Report from the Vice President
Deborah “Tolly” Tollefson

The 2006 SASFAA New Aid Officer’s Workshop will be held June 18-23 (Sunday through Friday) on the beautiful campus of University of North Carolina-Asheville. The workshop, as well as a registration form, will be posted to the SASFAA web site by the beginning of January 2006.

SASFAA will also host the SASFAA/SWASFAA Mid-Level workshop this year. Bob Godfrey from South Carolina is coordinating this effort. The Mid-Level work shop will be held in late June. At this time, we do not have a site or specific dates.

The faculty and staff for the New Aid Officers Workshop and the Mid-Level Workshop comprise the Professional Advancement Committee. The committee has not been finalized, however returning members will be:

Curriculum Coordinator:

• Henry “Chip” Quisenberry, Jr. – Enterprise-Ozark Community College, AL

Instructors:

• Pat Arauz – University of Louisville, KY
• Bruce Crain – Mississippi State University, MS
• Leonard Gude – University of South Florida, FL
• Brent Tener – Vanderbilt University, TN
• Michelle Wright – Universtiy of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
• Michael Barree – Longwood University, VA

Recommended new instructors are:

• Deborah Byrd – Calhoun Community College, AL
• Jo Ann Bennett – Rhodes University, TN
• Erik Melis – George Mason University, VA
• Searcy Taylor – Mississippi Gulf Community College, MS
• Robin Winston – De Vry University, GA
• Bill Zahn – University of North Carolina – Greensboro, NC

Lender Assistants:

• Jackie Bell – USA Funds Services, SC
• Todd Woodlee – South Education Finance Partners
• Zita Barree – Edamerica, VA

There will also be a One-Day New Aid Officers Workshop at the SASFAA 2006 conference on Sunday, February 12, 2006. It will begin at 8am with registration and a continental brunch and will conclude at 3pm. Registration for the workshop will be part of the conference registration process.

Report from the Secretary
Sandy Neel

Guy Gibbs, SASFAA President, set as one of his goals this year to have the Policy and Procedure Manual reviewed and updated as necessary. As SASFAA Secretary, this responsibility falls under my direction. My committee this year includes Susan Little, University of Georgia; Dee Tally, University of Alabama-Birmingham; Ray Tripp with the Georgia Hope Scholarship program; and Cleo Martin, The Technical College of the Low Country. Currently the committee is in the beginning stages of the review process. Reviewing the Policy

and Procedure Manual will be an arduous task, but with the assistance of this fine committee, I am sure we will meet the goal!

Report from the Treasurer
Heather Boutell

The 2005-2006 year has begun, and things are underway for a successful year financially for the association. In June, Lester McKenzie, former Treasurer, and Heather Boutell, new Treasurer, spent several days together to transition. The decision was made to move SASFAA’s banking accounts (checking and savings) from Bank of America to 5/3 Bank. Since there are no Bank of America branches in Kentucky, Treasurer Boutell, with permission from then President Janet Sain, President-Elect Guy Gibbs, and 05-06 Budget Chair Aldridge, opened the two accounts at 5/3 Bank. Credit cards were also distributed to all new officers from 5/3 Bank. Investments will still be kept with SunTrust at this time.

Treasurer Boutell will be using online banking for much of her work with 5/3 Bank. Members will receive checks from 5/3 Bank through this process, which saves SASFAA money and time for postage and mailing.

All necessary documents have been sent to Anne Rochester, who graciously has agreed again to help SASFAA in preparing the required 990. The report will be completed by the November deadline. All finance records for 04-05 have been sent to Clark Aldridge so he can begin the task of a financial review of the files.

SASFAA memberships continue to come in daily. Bellarmine University, Treasurer Boutell’s work place, is shocked at the amount of mail that is received each day! Treasurer Boutell and Membership Chair Juanita McKenzie have been in contact, and will continue to work to balance numbers of membership.

This year, President Gibbs has given Treasurer Boutell the task of working on an update to SASFAA’s Guide to Financial Management and Guidelines and Policies for the Office of Treasurer. A committee was approved at the July Board Meeting. Their work will begin in a few weeks after things in offices slow down a bit. Treasurer Boutell looks forward to working with new financial aid colleagues to update the info.

Many SASFAA colleagues have asked Treasurer Boutell about the possibility of accepting online credit cards for membership dues and other payments. In July, Treasurer Boutell conducted research, and discovered if we processed credit cards, it would be somewhat costly to the Association. These costs were not built into the budget, so no action was taken. Treasurer Boutell will be talking with FASFAA in the next weeks about their implementation of PayPal and the associated costs. The credit card issue will continue to be investigated over the year. SASFAA members may be asked to answer a survey about the availability of credit card payments and the possibility of raising fees in order to do so.

Treasurer Boutell would like to thank Lester McKenzie for the many e-mails he has answered to help her in the transition. Treasurer Boutell also appreciates Erik Melis for his support on the website, and the entire SASFAA Board for their encouragement and friendship as she begins this position.