Region 3 Regional Notes/Report

Notes/Report: DATE: June 18, 2007 - Exec Council June 2007 retreat NYSFAAA Executive Council Meeting June 13, 14, and 15 2007 Uniondale, NY As in the past I have numbered the topics at the front end of this report. Please scroll down to the topic of your interest for more information. This was a very long information packed three days. 1)Open forum discussion on the SLATE/Budget/Development/Sunshine 2)Open forum discussion and reports from the Next Generation Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee 3)Officer/Committee Reports including Budget Requests for 2007-2008 4)Regional Reports 5)New HESC Liaison 6)Policy revision on Lender Money, Development Campaign, expectations for fund-raising 7)2007 Conference Budget and changes since prior approved budget 8)Delayed Presidential Election 9)Presentation of the 2007-2008 Budget 10)Executive Council Vacancies If you have very little time please scroll to the bottom of this report to see the impact on your budgets for the 2007-2008 budgets. 1)Although I could go into great detail here, I would refer you to the membership updates that President Canaski has sent out in recent weeks. They are detailed and chronicle the on going Spring we have all endured. The quick bottom line is that NYSFAAA is not currently considered a lender. SED will be responsible to write the regulations; suggestion that a “SUMMIT” be held with SED to reach out and give guidance/provide our knowledge base. 2)Anna Kopit (Aveda Institute) and Chris Constable (Edamerica) reported on the Next Generation Committee. They shared the results of a preliminary questionnaire of the committee (that they conducted), results of a Zoomerang Survey on the Next Generation Committee Summit and the membership roster of the Next Generation Committee. They presented a wealth of information and perceptions. Irv Bodofsky reported for the Long Range Planning Committee. He shared the results of the survey offered to the NYSFAAA membership. He explained Cutlip Center & Broom’s 10-step Planning Model and the key questions. The Long Range Planning Committee has hired a consultant to help with this important work. The next step will be to develop objectives and finish prior to conference. They will be soliciting feedback from the regions and at the conference. Final report due by January 2008. Here is where it gets very interesting. Both the Next Generation Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee shared several common themes. All way too many from both groups here are some examples of outcomes: NYSFAAA website needs to be redesigned Develop new ways to deliver training to NYSFAAA members Mange and affect change Next Generation should become a standing committee Communicate effectively in informing and advocating Supervisors need to allow staff be a part of NYSFAAA Unify active and associate members, students & families Develop strong effective leaders who focus, guide and direct Increase membership and their participation, provide targeted mentoring 3)Officer/Committee Reports including Budget Requests for 2007- 2008. Since we went line by line through the requested budget and cut everyone I am not going to report the requested amounts at this point. Rather I would like to report highlights. The treasurer reminded and requested that all requests for payments go through the appropriate committee chair and that she can only make payment on original receipts and therefore can not accept any faxed requests. This came from our Auditors. Also, all checks deposited by the regional treasurers must be photo copied. She is now issuing checks on line so she is not able to attach any thing that might be requested. Several regions needed to turn in their 3rd quarter reports. Regional treasurer training will be held at the conference. Requested that if a regional treasurer is not attending conference that a designated representative from that region attend. Budget and Finance: a motion passed to remove “ex-offcio” from the definition of membership in the P &P manual so that all regional treasurers are standing members of this committee. Brenda has resigned as 1st Vice President effective July 1. She will be relocating to Tampa, Florida. The Scholarship committee reported that we will no longer be able to run the Silent Auction. They are exploring other ways to raise funds for the scholarships. They are encouraging individuals to donate. Professional Ethics and Standards Committee reported by Howard Leslie. He has requested that there be a Regional discussion on the Statement of Principles. We plan to do this at our September meeting. Novice Training committee report by Lisa Simpson. Every two years there is a request sent out for sites for Novice Training. That request will be this Fall. This years workshop was a success with no major problems. Conference Committee reported that they are on target. Some adjustments needed to be made in light of the funding issues. Communications and Website committee has requested money to do an upgrade. ATEC is willing to work with us on our needs. Early Awareness reported by Ann Barton that they will be doing giveaways at the State Fair and continuing to work on outreach. State Fair is self-supporting this year. All plans are running smoothly. High School Outreach Committee was jointly reported by Karen Taylor and Linda Bridgewater. They have discontinued using the acronym “CAAN” and are currently working on some new material. College Goal Sunday volunteer recruitment will be highlighted at the conference. Every committee reported and the detail will be followed up with the NYSFAAA minutes. 4)Our regional report was: Report from Region 3 to Executive Council We held our regional elections. The results are: Gina Soliz ( Syracuse University Law)– Region 3 Executive Council. Sean View- (Hobart William & Smith Colleges) Region 3 chair Bonnie Rooker (Cayuga Community College) Secretary Pat Johnson (Syracuse University)- Treasurer A summer meeting is being planed to transition the new regional officers. June 22nd Region 3 is holding its Summer meeting at the Adam’s Mark in Buffalo. This is the site of the 2008 conference. We requested $20,000. to start the process for this Conference. The next years Regional meeting dates have been set and posted to the NYSFAAA calendar. Region 3 budget has been submitted Other regions reported their activities. No other region had held their elections yet. One region held a workshop “Financial Aid 101” they invited non-financial aid folks. Why do students loose their financial aid was the main focus. 5)NYSHESC Liaison Report- Jen Dwire gave the HESC update. HESC has established a School Advisory Council. Update on the Default Prevention Grant. New Debt Management Materials added to the HESC’s student publications. Look for updated Q & A on their website. HESC is seeking Session Proposals for the HESC Loan Symposium. Proposal forms should be to HESC by close of business on June 22. 6)Policy revision on Lender Money, Development Campaign, expectations for fund-raising. Acceptance of Payments and Donations have been re-worded to allow NYSFAAA to accept checks from schools and to re-assure schools that NYSFAAA is not considered a lender. 7) 2007 Conference Budget and changes since prior approved budget. This is a very difficult year to determine exactly what funding will look like. After a lot of considerations and appreciation for the difficulties Executive Council has raised the annual conference fee to $300 for full conference and $160 for Day trippers. NYSHESC will be running the Vendor room versus NYSFAAA, with no proceeds going to NYSFAAA. 8) Delayed Presidential Election. As with everything else, some of the fall out from SLATE is several members that had been nominated for the President elect position had to withdraw their name. At this time we have one viable candidate. A call for nominations will go out next week with the election being run mid-July. 9) Presentation of the 2007-2008 Budget. The Budget was prepared based on the requests from all committees. The Executive Council then went line by line through the Budget. Every area was reduced in this difficult year. Executive council will make every attempt to reduce their cost of meeting location as well and returning to sharing rooms at the council meetings. Executive Council voted to increase membership to $50 for the primary region and $20 for every additional region. Retired membership will stay the same. After this increase and all the reductions it was decided that any deficit will be covered by NYSFAAA’s reserves. We have asked all present to be mindful of the uncertainty of revenue and try to minimize expenses. Next year will give us a clearer picture of what the future will look like. 10)Executive Council Vacancies. Several Regions will have new Executive Council representatives. There is currently 1st Vice President Vacancy due to Brenda’s departure. The Vice President can only be appointed by the President from someone that has been elected to Council. If no one is able or willing to run there will be a special election. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Membership dues have increased for 2007/2008 to $50 for the primary region and an additional $20 for membership in additional regions. Retiree’s dues will stay the same. The full Conference fee has increased to $300. Day Trippers will be charged $160 per day. POSTED BY: Sharon Karwowski