<!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 6.00.2715.400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV> ----- Original Message = ----- <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> From: Carol R. Beigel <o:p></o:p> To: michaelmccoy@ptgmarc.org <o:p></o:p> Sent: <?xml:namespace = prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date = Year="2002" Day="25" Month="2">Monday, February 25, 2002</st1:date> <st1:time = Minute="38" Hour="22">10:38 PM</st1:time><o:p></o:p> Subject: family registration for MARC<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would like to bring my = young adult daugher to the convention, and she would like to attend some = classes.  She is thinking about becoming a piano technician and join me in the = family business.  I am an RPT.  We would both like to attend the Disklavier seminar.  Can she register as a family member? Or do = I have to pay a non-guild member technician rate for her? Carol Beigel<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I thought it would be = appropriate to begin this with the actual e-mail sent to us with the request for = Carol’s “young adult daughter” to attend the Mid-Atlantic Regional Convention, = presented by the Pennsylvania State Conference, in addition to the special all day = Thursday seminar. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> When I saw the first post = in the Pianotech group, my initial reaction was to simply let it go. Many posts = later and appearing to continue, a reply must be made.  I have seen the Mid-Atlantic = referred to by Carol as “unfair”, “appalling” and “outrageous”.  I am not concerned about the = perception of the conference since we are heading towards another sold out = convention with the anticipated walk-in registration and an outside opportunity of = reaching over 400 registrations. What disturbs me the most is the work of many = volunteers spending literally thousands of hours to put on a first class event, = some actually taking time off from their business to make this happen, be = associated in the same sentence with words like “unfair” and “appalling”. = Carol, you may have found some of those who responded to your rantings as “crude” = but I personally find your misrepresentations made on this public forum, = compared to the original e-mail sent to us, as obnoxious and rude. = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It is with great surprise = that I have to find out on this public discussion forum that we did not read = the original e-mail closely enough. Based on your posts on these forums; our = registration has increased to $1,100 for 2 people ... or was that 3 ... = maybe even 4 (actual basic member registration is $215 and guest registration = is $315) and your daughter was only going to attend a couple of business classes, = to name just two of the numerous inconsistencies. It is most irritating to watch = the story change to fit whatever argument or agenda you are trying to = communicate. I apologize that we did not explain the all day classes clearly enough = because you and your daughter obviously mistook the all day Disklavier class as a = business class. I must admit to being relieved by this error because I could not = figure out why anyone would want to introduce someone for the first time to = piano technology by making them sit through an 8 hour class on the inner = workings of an electronic device that makes a piano play. In addition, there are = comments that it would cost a family $800 to just visit the Exhibit Hall, I am at = a loss to even understand why it seems necessary to repeat these fabrications. = We have an extensive Family program from complete guided tours to ala-carte = menus so that everyone can be involved as their schedule will allow. There is a = small fee of $20 a day for the Exhibit Hall due to providing a Continental = Breakfast, 2 breaks with Beverage/Snacks and Lunch each day. These fees were clearly published in the mailed brochure and online at www.ptgmarc.org = registration pages.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> What I find immensely = unfair is how anyone that has any sense of financial aptitude could not see the = extremely reasonable value in an organization that is providing a venue for 45 top = instructors, national and international, with 120 Classes in comparison = to the registration fees. If anything the fees are embarrassingly low in = relation to what any other “professional” organization would charge for a = similar event. I digress, because this is another topic in great need of discussion and = will have to wait for another time, other than to say that in June a major topic = of discussion is going to be how much to increase the annual dues for all = members to keep the PTG solvent.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We do not have a policy of = reduced admissions for anyone outside of PTG members. I am more convinced = today it is the correct action than when I became involved with the PA State = Conference now going on the 4th year. I know that being tagged as a = non-member is perceived by many as a negative, especially sensitive if it is a = family member.  We choose to go a = different path and treat guest technicians with respect and dignity, not confusing = how one is treated with maintaining high standards. We do not charge a = non-member more because it is “punishment”; the member fees are simply “value” = and “reward” of membership. It has proven very successful; most of the chapters in our = area have increased their membership and have a great mixture of young and older members.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I do not have the recent = Journal available to me at the moment but the latest one had an announcement of = all the chapters that increased their membership this past year, most increasing more than 10%, that will receive an award. Out of a = total of 161 chapters in the PTG, only a small number of chapters were listed = in this announcement, yet another topic of discussion for another time, = other than to note that out of all the chapters listed, almost 20% of the ones increasing membership came from our area. Especially = gratifying because none of those chapters put out a “Members Wanted” sign and, = in addition, have firm entrance requirements and guidelines. Every year we receive = numerous requests similar to the one from Carol and with each one we have replied = with thanks for the request, inviting them to join us and the fee is as = published. Just last month we received a similar request from a potential piano = tech/member with a PTG member connection with the common promise “I might consider = joining if” statement and usual request for a member rate, discount or free. = In response to our follow up to the request, we received the following reply which = is typical of at least several new members each year; “.... if I have to = pay that much more than I might as well join, already sponsored, besides I’ll = get my own copy of the Journal … Thanks for inviting me … “. Unlike the = suggestion Carol made that it would be different if it were a Father and Son, this is = simply not true. My family is paying full fare, and if my father would want to = attend the convention and institute, even though not a piano tech, he would be most = welcome and would pay the guest technician rate. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Forgive my long post, but = I have a passion for the issues that affect this Conference and the PTG. It has = been my goal since associating with this Conference to work towards adding = “Value” to the PTG and “Awareness” of the RPT. These are the most important = issues that face the national organizations future and stability. Value and = Awareness must be accomplished in a measurable manner, which in turn will translate = into a strong, financially sound and formidable organization.  It is time for a new vision to = be put in place and set into action; no longer can we afford complacency and = bureaucracy to be the rule of the day.<o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>