 JUNE 2005 Newsletter Messages from SASFAA's President - Janet Sain |
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Contents
Executive Board Reports SASFAA Newsletter
Publication Schedule
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President's Message Greetings SASFAA Colleagues! Is it really June 2005?! WOW, where did the time go? It has been a wonderful year for SASFAA and I am so excited about all the accomplishments that occurred. Each and every board member needs to be commended for all their hard work and dedication. Mere thanks would never be enough to express my sincere gratitude for their efforts, teamwork and activities. Enclosed in the newsletter will be the annual report which details each board member’s activities and highlights as well as recommendations for next year. So much was requested of each one and so many volunteers in SASFAA made those requests a reality. Volunteerism is the backbone of our association and I encourage each of you to contribute in any way that you can. Remember, all these efforts are for the number one priority of SASFAA and that is the STUDENT! Better Financial Aid Administrators make for better customer service for our students. And isn’t that what it is all about? The new friendships and reacquainting with old friends made during the year will last a lifetime for me. There is no better profession than Financial Aid. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you and for allowing me the opportunity to give back to SASFAA for all it has given me these last 13 years. Have a great summer and may I see you all in sunny Greensboro, NC next February for SASFAA 2006! With much respect, President’s Message II Since the NASFAA Board meeting in November, SASFAA has had some great accomplishments. On December 10-12, 2004, SASFAA held its 2004 Management Institute at the beautiful Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. Eighty participants enjoyed an agenda packed full of great information and skills building. Some of the highlights were:
Many thanks to Karen Fooks and her committee for their excellent workshop! February 12-16 was the Annual SASFAA Conference held in Atlanta, GA at the Hyatt Regency downtown. The conference committee, under the direction of Brent Tener, presented the attendees with a wonderful mix of sessions, speakers, and activities. Many firsts were achieved at the conference: the Multi-Cultural Leadership Symposium, the electronic voting poll, 1003 registrants, 77 vendors/sponsors and almost $6300 was raised for the Ronald McDonald houses in the Atlanta area. The highlight of the conference was the Awards Luncheon in which Ms. Francine Reeves, formerly of the DOE, was honored by being made an Honorary Lifetime Member of SASFAA and being given the President’s Special Appreciation Award for her many years of dedicated service to the SASFAA region. Many thanks are due to all the folks who volunteered during the conference as well as to GASFAA for all their hospitality. SASFAA election results:
Spring state meetings began in earnest in April with TASFAA, NCASFAA, AASFAA, SCASFAA and KASFAA all having meetings between April 10-22. Guy Gibbs, President-Elect, and Ms. Sain split up the responsibilities of presenting the SASFAA Update at all the meetings. President Sain attended NCASFAA and KASFAA conferences. NCASFAA’s theme was "Wastin' Away Again in Financial AidVille". The meeting was held at the Hilton in Wilmington in the middle of historical downtown near the river. Highlights included Mike Rayburn, “The World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso”, as the Keynote Speaker, Anthony Jones from DOE presenting the Federal Update and the “Caribbean Island Theme” for their Annual Awards Banquet. A special roast was conducted on Alan Whittington who was retiring from Wilkes Community College after 25 years of service. KASFAA’s conference was held in Louisville at the Hilton Garden Inn. The theme was "Explore KASFAA's Wild Kingdom" and it was held on the 20-22nd. Kay Jacks from DOE was the Keynote Speaker and was presented a special KY Governor’s award by President Heather Boutell. Other presenters included George Chin, NASFAA Chair, Greg Martin from the DOE, and Jonathan Miller, KY State Treasurer. The President’s reception was "Survivor KASFAA Style" (Mr. Dave Cecil was the wild man during the scavenger hunt!) and the Banquet was held at the Louisville Zoo in the African Outpost. Another highlight of the conference was when Mr. Cecil was presented with the Herb Vescio Distinguished Service Award. May travels included trips to Atlantic City and EASFAA as their inter-regional guest where Ms. Sain was the moderator for a session on Legal Issues presented by Stan Freeman; the MASFAA Annual Meeting held at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS where President Sain conducted an interest session titled, "Motivating the Workforce"; then immediately after the NASFAA Board meeting, Ms. Sain concluded her May trips by heading to Virginia Beach, VA for the VASFAA Annual Conference. While at MASFAA, SASFAA’s Long-Range Planning Committee met to analyze the membership survey and finalize plans for a LRP Retreat to be held in Charlotte, NC sometime in September. June meetings include GASFAA, which Mr. Gibbs will visit, and FASFAA, which Ms. Sain will visit to do the SASFAA Update. Immediately after FASFAA, Ms. Sain goes to St. Pete Beach for the Transitional Board meeting at The Don CeSar Resort followed by the SWASFAA/SASFAA Mid-Level Workshop in Dallas, TX (which was close to being sold out) and then the SASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop at UNC-Asheville in NC, which is also sold out! Ms. Sain would like to take this opportunity to express her sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hospitality shown during all her travels and for all the support she experienced during her year as President of SASFAA. It has been the most rewarding and professional growth experience she has ever had and one she will never forget! President-Elect Guy Gibbs has finalized his 2005-2006 board and he is well underway formulating his goals and objectives for the coming year. |
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