President's Welcome

SASFAA Friends,

Please consider joining me for the SASFAA 2009 Annual Conference, "On Deck with SASFAA: Building A Field of Dreams" in Myrtle Beach, SC. The conference runs from February 8-11, and is at the beautiful Sheraton Convention Center Hotel. It's not right on the beach, but within walking distance!

Our annual conference will feature a pre-conference event on Saturday provided by Dino Koff, EASFAA President. This workshop is all about financial literacy and debt management for today’s financial aid professional. SASFAA will also offer a New Aid Officers Workshop and a State Presidents-Elect Workshop on Saturday.

At the conference we will be joined by special guests Jeff Baker, Carney McCullough and Greg Martin, US Department of Education, Dr. Phil Day, NASFAA President, and Dave Gruen, NASFAA Chair. We will hear from some students and aid professionals about how financial aid has made a difference in their lives, and we will have an opportunity to participate in the National Conversation Initiative with NASFAA.

With Reauthorization finally finished, and many new issues for us to consider and implement immediately, now is the time to join us for clarification, increased knowledge, and of course fun. If your institution has limited your budget to only "essential" travel, I am happy to let them know this conference is truly essential! I'm willing to write a letter to your supervisor indicating how critical these times are for financial aid professionals, and for institutions.

Sandy Neel and her conference committee are working hard so we can have fun despite our economic challenges. I hope to see many of you at the beach!

Heather Boutell
SASFAA President