<!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 5.00.3019.2500" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <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></FONT></FONT></= BODY></HTML>