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    Hi All;<br>
    <br>
    Thanks for the replies so far; I apologize for my misunderstood
    attempt at humor in my initial post.  I agree with Chris here, I
    hire contract labor all the time, but an apprenticeship is
    different.  Laborers top out pretty quickly and just aren't capable
    of learning the nuances of off grid electric design.  Much of the
    time that's all that's needed: pick this up and take it over
    there,dig here, etc.  I'm not looking for labor, as much as someone
    who could some day take over the business ( I'm 50 now) and go out
    and troubleshoot systems on their own.  I consider off grid solar to
    be more of a craft than mere construction contracting.<br>
    An apprenticeship implies a much longer term arrangement where they
    may be paid less, but can expect training to the point of getting
    their electrical license and making a career out of it.  I'm having
    a much harder time finding the sort of person that wants to make
    that sort of commitment both in time and in learning.  Folks that
    have the smarts and ambition necessary are already busy.<br>
    <br>
    Thanks,<br>
    <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer, 
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760</pre>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/17/2015 6:22 AM, Chris Mason
      wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote
cite="mid:CAG6C1qmeXezRYe_zfnWc12FCvmv==o5X_SCA_HEwzyk25KwtEQ@mail.gmail.com"
      type="cite">
      <div dir="ltr">I'm not sure how the term is used in America, but
        generally "apprentice" does not mean cheap labour. An apprentice
        program should be an education path to a qualification with
        state recognized standards, such as Electrician or Plumber. if
        you just want inexpensive labour, that's not an apprentice,
        that's a helper, labourer, intern. As someone who started life
        as an electrical apprentice, I object to seeing apprenticeships
        shortchanging the applicants.</div>
      <div class="gmail_extra"><br>
        <div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 16, 2015 at 7:27 PM, Dana <span
            dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
              href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com" target="_blank">dana@solarwork.com</a>></span>
          wrote:<br>
          <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
            .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
            <div bgcolor="white" link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US">
              <div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">I
                    interview & definitely check references
                    including: look at a tape measure and tell me what
                    those little marks are between 0 & 1”, & I
                    look in their truck or car. </span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">If
                    it’s clean they may take care of your vehicle then
                    same and if it’s a mess that’s what you can expect
                    them to do to your truck. </span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Are
                    they smokers? Is that OK in your truck?</span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Can
                    they work without checking their cell phone every
                    time it goes Ding or rings?</span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Do
                    they have their own tools and do they know how to
                    operate tools like your hydraulic draw punch or wire
                    tugger without F%$ing it up or hurting themselves?</span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Does
                    anyone do a background check on new hires?</span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:#002060">----------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Dana
                      Orzel </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Great
                      Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136</span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">E
                      - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                        href="mailto:dana@solarwork.com" target="_blank">dana@solarwork.com</a> 
                      - Web - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                        href="http://solarwork.com" target="_blank">solarwork.com</a>
                    </span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">O
                      - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
                        href="tel:970.626.5253" value="+19706265253"
                        target="_blank">970.626.5253</a>  C - <a
                        moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:208.721.7003"
                        value="+12087217003" target="_blank">208.721.7003</a></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">"Responsible
                      Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"  </span><span
                      style="font-family:"Century
                      Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span
style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green">P</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif";color:navy">
                    </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:green">Please
                      consider the environment before printing this
                      email.</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""></span></p>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                    style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century
                    Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></p>
                <div>
                  <div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df
                    1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext">
                        RE-wrenches [mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
                          href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org"
                          target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>]
                        <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ray Walters<br>
                        <b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 16, 2015 4:50 PM<br>
                        <b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
                        <b>Subject:</b> [RE-wrenches] Apprentice</span></p>
                  </div>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">Hi Folks;<br>
                  <br>
                  I am considering hiring an apprentice, and I wanted to
                  know if any else has tried this, and what advice and
                  experience everyone had to offer.<br>
                  Also what would be the best way to advertise: Craig's
                  List?  <i><br>
                    <br>
                    Wanted passionate techy soul to share warm fires and
                    cold brews with, watch beautiful sunsets over off
                    grid arrays in remote locations, sometimes carry
                    leaky hazardous materials</i>.....<br>
                  mmmm.  Obviously I need some help.<br>
                  <br>
                  Thanks in Advance,<br>
                  <br>
                </p>
                <pre>-- </pre>
                <pre>R.Ray Walters</pre>
                <pre>CTO, Solarray, Inc</pre>
                <pre>Nabcep Certified PV Installer, </pre>
                <pre>Licensed Master Electrician</pre>
                <pre>Solar Design Engineer</pre>
                <pre><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:303%20505-8760" value="+13035058760" target="_blank">303 505-8760</a></pre>
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        -- <br>
        <div class="gmail_signature">
          <div dir="ltr">Chris Mason
            <div>
              <div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span
                  style="font-size:13px">NABCEP Certified Solar PV
                  Installer™</span></div>
              <div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span
                  style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">Solar Design Engineer</span></div>
              <div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span
                  style="font-size:13px">Generac Generators Industrial
                  technician</span></div>
            </div>
            <div style="color:rgb(136,136,136)"><span
                style="font-size:13px"><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><a moz-do-not-send="true"
                href="http://www.cometenergysystems.com" target="_blank">www.cometsolar.com</a></div>
            <div>264.235.5670</div>
            <div>869.662.5670</div>
            <div>Skype: netconcepts</div>
          </div>
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