Region 3 Meeting

Tompkins Cortland Community College

March 24, 2006

 

Attending: Dacia Banks, Great Lakes; Rachel Barker, AFC; Anne Barton, NSLP; Jennifer Best, Cayuga Community College; Dan Dunn, Student Capital; Debra Eddy, USA Funds; Bonnie Evans, NYHESC, Kathy Flaherty, SUNY Oswego; Sharrie Hoadley, HSBC; WenJuan Huang, Tompkins Cortland Community College; Sharon Karwowski, Tompkins Cortland Community College; Brian Levy, Student LoanXpress; Scott Lewis, The College Board; Abbey Linsner, NellieMae; Eileen Muhlig, USA Funds Services; Tim O’Donnell, Syracuse Law; Cathy Patella, Wells College; Sean Rafferty, College Loan Corp; Michael Rivera, Chase Bank; Bonnie Rooker, Cayuga Community College; Gina Soliz, Syracuse College of Law; Sandy Stevenson, First Niagara; Nancy Teodecki, SUNY Upstate; Sean View, Hobart & William Smith

 

Nancy welcomed all to the meeting with a special thanks to Sharon for making the arrangements. The following announcements were made. Tami Eiklor has stepped down as regional secretary. Nancy has asked Kathy Flaherty, the previous secretary, to fill out this year. She will send a request to the region for anyone who might be interested in filling the second year of Tami’s term. In the absence of a volunteer, Kathy will fill the term. Kristi Jovell of Suffolk Law School was highlighted in the recent EASFAA newsletter under the “Member Profile” section.

 

Executive Council: Sharon Karwowski

 

There has been no meeting since January. The next meeting will be held April 20-21 at Lake Placid. Sharon has made a request to Joan Warren, the state membership chair, for $500 in new membership incentive funding. If funding is received, it will be used to pay for new members to attend the June regional meeting. There was a question as to whether funds could be used to pay dues as well as pay the registration cost for that day. After a later discussion, it was determined that these funds cannot be used to pay new membership dues.

 

A State Fair proposal will be made at the April meeting. There is a need to get new school participation in this project. The goal is to have at least 24 schools/organizations  participate, as this will affect the cost. The event has been moved from a pavilion to tents at the main entrance, so any participants will be more visible than in the past. Education Day at the Fair is the Friday of Labor Day weekend. Anyone who might be interested should contact Sharon for a packet of information. On April 28th there will be an informational meeting at the State Fairgrounds.

 

Nancy has nominated the State Fair/Early Awareness event to NASFAA for a State Award for service to families and students.

 

The Intermediate Workshop was held at SUNY Brockport on March 17th. Of the 43 in attendance, 30 represented schools, and 13 represented lenders from regions 1,2 and 3. There was a 55% return on evaluations using Survey Monkey. 93% responded favorably to the event; 1 was extremely unhappy. All loved the location and facilities. Thanks to the following Region 3 members who participated in the workshop: Judi Miladin, Debra Eddy, Vince Scalise, Bill Cheetham, and Sean View. The workshop was successful and the comments will be used in planning for future workshops of this type.

 

Nancy mentioned that some new issues have arisen in the use of the Turning Stone as the site for the 2008 conference. The Governor has issued a statement relative to state employees’ attendance at events at the Turning Stone. NYSFAAA lawyers are looking at the contractual obligations, which currently exist. More details will be forthcoming as they are available.

 

Treasurer’s Report: Abbey Linsner

 

No recent activity and the balance is currently $3703.33

 

State and HESC Update:  Bonnie Evans

 

The March 2006 HESC Update was distributed with the following emphases:

-         NY State will again pay the 1% federal default fee on loans for 2006-2007

-         The 2004-2005 year closeout has been extended until June 15, 2006

-         The February 28, 2006 FAFSA web timeout problem did not affect TAP

-         March 31 is the deadline for schools to complete the College Data Survey

-         HESC PIN previously used only for TAP will now be used for the electronic master promissory notes for Stafford and PLUS loans.

-         HESC will begin sending emails for some notices that will direct members to a website rather than printing the message in the email. This will prevent personal information from being transmitted over the web

 

Lender and Guarantor Updates:

-         USA Funds will present a workshop on retention on April 4. Contact Eileen Muhlig for more information on this.

-         Great Lakes will send out information on their April 11th workshop

 

Regional Business

 

Program Committee: The topics and speakers have been chosen for the May and June meetings: Steve Podeszwa will speak on “Marketing Financial Aid On Campus” at the May meeting and Steve Morgan will speak on MBGs (Managing by Goals) at the June meeting.

 

June Meeting: This meeting will begin at 9:30 with a business meeting after which regions 1 & 2 will join us for the gathering and presentation, followed by lunch. There followed a discussion on the cost, and what should be subsidized. Included in this discussion was the possibility of “new membership” funds to subsidize the cost of new members, associate members’ thoughts on paying the full or partial cost for the day for themselves, how various rates would be handled through the on-line registration process, the value of a monetary commitment to determine real numbers for the event. At the end of the discussion a motion was made and seconded that: Region 3 will subsidize the meal cost of $25.25 for all active Region 3 members.  All associate members and members from other regions will pay the full meal cost. This motion was voted on and unanimously approved.

 

New Business

 

The presence of financial consultants at high school presentations has returned. Two NYSFAAA members found out that they were scheduled to present with consultants and made other arrangements to get their materials to the high schools, as they were uncomfortable with the situation. Some are claiming to be certified consultants but a background check does not support this claim. A suggestion was made to contact the high school organizations the region works with and to notify other public locations hosting financial aid information sessions of NYSFAAA concerns for the information being presented. Emphasis should be placed on the value of good information so as to continue the good relationships we have with these groups. A comment was made that parents feel that if they pay for information/coaching there is a greater value for this information. Eileen suggested using our media contacts to promote the positive message.

 

A question was raised with the use of the list-serv to accept postings from non-members for job openings. It was felt that as long as there was a benefit to members, the posting would be okay.

 

The business portion of the meeting was adjourned.

 

Sean Rafferty of the College Loan Corporation presented information on “Generation Y”.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Kathy Flaherty

Interim Regional Secretary