August 2024

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Greetings to Our New Members

If you're reading a PTG member e-newsletter for the first time, welcome! If you need anything, please get in touch with your chapter president, Regional Vice President, or the PTG Home Office. Be sure to check out some of the great benefits of PTG membership. To all members, check out the list of new members in each month's Journal and see who's new in your area.

Survey Information

This fall, PTG will be conducting a member survey. All PTG members will receive an e-mail with a link to the online questionnaire. You’ll be asked questions about your career, your membership, and your ideas for future PTG programs and services. We ask in advance for your participation. Your responses are crucial to helping chart the direction of the Piano Technicians Guild going forward. We have an incredibly diverse membership and the feedback we receive from members helps provide a direction for future plans and resource allocation. Look for more information about the survey in the September Enews.

PTG Convention Recap

Another year, another successful PTG Convention and Technical Institute. More than 500 were in attendance (including 150 first timers) and the energy was flowing. “This convention was a perfect example of what the Piano Technicians Guild is about,” said PTG President Norman Cantrell, RPT. "Veterans sharing their knowledge with beginners who brought an energy and enthusiasm that invigorated all of us.” We’ll have a complete wrap-up in the October 2024 issue of the Piano Technicians Journal. In the meantime, a few highlights.

Award Recipients

Golden Hammer

Jack Stebbins, RPT

2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

Joyce Meekins , RPT

Carl Lieberman, RPT

Examiner of the Year

Michael Gutowski RPT

Greenfield Award

David Koenig RPT

Chapter Leader

Daniel Haubert, RPT

Member of Note

Jason Cassel, RPT

Morgan Cowell, RPT

Larry Lobel, RPT

Barbara Richmond, RPT

Presidential Citation

Patrick Draine, RPT

See past recipients, and learn more about these awards and how to nominate a deserving member at www.ptg.org/members/awards.

Council & Board Actions

The election of officers and RVP’s highlighted organizational activities during convention and you can view an updated list at www.ptg.org/about/board. Watch for a summary of action taken by Council and the Board of Directors in your Regional Vice President’s summer newsletter. You’ll be able to review those newsletters in your regional communities at my.ptg.org when they are published. View minutes of 2024 Council and Board meetings.

Save the Dates and Consider Sharing Your Knowledge

The 2025 PTG Convention and Technical Institute will take place July 16-19, 2025, in Des Moines, IA. We’re already planning for next year which means class ideas and proposals should be submitted now. Click on Submit a PTG Technical Institute class proposal to submit your idea. Proposals are due by September 15.

Taking the RPT Exams: the 4-P Approach

A total of 13 PTG members successfully passed their final exams and achieved RPT status during the recent convention! If you’re curious about the exam process, we encourage you to take advantage of the Prepare. Practice. Pre-Screen. Pass! brochure. It’s now available for download at www.ptg.org/members/certification.

RPT Exam Overview | RPT Exam Resources | Find an Examiner | Find an Exam Site

The First Step: Scheduling an RPT Written Exam

The RPT written exam is taken online, so you will need internet access and a compatible device. An RPT sponsor is required to proctor the exam in person. Any RPT interested in sponsoring a written exam should contact the Written Exam Committee at writtenexam@ptg.org to learn more about the process of administering digital exams. RPT sponsors are required to complete a short online orientation. They will then be certified as Authorized Written Examiners (AWE’s) and able to request and proctor exams. Examinees and examiners will receive login information via email. The fee for the written exam is $25. Examinees can purchase a written exam voucher in the PTG Store. Select RPT Exam Voucher from the Categories list, then select Written Exam Fee. You'll receive your voucher purchase confirmation via email. Your order # will be proof of purchase. Your exam purchase information is automatically forwarded to the Written Exam Committee, so you don't need to submit that information when you request your exam. Only the English version is available online at this time.

What's in the August 2024 Journal?

• Stability, Stability. Stability
• Discoveries in Tuning
• The Practical Technician Replaces Repetition Lever Spring Cord Loops

The Piano Technicians Journal is always available 24-7. Read the August issue.

Membership Benefits

Save the Dates: NAMM 2025

We’re pleased to announce that Piano Technicians Guild Members are eligible for a free badge to attend the 2025 NAMM Show in Anaheim. CA. The show is set for Jan 23-25. We’ll have more information available in the September E-News.

PIPPA Reduced Registration

PTG is pleased to offer its members $50 off registration for the 2025 PIPPA Show in Las Vegas. Scheduled for Jan 28-30, PIPPA is short for Piano Industry Professionals & Producers Affiliated and is a trade show event for piano dealers, piano salespeople, manufacturers, and others connected to the industry. The PTG discount code is PTG25. Register at www.pippaevent.org.

Key Deadlines and Dates

• September 15, 2024 | Proposals due for 2025 Des Moines, IA PTG Convention & Technical Institute | www.ptg.org/class-submit
• November 30, 2024 | Bylaws and Organizational Policy RFAs due to Bylaws Committee | See Bylaws Committee page for more information.
• December 20, 2024 | Committee, all other reports and other RFAs due to Barbara Cassaday, barbara@ptg.org
• February 3-5, 2025 | Winter PTG Board of Directors Meeting | PTG Home Office, Kansas City