State Report from Florida
Ruth Strum, FASFAA President

FASFAA 2005 Fall Conference
“Remembering FASFAA’s Heritage"

The Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators would like to announce their 2005 Fall Conference at the OMNI at ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Florida. The conference will be held from October 26-28, 2005. Conference rates are a low $123 (plus applicable taxes).

The theme for the conference is “Remembering FASFAA’s Heritage.” The conference chairperson, Roseann Amato has worked very hard with the program committee to develop an agenda full of training opportunities. Pre-Conference activities include a day of training using the CORE Curriculum for New Aid Officers. A golf tournament is planned at one of the famous Greg Norman courses. Proceeds from the sale of 'Mulligan Tickets" will be donated for hurricane relief. The scholarship committee plans to hold a blood drive to benefit hurricane victims.

Agenda details and additional program updates are available on the FASFAA website at www.fasfaa.org.. This is a great place for a family vacation. Please join FASFAA for an enjoyable, exciting conference!

State Report from North Carolina
Dana Kelly, NCASFAA President

Things are happening in North Carolina! The start of the new academic year has brought a flurry of activity to schools

across the state. Enrollment appears to be up in all college sectors and there are more non-traditional students back in the classroom as well. The North Carolina legislature passed a lottery bill that will mean more funding to needy students in post secondary education. These new scholarship dollars will be administered by the North Carolina Student Education Assistance Authority.

NCASFAA is also hard at work planning activities for the upcoming year. The association will hold NASFAA Training workshops in late September and early October in three locations across the state. The Annual Fall Conference will be held in Charlotte, November 7th - 9th at the Westin Hotel. This year’s theme, “Educating America – NCASFAA’s Opportunity to Lead,” will provide training opportunities for all aid professionals from beginner to experienced. Highlights will include a keynote address from Dr. James H. Johnson, Jr. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School, UNC-Chapel Hill. Dr. Johnson will discuss the implications and challenges of Immigration-Driven Demographics in the US and North Carolina. NCASFAA will also host representatives from Senator Richard Burr’s office who have been involved in the reauthorization process. The conference should prove to be a valuable training experience!

NCASFAA is also planning its first Leadership Symposium that will focus on networking and strategic planning. This event will be held in Greensboro, December 7th and 8th at the Embassy Suites. The event will feature professional trainers and dynamic speakers for all four meal functions.
In addition, colleagues across the state of North Carolina wish to extend thoughts and prayers to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. The devastation is so profound that words cannot express what is in our hearts as our neighbors in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana move forward. Please know that your financial aid family in North Carolina is available and willing to assist in any way that we can.