<HTML> Del and I have been discussing what subjects could be offered at the convention that would attract more technicians, especially the older, more experinced ones who have not been coming to the conventions recently, because there just aren't enough interesting topics offered. The challenge is to come up with topics that might be of interest, and an instructor who could present that topic, (or offer to teach it yourself). For the Board, could consideration be given to offer  instructors additional compensation to come up with more advanced topics? Below is the Del's latest comments on the subject. These ideas, hopefully, will be taken into advicement by the Institute Committee. Wim In a message dated 7/24/02 12:53:31 PM Central Daylight Time, pianobuilders@olynet.com writes: <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">This is where I would like to see some ideas come out. What subjects, courses, ideas would attract those who feel the convention isn't offering enough? Would there be enough of these kinds of classes to fill out a schedule, or are there going to be only a few, like your environmental class, that hopefully would attract some of the technicians that no longer attend?  The second problem with this is, if you have some new classes next year, what will have to be offered the following year, and the next? Is there ever going to be enough new material to have those technicians you're talking about, coming back year after year? </BLOCKQUOTE> Well, I don't know what could be offered. I don't know what other people are interested in. What they are doing in their 'spare' time. What excites them. What is driving them on. We'll have to search a bit. As to what to do the year after...let's worry about that next year. Each year will present troubles enough of its own. <BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"> The next question is, who is going to teach those classes? I know you spend a lot of time preparing new classes, like the class I just mentioned. But who else is willing to take the time, and present it, with little or no compensation? Are we gong to run into the same problem? Are the advanced technicians who have given of their time and talent for all these many years, and felt "taken advantage of," be willing to step up to the plate, and do it again? </BLOCKQUOTE> And that, of course, brings us back to where this all started. Yes, eventually we are going to run into the same problem. With the current policies it will probably be impossible. But those policies must ultimately change--it is only a matter of time. </BLOCKQUOTE> </HTML>