REGION 3 GENERAL MEETING

LAKEVIEW COUNTRY CLUB

HOSTED BY CAYUGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MAY 5, 2006

 

Attending: Nancy Toedecki, Upstate; Judi Miladin, Cayuga Community College; Karen Blankenburg, Wachovia Education Finance; Theresa Gieseke, Next Student; Sheila Coolay, SUNY Oswego; Debra Eddy, USA Funds Services; Steve Podeszwa, USA Funds; Dan Dunn, Student Capital Corp.; Darcie Stephens, Bank of America; Annette Broski, Mohawk Valley Community College; Kate Bellefeuille, Onondaga Community College; Anne Barton, NSLP; Kathy Flaherty, SUNY Oswego; Bonnie Rooker, Cayuga Community College; Jennifer Best, Cayuga Community College; Jackie Darquea, Cayuga Community College; Dawn Germano, HESC, Bonnie Evans, HESC; Charlie Boland, Bank of America; Dacia Banks, Great Lakes; Chris Mandel, Cazenovia College; Brian Levi, Student Loan Xpress; Gina Soliz, Syracuse University; Tim O’Donnell, Syracuse Law; Kathleen O’Connell, M & T Bank; Sean View, Hobart & William Smith; William Cheetham, LeMoyne College, Jan Klotz, Wachovia; Abbie Linsner, Nellie Mae.

 

President Nancy Toedecki called the meeting to order at 10:10 AM.

 

Bonnie Rooker will fill in as Secretary for the 2006-07 year.

 

Nancy asked for a representative for the Awards Committee. Anne Barton volunteered.

She then read a note from Lorraine Mothershed thanking the region for the Scholarship donation in memory of her father.

 

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL: Sharon Karwowski

 

In Sharon’s absence, Nancy gave the report. The minutes from the last Exec Council meeting were posted to the Web Site. Lake Placid is all set for the 2006 Conference. There will be a cap on reservations so make them early. There were 675 registrations at the 2005 Conference including day only reservations.

 

NYSFAA has requested the region set budgets for the next year. Funding has been increased.

 

Region I held an Admissions Counselor workshop similar to FA101 and might be something we could do.

 

Sharon brought concerns about “financial consultants” to Exec council. She is looking for volunteers to serve on the committee.

 

TREASURER REPORT: Abbie Linsner

 

Abbie said there was no activity and the balance remains at $3703.33. Some will be used to fund the June meeting.

 

HESC UPDATE: Bonnie Evans

 

The May 2006 HESC update was distributed with the following emphases:

 

  • The 2007-07 TAP awards are now displayed on all the inquiry screens but they have not yet been verified through Taxation and Finance
  • HESC will conduct a summer workshop series to review legislative changes associated with TAP and other scholarships. Check www.hesc.org for dates and registration.
  • HESC 2nd annual Loan Symposium will be held September 21-22 in Saratoga Springs, NY.

 

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR WORKSHOP UPDATE: Kate Bellefeuille

 

Kate said they were thinking of inviting middle school counselors to the workshop in conjunction with Early Awareness.  It may impact the registration numbers as there were 150 registered last year for Syracuse and 56 for Binghamton. She expressed concern and will need additional help especially in Binghamton. She asked for suggestions for topics that would be of interest to these counselors. Jackie Darquea suggested 529 plans and the “Academic Competitiveness Grant”. Nancy T. reiterated that we need to reach out to the middle schools and asked for volunteers at the state level. The Committee will assemble information that counselor can give out to families.

 

SUPPORT STAFF WORKSHOP: Annette Broski

 

Annette reported that the Support Staff Workshop is scheduled for October 24th at the Craftsman Inn again. A committee has been formed and working on suggestions for the program. Nancy thanked Gina for setting the groundwork.

 

CONFERENCE 2008: Bill Cheetham

 

Bill announced that since NYS employees may not be reimbursed for expenses at the Turning Stone they have been looking at alternative sites. Because of the large number of attendees at our conferences a suitable site may not be in the Region III area. There may only be few sites in the whole state that can accommodate the conference since it has gotten so large.  IMS has been contracted to do research. Bill will submit a list of alternative sites at the June Exec Council. Judi Miladin asked for a task force of previous conference chairs to look at the criteria of what NYSFAA needs for their conference.

 

PROGRAM COMMITTEE: Kathy Flaherty

 

Kathy had requested some ideas for future meetings and announced the following results:

           

  • Re-authorization
  • Counseling techniques
  • Appeals/special conditions
  • Personal development
  • Difficult employees
  • Life Cycle of a loan
  • Conference Promotion

 

JUNE MEETING: Sean View

 

Sean said the meeting will be at the Ramada Inn in Geneva. There will be a brief business meeting and then Steve Morgan from MBG will be the speaker followed by a buffet lunch. There will be no cost for active members. Funding is available to pay for new members. More information and online registration will be forthcoming.

 

MEETING DATE FOR 2006-2007

 

            September 29               Oswego

            October 27                  Ithaca?

            November                    Conference

            December 13               Sherwood Inn

            January 12                    Bryant/Stratton North Campus

            February 9                   Mohawk Valley

            March 16                     LeMoyne

            April                             SUNYFAP

            May 4                          Cayuga Community College

 

Theresa Gieseke from “Next Student” has volunteered to coordinate the holiday party.

 

NEW BUSINESS

           

            Annette made a motion and Jan Klotts seconded it to make an annual contribution of $300 to the NYSFAA Scholarship Fund in memory of all the Region III family members who passed away during the previous fiscal year.

 

The business portion of the meeting ended and then Steve Podeszwa, Training Executive, USA FUNDS, spoke about Marketing the FAO on Campus.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bonnie Rooker

Regional Secretary