The Official Newsletter of the Portland Chapter #972 of the Piano Technicians Guild

April 2010

Next Chapter Meeting:

DATE	April 26, 2010
LOCATION	Classic Pianos 3003 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR. 97202 In the “Clavinova Room”
Business	6:00 PM
General	7:00 PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Next Chapter Meeting:.......................................................................................... 1

TECHNICAL:..................................................................................................................... 2

Minutes: March 2010.......................................................................................................... 2

Proposed Slate of New Officers:......................................................................................... 4

President’s Message:........................................................................................................... 4

Upcoming Events:............................................................................................................... 6

TECHNICAL:

NOTICE: John Rhodes was scheduled to present Action Geometry, unfortunately he is experiencing a health issue and will not be able to be at the meeting. Please keep him in your prayers. Ed.

GLUES - - EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW, BUT DIDN‚T ASK!

An in depth discussion of most of the glues available, today. How/where to use them and why. Many "pass arounds". Discussion is definitely wanted and needed to make this class "work".

Joe Garrett, RPT.

I have personal business that will have me out of town for this meeting, luckily, I’ve attended this class before. You are in for a valuable treat! Ed.

Minutes: March 2010

Portland PTG Board Meeting Minutes

Monday, March 22, 2010

Steve Ganz Shop

Julie Mackinnon called the meeting to order.

Present:

Julie Mackinnon, President; Don Mitchell, Vice President; Tom Levings, Past President; Rick Hales, Treasurer; Amy Zilk, Secretary

Treasurer’s Report:

Checking Balance (3/08/10) $1990.09

Chapter CD $2196.91

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Total Chapter Funds $4187

Oregon Day Savings Account $1350.88

Oregon Day CD $1881.80

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Total Oregon Day Funds $3232.68

Vice President’s Report: Next month at Classic Pianos, John Rhodes will present on action geometry. Barb Rossa has not yet confirmed that she will present in May.

President’s Report: Rick Hales will not be continuing as a member in 2010 and will not be serving as Treasurer. He has done an exemplary job as Treasurer and will be missed.

At the PNWC, there were approximately 126 paid attendees and the event made money, so our Chapter will not be covering losses. Tom Levings distributed checks to Portland Chapter members who attended the conference.

The board agrees that Julie should take over the Treasurers duties until the new board is elected.

Portland PTG Chapter Meeting Minutes

Monday, March 22, 2010

Steve Ganz Shop

Julie Mackinnon called the meeting to order at 7:37 pm.

Present:

Julie Mackinnon, President; Don Mitchell, Vice President; Tom Levings, Past President; Amy Zilk, Secretary; Greg Tucker, Member Liaison; Taylor Mackinnon, RPT; Randy Potter, RPT; Jim Schmitt, RPT; Ken Amend, RPT

Steve Ganz, RPT; Linda Scott, RPT; Dahr-wynn Blakemore, Associate; Joshua Casey, Associate; Chris Henke, Associate; Audrey Hurlburt, Associate;

Bob Ledden, Associate; Matt Hirschfelder, Associate;

Caryn Backman, Associate; Julie Streit, Guest

Minutes were approved with the correction that Joe Garrett volunteered to be a delegate and Randy Potter volunteered to be an alternate to the national convention.

Treasurer’s Report (presented by Amy Zilk):

Checking Balance (12/31/09) $1990.09

Chapter CD $2196.91

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Total Chapter Funds $4187.00

Oregon Day Savings Account $1350.88

Oregon Day CD $1881.80

-----------

Total Oregon Day Funds $3232.68

Julie announced that Tom Levings has been appointed to chair the nominating committee.

Vice President’s Report: John Rhodes is scheduled to present at Classic in April. Barb Rossa is not yet confirmed for May.

Tom Levings reported that no tests have been requested at this time, and that the PNWC was a financial success and our Chapter will not be paying for any losses. In 2011, the new WestPac convention will be held in San Francisco.

Julie asked for additional volunteers to be delegate/alternate to the national convention and there were none. Tom Levings moved that Joe Garrett serve as delegate and Randy Potter serve as alternate. Don Mitchell seconded. Motion carried.

Matt Hirschfelder asked for member input into the format for cataloging the library materials.

Meeting adjourned at 7:59 pm.

Submitted by,

Amy Zilk

Proposed Slate of New Officers:

Portland Chapter board member slate of officers for 2010-11.
President: David Streit, RPT
Vice-President: Randy Potter, RPT
Secretary: Dahr-Wynn Blakemore
Treasurer: Bob Ledden
Membership liaison: Matt Hischfelder

Tom Levings

I will gladly continue as news letter editor for another term. Mark Gallant

President’s Message:

Presidents Message-April 2010

Thank you to Steve Ganz RPT and his wife Malana for allowing their home to be used for a potluck dinner. Our business meeting was held in the shop as was a top-notch presentation by Steve demonstrating hanging hammers. Our organization is so unique in that there is a true effort to educate our members with offerings appealing to technicians at all levels.

I have a letter sent to me from Lowell Hart, a former member who did not renew his membership this year and did not want the chapter to pay for him. I want to share the letter and poem that he wrote and am doing so with his permission. Please notice the asterisk with in the poem. The ink is smudged, the letters blurred. A tear perhaps?
________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                                                    Lowell Hart
                                                                                                                                    119 NE 391st Drive
                                                                                                                                    Washougal, WA 98671

                                                                                                                                    March 25, 2010

Hello!

Thank you for politely and patiently sending me reminders that my 2010 PTG membership payment is past due.

It has not been my intention to just ignore the notices until you give up on me. I thought I should at least write a note to explain-almost sadly-that I will not be renewing my membership.

At 82, and after more the 50 years as a piano technician-25 of them a member of the PTG- it is time. Time to lay down my tuning fork and hammer. Time to retire.

You will have to pardon me if I seem overly sentimental, but at the moment I am having difficulty adjusting to the “new life.”

So with great apologies to the poets, Shelly and Keats, I have written an Ode (which may not be an authentic Ode, but who will really cares!).

Lowell
__________________________________________________________________________

                 Ode to a Retired Piano Technician (Mainly Me)
I wander through my shop.
            It used to be such a busy and, sometimes, very noisy place.
It’s quiet now.
            I get a lump in my throat.
The machines that once hummed, chugged, and chattered
            doing what machines were made to do,
            are now silent.
The work tables that were once piled high with work
            that always seemed to be due back in the customer’s piano yesterday,
            are now empty, save an occasional hammer, screw driver or a few garden hose washers.

The tools that, for 52 years, had been my daily companions
            as I strove to make pianos sound and function better,
            are now carefully packed in two well-worn cases and placed in a quiet corner.
The myriad of supplies that were needed to insure a smoothly operating instrument,
            now peer at me from their appointed shelves,
            wondering when they will be needed again.

I have attended local, regional and national Guild meetings
            where I have met the “greats” in the profession,
            as well as the just plain Joes like me.
These have been profitable times.
            Memories! Wonderful memories!

And my customers. How I will miss them!
            Will Rogers once said that he had never met a man he didn’t like.
            Good for Will.
He must have been acquainted with some fine people.
            But I’m afraid I’m not quite in Will’s league.
In my years of servicing people’s pianos, I must admit
            that there might have been a individual or two
who may not have been an absolute delight to deal with.

            But I think I can say, like most piano technicians,
                        that with few exceptions, upon entering the home of a new customer
                        and being greeted with a warm smile,
                        I had found an immediate friend.

            I often would tell a customer after finishing with the piano
                        and then enjoying good conversation
                        while munching on a plate of freshly baked cookies,
                        I really should make one appointment to tune the piano and another just to visit.
            Through the years there have been the usual challenges and frustrations,
                        as with any business.
But I am thankful that I have been able to be in a profession
            where the joys far outnumber the disappointments.

I am thankful, too, for the PTG and its many valuable(*) technical resources.

And I am thankful for the One Who keeps His universe in perfect order
            and Who has allowed me to live in it for so many years.

It truly has been, and still is, a wonderful life!
Sincerely,
Lowell Hart

Upcoming Events:

The Canadian Association of Piano Technicians - L'Association Canadienne d'Accordeurs de Piano invites you to its Annual Convention in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia - May 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 2010

http://pianocanada.ca/Vancouver/2010_capt_vancouver_convention.htm

PTG Convention & Technical Institute
June 26 - 30, 2010
Las Vegas, NV
www.ptg.org/convention2010 <http://www.ptg.org/conv/2010/>

CONTACTS:

Current Officers:

President	Julie Mackinnon, RPT: 503-359-4944 julieannmac3@hotmail.com
Vice President	Don Mitchell 360-696-1985 donmi@pianotuningschool.org
Secretary	Amy Zilk 503-936-0594 amy@zilknet.net
Treasurer	Rick Hales, Associate: rick_d_hales@yahoo.com
Member Liaison	Greg Tucker, Associate tuckerdrez@hotmail.com
Immediate Past President	Thomas Levings, RPT: 503-285-2454 lvngs@comcast.net
EXAMINATION COMMITTEE	The examination committee must have a record of request to schedule exams. Please call or email to let them know you wish to take the next available test. Tuning: Jeff Hickey 541-756-7701 TunerJeff@aol.com Technical: John Rhodes 360-256-7277 jrhodes@pacifier.com

Soundboard Editor:

Mark Gallant

1595 SW 200^th Ct

Aloha, OR 97006

503-642-1883

thesoundboard@verizon.net

Article submission deadline in the 2^nd Monday of the each month to allow inclusion in that month’s publication.

PTG Bylaws (National) Article VIII section E #6

All expression of opinion and all statement of supposed facts are published on the authority of the author as listed, and are not to be regarded as expressing the view of the Chapter nor the Piano Technicians Guild Inc., unless such opinions have been adopted by the chapter or the Piano Technicians Guild Inc.

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