Editor's Embellishments

by Gary Spoales, Bank of America
VASFAA Voice Editor

Welcome to the Fall issue of the VASFAA Voice and welcome back to the sounds of new students on campus and hurricanes and their aftermath. Perhaps the lead story is the broad reaching effects that the hurricanes have had on education. It was about this time last year, that I wrote about the need to consider the effects of the Iraq war on families applying for aid. Special bulletins were issued by various organizations as to how to address these issues for families whose members were called up to serve. It was pretty obvious as to how to document individuals requiring professional judgment or other accommodation. It may not be quite as obvious this year but you may see another round of requests, from unexpected sources, for professional judgment.

Just as schools in general have been affected in a variety of ways by the hurricanes, so have untold numbers of families from the islands on up to the northeast. Did you know that schools at all levels in Palm Beach County, Florida, are still closed and searching for alternatives to educate their students? Some of the Florida school systems are sending "home schooling" materials to parents. Have you ever considered teaching as a career. Now may be the time to contact the Palm Beach County School system. A personal friend, who consults for the county, provided a unique insight into one of the after effects of the hurricanes. Newly hired teachers from northern states are not returning to their teaching positions in areas like Palm Beach. When they evacuated for the second time, they stayed home. (Some of these individuals may head to graduate schools) Vacancies abound. If you have recent graduates looking for teaching positions, look no further.

Many of us in Virginia, and nearby areas, felt the hurricane's aftermath in the form of high winds, heavy rain, flooding and even tornadoes. As far away as Pittsburgh, PA (my hometown), and further north, homes and businesses were lost due to one or more of the hurricane's. The end result is that students have been affected emotionally and financially. Some of them may be attending your schools. Have you considered how to reach out to them and their families or what recourse your office or institution might provide to assist them? It is times like these that I would sensitize my entire staff to the effects of these events on our students. I always wanted my staff to understand why we might see an increase in frantic calls for assistance so that they would treat the callers with respect. In our efforts to manage the start of classes and all that comes with it, sometimes these issues don't make our front page until the first student gets to the director's or president's office. Just some food for thought.

This year marks the first year of the association's move to one conference. It will be held next May at a brand new property in Virginia Beach. The association is offering a Leadership Symposium this November as an alternative for the leadership in Financial Aid Offices to consider. Check your calendars to schedule both of these events and review our lead article for the details on the symposium. More information may be posted to the website as it becomes available.

The newsletter is participating in a new activity to support the fundraising efforts of the association. A $25 prize per issue is being offered to any association member who submits information that gets printed in the newsletter. There is a different sponsor for each issue. Our first sponsor is Citibank for this issue. We would like to thank them for their support as well as our sponsors for the next two issues - TERI and NSLP. The winner will be selected by random drawing and mailed a check or presented a check at the next VASFAA event. This detail is still being worked out for a final decision. VASFAA will be the sponsor for the final issue.

In our effort to offer some humor in the newsletter, we found some quotes by fao's regarding real situations that occurred in their offices that made them chuckle. One such incident happened while I was the DFA at the University of Maryland University College. You'll find it as you read on. In addition, we take a look at our obsessive relationship with email. We hope you enjoy these entries and the more vital information provided by various sources to update you on VASFAA and other topics of interest. In this regard, be sure to read the insights of Tom Morehouse and Brad Barnett regarding association activity, now and in the near future.

Thank you once again to everyone who provided material for this newsletter. Your efforts are appreciated by the entire association.

Article Guidelines: The Editorial staff will review all articles submitted for publication. Submissions should be of a professional interest to the association and not include marketing and/or advertising of products, services, websites or personnel.

Full articles should be no longer than two typed pages single spaced. It is requested that all submissions be provided in 10 pt size with Arial font type to save our publishing editor time and energy.

AD and Picture Guidelines: The online newsletter flows best with graphics submitted in .jpeg or .gif format. Other options should be reviewed with Joe Dobrota, Publishing Editor, prior to sending. An ad should not be larger than 6'' in width. You submit it in either Full color or black& white according to your preference.

We are seeking Gold Sponsors to possibly submit vertical ads this year (to enable us to get them further up in the page & have text wrap around the ad). A vertical ad would be about 2'' wide x 4-5'' high. An example of the size of traditional ads may be found at: http://www.vasfaa.org/newsletters/fall2002/page1.htm. We had one sponsor submit an animated gif. ad which can be viewed at: (http://www.vasfaa.org/newsletters/summer2003/page6.htm)

(Note: Ads are only accepted from Sponsors who chose an ad in the issue of their choice, based on availability)

Submitted by Gary Spoales, Editor, Bank of America

SPECIAL NOTICE: NEW CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE VASFAA VOICE - PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS CHANGED!!!

GARY SPOALES: PHONE - (301)942-9525; FAX - (301)942-9524