For those who are interested, here is a rundown of the events that were behind the current institute controversy. It's purpose is not to point fingers or blame, but to show what happened from my perspective.
1. After the 2011 Conference I put together the "Institute Think Tank" to brainstorm ideas for the conference and names for great instructors. This was applauded by Board member Phil Bondi.
2. After several great recommendations I decided to contact Joel Rappaport to see if he would be able to teach at the 2012 Institute
3. After discussing instructors on the Institute List, Rick Wyatt sent me a curt email that said: "Joel Rappaport is no." When I inquired about this I didn't get a response.
4. Jack Wyatt Contacted me by phone to express his outrage at Joel Being invited to teach. He accused Joel of poor ethics and cited the Mollburg case as an example. I had not been aware of any of this history before this call.
5. I called Joel and told him what happened and he filled me in on some of the stormy history in the Texas region. After checking Jack Wyatt's reputation I got a sense that Jack was exaggerating and was lacking facts.
6. During the planning meeting the decision to keep Joel on the schedule was discussed for around 15minutes. Jim Coleman and Norm Cantrell were the representatives from the Board. Jim was supportive, Norm was not. Norman claimed that Joel had been invited to teach at regional conferences but that the conferences had been threatened with a boycott from Texas if the Rappaports taught. PTG should have dealt with this issue at this point. In her latest post on the PTG-L list Priscilla Rappaport stated that she contacted board members to complain but couldn't get anywhere due to "confidentiality" issues.
7. After discussion I expressed my plan to keep Joel on the schedule. President Coleman told me personally that he supported my decision.
8. A few days after the planning meeting I was contacted by Vice-President Chris Solliday. He told me that the EC acts for the Board in between sessions, and that they had decided that Joel should not teach. Moral and Ethical allegations were stated as the reason. What the allegations were or who passed this information to Chris was not revealed. He also told me that Joel had quit PTG while in the middle of an ethics case. I do not believe this is true, as I have not been able to find any evidence and Joel is unaware of any such case.
9. I told Chris that I was very uncomfortable with this decision and that I felt it should go to the board so that more heads can be involved.
10. I called Sandy to ask if there was anything in Joel’s file about an ethics case, she said no. Sandy gave me the name of the member was chair of the ethics committee when Joel let his membership lapse, Ed Hilbert. Ed was not aware of any ethics case.
11. During this time I also contacted Pacific NW RVP Paul Brown, and former RVP Mike Reiter and told them of my situation, and my intent on taking this matter to the Board. Both expressed their support, but had no real advice.
12. In the mean time I contact Mary Smith one of the technicians who had been involved with a dispute with the Rappaports. I also corresponded with Bernhard Mollberg, who had been involved in a mediation with the National University of Mexico City over the quality of a rebuild done by Mollberg. After the mediation, Priscilla was hired to repair the piano.
13. Jim Coleman contacted me a couple of days after Chris Solliday’s call and recommended that I don’t take this to the Board. This surprised me very much. Why the reluctance? I was told it would not go my way. I couldn’t believe it! How could reasonable people who represent the members not agree with my position? I assumed that they must be misinformed.
14. I contacted Joel Rappaport and asked him to draft a letter so that he could defend himself against these rumored “ethical and moral” issues. I drafted my own letter to the board. These letters were shared with other concerned members while in the draft stage. The letters were circulated and ended up on the public PTG lists. That same day I sent the letters to the Board.
15. The following Monday the Board held an emergency meeting. My understanding was that the meeting was to discuss the Joel Rappaport case. I learned later that his case was not decided on at all. 16. The only decision made at that meeting was to remove me as institute director and replace me with Ward Guthrie. Reasons are currently readable on the PTG-L list.
17. Around this time all discussion was removed from the PTG lists, including the PTG-L list.
18. Many prominent members contacted me to express their concern and indignation over this affair.
19. I created a google site to provide member access to the controversial information that had been wiped off the PTG-L site.
20. Prominent members start talking about a boycott of the conference. It is suggested by some that the institute team should step down.
21. In a state of anger I posted a late night letter condemning the board, and asking that members boycott the conference, and that the institute Team including Ward Guthrie step down. I now refer to this jokingly as my “tuners of the world, UNITE!” speech. The next day I publish an apology.
22. It seems to be leaked out that the EC may have reversed its decision on Joel Rappaport. I talked with Ward Guthrie and he says he intends to invite Joel.
23. Jim Coleman posts his letter on PTG-L stating ” …He [Ryan Sowers] has also accused the Board of making a decision and then reversing it regarding one instructor in particular teaching at the convention. No such decisions were ever made; in fact no meeting of the Board regarding this ever took place.”
I assume that Jim Published his letter on the advice of the PTG attorneys. Since nothing was in writing regarding the EC’s actions towards the institute, this may be and effective way of protecting themselves from any sort of liability. I’m just guessing here. When Jean and I first read the latter we were flabbergasted! It felt like the PTG Ministry of Truth had decided to rewrite history.