I have been a member of the Piano Technicians Guild for 33 years.
I am speaking for myself and not as a representative of PTG.  Reading
D.L. Bullock's letter I am reminded of what one of my neighbors used
to say about various groups: "If you have more than two people in a
group, probably at least one of them is an SOB."

I have seen some very excellent and some very bad technicians both
in and out of PTG.  One memorable non-PTG technician told me, "If you
don't get sued every two or three years you aren't charging enough,
or you are doing too much work for the money."

I have seen major changes in the requirements for PTG membership.
The requirements used to be much more relaxed, and varied greatly from
one chapter to another.  Now there is a standardized test that does
much more to insure that members are qualified.

As long as PTG is a voluntary organization there will be the problem
of whether it is better to lose members who have not had the latest
test, or do you let them stay in with the hope that they will take
advantage of the help available.  (Do you not allow sinners in the
church?)  And how do you guarantee that a person uses the knowledge he
has?  (Malpractice insurance and all it's problems?)

PTG gives all it's members a chance to increase their knowledge and
skill but, as with any group, there are members who will try to improve
and there are members who will try not to improve.  If all members of
any group would all try improve their skills we would not have
_mandatory_ continuing education and retesting for some licensed
professions.

I do not want to see the USA go to mandatory testing, continuing
education, and licensing of piano technicians as I understand some
European countries have done.  I feel PTG is a good voluntary
alternative to this.

PTG definitely is not perfect, but I have never gone to a meeting where
I did not get at least one idea that would help me improve my skills.
PTG gives you a chance to meet with other technicians and exchange
ideas.  In a profession where we mostly work alone, or in some cases
in a shop with a few others, that interchange of ideas is invaluable
in furthering our knowledge and skill.

This is also why I subscribe to MMD.  The interchange of ideas is
invaluable.  Just about anything you want to know, someone else
probably knows; MMD just helps you locate that person.

I agree with Mr. Bullock about looking at a person's reputation.
I want to know the reputation of someone I hire or recommend, whether
it is to pump my septic tank or repair an aneurysm in my brain.

John Dewey