[CAUT] caut Digest, Vol 1090, Issue 3

[Chris Solliday]

This is all well and good but without addressing the bigger picture it is
doomed like trying use a watering can to put out a fire (better be a very
small fire). This program needs a realistic budget and along with that will
come more respect for the tech.
Chris Solliday
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Rick.Florence at asu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 9:46 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] caut Digest, Vol 1090, Issue 3


> Wim, I don't think I would choose to marginalize my position with the
> Director/Chair.  If we wish to be the respected professional whose
opinions are
> valued, then we need to play the part, not run away from the opportunity.
It is
> true that the decision may not be ours to make, but we SHOULD be called
upon for
> our expertise in ALL keyboard matters and be available with an educated
> recommendation.
>
> Paul, gather up your information, present a few possible alternatives,
recommend
> the one you feel is best, and ask the Director in which direction (s)he
wishes
> to proceed.  This may be a good time to put together a capital purchase
proposal
> as well.  The keyboard faculty will be your strongest ally, or your worst
enemy.
>  Use this opportunity to push for a win-win situation for both camps
> (piano/fortepiano) and you'll begin to build a rewarding working
relationship
> with your colleagues.
>
> If we fail to participate and act proactively in these types of situations
we
> will simply be the "tuner" who is easily replaced and underappreciated,
both
> personally and financially.
>
> Carpe diem!
>
>
> Rick
>
> ________________
> Rick Florence
> Senior Piano Technician
> Arizona State University, School of Music
>
>
> Quoting Willem Blees <wblees at bama.ua.edu>:
>
> > Paul
> >
> > It me took me a while, but I now refer those difficult questions to
> > the people who are paid to make difficult decisions. Lay this problem
> > on the desk of the piano chairman or the department chairman. I would
> > go so far as to not even offer my recommendation. That leaves you
> > completely out of the decision making process.
> >
> > Wim
> > Willem Blees, RPT
> > Piano Tuner/Technician
> > School of Music
> > University of Alabama
> > Tuscaloosa, AL USA
> >
> >
> > Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>:
> >
> > > Hi List,
> > >
> > > Some of my greenish hue is starting to wear off on being a CAUT, but
> > > on
> > > budget matters with piano faculty, in particular, I shine brighter
> > > that
> > > the emerald city!!  We have 105 keyboard instruments here at the
> > > university, one of them being a Belt forte-piano about 25 years old.
> >
> > > The
> > > professor who plays it primarily is demanding a major rehabilitation
> > > to it
> > > which will require some outside help with my assisting this outside
> > > expert.  The estimated cost of bringing this "expert" in will take
> > > over
> > > 28% of my yearly budget.  The instrument is used in concert 6-8
> > times
> > > per
> > > year as compared to our 3 Steinway D's, 1 concert Baldwin and 3
> > > Steinway
> > > B's which are used constantly.
> > >
> > > Some of the other faculty are up in arms about using the piano
> > budget
> > > and
> > > insist that this is a "special project" and should use "special
> > > funds"
> > > like grants and the like.  Of course I agree strongly both ways!  It
> > > is a
> > > university instrument, so it should use university funds.  On the
> > > other
> > > hand it is used so infrequently, that I can't see using a huge slice
> > > of my
> > > pie.  On the third hand, one of my responsibilities is to see to it
> > > that
> > > all instruments are happy.
> > >
> > > Having such a limited budget as I do, if I had to replace a good
> > > quality
> > > grand, (not even concert level), I would be spending far more than
> > > one
> > > year's budget, leaving all other instruments on hold until next year
> > >
> > > whatever the need may be.INCLUDING the concert instruments.
> > > So I ask for a bit of seasoned advise from you all.  How have you
> > > handled
> > > such delemmas? Thanks for your help.
> > >
> > > Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.....
> > >
> > > Paul T. Williams RPT
> > > University of Nebraska-Lincoln
> > >
>
>