Hi Gang,  My thanks to Larry for clearing up some of my writing.
The membership process is as follows:  It doesn't matter if you apply
at a local chapter or fill out an application at a convention, the
application goes to your local chapter first.  After fulfilling the
local chapter's membership requirements, an officer of the chapter
signs the application as a sponsor, and the application and your check
are sent to the home office.  Once processed you are a Associate member
of Piano Technicians Guild.

Each chapter does have it's own membership requirements and, as Larry
pointed out, they cannot conflict with national policy.  Some chapters
allow anyone to join that wishes to do so; other chapters have other
minor requirements, and any chapter has the right to deny membership
to someone who has proven themselves to be unethical.  There is, of
course, a process involved if the person denied membership chooses to
file a protest.

I must also point out that it is a rare occurrence that a person is
denied membership.  After being accepted as a member you are obliged to
"Observe the laws of PTG and the Chapter in which membership is held.
Further, each PTG member is obligated to maintain conduct which will
reflect the ethics and attitudes in the PTG Code of Ethics".  (Quote
from the membership application.)  A person that is a member for less
than two years _could_ be removed from membership for cause by a
two-thirds vote of the chapter.

Regarding my comment that the RPT you hire "may have been applying
these skills for only two days or for forty years, but at least they
have those skills."  That meant that [whether] they may have been
a RPT for two days or may have been one for forty years, there can
still be an experience issue, but as Larry pointed out it does take
well-developed skills to pass the RPT exams and you can be assured
that the RPT you hire has proven he/she has those skills.

Regarding PTG Associates:  As stated, there are many highly competent
Associates, many with better skills than a RPT, some that do not want
to take the exams because they are as busy as they need to be and see
no reason and some that may have been a RPT previously and left the
Guild for a time and came back and other reasons.  But the point I was
trying to clarify is that you can't _expect_ a PTG Associate member to
be the best in the business; you _should_ expect a RPT to be a very
good tuner and more than competent piano technician.

If you are constantly following a Associate member that is not up to
your standards, that is not cause for alarm; they are likely building
skills.  If you are constantly following a RPT who does not seem
competent, professional or ethical then that is reason for concern.

But realize that we all are very critical of the person who was there
before us, no matter what their title.  Please do not put down the PTG
because of your experience with one member.  It is basically a good
organization striving to be better, but we are all human.

Thanks again,

Mike McCoy RPT
Chapters 170 & 190, PTG
Langhorne, PA