[pianotech] Kazoo Contest

[Mark Purney]

William,

I couldn't agree with you more. To blast the leadership over something 
like this is absolutely insane.  How dare we have a few laughs in this 
organization?! The person(s) that came up with the idea should be 
commended for finding such an inexpensive, yet fun way to draw more 
attention to this year's Convention and to get more people involved. In 
fact, if the schedule had been mailed out without two tongue depressors 
(which weigh almost nothing, btw), we'd probably have some people 
grumbling about how we never do anything fun to promote the Convention. 
This was not the idea of the Institute Committee, but I kind of wish we 
had thought of it because I think it's a fine idea.

While everything the PTG does seems to be cause to criticize devoted 
servants to this fine organization, the fact is there will be SOME 
people who get a kick out of this video contest, and SOME people who 
will see this as the kind of thing we need to do more of. That, alone, 
should be cause for all of us to show support, even if being a bit silly 
is not your cup of tea and the thought of people goofing around makes 
you upset. Contests spark interest. If people go to the website to watch 
the videos and vote, they're going to have fun, and associating PTG with 
fun isn't such a bad idea. For those of us who go to the Convention 
every year, we know how much fun it is. There are members who have never 
attended, and maybe this is just one small way to convey the message 
that a good time can be had.

This whole year has been filled with ill will toward leadership, with 
people ready to jump on the bashing bandwagon at every turn. Enough is 
enough - this is ridiculous! I've quietly and sadly watched this year as 
our leadership got falsely accused of things they didn't do and 
behaviors they never demonstrated. Their words and actions have been 
twisted, taken out of context, and used against them unfairly by those 
pushing a personal agenda. Subsequently, many members of PTG (including 
good-intentioned, hard-working volunteer types), have been influenced to 
believe the worst about our leadership, and the piling on began. As a 
volunteer with the Institute, I get to see a lot of what really goes on. 
Believe me, if our leaders were anything like the way they've been 
negatively portrayed, I would have resigned and spoke out about it. But 
I have nothing but respect for these fine people. They have more 
character and maturity than I do. Despite the ill-informed, misguided, 
and disturbing campaigns to have their heads on a plate, their response 
is to just keep working hard for PTG, staying focused on what's best for 
the members, and not getting caught up with trying to restore their 
unfairly damaged reputations or set the record straight. That is true 
leadership and personal sacrifice.





On 3/15/2012 5:24 AM, William Monroe wrote:
> All due respect folks, but, really?
>
> An extremely inexpensive attempt at introducing some levity into the 
> convention via the registration process/making funny video's is made, 
> and is met with this kind of vitriol, directed at our leadership?  I 
> would suggest that to someone who has no prejudices against the 
> "leadership", this appears as though folks are really looking hard for 
> reasons to not like them.  And - I would guess this is something 
> produced by the Institute Committee, rather than the "leadership."
>
> Lighten up, it's two tongue depressors and a piece of paper to 
> introduce some humor.  Is it really such a cataclysmic event that it 
> needs this kind of ire?  I don't really think so.  Lighten up folks.
>
> William R. Monroe
>
>