EARLY AWARENESS COMMITTEE

Report to Executive Council , December 8, 2005

COMMITTEE:

Some of the members on the past committee are remaining on board. Each Regional Chair was contacted if their region was not previously represented on the committee. To date, a new member has joined, Sherwood Johnson, representing region 7 . Committee members remaining on board are : Laura Burns(Wells) , LaSonya Griggs (Ithaca) , Brian Ghanoo (Fordham), Susan Nesbitt Perez (CICU, Outreach Programs), Alice Roberson (HESC, Gear-up Program Associate).

PROJECTS 2005:

Bookmarks:

Our project was published on the NASFAA website with the 2005 award entries. Received an inquiry from the Director at University of Wisconsin at Madison asking for some further details of our bookmark. They are initiating some early awareness programs with elementary schools in their area and wanted to review our bookmark. Bookmark information was sent to him.

Brochures:

‘It’s Sooner Than You Think’ brochures: An additional 10,000 were ordered, received, and are housed in my office. They are to be used as needed. Regions 3 & 8 provided the brochures with the Guidance Counselor information in their Fall workshops. Some members who have contact with elementary and/or middle schools have requested a supply.

Other correspondence:

Received an inquiry from Sharon Hassan, Goucher College in Baltimore requesting EA activities on behalf of NASFAA’s Access and Diversity Committee. Details were sent to her regarding the bookmark, brochure, and wristband projects. She mentioned that NASFAA will be seeking sample outreach presentations for elementary and middle school populations and ‘if NY has any already, be on the look out for the request for presentations’.

At the Region 8 High School Guidance Counselor Workshop a counselor requested information on behalf of the Parent Organization for the Canton Central Elementary Parent Group. 300 brochures were sent to her. She is also asking for assistance from us for a program in that area for parents to give basic information- the importance for saving, how to start saving, etc.

Region 3 Council Rep, Sharon Karwowski was contacted by Assemblywoman Joan Christensen’s office requesting some CAAN and Early Awareness information. EA Bookmarks and brochures were sent to the Assemblywoman.

PROJECTS for 2006

A direction has been mentioned by Madame President: targeting the middle school guidance counselors. Some thoughts are a packet of Early Awareness information to be sent to this population followed-up by workshops for the counselors.

The committee has not met yet since there may be some members that will be joining. However, those ‘returning’ members did receive an e-mail from me outlining this direction.

Cont’d

BUDGET:

We have been approached to consider ordering more wristbands. The Gear-up Coordinator will be ordering 7000. If 10,000 are ordered, the price per item is reduced. If the committee can use another 3000, our cost would be $1026. In comparison, we paid $1152 (which included start-up costs) for the 1000 we ordered for the State Fair. We have approximately 225 wristbands left. If we are to continue the State Fair initiative and this giveaway, this is a reasonable price for a large supply.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Teodecki, Chair

Early Awareness Committee