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