[SBE] In Need of Mentoring

[R.V.Zeigler]

First, apologies for two posts this close together, but I had to second 
Adrienne's post.
My only comment about what she wrote is where are we going to get 
someone to pass the torch to? My current position will probably allow me 
to do that in some fashion when the time comes, but most places I have 
worked for, or heard of, would not. One felt that engineers, both CE's 
and DoE's could be picked up at any homeless shelter or parking lot as 
day labor and said as much to the engineering staff! In fairness to a 
very good company I worked for I will say I was able to give the IT 
person a crash course in broadcast engineering to cover between the time 
I left and they found another CE. After an unfortunate experience with 
the next CE, he took over as the CE. He has a lot to learn, but they 
have hired a consulting engineer to guide him. This is not a bad idea 
for any station looking for their next CE from in house.
Most broadcasters are giving their single engineer multiple stations. 
Usually this translates to becoming more of a fireman than an engineer. 
When you have a cellular industry throwing money at anyone with decent 
RF skills, or even broadcasting where one CE I know of became the 
stations IT person. He gave up the responsibility of the CE position for 
more total money and fewer hours in the SAME STATION!
I know I am preaching to the choir here, and Adrienne's points are all 
quite valid. It is just that we could use an industry that holds our 
profession in the same esteem it holds other technical professions.

Rod

-- 
R. V. Zeigler, Dir. of Eng.
Nebraska Rural Radio Assn.
KRVN-KTIC-KNEB
rzeigler at krvn.com