Updated Bylaws Report for those of you who are delegates

[David Andersen]

On Jun 13, 2007, at 7:53 AM, Ron Berry wrote:

> I received an updated Bylaws report which I have posted on the web.  
> There
> is a directory of late and updated submissions at
> http://www.ptg.org/members/docs/2007/Council/
>
> ron

As an apparently endangered and, in some quarters, reviled  
"associate," I'm not sure if I can post to, or go on, PTG-L.

Let's see: 4,300 members of PTG; less than 400 at the National  
Convention; to me, if I was active and "owned-in" to  an  
organization's well-being, those numbers suck. And reveal some deep  
disconnect between leadership and membership. And now a portion of  
our membership is actively pursuing more judgement, more exclusion.

Makes me feel respected and appreciated. (Irony alert.)

The RPT test standards, IMO, are ridiculously low. I have followed  
RPTs and their work for 25 years. The good ones are awesome, and  
deeply inspirational to me---but that's several.  The others---the  
majority---are just tune & run guys, with no real interest in piano  
service.

Inspiration feels vastly different than exclusion and judgement.

This is offered with humility; I am one of a big (relative to our  
discussion---in the hundreds) number of gifted and hard-working men  
and women who work on some of the greatest pianos in the world on a  
daily basis, for some of the greatest artists that ever lived---and  
have made a decision, for whatever considered and no doubt  
intentional reason, to either not use or not pursue the RPT  
designation. If I was leading a non-profit service organization based  
on a highly personalized, difficult, and prized skillset--- 
maintaining great pianos at their highest level---I would literally  
fall over myself extending hands to those of our profession who have  
risen to the top of their game, whether members or not. I would  
welcome and treasure their real-world, hard-won input. I would ask  
them, in an atmosphere of collegiality, equality, and respect, why  
they have chosen not to support our fantastic PTG and its best-in-the- 
world continuing education programs. I would ask them what we can do  
as a Guild to feel like and be an organization that attracts more  
than 6 or 7% of its total membership to its national conference.

This is written and sent with respect and gratitude that PTG exists  
and that it provides me with an excellent teaching platform, among  
many other tangible and ethereal benefits; we have a sacred  
obligation to pass on our hard-won skills to the next generation. I  
write this because I love our work and our Guild, and as a positive  
force, willing to work towards understanding and unafraid of genuine,  
authentic, and respectful communication, confrontation, and  
resolution---another " highly personalized, difficult, and prized  
skillset...."

My best to you----and see some of you in Kansas City. Please feel  
free to buttonhole me about this subject.

David Andersen
Malibu, CA
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