Piano Technicians Guild, Oklahoma Chapter 731

COMING EVENTS:

The next meeting of the Oklahoma PTG will be held Thursday, November 20, 2003 at 8:30 AM at the home of David and Barbara Bonham, 10717 Eastlake Circle, Oklahoma City. Their phone number is 721-0566. The technical is cleaning grand soundboards and plates, polishing strings, cleaning the tuning pin area. If you have any special cleaning tools or tips, please bring them along and share your ideas with your fellow technicians.

Directions to the Bonham House: At the corner of Hefner and N. MacArthur, go south one block to Eastlake Drive. Turn west, go past two houses, then turn back north. You will be on Eastlake Circle. House is on west side of street toward the end of the cul de sac.

DECEMBER: December 5 – 7:00 PM Christmas Party/Dinner at David & Barbara Bonham’s
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Sooner Spring Seminar

The World Series has just ended and football season is well under way. The NBA has just begun play and that means college basketball is soon to follow. The inevitable conclusion to college basketball is what is affectionately known as “March Madness.” TSA will be hosting its own version of “March Madness” with the Sooner Spring Seminar in Oklahoma City in March of 2004. There will be quite a line-up of great instructors and classes to choose from. If that sounds like a convention cliché, it probably is. The thing about clichés is that they are usually true. What makes attending a seminar important enough for you to commit your time and money in order to participate? Last month we mentioned the fact that Sooners get a jump on their competition. When you make the effort to attend a convention or seminar you get ahead of the game. There is no secret that people with college diplomas have higher average salaries than those without. Those without a high school diploma make more money than those who drop out. If statistics prove that those who are better educated earn more, it only seems logical that piano technicians who learn more earn more.

I have recently sent my son off to college. He is attending a regional state university as opposed to one of our two larger universities in Oklahoma. The current rate for his tuition is $92.60 per credit hour for undergraduate course work. Since class meets for a total of 16 weeks his cost per hour of class is $5.79. If he were attending the University of Oklahoma his tuition would be $134.00 per credit hour or a cost of $8.38 per hour of class. If we compare that with the cost of TSA you can see what a bargain you are getting. Beginning on Friday and going through Sunday noon there is a total of 15 hours of class time offered. The cost of registration is $155.00, which includes the banquet. The cost for class time is only $120.00. At that price your cost is only $8.00 per hour. The good news is that there are no additional parking fees, lab fees or books to buy. You are responsible for the cost of getting there and meals and lodging but think of that as room and board in the dorms. (The hotel has room service that is not available in most dorms I know of.) There are two other advantages over college. First there are no final exams and second you can put the knowledge you gain into immediate practice rather than waiting for your first job to practice what you have learned.

Plan now to attend TSA. The dates are March 11-16, 2004. The cost for registration is $155.00. The additional All Day Thursday class with John Patton from Steinway is $55.00, which includes lunch. (That is $6.88 per hour without the cost of lunch) The Sooner Spring Seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn, Airport in Oklahoma City, OK. The room rate for the convention is $69.00 per night. There is a free shuttle from the airport. To contact the hotel for reservations telephone 405-685-4000. You must ask for the Texas State Association of the Piano Technicians Guild rate to get this rate. Contact Bob Scheer at 405-341-8668 or Norman Cantrell at 580-355-5003 for more information.
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TECH TIP:

When you open a cap of paint or lacquer, it is easy to get a buildup of materials in the small trough that surrounds the opening every time you pour into another container. This makes the lid hard to seat and seal. The solution is to punch a couple of holes in the bottom of the trough next to the handles. This allows the materials to drain back into the can and helps the lid to seat properly.
Norman Cantrell, Lawton
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OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO Keith McGavern and his wife, Carol. Carol’s mother, Beulah Mavis (Getty) Carlson passed away on October 23, 2003 in Cedar Falls, Iowa at the age of 90. Beulah married Russell Carlson on January 27, 1935 in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He preceded her in death. She was very active in her church having served as a Sunday school teacher and a Lay Leader. Survivors include one son, three daughters, 13 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren, and three sisters. Funeral services were held October 25 at Washington Chapel United Methodist Church with burial at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A memorial fund has been established.
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TECH TIP:

If you park in the customer’s driveway, don’t block their car from being able to exit and be certain to ask if where you did park is okay. This simple act will help create customer appreciation by demonstrating to them you do care and are aware.
Keith McGavern, Shawnee
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Did you hear about the Fed-Ex UPS merger? The new company is going to be called FED-UP!
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Simple Solution – Complicated Problem
“I’m sorry.”
“I love you.”
“Forgive me.”
“You were right.”
“Maybe Mom was right.”
“I’ll just let it go.”
“It’s not really that important.”
“It’s just ego, I’m acting like a baby.”
“Let me just calm down.”
“Let me look at it from their point of view.”

These are ten things that may help us see a simple solution to what has been looking like an overly complicated problem.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR TWO BIG UPCOMING EVENTS!!!

December 5, 2003 PTG Christmas Party
March 11-14, 2004 TSA Convention

Be there or be square!?!?!?!?!
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This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. Take a moment to stop and reflect on all the blessings in your life. Tell someone you love that you are thankful to have him or her in your life. It will make you both feel good! Stop worrying about what you don’t have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given you. Before you go to bed some night, go outside and raise your eyes to the heavens. Stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon. Praise God for these magnificent treasures.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU
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President – Bob Scheer
Vice President – Ben Davis
Secretary – Keith McGavern
Treasurer – Gary Bruce
Newsletter Editor – Barbara Bonham
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“All expression of opinion and all statements of supposed fact are published on the authority of the author as listed and are not to be regarded as expressing the view of this chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc. unless such statements or opinions have been adopted by the chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild, Inc.”
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