Committee Updates

Board |Training | Membership | Conference | Diversity
President Elect | Support Staff Training

VASFAA Board
The VASFAA Executive Board is charged with identifying and promoting methods for developing future leaders within VASFAA, as well as identifying individuals who have the potential to be future leaders in the Association. To help meet this charge, the Board has unanimously voted to annually send selected VASFAA members to leadership training.  Costs associated for attendance at this training will be paid 100% by VASFAA.
 

The selected members who will be the recipient of these sponsorships are the New Professional of the Year recipient and the Committee(s) of the Year Chair(s).  If the Committee of the Year Chair does not want to attend based on leadership already held within the association (e.g. Past President who is Committee Chair), then the Chair will select someone else on the committee to attend in his/her place. 

The VASFAA Executive Board also reserves the right to select a limited number of "at large" attendees that demonstrate leadership potential with VASFAA and who do not fall into the first two categories.
 

Submitted by Brad Barnett, James Madison University

Training Committee

The Experienced Aid Officer Training Committee is busy firming up our first Leadership Conference, tentatively scheduled for November 15 and 16 in beautiful Charlottesville, Virginia.  We hope to provide an opportunity for our more experienced members to enjoy a break, interacting with their peers, and focus on their role as leaders in the financial aid community and in higher education.  We hope to have all the details regarding this event ready by VASFAA's Spring Conference. Please mark your calendars and reserve these dates for a fall break in Charlottesville.

Submitted by Yvonne Hubbard, University of Virginia

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee is getting ready for a great Spring conference in sunny Virginia Beach!  We will be hosting a new member breakfast on Monday, May 3rd.  Initiatives are under way to make this year a record membership year for VASFAA.  We look forward to seeing everyone in May.

Submitted by Brenda Burke, Virginia Tech

Conference Committee

Going the distance…Keep on Cruisin”

Ship ahoy, VASFAA members.  Pack your Dramamine and life preservers! 

Spring conference time is here.  Mark your calendars from May 2^nd to the 5^th to be at the Founder’s Inn in our favorite Spring conference spot…Virginia Beach

As always, this conference will be filled with good sessions, good friends and best of all, a small break from the day to day financial aid workload.

The conference committee has already “set sail” with lots of fun VASFAA activities like VASFAA Squares, Monday night will be movie night and then for your last night of this Spring conference cruise…a semi-formal “ Captain’s Dinner” on Tuesday night with exciting and fun entertainment to be enjoyed by all.

Keep a watch for updates on the conference through the VASFAA listserv and the VASFAA website for all the latest information about the conference registration and hotel information.

We’ll keep the light burning at the Cape Henry lighthouse so you can find your way down to the Founder’s Inn.

If you would like to make your hotel reservation now you can do so by calling 800/926-4466 refer to the VASFAA block or you may  make reservations at the VASFAA site (www.vasfaa.org), click on Conference Information, scroll down to VASFAA Future Conference Dates and Locations, and click on The Founders Inn. The group code is 6932. The rate is $109+tax per night.

We look forward to seeing you in May.

Submitted by Jevita de Freitas and Leslie Thomas, George Mason University

Diversity Committee

DIVERSITY … “Going the Distance … Keep on Cruisin.”  As previously announced, the much anticipated Diversity Tool Challenge is now nearly upon us.  The Diversity Tool Challenge is a way for member organizations to showcase their organization’s diversity tools.  Prizes will be awarded for (1) Most innovative and (2) Most creative.  Please share your organizational diversity successes with your colleagues and win a fantastic prize at the same time. 

Please stop by the Diversity table, located near the registration area, and enter your diversity tools into the contest.  The Diversity Committee is sponsoring this event. 

Please feel free to contact Kerrie Roth at (757) 683-4530 or kroth@odu.edu with questions. 

President Elect

Tom Morehouse reported briefly on his attendance at the NASFAA Leadership Conference at the beginning of March.  The SASFAA State President Elects were there, as well as our own Guy Gibbs, President Elect of SASFAA.  “It was beneficial, and I had the opportunity to visit Senator Warner's deputy legislative director and Congresswoman Davis' legislative assistant and discuss reauthorization efforts for the HEA.  The consistent message we received was that the HEA would not be passed during this session."

Submitted by Tom Morehouse, President Elect, VASFAA