Is it the end? Or, is it the beginning? When you run great distances, you look forward to the end of the course. (Oh, how I know that to be true!) But, at the same time, as you complete one race, it inspires you to start again, to prepare, to get ready to “go the distance” one more time. The race just completed then seems to become just the beginning of preparation for more and longer treks ahead. We have just completed another school year. But, at the same time it is the beginning of new challenges (opportunities!) with summer peak processing as we move toward fall registration and the related hustle to assist our students’ progress in the trek to achieve their academic dreams.

And, for me, it is the coming to the end of my term as VASFAA President. How the miles have raced by! But, the route has been a great run. I would like to take a moment to reflect on recent events since our last VASFAA Voice, as well as recap the year.

From the beginning let me say, “Thank you!” for a great year. If there is one thing that this President can attest to, it is the fact that the success of VASFAA is dependent upon more than one person. Each Board member, Committee Chair and committee member, liaison, and other individuals who have volunteered their time and energies to the tasks and initiatives of this great Association have cumulatively contributed to an outstandingly successful year!

As Tom Morehouse, our President for 2004-05, indicates in his article in this issue, VASFAA has just completed the annual Board Transitional Retreat. It was held June 2-4 at the Peaks of Otter. It was indeed a valuable time together where the outgoing and incoming Boards and incoming Committee Chairs were able to dialog and plan. I am impressed with the work done by Tom for the coming year thus far, and Brad Barnett for the following year already. They are emphasizing continuity and are working to that end already. This is good!

VASFAA held its Spring 2004 Conference in Virginia Beach, VA on May 2-5 with the theme of “Going the Distance…Keep on Cruisin’”. This is currently the last scheduled “spring” conference for VASFAA. In 2004-2005 VASFAA is moving to one annual “conference” (which happens to be in the spring of 2005). The conference had exceptional participation with 275 of you joining in attendance. The Conference and Training Committees again did an outstanding job in providing the type of professional experience our members need and expect.

At the conference, the annual election of officers was held. In the event you have missed it before, the results of the election for new 2004-2005 Board members are as follows:

Brad Barnett (James Madison University): President-elect

Brenda Burke (Virginia Tech): Treasurer-elect

Pat Kelly (William & Mary): Representative-at-Large

We look forward to these individuals’ excellent abilities further enhancing the work of our Association!

I also want to express my personal congratulations to Melissa Collum Wyatt as the recipient of VASFAA’s Excellence Award. The award was delivered at the Spring Conference. Melissa’s ongoing work with the financial aid community as a colleague and VASFAA member, years on staff with SCHEV, and exemplary continuous work with Virginia financial aid legislative issues have been of great benefit to our Association and Virginia students. Thank you, Melissa!

Earlier this year, the VASFAA Board voted to include sending the Treasurer or Treasurer-elect to the NASFAA Leadership Conference, along with the President-elect who has historically attended. This move was made to ensure that the Treasurer and Treasurer-elect have exposure to the training provided related to an Association’s finances and accountability for them. Treasurer-elect John Crowley was authorized to go. Although he was not able to attend this year due to timing of the approval and schedules, we anticipate that this step will further capitalize on VASFAA’s leadership record in the future. From all reports, the NASFAA Leadership Conference was again a success, and a worthwhile investment of VASFAA resources in our leadership.

Though at times we do not necessarily classify support staff as leaders, they definitely take a lead role in ensuring our shops run smoothly! The Support Staff Training Committee held two one-day workshops in March and April for support staff with positive results. The topics were Balancing Work and Professional Life, and The Power of Full Engagement.

With the efforts of the Board-appointed task force on Vendor/Sponsor levels and recognition, a new format has been approved which is believed to better recognize our partners’ valuable service and serve the needs of the Association by encouraging ongoing and enhanced financial support of Association activities. This new format goes into effect in the 2004-2005 year.

Of course, we reported earlier in the year on the successful audit and the adoption of the principles of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act as it relates to our financial matters. We had a Job Location and Development (JLD) Forum, two New Aid Officer Workshops prior to our conferences, and sponsored and participated in the Awareness Summit. This Summit is progressing into an ongoing entity that will only further assist in accomplishing VASFAA’s awareness goals and values.

And, we await the decision regarding VASFAA’s submission this past February for consideration of a NASFAA State Award for service to other constituencies. Upon Board approval, we submitted the “Get to Know VASFAA” (or, commonly referred to as the VASFAA Vision). This decision was made as a result of the excellent work done in 2002-2003 by the Public Relations Committee in developing the informational piece and the favorable response to it. We await the decision on this by the NASFAA Conference this summer.

As previously reported, updates and revision to our Policies and Procedures Manual, our Operations Calendar, and our Strategic Plan had been in process throughout this past year. They were finalized at our Transition Board Retreat. Earlier in the year, under direction of special Board Appointee, Randy Craig, we developed and completed an inventory of VASFAA’s equipment and property, and addressed disposal of obsolete equipment. These upgrades to our administrative functionality are key components for running a professional organization and will provide a solid foundation for Tom Morehouse as he begins his year at the helm of VASFAA. Thanks much to all involved in all these projects, especially Randy Craig, Jeanne Holmes, Sharon Clough, and Tom!

VASFAA is poised for an excellent future as President-elect Tom Morehouse takes the reigns. I know he will perform tremendously in the year ahead! I wish you the best, Tom!

Let each of us in VASFAA continue “going the distance” in the coming year and join with Tom to “keep the light shining”!