A PRESIDENT'S PAUSE

On Track for “Going the Distance”!

by Sherwin Hibbets, Regent University
2003-2004 VASFAA President

Spring has sprung!  New life is popping up through the ground and showing on the trees.  I think we are all glad for the freshness that spring brings; days staying light longer, and just an overall feeling of being alive and energized—ready to run the race, and go the distance!  We always have the race ongoing before us for which to maintain a steady pace as we work through the spring and into the summer to ensure readiness for our fall terms beginning.

Before I continue on making Tracks in this edition, let me first extend my sincere “Congratulations!” to a couple of our members who are making significant tracks themselves in our profession.  We are excited to have two of our own elected at the recent Southern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators’ (SASFAA) conference in Birmingham, Alabama.  Guy Gibbs of Northern Virginia Community College was elected to the position of President-elect, and Zita Barree of Virginia Commonwealth University was elected to the post of Vice President.  Please join with me in expressing congratulations to these two outstanding colleagues in VASFAA. We can rest assured that Guy and Zita will do a phenomenal job as they work with SASFAA just as they have already done in Virginia!

VASFAA held its Winter Board meeting on January 29-30, 2004 in Charlottesville, VA.  Items acted upon included adoption of a proposal that we begin voluntary compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (which is not presently required of non-profit organizations).  Also, we are planning a Leadership Seminar for experienced and new aid officers.  Other items covered were the completion of our Association inventory of property and determination of old equipment disposal.  Additionally, VASFAA submitted its “Get to Know VASFAA” (aka “The VASFAA Vision”) piece for consideration in NASFAA’s State Award review.

The Leadership Seminar referenced above has been developed by the Experienced Aid Officers’ Committee by revamping the originally planned Experienced Aid Officers’ Workshop.  The format of the seminar is geared toward teaching leadership skills (personal and professional) to a relatively small group of individuals (around 50-75).  During the January 2004 Board meeting the Board voted unanimously to sponsor a limited number of individuals to attend this seminar with the goal of developing future leaders for the Association.  See a related article in this VASFAA Voice for more information.

The Awareness Committee, chaired by Angie Hawkins, as mentioned in our last edition of the Voice, had several events planned.  These plans became productive events.  Efforts included obtaining Governor Mark Warner’s proclamation of January as “Financial Aid Awareness Month”, a call-in show on a Richmond, VA television station on January 19, as well as the Super-Saturday event hosted at five sites throughout the state on February 7, 2004.  This event assisted students and parents with FAFSA completion as well as provided opportunity for them to have financial aid questions answered. 

Other committees are also hard at work, including those that are in transition.  Speaking of committees in transition, the Vendor-Sponsor Relations Committee is in that situation.  Recently, Committee member Michael Poma was asked to step up to fill the role of Chair for the remainder of the year due to the resignation of the previous Chair, Tanya White.  We are grateful for the solid start of the Committee in the first half of the year under her leadership.  Even with Michael’s recent acceptance of the appointment, he has already been moving things forward to continue ensuring the Committee’s successful year.

As we look forward to passing the mile marker of a successful peak-processing season in our shops, may I encourage you to take a brief stop to reenergize yourself and your staff?  Remember to register for and attend the VASFAA Spring Conference on May 2-5, 2004 in Virginia Beach, VA at the Founders’ Inn and Conference Center.  Visit the VASFAA web site at vasfaa.org and select the “Conference Info” option in the left margin index for registration, hotel, and agenda information.  It has a full agenda of relevant topics.

And, for your Support Staff, check out the information on the remaining workshop offered this spring.  See the schedule of upcoming conferences and training below and the VASFAA website for details.

Upcoming Conferences and Training 

As we always need a new boost of energy from new information and ideas, don’t forget to take time to get re-energized at these excellent training events.

Support Staff Training: The Power of Full Engagement – April 28, 2004 in Norfolk, VA

VASFAA Spring Conference - May 2-5, 2004 in Virginia Beach, VA (Founders Inn & Conference Center).

SASFAA New Aid Officers’ Workshop – June 20-25, 2004 in Tampa, FL

SASFAA/SWASFAA Mid-Level Workshop – June 27-29, 2004 in Jackson, MS

NASFAA Annual Conference – July 18-21, 2004 in Minneapolis, MN

VASFAA Leadership Seminar – November 15-16, 2004 in Charlottesville, VA.  (In the fall we will not have a traditional fall conference, but will instead group a number of different activities, e.g., the Leadership Seminar referenced above, Board meeting, etc.) 

VASFAA and SASFAA Board Meetings

• Next regular VASFAA Board meeting – May 2, 2004 (preceding the VASFAA conference)  
• VASFAA transitional Board meeting – June 2-4, 2004:  Peaks of Otter, VA.
• SASFAA transitional Board meeting – June 10-13, 2004:  St. Pete’s Beach, FL.
• Fall VASFAA Board meeting – November 14-15, 2004: Charlottesville, VA

Thank you for all you do to assist students and ensure VASFAA goes the distance in meeting our mission!

Submitted by Sherwin Hibbets, President of VASFAA