Ken Writes: "We have the talent of introspection between us, the ability to
write and express our ideas, and various relationships with publication media.
At a past meeting I attended in Chicago someone from the NPS publications
venue vehemently stated that making craftperson information available in
published form is a lost cause as the information is too volatile for print
media. Therefore the conclusion may have been that the need property owners
have to efficiently make contact with capable and honest craftspersons could
not be satisfied. I think a more apt conclusion is that the print media is
severely limited and that there are other media available."

I have been plugging away at using the print media to get the word out for
some 18 years now. I find that info such as process, proceedure and method can
be pass along in print. The further refinements of technique, nuance and art
do not print well or at all. I have been criticized from time to time for
putting so much effort into the printed word, and criticized for the way it
gets changed by the time it is actually published. On the whole I feel good
about the effort, but now recognize its limitations.

Some of the subtlies, such as technique do get through video, but it is high
cost and still limited. These important subtlies of technique really must go
from person to person. This is why I have given a new emphasis in my own
business to offer workshops that put me directly with more people. The seminar
approach I have been organizing in various states (NH, CT, SD so far) helps me
draw on and focus local and regional talent as well to help get the word out
to hundreds at a time.

I am just a one person outfit, much like I was back when I was a tradesperson
full time. Getting the preservation trades word out is of critical importance
to me personally. I just jump in and do what I can with the limited resources
one person can garner. At times I find I have the knack to focus resources
well (as in NH CT & SD). Others times it doesn't quite click (like the IPTN
workshop, where I didn't make it due to lack of funds). Well, as always, we
bump into boulders and find we can step around them and get on with it. I
think all these one-person efforts (the list keeper in Texas, Leland and the
Guild, BP list, PL list, etc.-all one person efforts) are where the most
effective benefits develop. They are responsive to need, develop quickly and
are effective. I hope that IPTN *can* become the way to organize them all, and
I laud Bryan and the others for getting it together. Identify the resources
and make them available.

John Leeke, Preservationeer