Editor's Note: "The best leaders......almost without exception and at every
     level, are master users of stories and symbols."  ~ Tom Peters, Business
     Writer, author

It’s hard to believe that summer is here and the VASFAA board transition and workshop is complete. It was time well spent, with several themes coming from a well-facilitated transition meeting. I want to thank Tara Telfair publicly for her efforts in facilitating the transition. She is a member of the UVA Leadership Development Group, and a very capable change agent. Also, thanks to Sherwin for his help and efforts in this past year. It’s been a great year.

I adopted the theme of “keep the light shining” for several reasons. As many of you know, I’m an avid sailor, and the lighthouse is a beacon for any sailor, whether it’s to show the way to safe harbor or out of protected waters to adventure, or to keep a sailor from shoals and running aground, or other hazards. With this in mind, the lighthouse is a super metaphor for a beacon for our students, lighting the way to a better future, or their own “safe harbor” or “adventure”. The theme can also be a metaphor for “the lamp of knowledge” and our ability to provide a means to achieve an education, be it through awareness or access. We also help our students avoid “hazards” by our enabling them to start or continue their education by the opportunities afforded by financial aid.

One of the emerging themes that both Brad and I share is one of continuity. We plan to work very closely to make the next two years an era of building membership and membership involvement, enthusiasm and organizational stability. Part of this is a “leadership initiative” which I see as a three-prong effort. One, we work on leadership development. You will see this exemplified through our first annual Leadership Symposium, to be held in Charlottesville in November. Yvonne Hubbard is working very diligently with a wonderful committee to make this a truly memorable event for the attendees. Second, we intend to develop leaders, that is, develop the folks who have the potential to lead the profession and the association and help them develop as leaders through several programs and events. Third, we want to be a leader among the associations when it comes to awareness and training. We see partnerships looming with some non-traditional affiliations, as well as some traditional ones. For instance, your board recently approved support of excellent publication “Opportunities” previously published by SCHEV with support from ECMC; that support will now include VASFAA. There will be more information to come on these themes in future newsletters.

This is a very exciting upcoming year, with lots of changes and challenges. I seek your advice, help and support in making this year successful. Thanks for the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization.