<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Yes, it is a fairly expensive area to live in.  Perhaps not quite as expensive as Aspen or Vale, but getting close.  Housing is the real killer.  If anyone's curious, here are a few links:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.bowvalleyrealty.com/">http://www.bowvalleyrealty..com/</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://icrebg.realtyserver.com/mylistings/canmore/agent_pages/06046/OrderList.php?residential">http://icrebg.realtyserver.com/mylistings/canmore/agent_pages/06046/OrderList.php?residential</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.bowvalleyhomes.com/canmorerealestate.htm">http://www.bowvalleyhomes.com/canmorerealestate.htm</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.alpinerealty.ca/listings/r/rez_frameset.html">http://www.alpinerealty.ca/listings/r/rez_frameset.html</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.banffhomes.com/featured-listing.html">http://www..banffhomes.com/featured-listing.html</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And for rental properties:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.peka.ab.ca/properties.htm">http://www.peka.ab.ca/properties.htm</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.assetwest.com/">http://www.assetwest.com/</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It can be done; you just might have to do without a few luxuries.  But it is a pretty nice place to be.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Cheers,</DIV> <DIV>Albert (Bert) Picknell</DIV> <DIV>Head Piano Technician</DIV> <DIV>The Banff Centre</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>P.S. Thanks for the plug, Mark!</DIV> <DIV><BR><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 9/9/08, Paul T Williams <I><pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu><BR>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions<BR>To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org><BR>Received: Tuesday, September 9, 2008, 11:13 AM<BR><BR> <DIV id=yiv216021754><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>It appears to be a good starting salary, but the cost of living, being a world-class resort area would be similar to living in Aspen or Vale, isn't it?</FONT> <BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=2>pw</FONT> <BR><BR><BR><BR> <TABLE width="100%"> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD width="40%"><FONT face=sans-serif size=1><B>Mark Cramer <cramer@brandonu.ca></B> </FONT><BR><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Sent by: caut-bounces@ptg.org</FONT> <DIV><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>09/08/2008 11:36 PM</FONT> <TABLE border=1> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD bgColor=white> <DIV align=center><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Please respond to<BR>College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org></FONT></DIV></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></DIV> <TD width="59%"> <TABLE width="100%"> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD> <DIV align=right><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>To</FONT></DIV> <TD><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>"'College and University Technicians'" <caut@ptg.org></FONT> <TR vAlign=top> <TD> <DIV align=right><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>cc</FONT></DIV> <TD> <TR vAlign=top> <TD> <DIV align=right><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Subject</FONT></DIV> <TD><FONT face=sans-serif size=1>Re: [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions</FONT></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR> <TABLE> <TBODY> <TR vAlign=top> <TD> <TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR><BR><BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Meanwhile… the Banff Centre has posted an assistant technician’s position offering a starting salary, with all things considered, that appears to be a generous leap upwards from what the average head CAUT seems to be making, and it hasn’t been all that easy gathering a short-list of qualified applicants. (!?)  </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>And there may not be another CAUT posting in all the world that even compares with this: </FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <UL> <LI><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Spectacular setting in the Canadian Rockies</FONT> <LI><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>World-class Center for the Arts</FONT> <LI><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>All the professional development opportunities and high-level experience one could ask for</FONT> <LI><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Multiple concert-stages / recording –studios / internationally recognized musicians</FONT> <LI><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Amazing health care and benefits.</FONT></LI></UL><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>As Bert mentioned recently, the assistant position comes with the same level of challenges and requires the same level of skills as the head technician. So applicants must be able to tune at a concert/recording level and have solid technical skills. You will be kept busy!</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Having said that… if there are that many highly-qualified technicians not happy in their present situation, we should begin to see some very impressive resumes.  </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Not everyone has the same desires or circumstance, but if you are looking for a more fulfilling future, there are options, but you may need to actually explore them. </FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Best regards,</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Mark Cramer, RPT</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Brandon University</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Sessional Faculty Technician, the Banff Centre for the Arts</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>PS Typically contract tuners are looked at as low cost/ low skill, and that may be true, or not. Even if the skills are there, what they often lack is confidence and experience working in a performance setting. </FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>So, if you have proven skills at an RPT level but are unsure about working in a performance environment, what you need to do is look into the work study program at Banff. Come out and work with the kind of support and opportunities that are matched to your personal risk/comfort level, but challenge your skills. Then you’ll really see what you’ve got!  </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>  </FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>     </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>   </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2> </FONT> <DIV align=center><BR> <HR> </DIV><BR><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Jon Page<B><BR>Sent:</B> September 8, 2008 5:28 PM<B><BR>To:</B> caut@ptg.org<B><BR>Subject:</B> [CAUT] Reasonable job descriptions</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=3>If universities require so much experience</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=3>with concert level tech ability, then they should cough up the bucks and</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=3>pay for it.  Their reputation is on the line. There's got to be a way to</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=3>open these folks eyes to see what they have to lose, but I don't know what</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=3>it is.....</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Why should they, their offers are being met by yourselves. JeffTanner</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>seems to be the only guy standing up to upgrade this very field.  Kudos.</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>If you don't have the tenacity to make it on your own in the private sector,</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>accept what your are metered out.</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Personally I think it is disgraceful what is paid for piano technicians at a</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>caut setting where comparable administrative positions (bureaucrats)</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>receive a pay grade in multiple factors.</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>We just have not yet come into our own, just yet.</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>As long as 'become a piano tuner' is promoted on the back of a pack of matches,</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>what kind of credibility can there be.  Alright maybe exaggerated a bit, I haven't</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>actually seen the advert.  But you get my intention.   But that's the attitude</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>of the administration, Dime a Dozen.</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Put in for more money. Get reclassified if it is a state pay grade. Why should</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>piano techs. Are p-techs on the same grade as custodians (janitors)?</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Even Dr. Phil says, "(In ways) You tell people how to treat you."</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3> </FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Gotta go, have more to say...</FONT> <BR><FONT face="Courier New" size=2>-- </FONT><BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Jon Page</FONT> <BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table><br> <hr size=1> Looking for the perfect gift?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/gift/"><b> Give the gift of Flickr!</b></a>