 2001 6:27 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: One Happy = Family</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last time I wrote, there was a = great silence for over two months. In that message, I made the modest proposal = that Guild membership be limited to those who pass all tests. In other = words, to be a member of the Guild, you have to be an RPT. </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Along with this conversation = stopper, I suggested that an affiliate organization -- call it whatever -- = would provide all the education, testing, and other services now = supporting those called Associates.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Details would flow from this = fundamental structural definition, such as those who just rebuild, or who = teaches the associates, and who votes in chapter meetings, etc etc = etc.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This would return some value and = meaning to Guild membership and would give an unambiguous message in our = advertising -- hire a Guild member, and you get a technician who has been = tested to show minimum levels of proficiency in piano care. Otherwise, I = don't see any future for the Guild and may find myself following in = Walter's -- and many others' -- footsteps. </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Denele Campbell, RPT</DIV> <DIV>NWArk <BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- = </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A href="mailto:Wimblees@aol.com" title=Wimblees@aol.com>Wimblees@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = href="mailto:ptg-l@ptg.org" title=ptg-l@ptg.org>ptg-l@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 02, = 2001 8:41 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: One Happy = Family</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>In a = message dated 5/2/01 12:42:13 AM Central Daylight Time, <BR><A = href="mailto:dean8gem@1stnetusa.com">dean8gem@1stnetusa.com</A> = writes: <BR><BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px" TYPE="CITE">Back to the original problem of dissension. Would = the substitution of <BR>convention classes for exams change the = dynamic?  Yes, but not because <BR>of the elimination of testing = per se; applicants would not be admitted <BR>to membership until after = the completion of the minimum standards <BR>curriculum.  In = other words, there would be only one class, one happy <BR>family. =  We could, of course, create a single class membership through <BR>examination, but is would certainly be a small one. = <BR><BR>Dean Boesen, RPT <BR><BR><BR>Dean <BR><BR>Your idea is not new. I = have been touting PTG for RPT's for over 10 years. <BR>Realizing that = will be a very hard nut to swallow for the membership, I am <BR>now = trying to convince the general membership that passing the written exam = <BR>at 50% should be the minimum requirement for membership in the = PTG. We can <BR>still have two classes of membership, but mostly for = internal use only. The <BR>general public would only know that a member = of the PTG has some basic <BR>knowledge of piano work. Every member = would have the same voting rights and <BR>be counted as a full = member of the PTG. Perhaps we could limit the <BR>executive Board to RPT's. = But being and RPT doesn't necessarily mean a <BR>member has = political savvy. The only committee where one must be an RPT <BR>would = be the examinations committee. <BR><BR>Your idea is great. Pass it = along. = <BR><BR>Willem</BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></B= LOCKQUOTE></FONT></FONT></BODY></HTML>