<!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 6.00.2800.1515" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John Delmore asked: "<FONT = face="Times New Roman" size=3>I got my PTG application et al in the mail yesterday, and have = a couple of<BR>questions.  For professional references:  I don't have = any in the piano<BR>industry-I'm just learning.  I can't imagine anyone = cares what kind of<BR>chemist I am!  Same with a sponsor-do I need to find one = before applying?<BR>Everything else, I think I've got."<BR> <BR>Thanks for = any guidance<BR>John,</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" = size=3>The Professional references are actually "personal" references, as to your character, etc.<G> In all my time in PTG, I only know of a = very few such "references" that were actually checked!!! (This is a big "sore = spot" in the application, IMO.</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>As for the Sponsor, YES, you do = need one. That person needs to be an RPT. Most are, only too willing to sign your application. I just wish they, (all of us RPTs), would take that = "Sponsor" signature. That should obligate the "Sponsor" to Mentor the applicant. = Few do, unfortunately. :-(</FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" = size=3>   </FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>