PPFA Help Line: Diane Day

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Baer Charlton

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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Was down sized this week.

. . . and the recent FMO you got was the last "non-electronic" you'll get.

And if you still have a moulding rep of any sort, hug them.
 
I always thought it was Diane Day. I was sure hoping that, which ever was INcorrect, that it was THAT one.....NOT the "D. Day with PPFA" (ooooh, d-day; that's rather spooky!)

What a SAD moment - tragic for us....well, how selfish is THAT comment....it's MOST tragic for her! You could tell she LOVED her job! Employees like her are difficult to find. I sure hope "those" decision makers knew what they were doing!

Diane - I don't know if you read TG, but all my heartfelt love to you! And may this just be a start of something bigger and better for you!! HUGS!
 
I hope that they reconsider their decision.

IMHO, I believe if Diane goes, it will be the final nail in the coffin. If you feel the same, please email or write to the board directors to let them know your feelings.
 
Gads. Getting rid of an 18 year employee. I can't fathom it.

Surely, something else would have to be less important.
 
Diane Day was the last survivor of the PPFA staff since the PMAI buyout, as I recall. Her most visible duty was to administer the PPFA HelpLine, which she did very well, and almost single-handedly.

Diane and I go waaay back. She was the staff liaison for the Certification Board when we developed the MCPF program, and again when we re-wrote the CPF exam. She has been with our Guidelines Task Force since its beginning, and works with several other committees.

She's a good friend to many PPFA members, and we're all going to miss her terribly.

Fran Gray has worked with Diane during her tenure as PPFA President and may know, perhaps better than all others, just how valuable an asset Diane has been to the association.
 
What a grave tactical error this is! She has incredible knowledge stored in her brain that one only acquires after years- I say YEARS!- in framing. We all know it is tough times for us all, but SURELY there was another way....
 
Aside from her hard work keeping committees reigned in and focused on the task at hand, her tireless work manning the booth at the trade shows and her work with certification, Diane has been a valuable contributor to our industry through her work as the PPFA helpline. Having been with the PPFA so long she is the last bit of institutional memory and has always had at her fingertips a huge wealth of information.

I'm very saddened by this development.
 
It was always a comfort to know that Diane was there to guide you in the right direction if you had a question on a particular topic. Diane always answered your call personally or within a short amount of time. Many times she would even follow up to see if all worked out ok. When I was the PPFA Chapter president I always named Diane Day's services as one of the top benefits of belonging to PPFA.

Diane if you are reading this, we all wish you the best and will miss you. You don't know how much we appreciated your caring attention to our quandries. Wishing you the best in everything that comes your way!

Susan
 
I heard this earlier today and was stunned. I hope they reconsider, I can't imagine what they are thinking. It does not bode well for our industry trade association if they think she is expendable. We will all suffer from the decision. As far as I am concerned Diane Day is the PPFA.
 
This is terrible news! Diane is a very more important person to this industry and should be treated as such!

No doubt this decision was made for financial reasons! Financial reasons have often been proven to be huge errors. This is one huge error!

I wonder how many more 'benefits to PPFA members' will be cut?
 
Emibub said:
I heard this earlier today and was stunned. I hope they reconsider, I can't imagine what they are thinking. It does not bode well for our industry trade association if they think she is expendable. We will all suffer from the decision. As far as I am concerned Diane Day is the PPFA.
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I couldn't agree more! Diane IS the PPFA!!

If I were PPFA, I'd be concerned just how much this decision will affect membership!
 
I had 2 emails about that last night. (that it was so slow, and if I knew why)

They were probably doing some database maintenance or something that would slow down the server.

What a shame about Diane Day. She was always the first name that came to mind, when I thought about PPFA.

Best of luck Diane!
Mike
 
Diane did a great job and her hotline was one of the best reasons to be a PPFA member. She'll be missed.
 
On the occasions when Diane was absent -- off to a trade show, sick, or on vacation, for example -- the HelpLine calls have been handled by selected volunteer members. That may now become the standard procedure, or maybe callers will be referred to the Framers' Corner forum. I'm just guessing.
 
Jerry Ervin said:
Maybe next they will be sending people to The G.

:popc:
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You ever think that could be what happened to the job to start with? Makes me a little sick at my tummy to think about it. Still, the G is a needed forum.

:(

It's hard to sell things when you can get them for free somewhere else, though.
 
jim_p said:
I don't know if this is related, but the PMA website is s-l-o-w tonight...
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It's still s--l--o--w.

And yesterday there was no "New Topic" button. Today there is...

:icon45:

Make that

S



L



O



W
 
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janetj1968 said:
It's hard to sell things when you can get them for free somewhere else, though.
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If you are saying The Grumble offers everything you want, then the differences probably don't matter to you.

If you are suggesting The G offers everything the trade association offers, you have missed some things. PPFA's exceptional resources for framing information would be only one example of what you can't get here.
 
Jim Miller said:
If you are saying The Grumble offers everything you want, then the differences probably don't matter to you.

If you are suggesting The G offers everything the trade association offers, you have missed some things. PPFA's exceptional resources for framing information would be only one example of what you can't get here.
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No, not at all. But the G is helpful. My resources are my experience, my framer friends and a library of books I've received from PPFA. I don't think the PPFA, however, is everything every framer needs either--but PPFA is an invaluable resource to many just as the G is. So its not a bad statement.

I was only saying that as far as being a Framer's helpline, the G is one, too.

I don't equate Diane to be all the PPFA has to offer, just that she was an important part. I think if they continue the helpline without her, it is truly their loss.
 
Jim Miller said:
PPFA's exceptional resources for framing information would be only one example of what you can't get here.
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I'm not sure if I agree Jim.

We have been a member of PPFA since the day that we opened our door. In my opinion, our chapter with the comraderie/education/programs is the most exceptional resource that I take from PPFA. But if PPFA starts eliminating programs, they will have trouble justifying membership in this tough economy.
 
Maryann, have any PPFA programs been eliminated? Last I heard, they were still adding more of them.

If you are referring to HelpLine, it would be premature to say it will be discontinued. My guess would be the contrary. Diane has been the backbone of that benefit, but she's not the only one who knows her stuff. Maybe PPFA will find a dozen or so volunteers to carry on the HelpLine.
 
Jim-

When Diane was not well, I was asked by PPFA to be one of those "helpers" that calls could be referred to. I did receive calls and answered them to the best of my ability.

I have been asked by PPFA to be a resource if they needed to refer people that they otherwise could not help, and I will most likely agree-

I received an e-mail from the PPFA President discussing the elimination of Diane's position and as a businessperson, and given the data re: the number of daily/monthly calls to the helpline vs. the expense of staffing it, and faced with budgetaty constraints, I dare say I would have made the same decision.

With the Grumble and other forums, questions can be answered now (and more quickly) that could not when the helpline was established.

I would say the same for FMO. I think as a digital publication it will be much more cost effective, allow for downloading and printing sections that you want to save, and certainly more environmentally friendly.
 
I agree, Rob. The association can carry on, and not give up any benefit of expertise, with the help of member-framers like you.
 
As a relative newcomer to framing, I found it very comforting to know there was someone I could call and ask questions of. Or maybe just ask her opinion of something I was thinking of trying. This forum is great, but sometimes it's nice just to be able to pick up the phone and actually talk with someone. She helped me several times when I was unsure of something I was trying to do. I am sorry to hear that this service is no longer available and it WILL affect my decision to renew my membership.

Bobby
 
Bobby-

PPFA is not going to leave you without a person to speak with. If you were to call, there will be a referral to one of several well credentialed framers who will be quite capable of giving you an opportunity to bounce your ideas and ask your questions.

It may well be the start of a "mentoring" program that I recall was one of Jim Miller's projects. When I was staring out I sure would have like to know I could call my "mentor" for support. There could even be "mentors" with different subject strengths, business, preservation framing, textile framing, etc.. Out of necessity comes change and this could be a good thing.

Discontinuing your membership without giving the hard working staff and leadership an opportunity to "fill the void" with perhaps something even more beneficial would be a shame.

In the interim, if you send me a private message, I will be happy to give you my phone number and you can call me directly. I have been framing since 1971 and a PPFA member almost as long. I am also a CPF and a framing educator.

I am sure there are other Grumblers who would do the same.
 
About PPFA HelpLine...

k2500guy said:
...I am sorry to hear that this service is no longer available and it WILL affect my decision to renew my membership.

Bobby
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Bobby:

I don't know how you got the idea that PPFA members could no longer get help, but it is not true. Sure, changes are inevitable, but PPFA is adding benefits, not taking them away.

Diane Day is very knowledgeable and served the association well for a long time. Nobody is indispensible; she is not the only one who knows how to answer questions.
 
I have never had to use the PPFA help line. However the knowledge of its existence has always been a comfort. The loss of any service by this organization will just cause more budget constraints as more and more "Young" frame shops do not join the organization, and older shop's see less and less reason to join.

the loss of jobs to "volunteers" while a good business decision dose not comfort me as not all well thought off PPFA members are necessarily the best sources of information. And misinformation can be the death Nell of a small shop. Also will this information be as unbiased as MS. Day was. Or will framers who are also sales reps for equipment company's see volunteering to answer phones as a perfect sales opportunity?

On another note this forum is the best resources for new framers as everyone is happy to help and the information can cover the gamut of choices in how to do things. Giving the perfect opportunity to weed through information and glean what you want from it.

Thank you all for being helpful and for keeping this valuable "free" resource available to all
 
Jim Miller said:
Nobody is indispensable; she is not the only one who knows how to answer questions.
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If I had a choice between keeping someone (or on the other side, querying someone) with 18 years of service and seniority or someone else with the same knowledge and fewer years of service, I'd choose the veteran every single time. All of this is of course assuming the helpline will be continued. If they discontinue it, I'd be more understanding. Someone with 18 years of service should be indispensable--at least above those with fewer years of service doing the same job.

I suppose here is where I'll make a few enemies: It isn't that we think PPFA will necessarily have less to offer because she isn't there or that anyone can't answer the same questions, just that it seems like a very bad moral decision for a company to make. Although I've heard statements that repeat "It's still the same, it still the same". No, its not. They've done something wrong if she's been performing her duties...and it sounds like she excelled. Right or wrong, we judge a company by their loyalties and it can make them more or less appealing.

This is the way I would defend Diane, or ANY other member of PPFA (or any other business) who would suffer the same fate after 18 years of service. After its happened once, anyone is fair game. I can't bash PPFA, because I don't know the details of it all...maybe it was mutual....and I've not heard Diane's side of it. But it really does just sound horrible given the details we've heard.
 
When I go to the hardware store and need help, I always look for the oldest guy working there. He's probably had personal experience solving the same problems in his own house over the years.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
Jill said:
The loss of any service by this organization will just cause more budget constraints...not all well thought off PPFA members are necessarily the best sources of information...framers who are also sales reps for equipment company's see volunteering to answer phones as a perfect sales opportunity?
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You're jumping to conclusions. None of the three options you mentioned above would be intended by any trade association. Why so negative?

In any case, concerned PPFA members should express their concerns to the management of the association. Non-members have no need for an opinion on the issue.
 
Jim Miller said:
Non-members have no need for an opinion on the issue.
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Jim,

Any time someone slightly questions actions or draws similarities between the PPA and the Grumble you are quick to jump in with praise of the PPA.

I have to think that many PPA members are on here and many non PPA member are on here as well. Since everyone can chime in here without having PPA membership I would conclude that there are more framers here than anywhere.

With that being said, you should care about the opinions of all. Your membership is decreasing and now it seems so is the money the PPA has to rely on.

All opinions have value whether you agree with them or not. (That is why I don't have anyone on my ignore list)

I have never needed to call the PPA line. (I couldn't because I am not a member) Ever since I joined the grumble I have had no need for any other help but this place.

It just bothers me sometimes to see you come here in a veiled attemp to lure members to your site.


Bob
 
Jim Miller said:
And if you had no choice, then what?
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If there is one employee left at PPFA with less than 18 years of service, they had a choice.

Surely, with Diane's years of service she was versed enough to wear a different hat or work for PPFA in another area. This is assuming she'd want to do a different job. I have no idea...maybe she wasn't interested.

But how can they say they're eliminating her position (when its plastered all over the place that her job was the helpdesk) and then ask for 'volunteers' to run it? That leaves me shaking my head. The position hasn't been eliminated, Diane has.

My choice? If there were no employees over which she had seniority, then I would terminate her.
 
Hey Guys, I know I'm being Captain Obvious here but I deleted my post in the other thread because I just didn't see the benefits in arguing all over again. I know you're seeing the same things based on your recent posts and there are just different schools of thought here that we're not going to overcome.

As photo places started embracing custom framing it did create more competition for us. Direct competition, custom framing neon signs, samples in the front windows, sale coupons and signs, and kind of a major pain: photo stores securing the exclusivity clauses for custom framing in their shopping centers. Now, this has created a tougher environment for custom frame shops like mine, like we needed another one. But for others in our community it has created a lot more customers, enriching the market for lectures, classes, endorsements, representation...

So, we're kind of on opposite sides of the coin. It took me forever to realize that because I don't really pay attention to things most of the time. But once I did I just kind of shut up.

The trade association went in one direction. In my opinion it made it a more negative force for me though I didn't have a high opinion of it before. Some folks will benefit though. In the other thread it was suggested that framers now have the opportunity to learn all about the photo industry but I'm a picture framer and I don't have any desire to embrace a new industry. And I understand that people will tell me how good it is for me and how much I can learn, but at the end of the day I am locked out of the shopping center I want to be in, have twice as many competitors, and I'm getting an ulcer over thinking I'm suddenly supposed to be something other than a picture framer.
 
Rob Markoff said:
. . .

In the interim, if you send me a private message, I will be happy to give you my phone number and you can call me directly. I have been framing since 1971 and a PPFA member almost as long. I am also a CPF and a framing educator.

I am sure there are other Grumblers who would do the same.
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It is important to read posts in their entirety; otherwise, you will miss some of the most valuable information here. Thanks Rob!
 
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