VASFAA Seeks Nominations for Board Positions and Awards

The Nominations and Elections Committee is chaired by the Immediate Past President of the Association. One of the objectives of this committee is to seek nominations from the membership for viable candidates for the upcoming board vacancies. For the 06-07 year, the membership will be electing two representatives-at-large, a Treasurer-elect and a President-elect.

Here’s some FAQs about our process:

Q: May I nominate myself?
A: Yes!

Q: May I nominate my colleague?
A: Yes, but the committee requests that you ask the person you wish to nominate if they are willing to run and to serve in the position for which you are nominating them.

Q: May I nominate more than one person?
A: Yes.

Q: I’m interested in becoming more involved with VASFAA, but I’m concerned that I won’t have enough time to work on the Board. How much time is involved?
A: Involvement in VASFAA does require a commitment of time, but it’s time that shouldn’t be any more intrusive than any other volunteer commitment. The Treasurer requires some devotion of time especially during the Spring as the annual conference approaches. The Presidency requires a commitment both by the individual and their institution, as there is a not only the VASFAA aspect, but also the SASFAA requirements to participate as a member of their board.

Q: How many times does the Board meet?
A: Generally the Board meets five times each year, as follows:

Q: What does a representative-at-large do?
A: Each serves as a commissioner to the committees assigned to the representative. The commissioner oversees the committees and serves as an ex-officio member. Committee assignments to each commissioner generally change each year, so it’s difficult to predict what committees will be assigned to which commissioner.

Q: How do I nominate someone?
A: Send the name to Tom Morehouse, thomas.morehouse@nelnet.net, any VASFAA Board member or Nominations and Elections committee member.

Q: How can I promote my candidacy?
A: VASFAA doesn’t permit promotional materials nor campaigning. During the annual business meeting, each candidate is given the opportunity to address the membership (not to exceed three minutes).

The Committee also seeks nominations for candidates for the VASFAA Life Member, Excellence, Service and New Professional of the Year Awards.

The Life Member Award is the highest honor the Association can bestow upon any person.

Criteria For Selection: The recipient of this award must have rendered truly outstanding service to the Association or the financial aid profession. Outstanding service demonstrated through state, regional, or national Association officer or committee leadership, authorship of professional publications, professional training, efforts to secure financial support for the work of Association goals and objectives for furthering the opportunity of Virginia's post secondary education population might be used as a basis for identifying life member nominees. This reference does not preclude consideration of those outside the membership of VASFAA.

Life members, with the exception of voting privileges, are granted all rights afforded any member in good standing with the Association. Should the Life Member classification be granted to a member in good standing, that member shall retain his/her voting privilege as long as the membership status is maintained as defined by the Association's By-Laws.

Life members shall be assessed no membership dues and shall be encouraged to participate fully in all Association activities. In recognition of past service, Life Members of VASFAA, who are not practicing Financial Aid Administrators, are entitled to complimentary registration at VASFAA conferences.

Second to Life Membership, the Excellence Award is one of the highest recognitions bestowed by the Association.

Criteria For Selection: The recipient must have made an outstanding contribution that furthers the goals of VASFAA. The nomination must be made by a member in good standing and accompanied by a statement justifying the award (accomplishments, services, etc.) and by three written endorsements of the nomination from three other current members of the association. The endorsements can be in the form of e-mails. The recipient must be a practicing aid administrator who is a member in good standing. Current Board members are excluded from consideration.

The Service Award is one of the highest awards bestowed by the Association.

Criteria For Selection: The recipient must have made significant contributions which further the goals of VASFAA or have been responsible for an achievement of momentous importance. The recipient is someone who is not an active aid administrator; e.g., college president, legislator, agency representative, or private citizen. Nominations are accepted only from members in good standing, and must be accompanied by a statement justifying the award (accomplishments, services, etc.) and by three written endorsements of the nomination from three other current members of the association. The endorsements can be in the form of e-mails

The New Professional of the Year Award is presented to select new members within the first four years of membership in VASFAA.

Criteria For Selection: This award is given in recognition of exceptional and enthusiastic service to a person who has been a member of VASFAA from one to four years and to encourage other new members to take leadership roles in VASFAA.

Please consider this call for nominations and support your professional organization by participating in its governance or recognizing the outstanding contributions of your colleagues.

Thanks!