<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not to say, "I told you so", but what Israel is proposing is something I mentioned about 4 weeks ago. First of all, CAUT should be offering more classes at seminars and the convention on managing. Time management, inventory management, personnel management, teacher management. But this is also why I think we need to upgrade the educational requirement to more than just a high school diploma. Perhaps not in all situations, but a college degree is more than just regurgitating information back to the professors. It shows an administrator that you're able to manage time; time to get home work done, time to go to classes, concerts, etc.  That in itself is a very valuable skill and quality to have.  <br> </FONT> <div style="CLEAR: both"><br> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Israel Stein <custos3@comcast.net><br> To: caut@ptg.org<br> Sent: Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:45 pm<br> Subject: [CAUT] CAUT job description vis-a-vis salary level (was:<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_1_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:37:56 -0500 Eric Wolfley wrote: >State systems don’t recognize merit, they go mainly on job descriptions and are supposed to align job >responsibilities with salary levels. If your job description says you are a mechanic that works on pianos, >they will equate your position and salary to the state car-pool mechanic. If your job description says you direct >and manage budgets and inventories, advise and consult with faculty, supervise student help, prepare >instruments for visiting artists, etc, etc, they’ll be comparing you to supervisory or managerial positions. >In the past you’ve said that you are the only piano technician in the state system…you’ve got to convince >them to look at other state institutions for comparisons. That’s what they did here for me. In the end, they >had to create a new position in which to put me because I didn’t fit anywhere else. Eric, This is an interesting perspective, which perhaps has been neglected in the current discussion, and may have broader implications. Perhaps we have been barking up the wrong tree all along, thinking that by proving ever higher-level piano skills - whether through testing or curriculum certification - we may someday convince "management" that we are worthy of a professional-level compensation. Perhaps the CAUT accreditation - whatever form it takes - needs to stress management skills in order to position the job description in a higher paying classification. As you imply, the most skilled mechanic is still just a mechanic... There are many precedents where practitioners repositioned themselves into higher job descriptions by augmenting the skill set associated with their profession. The classic example would be nurses who in the early part of the 20th century raised their job description from bedpan carriers and bandage changers to direct deliverers of health care - by developing a science-based curriculum. Just about any other "profession" raised itself to its present status by a similar expansion of its skill set beyond the craft itself. Fact is, we piano people are still working and presenting ourselves the same way as just about all other professions did in the 19th century... So perhaps the CAUT credential needs to stress ancillary skills - such as management related to pianos - that would push us above being mere mechanics. Because as long as we try to be only the best possible piano technicians that we can be - well, great piano technicians are still just very specialized mechanics... From what Eric writes above, perhaps we need to be thinking beyond that... Just food for thought... Israel Stein </TT></PRE></div>  <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="MARGIN: 10px"> <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #7da8d4 1px solid; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; BORDER-LEFT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #7da8d4 1px solid"> <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; BACKGROUND: #b5ddfa; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; FONT: 11px arial; PADDING-TOP: 3px">Attached Message</div> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px" noWrap>From:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">caut-request@ptg.org</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">To:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">caut@ptg.org</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Subject:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">caut Digest, Vol 1104, Issue 35</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Date:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:39:14 +0000</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_4_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>Today's Topics: 1. Re: slick keytops (Douglas Wood) 2. Re: CAUT credential vs. academic program? (Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel)) </TT></PRE></div>  <div id=AOLMsgPart_6_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="MARGIN: 10px"> <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #7da8d4 1px solid; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; BORDER-LEFT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #7da8d4 1px solid"> <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; BACKGROUND: #b5ddfa; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; FONT: 11px arial; PADDING-TOP: 3px">Attached Message</div> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px" noWrap>From:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Douglas Wood <dew2@u.washington.edu></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">To:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Subject:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Re: [CAUT] slick keytops</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Date:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:35:47 -0800</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_9_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56>I believe that the buffing compounds typically used on ivory are bees-wax based. So the buffing leaves the ivory very smooth (feels good) but with a small amount of "tack" (also feels good). It also seals the ivory surface. Have you any experience with buffing ivory? <div><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></div> <div>Doug</div> <div><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></div> <div><br> <div> <div>On Nov 13, 2007, at 5:36 AM, Jim Busby wrote:</div> <BR class=Apple-interchange-newline> <BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <div class=Section1> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi Wim,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Yeah, they feel slick.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">JIm</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></SPAN> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">caut-bounces@ptg.org</A> [<A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org</A>] </SPAN><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">On Behalf Of </SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Willem Blees</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sent:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Monday, November 12, 2007 7:35 PM</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">To:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <A href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A></SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><B style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Subject:</SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Re: [CAUT] slick keytops</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Do the keys feel slick to you? If not, perhaps you might ask the professor what hand cream he/she uses. Too much of that stuff on hands will make sandpaper feel slick.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Piano Tuner/Technician</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Honolulu</SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">, </SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">HI</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Author of </SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The Business of Piano Tuning</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">available from Potter Press</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><A href="http://www.pianotuning.com/" target=_blank>www.pianotuning.com</A></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-----Original Message-----</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">From: Jim Busby <<A href="mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu">jim_busby@byu.edu</A>></SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">To: </SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">College and University Technicians</SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> <<A href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A>></SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Sent: Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:40 pm</SPAN><BR style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Subject: [CAUT] slick keytops</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_72afc3ec-2a28-402e-8bee-4e9fc0a2a31a> <div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">List,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A professor says the keys on our CF are “too slick” or “slippery”. This is real ivory. And they were dirty too. I cleaned them with “Keybrite”, and now they’re even more “slick”. Any quick solutions? (Light sanding? Hairspray?)</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jim Busby BYU</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">p.s. I couldn’t find anything for ivory on the archives.</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 7.5pt; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center"></SPAN><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; TEXT-ALIGN: center">size=2 width="100%" align=center></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 7.5pt; FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free </SPAN><A href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970" target=_blank><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: underline">AOL Mail</SPAN></A><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">!</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </div> <BR class=Apple-interchange-newline></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></div> <br> </div> </div> </div>  <div id=AOLMsgPart_10_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT> </TT></PRE></div>  <div id=AOLMsgPart_11_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="MARGIN: 10px"> <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #7da8d4 1px solid; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; BORDER-LEFT: #7da8d4 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #7da8d4 1px solid"> <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3px; PADDING-LEFT: 3px; BACKGROUND: #b5ddfa; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3px; FONT: 11px arial; PADDING-TOP: 3px">Attached Message</div> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px" noWrap>From:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) <WOLFLEEL@ucmail.uc.edu></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">To:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Subject:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program?</TD></TR> <TR vAlign=top> <TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 9px; BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1px; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000; PADDING-TOP: 1px">Date:</TD> <TD style="BACKGROUND: #f9f9f9; FONT: 11px arial; COLOR: #000000">Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:37:56 -0500</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_14_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56> <STYLE></STYLE> <div class=Section1> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“It is free market economics.  But salaries are what they are because CAUTs are too willing to lowball their worth.  It has nothing to do with qualifications or certifications or the lack thereof, and it has nothing to do with how good a concert technician we are.”</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Jeff,</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">This is part of the point of trying to establish a CAUT credential…it’s how we value ourselves as well. Perhaps people will be less likely to accept low salaries if they have made the effort to upgrade their skill level and know what a value they can be to an institution. A CAUT credential should be a bargaining chip when negotiating beginning salaries.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">If you are so down on the current situation, why do you want to accept it as the status quo? All your arguments against a CAUT credential seem to go this way. You can’t look at the present conditions and say what we are attempting won’t work. It’s kind of like saying, “I can’t go to school…I don’t know how to read.” We are trying to change the way institutions value piano technicians.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Guilty as charged.  I made the mistake of taking a lower salary during the first year until my skills had been evaluated with promises of salary improvement if everyone liked my work.  Nine years later, we are finally starting to get the the salary to where it should have started.  That's my fault.  I honestly didn't know any better at the time.  But that salary improvement is not coming about because in the meantime I became an RPT.  It isn't coming about because everyone likes my work.  That was established in year one.  It is coming about because I am threatening to leave because the university job is keeping me from being able to properly provide for my family.  The amount of moonlighting I'm having to do to compensate is compromising the quality of my work at the school, and I have made no secret of that.  So far, that is all that has worked.  Flashing my RPT certificate didn't do a darned thing.  Getting rave reviews from visiting artists and comments along the lines of "I'd fly him to Oklahoma to work on my pianos," or "your pianos are better than at Eastman" had nothing to do with it.  They don't want to lose me because of the quality of work I've shown.  But I've had to be a real pain in the behind around here to get raises.  But at the same time there will be a brick wall in the process.  At some point, the dean is going to say, "no, I can get another technician for less than that."  </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">Jeff, perhaps they haven’t told you to take a walk precisely because you have upgraded your skills and made them realize how valuable those skills are to their program. What you have described above is precisely what we all must do to improve salary levels. You’re contradicting yourself when you say that your getting “rave reviews” from visiting artists had nothing to do with your raise, and yet “They don’t want to lose me because of the quality of work I’ve shown.” </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy">State systems don’t recognize merit, they go mainly on job descriptions and are supposed to align job responsibilities with salary levels. If your job description says you are a mechanic that works on pianos, they will equate your position and salary to the state car-pool mechanic. If your job description says you direct and manage budgets and inventories, advise and consult with faculty, supervise student help, prepare instruments for visiting artists, etc, etc, they’ll be comparing you to supervisory or managerial positions. In the past you’ve said that you are the only piano technician in the state system…you’ve got to convince them to look at other state institutions for comparisons. That’s what they did here for me. In the end, they had to create a new position in which to put me because I didn’t fit anywhere else.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But I've had to be a real pain in the behind around here to get raises.  But at the same time there will be a brick wall in the process.  At some point, the dean is going to say, "no, I can get another technician for less than that."  </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=blue size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue">In a state system nobody is going to give you anything unless you push for it. It’s completely up to you. You have to keep pushing until you find that brick wall…if you’ve a proven track record and good comparisons for salary equity adjustments, you will have some leverage to move the brick wall as well.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Eric<FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div><FONT face="Informal Roman" color=red size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Informal Roman'">Eric Wolfley, RPT</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> <br> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Informal Roman" color=red><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Informal Roman'">Director of Piano Services</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> <br> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Informal Roman" color=red><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Informal Roman'">Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> <br> </SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Informal Roman" color=red><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Informal Roman'">University</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Informal Roman" color=red><SPAN style="COLOR: red; FONT-FAMILY: 'Informal Roman'"> of Cincinnati</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org">caut-bounces@ptg.org</A> [<A href="mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org</A>] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Jeff Tanner<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:11 PM<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> College and University Technicians<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [CAUT] CAUT credential vs. academic program?</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div> <div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">On Nov 13, 2007, at 9:18 AM, Jon Page wrote:</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><br> <br> </SPAN></FONT></div> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt"> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Arial color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Bottom line for Universities is that they will pay</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"></SPAN></FONT></div> </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt" cite="" type="cite"> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Arial color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">more only if they feel they are getting enough return.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"></SPAN></FONT></div> </BLOCKQUOTE> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">I see that I missed a perfectly good opportunity</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">to stay out of this discussion but where some positions</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">don't even require RPT status what good are merit badges?</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Raise the bar on RPT for your desired recognition. In this</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">association, RPT should be reclassified to Apprentice status</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">and after the 'tests' a Journeyman, with Craftsman as the</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">next step to Master Craftsman. (bring back Allied Tradesman).</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">If the term RPT had real teeth to it there wouldn't be a need to</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">even have this discussion.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">It doesn't matter how many clinics or seminars you attend,</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">if there is no budget for salary increase those certificates are</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">simply wallpaper.  If the organizations thought your services</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">were worth more, they'd offer more. But then if no one would</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">accept the positions, a larger salary would be put on the table.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Supply and demand economics.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Any job opportunity has some sort of coping skills attached.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Time management and schmoozing are not marketable items</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">for a labor-oriented trade.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Speaking of time management...</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">I better pound some bridge pins in...</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <PRE style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">-- </SPAN></FONT></PRE> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><br> Regards,<br> <br> Jon Page</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><br> <br> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </SPAN> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Unfortunately, Jon is absolutely correct.  We are paid what we are paid already because that is what human resources departments are finding the market to be.  That market value comes with the assumption that we are already supposed to be equipped with the large palate of skills we are trying to identify with an endorsement.</SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">As long as qualified piano technicians are willing to accept the current pay levels, that is all we will be worth.  And what is happening out there is that there are very qualified individuals who are accepting lower salaries because they are in unique positions of being able to live on lower incomes.  If we were to equate what is happening out there, it would be like one RPT charging half or less for tuning prices than everybody else, just because he or she doesn't require as much money to live on.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">It is free market economics.  But salaries are what they are because CAUTs are too willing to lowball their worth.  It has nothing to do with qualifications or certifications or the lack thereof, and it has nothing to do with how good a concert technician we are.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Guilty as charged.  I made the mistake of taking a lower salary during the first year until my skills had been evaluated with promises of salary improvement if everyone liked my work.  Nine years later, we are finally starting to get the the salary to where it should have started.  That's my fault.  I honestly didn't know any better at the time.  But that salary improvement is not coming about because in the meantime I became an RPT.  It isn't coming about because everyone likes my work.  That was established in year one.  It is coming about because I am threatening to leave because the university job is keeping me from being able to properly provide for my family.  The amount of moonlighting I'm having to do to compensate is compromising the quality of my work at the school, and I have made no secret of that.  So far, that is all that has worked.  Flashing my RPT certificate didn't do a darned thing.  Getting rave reviews from visiting artists and comments along the lines of "I'd fly him to Oklahoma to work on my pianos," or "your pianos are better than at Eastman" had nothing to do with it.  They don't want to lose me because of the quality of work I've shown.  But I've had to be a real pain in the behind around here to get raises.  But at the same time there will be a brick wall in the process.  At some point, the dean is going to say, "no, I can get another technician for less than that."  </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Because he's probably right.  Somebody else will be willing to come in here and sign up to work for half of what they're worth.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Jeff</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div><SPAN style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; border-spacing: 0px 0px; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; orphans: 2; widows: 2"> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">Jeff Tanner, RPT</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica">University</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> of South Carolina</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Helvetica color=black size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica"><br> <br> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </SPAN> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> </div> </div>  <div id=AOLMsgPart_15_de2e5edc-c5b0-4181-a0b5-fe7d98e5cf56 style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; MARGIN: 0px; COLOR: #000; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fff"><PRE style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt"><TT>_______________________________________________ caut list info: <A href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives" target=_blank>https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</A> </TT></PRE></div> </div> <div class="AOLPromoFooter"> <hr style="margin-top:10px;" /> Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free <a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/index.htm?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000970" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br/> </div>