Are you having trouble hanging on to the ropes you have to climb on the slippery slope of professional judgment? Do you worry that evil tribes of auditors will descend upon your sacred database and extinguish your torch? Are you teetering on the edge of a dangerous default rate? Are you worried that you will make the wrong step and fall into regulatory quick sand?

No worries mate! You can get immunity… IF you make the trek to the VASFAA Conference in Virginia Beach from May 7 - 10, 2006. By attending the Conference, you are sure to solve even the most formidable challenges for student aid professionals. You can consult with members of other friendly tribes of aid officials, lenders, software gurus AND friendly federal and state officials and empathetic auditors. You can pick up amazing keepsakes to take home from the VASFAA vendor exhibit cave. Bring business cards to exchange with other tribe members. You can consume wonderful outback delicacies in fellowship with your fellow survivors that will make you feel much better.

The trek to the VASFAA Conference is well worth the effort. You can register online at www.vasfaa.org. The fee is $125 for early survivors who register by April 7 and $175 thereafter. The Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hilton Hotel is where all friendly student aid family tribes will converge on May 7. For full immunity, plan to stay through May 10th. Survivors who wish to reserve a hut should send smoke from their signal fires to 1-800-HILTONS or go to www.vasfaa.org and select "Conference", "Visit Conference Mini-Site" and "Hotel Information". Huts begin at only $109! Huts are also available at our overflow hotel; the Sheraton Oceanfront by calling direct at 804-425-8000.

You will need a few provisions for the trek to the Conference. Pack business casual clothes and include a t-shirt from your home tribe for Monday’s spirit day. Make sure that you bring suitable clothing/footwear for the beach as the team-building event scheduled for Monday afternoon will be sure to challenge your tribal spirit.

VASFAA is powerful medicine for all types of tribes. The newest tribal members will want to come early on Sunday, May 7th, for a special workshop devoted to those new to student aid challenges. Not only will this trek earn you immunity, it will also allow us to help southern tribal members in MASFAA and AASFAA devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Come ready to make generous bids at a silent tribal auction and buy several cards at the VASFAA/Financial Aid bingo challenge.

A powerful medicine man has been summoned to help confer with at the conference. Tom DeLuca, the famous corporate hypnotist, will be at the opening session. On Tuesday evening, this year’s feast will feature a steel drum band and a magic man.

Be a Financial Aid Survivor and attend VASFAA’s 38th Conference! Come and help promote the three C’s—Communication, Commitment, Continuity.

Survivor VASFAA Conference Update
The VASFAA Conference and Training Committees are putting the final touches on VASFAA’s 38th Conference. Here is an update on our progress:

Hotel Information
Good news to share! The Hilton and the Sheraton hotels are sold out under our room block from May 6-10. Another block of rooms has been secured at the Virginia Beach Courtyard by Marriott located five blocks north of the Hilton Hotel on 25th and Atlantic. Make your room reservations today by contacting the hotel at 757-437-0098 or toll free at 800-321-2211. Mention VASFAA to receive the conference rate of $109.00. Any remaining rooms under our block, as of April 12, 2006 will be released to the public, so make your reservations soon!

Reminder—the block name is VASFAA—don't forget to register before the early bird registration deadline of April 7, $125.

If you have a question regarding your membership or conference registration, please contact Michael Poma at 540-438-7676 or michael.poma@suntrust.com.

Conference Agenda
The VASFAA Conference Mini Site is being updated shortly with the most current conference agenda. As you will see, some sessions are still pending. We will continue to update the site as new information is available.

Conference Registration
Please be sure to register for the conference (as soon as possible) to take advantage of the early bird registration fee of $125.00 through Friday, April 7, 2006. The registration fee after April 7th will be $175.00. Vendors/Sponsors—please remember that you must also register for the conference even if your membership is complimentary. If you’re not sure whether you have registered for the conference or not, please send Michael Poma, the Membership Chair, an email message at michael.poma@suntrust.com or call him at 540-438-7676.

Registration—Please remember you must register for the conference by visiting the VASFAA Conference Mini Site at www.vasfaa.org. The registration fee for early registrants (by April 7) is $125.00 and $175.00 thereafter.

Conference Attire
Dress for the conference has been changed from business casual to beach casual. Bring those tank tops and flip flops!! (But throw in a sweat shirt, just in case!)

Teambuilding Event
Please pack your comfy clothes for Monday’s team-building event. We’re planning the event out on the beach. In case of a downpour, the event will be brought inside.

Community Service Project
This year we will be raising money by conducting a silent auction to assist our financial aid colleagues in the MASFAA and AASFAA states that were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Please dig deep to contribute to this very worthy cause. Contact Jan Abraham with questions.

New Aid Officer’s Workshop and Leadership Symposium
Visit the VASFAA Conference Mini Site to learn more about these two events scheduled for Sunday, May 7th.

VASFAA Survivor Team Challenge
The Conference Committee is planning many fun events to make the conference memorable. To encourage networking and team-building, we will be forming teams competing for the coveted “Best VASFAA Survivor Team Award”. The award will be given to the team earning the most points. One of the events to be conducted is the VASFAA Survivor Gear Challenge. Each team will be asked to ‘nominate’ two team members to compete in the Gear Challenge at Tuesday evening’s Feast. Competitors are asked to ‘gear’ themselves with creative survivor wear. Our ‘Tribal Council’ will judge events for the best overall challengers. Challengers will be judged on 1) originality, 2) practicality, 3) presentation, 4) creativity, 5) effort, and 6) humor.

Excitement is growing with the entire committee about this year’s Survivor theme, and we hope you are looking forward to participating in the conference as well! If you haven’t registered yet, please do so today to take advantage of early bird registration fee (it ends on April 7th!). Take care all and see you May 7 – 10 at the Beach!