[CAUT] Piano Available

[Willem Blees]

Conrad

You done good. I couldn't have written a better letter. 

In your situation, Conrad, would there have been a possibility for one 
of the dorms or the chapel at Luther to take the piano?

Wim 


Quoting Conrad Hoffsommer <hoffsoco at luther.edu>:

> To the CAUTerized,
> 
> One of the hardest parts of my job...
> 
> I'd rather wrestle with simultaneous, multiple, obstinent fortepiani
> than 
> write this kind of letter. I've had to do it before, and I am sure
> I'll 
> have to do it again.  It took me a long time to come down to the
> wording 
> I've got here and sent it, but I'm sure some things could have been
> said 
> better.
> 
> Do any of you folks have a "stock" letter to cover this situation, or
> do 
> you have to agonize over every one?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Mr ---,
> 
> At 02:40 PM 11/20/2006 -0600, you wrote:
> >Mr. Conrad Hoffsommer
> >Luther College
> >
> >Dear Conrad:
> >
> >As I told your colleague ---- ----, my mother, ---- ----, lived in 
> >-------(assisted living) in Decorah, where she died two weeks ago. 
> In her 
> >apartment is an Acrosonic spinet style piano, about 50 years old,
> with a 
> >built-in humidifier.  It has been tuned and maintained by ---- in
> Decorah, 
> >who is familiar with the instrument and can provide further details.
>  My 
> >sister, a fairly accomplished pianist, thinks it is a very nice
> piano, 
> >with good tone and good action, in good condition.  It also looks
> nice.
> >
> >Would Luther be interested in the piano?  If so, I would be happy to
> 
> >donate it to you, with thanks for the great enjoyment my parents got
> out 
> >of the college's music program during their time in Decorah and 
> >before.  If you want it, just tell me so, and we can arrange for you
> to 
> >pick it up.  The only catch is, you have to transport it, and we
> probably 
> >should get it out of ------ by mid December, if possible.
> >
> >I will look forward to hearing from you.
> >
> >Dick
> >
> 
> --My response:
> 
> 
> We greatly appreciate your generous offer to donate a piano to
> enhance the 
> Luther College music program.
> 
> While I am not familiar with your mother's instrument in particular,
> I am 
> familiar with the make and model.  Baldwin Acrosonics do have a good
> 
> reputation as far as spinet pianos are concerned.  Unfortunately, it
> was 
> not built to take the strenuous use that an institutional environment
> would 
> give it.  Because it doesn't have the heavy duty construction of
> studio 
> consoles and larger upright pianos, I fear that it would quickly be 
> destroyed in such an venue.
> 
> It was designed as a home piano and, in my opinion, it's best place
> would 
> be in a home or light duty location such as a church Sunday school
> room or 
> parlor.
> 
> I'm sorry to say that we do not have a suitable location here to make
> a 
> fitting memorial of the piano.
> 
> Thank you again for your offer.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Conrad Hoffsommer - Keyboard Technician
> Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
> 1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076
> 
> - Right now, I'm hoping to live until my age matches my golf score,
> - Until then, I'll have to be content to have my IQ match my
> handicap.
>