Editor's Embellishments

by Gary Spoales, VASFAA Voice Editor, Bank of America

Welcome to the first edition of the newsletter for 2002-2003.  We hope you enjoy the content and welcome your suggestions for future issues.  Send any comments, suggestions or submissions for publishing to me at: gary.a.spoales@bankofamerica.com or call me at 301-879-8008 with questions.

As with any quality endeavor, I am not alone in the development of this issue.  You can find a list of contributors and committee members near the end of this issue.  If you find it convenient or happen upon the opportunity by chance, please thank them for participating and making this medium work for you.

In this issue, you won’t want to miss reading “A President’s Pause” as President Simmons calls attention to three significant and relevant roles VASFAA and its’ members play in our part of the world.  There is conference news and information that will hopefully encourage you to find a way to participate at the Fall VASFAA conference.  If your institution has cut travel funds, perhaps some will be motivated to attend for personal and professional development reasons.  VASFAA conferences are an important opportunity for us to meet and network with other professionals.  It can be a means for learning about new professional opportunities to enhance your career and moving up in position at either your current or another institution.  Expenses may even be tax deductible if you are paying your own way.  Any way you slice it, professional participation is in your personal best interest.

This issue highlights a VASFAA member who we all know and elected as our President-elect – Sherwin Hibbets, Director of Financial Aid, Regent University.  Sherwin faced considerable personal turmoil over the past year or so culminating in open heart surgery.  The surgery was successful on many fronts.  We repeat a feature article that described his ordeal and triumph that resulted.  The Newsletter Committee does not endorse open heart surgery however as a means to personal fulfillment.  You’ll understand after you read the article.

A Note About Content For Submission:  It is the intent of the newsletter to serve as a means to provide and share information with the membership about the profession and related activities.  Our sponsors will receive recognition in each issue via a list by sponsorship level.  Advertising is intentionally being kept to a minimum to reward our highest-level sponsors with additional exposure in thanks for their financial support.  Their ad may appear in either a graphical form or as an article that describes a service or features their products or new initiatives.  These articles will be noted as advertisements and graphical ads will be placed on separate web pages to make downloading and or viewing the newsletter easier for all levels of computer technology.

Hopefully by the time you read this, the Virginia and metropolitan DC area will be free from the siege of the senseless sniper attacks on our friends, neighbors and communities.  As violence escalates around the world, we have never before felt it so close to home as we have experienced it since September 11, 2001.  The first of the sniper’s victims was a neighborhood friend who leaves behind a wife and 12-year-old son.  His name was James Martin. I share this with you because he exhibited the same professional and personal values that we strive to achieve in the financial aid community.  He showed this as a mentor to a DC elementary school class; a volunteer at soup kitchens and as a leader in his church.  He cared about people and went the extra mile to help a friend or stranger in need – something we strive to do every day.  He would have made a fine Financial Aid Professional had he chosen our path.