convincing physical plant on need for climate cont (fwd)

[PNOTNR@aol.com]

Forwarded message:
>
> I need some help in how to present to the director of the physical plant at
> the college where I work (Colby College in Waterville, ME) the need for
> consistency in temp. and humidity in the music building.  The music faculty
> seems to understand this.  Their primary concern is a S&S D in the
> auditorium.  Apparently the heat is lowered to 50 or 55 degrees at night,
> making my tuning efforts as permanent as ice sculpture in Death Valley.  (I'm
> told that the piano students wear coats and gloves while waiting to play in
> their rep. classes.)
>
> The tricky part of this is the phys. plant wants to save heating $$$, and the
> music dept. wants the climate controlled, but doesn't want the expense to be
> added to the music dept budget.  The piano teacher requested that I write to
> the physical plant director in my capacity as piano technician for the
> school.
>
> I am interested to know how you CAUT's have dealt with this issue.  The
> bottom line, no doubt is money.  The college can pay to have the heat kept
> up, or have the instruments serviced more often, but which budget will it
> come from?   I don't expect the plant director to know much (or care to know)
> about pianos, so I don't want to be too verbose, but I want to make a strong
> (and convincing) point.  If the pianos fall apart, the music dept. will have
> to pay to have them fixed.  Can anyone suggest how to convince the
> maintenance dept. that _they_ have an interest in preventing such damage?
>
> (I'm also trying to get the music school to have Dampp-Chasers installed)
>
> Gordon Large, RPT
> Maine