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<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>Stepping into =
the minefield
...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>The PTG is not =
a huge,
insensitive, controlling bureaucracy. It is a relatively small group of =
people.
People with similar professional interests, problems, and needs. It =
is
democratic in that we vote in the ultimate decision makers and they, in =
turn,
are trusted to hire and supervise staff who help us achieve the =
organization's
mission, as well as our own.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>Because the =
people who make
up this organization are from such broadly diverse positions in =
geography, age,
experience, talent, training, and career focus (rebuilding, tuning, =
design,
etc.), I'm not sure it's realistic to make everyone happy, in all =
respects, all
of the time. But it saddens me to know that some people, some times, =
seem so
unhappy.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005></SPAN><SPAN =
class=109165918-10042005><FONT
face=Arial>There are solutions to concerns. If we hang together, think =
positively, and contribute, we can find those solutions. For example, I =
agree
that the RPT designation might, perhaps, only be a first level of =
professional
designation with at least one more level available. I know this is an =
old
debate, but I'm not thrilled with the term Registered Piano Technician =
because
"registered" simply means your name is on someone's records. Heck, =
sex
offenders are registered! So I'd prefer terms such as Certified
or Qualified, then how about a second level of professional =
certification
such as Master Piano Technician, or some such?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>Anyway, I know =
some people
don't seem to be truly happy until they are miserable but the whole =
thing
truly is in our own hands, we are the people who make up this =
organization.
I also think we should not dwell on anyone's imperfections and =
weaknesses,
because we all have loads of our own. At least I do.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT =
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>Personally, I =
have (almost)
only great things to say about the organization, the staff, the =
officers, the
magazine, etc. Okay, it's not perfect; let's work together
to improve.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>Isn't that the =
whole idea,
anyway?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005><FONT face=Arial>I know I sound =
like I'm
preaching a sermon, here, and I have no more right to "judge" these =
things than
anyone else. It's just how I feel and I wanted to say it. There is a =
long and
growing list of people who have been unbelievably helpful to me and =
among whom I
count my greatest friends, even if I only see them once a year. I think =
PTG
stands for Pretty Terrific Group.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=109165918-10042005> </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. =
Barnard</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR>
No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>
Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.5 - Release Date: =
04/07/2005<BR>
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