Message for chapters

Kent Swafford kswafford@earthlink.net
Sat, 7 Jan 2006 15:24:22 -0600


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Regional vice presidents of the Piano Technicians Guild can sometimes =20=

be of great assistance to those having difficulty for one reason or =20
another in becoming members of PTG.

Contacts are available at:

http://www.ptg.org/aboutUs-chaptersAndRegions.php



Kent Swafford
President
Piano Technicians Guild
pres@ptg.org


On Jan 7, 2006, at 2:27 PM, R.Moffatt & Sons Piano wrote:

> Hi Jeanni,
>
> A little off the topic you are discussing, but PTG related. My =20
> husband and two Sons applied for associate membership to the local =20
> chapter about a year ago. My husband was a member from 1975 to =20
> 1985, was factory trained by Yamaha for one year in 1974, and has =20
> trained at least one member of the local chapter.  We both =20
> encouraged our boys to join the PTG firstly because of their =20
> positions - being responsible for and maintaining a very unique =20
> keyboard collection our community is so fortunate to have.  =20
> Secondly, as a sign of good faith and encouragement my husband =20
> would re-join as well.  We both agree with your statement that the =20
> PTG can be a very good resource, in the piano technology  field you =20=

> never stop learning.  My youngest son was accepted as an associate =20
> but not so for my husband and eldest son.
>
> When we asked why (question put to the then president of the =20
> chapter), he said they had a "secret ballot" and was not allowed to =20=

> give a reason. Is this "normal" PTG procedure?  It seems to me to =20
> contradict the PTG "mission statement."
>
> Could you, or anyone else with a similar experience, shed a little =20
> light? My husband Bob has asked me not to bother with this =20
> but.....I am curious and will hit the "send" button.
>
> Thank you
>
> Louise Moffatt
> Calgary, Alberta
> Canada
>
> R.Moffatt & Sons Piano
> 2323 Lincoln Drive S.W.
> Calgary, Alberta ,  Canada T3E 5G4
> Phone. 403.243.0385
> www.moffattpianos.com
> Fax.     403.243.6821
> email:   moffatt5@telus.net
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Dean May
> To: 'Pianotech'
> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 10:58 AM
> Subject: RE: Message for chapters
>
> Jeanni wrote:
>
> It might take a while of attending meetings before people will =20
> respond to your needs.  The members may not jump up and come to =20
> your rescue just because you showed up. Give them a chance to see =20
> how serious you are about learning, to get to know you and =20
> appreciate you as a person.  I've seen it happen time after =20
> time..... after this "getting to know you" period, someone may just =20=

> step forward and take you under his/her wing.  PTG is a great =20
> resource, but like anything else, it's up to you to make most of =20
> the effort to learn.
>
>
>
>
>
> Jeanni had some excellent things to say but I wanted to comment on =20
> this. It is always difficult to =93break in=94 to any kind of group, =20=

> particularly one that is exclusive and closed. Add to the mix =20
> someone inexperienced in the craft who is suffering perceived =20
> intimidation from the other expert attenders and it is especially =20
> difficult. I had been in the business almost 20 years before I =20
> joined my =93local=94 chapter (80 miles local) so I was not =20
> inexperienced in the craft but I still felt intimidated and like an =20=

> outsider. Not that the others in the chapter are snobbish, far from =20=

> it. It is just the nature of things.
>
>
>
> It would behoove all of us involved in local chapters to take steps =20=

> to minimize this breaking in period. It has to be intentional; it =20
> won=92t happen automatically. Name badges are a very good first step. =20=

> They are cheap and they work. It is hard to develop any kind of =20
> friendly relationship when every time you see someone you are =20
> embarrassed because you can=92t remember their name. A photo =20
> directory would also be good.
>
>
>
> And then old timers have to go out of their comfort zone to make =20
> newcomers feel friendly and welcome. This involves conversation, =20
> guys. That=92s the thing we see women doing with each other when we =20=

> see their lips moving. ;-)  There were 2 or 3 regulars in my =20
> chapter that did this for me, and it works.
>
>
>
>
>
> Dean
>
> Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
>
> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
>
> Terre Haute IN  47802
>
>
>
>
>
>


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