Building and Grounds Meeting Minutes
August 9, 2017
Those present: Ed Ed Mueller, Al Hildenbrand.
Minutes of the July 12, 2017, meeting were read and approved.
The progress of the water incursion assessment was discussed. Waiting for the summer drought to slacken a bit.
Ed Ed reported a conversation with Warren Parks, re.: the Sanctuary grand piano. Warren is of the opinion that the piano’s “pin block,” and the slight smallness of the pins in it, is the culprit for the experience of the piano losing tune so quickly. Each pin is twisted by a piano tuner to tighten or loosen individual piano strings in the course of tuning the piano. The original pins have slipped in their pin block holes causing the string tension to lessen and the string to go out of tune. During the last three years, as Warren has tuned the piano each time, several pins were replaced with the next size larger diameter pins, and have been found to be tight enough in the pin block to stay secure, rather than loosen. Warren is of the opinion that, once the pins of the pin block are all replaced, the piano will hold tune as it should, and he is also of the opinion that the quality of the piano is so good that it warrants the completion of the pin replacement.
Al relayed Walter’s voice-mail-to-text call from Jaimie Farnum (sp?) a piano technician, refered to Walker by Cheryl Cramer for a second opinion on the Sanctuary piano. Al forwarded the text email to Ed Ed and Wayne. It is anticipated that we will probably have to pay for this second opinion.
Al reported upon the opinions of Cheryl Cramer and Kent Ecklund, as artists, using both instruments (the Sanctuary and Dining Hall grand pianos). Al had drawn both Cheryl and Kent into conversation about their individual experieces with each piano as a means of expressing their language of music. Cheryl and Kent expressed that both instruments were good for giving voice to their musical expression, the Sanctuary grand having a higher quality voice while it was in tune.
Ed Ed noted the basement elevator call button was found stuck so as to call the elevator continuously. Wiggling the button un-stuck the button. Calling the elevator company is not necessary. The information was passed along to Ignasio, which he was glad to receive.
Al brought up The Story’s moving to the Powderhorn Park building effective August 31. It is assumed they will be taking the sound system components that they own, which, from time to time Walker has been borrowing during Walker events in the Sanctuary. One wireless baton mic and receiver will go with The Story, along with assorted Direct Boxes, two powered stage monitor speakers, mic stands, and many XLR cables. There are enough wired mics to handle Walker events and future music events, even with a single remaining wireless baton mic.
Al reported on the anticipated use of the whole building by the Baha’i Center for a Unity Concert on Sunday afternoon and evening, October 22, 2017, with a need for a good piano in the Sanctuary and a working sound system. Some very good musicians are to participate in the Baha’i event. Diane Kerr of the Baha’i Center has been in planning of this event for over a month now, and has arranged for Al H. to run the sound system for the event. The Unity Event is already on the Walker Calendar. Diane reported that a pianist that she is wooing for the event shared with her that he had played the new Walker Sanctuary grand piano shortly after the new building opened and he found it’s tuning woefully lacking and was unsure about participating in the Unity Event Oct. 22, if the piano was in the same condition.
Returning to the Sanctuary piano, Ed Ed and Al concurred that the pin block repair, if agreed to by Council, would be best to complete earlier, rather than closer to the Baha’i Oct. 22 event to give the piano time to “settle.”
Meeting adjourned.
