[CAUT] assistant position

[Willem Blees]

Don

I want to add another argument. The assistant is going to cost the 
university in the neighborhood of $50 - $60,000. (not all in salary, 
but includes health insurance, taxes, etc.). For that they can buy one 
or two new pianos every year. (Or one new D every two years). But 
instead of buying two new pianos every year, for the same amount of 
money we can resurrect 5 or 6 pianos every year. 

Wim 



Quoting Donald McKechnie <dmckech at ithaca.edu>:

> All,
> 
> I have been charged with the task of showing how adding an assistant 
> 
> piano tech position here at IC would save the college money. Over the
>  
> last 6 years I have presented all sorts of information to show how  
> this addition to staff is necessary. While the information is taken 
> 
> in as all well and good, the bottom line for this administration is 
> 
> saving money. (Yes, it is a big political game too but I am the minor
>  
> player. I have to rely on the deans to play the big game as I cannot 
> 
> get my foot in any further. They simply won't let me in.) All this  
> means is that I must give the deans the best argument possible.
> 
> In essence, the information I have given in the past (Guidelines,  
> etc.) is considered qualitative. This administration wants to see a 
> 
> quantitative argument. In other words, "Show Me the Money Savings!" 
> 
> At this point I have come up with zip in the way of a good argument. 
> 
> Has anyone out there used a dollars and cents approach that helped or
>  
> actually worked in your favor?
> 
> I have managed to come up with words that dance around the basic  
> argument requested. Getting to the actual dollars saved still eludes 
> 
> me. The only approach so far has been to look at the inventory in  
> terms of years of service. The longevity of the piano in the  
> inventory is increased if the piano is maintained regularly. (Meaning
>  
> reconditioning of some sort and regular repairs.) This is easy enough
>  
> for the administration to understand but unless I can get my head to 
> 
> wrap around how dollars fit into this tact, I'm afraid it just as  
> useless as my other arguments. Of course a regular replacement  
> program is still needed and that is something a have a better handle 
> 
> on. Any help with the savings?
> 
> Thanks,
> Don
> 
> Don McKechnie
> Piano Technician
> Ithaca College
> dmckech at ithaca.edu
> 607-274-3908
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 


Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA