Dear Bull:

Ken asked if I would step into this stuff (Sorry, the humor value of the
following will be very low. I hope this is not out of line for
Bullamanka) and put in something about the PTN (Preservation Trades
Network). I am not totally sure but I think PIN (alias OINK) and PTN
were cut out of the same cloth. There seemed to be a basic need that was
not being met and it appears both efforts were due to a hunger for
fellowship and a stronger market. From where I sit, the PIN effort has
been very successful not only in the preservation market in the NYC area
but also has had a great influence on Wall Street. I do not think that
it is just by chance that the stock market has been booming since the
creation of PIN.

PTN has not been as active as PIN during this same time period. The
efforts made by PTN have taken a different path. The "I" in PIN stands
for INDUSTRY. That is a big word and includes many different people,
processes and approaches. On the other hand, the "T" in PTN stands for
TRADES. This is a sub-set of INDUSTRY but no less diverse. The "T"'s of
this world really have not had an organization where they can satisfy
their hunger for fellowship or help influence the market that they
dedicate their lives and their family's futures to. PTN is looking to
establish a home that is predictable and comfortable for a majority of
those in the PRESERVATION TRADES. Predictability requires a bit of
structure and organization. The PTN worked for two years to create an
environment where the TRADES could see a future. To create an
environment that was comfortable to the point of allowing TRADES people
to share knowledge with others, like and different than themselves. The
International Preservation Trades Workshop (IPTW) was the result of this
two year effort. It was far from being a perfect environment, hopefully
it was close enough to give the people that call themselves Trades,
Crafts, Artist, etc a feeling of fellowship and that they do have the
ability to influence their PROFESSION.

...As PROFESSIONALS (damn the legal and politically correct status of
the word "professional") the serious TRADESPEOPLE I know have put in as
much time and effort in to their PROFESSIONAL business education as
anyone with tassels on square hats and framed pieces of wallpaper...

 PTN is not an organization looking to have something for everyone. It
is looking to have something for people that know the feel of a tool,
the texture of a material, the conditions of a substrate and the
challenges that no specification can completely cover.

PTN invites anyone in but will be focused on the environment that meet
the needs of the Trades. Too many times, I have heard that it is
impossible to get people in the TRADES to take classes. Too many times I
have heard that the TRADES will not travel to improve themselves. Too
many times I have heard that the TRADES will not invest the time or the
money to attend training opportunities or conferences. Too many times I
have heard that the TRADES will not make the effort to organize events
for themselves.

Too many times, this has been true.

The TRADES have allowed themselves to be placed into a position where
their knowledge and experience was blocked out by some standard
(inappropriate) set of specifications. The TRADES have been waiting for
others to provide the opportunity to speak out. The TRADES have been
waiting for permission. (Bullamanka is not the work I want to use but it
is close enough.) The TRADES need to take responsibility for their own
situation. Either "take action" or get off the pot and this is where PTN
is at this point. The IPTW (conference) showed the TRADES what can be
done when the effort is put out. As a result of the IPTW, PTN has
individuals that have volunteered: to edit a newsletter; to publish the
newsletter in a magazine; to continue the web site; to form a group to
write specifications from the TRADES point of view; to form a group to
provides education opportunities; to form a group to review
international standard for materials and processes; to establish the
FREDERICK CHARTER, a TRADES based Code of Practice; to work on next
year's IPTW and to build on the networking and friendships continued and
started at IPTW '97.

PTN is asking for individuals to be committed to this process and is
asking for membership dues of $85.00 per calendar year. Dues are now
being received for the 1998 calendar year and the memberships have
started to come in. If you are so inclined, Membership fee checks in US$
can be mailed to PTN, P.O.Box 1815, Rockville, MD 20849-1815.

Its a "real downer" to end this ranting and raving with a call for
formally joining and helping. Especially when the focus of Bullamanka is
to express ideas and fellowship with freedom and humor. I guess if it is
not appropriate you can "flame" me.

Bryan