NYSFAAA Region III Meeting Minutes

Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles, NY

December 12, 2007

 

 

Members and guests present:

Abbey Linsner, Nelnet

Annette Broski, Mohawk Valley Community College

Bill Cavin ASA

Bonnie Rooker, Cayuga Community College

Cathy Patella, Wells College

Charlie Boland, Bank of America

Darrin Rooker, NY Chiropractic College

Dawn Langdon, HESC
Gina Soliz, Syracuse Law

Debi Mansour, Citi Bank

Diane Dixon, NY Chiropractic College

Elizabeth Key, National Education

Holly Zaglaniczny, Edamerica

Irv Bodofsky, Bodofskey Consulting

Jackie Darquea, Cayuga Community College

Jan Klotz

Jason Deul, SU Law

Jennifer Best, Cayuga Community College

Joe Martinkovic, ASA

John View, SUNY ESF

Judi Miladin, Cayuga Community College

Karen Blankenburg, Wachovia Education Finance

Kate Bellefeuille, Onondaga Community College

Kristen Carey, AFC

LaSonya Griggs, Ithaca College

Mike McGraw, TC3

Mike Pede, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Nancy Connery, Onondaga Community College

Nancy Teodecki, SUNY Upstate Medical University

Pat Johnson, Syracuse University

Renee Jakaub, Cornell University

Rose Hartson, Pratt MWP

Sean View, Hobart & William Smith

Sharon Karwowski, TC3

Sheila Coolay, SUNY Oswego

Theresa Gieseke, Next Student

Tim O’Donnell, Access Group

 

WELCOME: Sean View

 

Chair, Sean View, started the meeting at 10:10 by welcoming everyone and having introductions go around the room.

 

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REPORT: Gina Soliz

 

·        The Exec Council has not met since the last meeting. The next meeting will be December 13 and 14 - which is after this meeting. Please let her know of any questions or concerns to bring forward.

 

TREASURER REPORT: Pat Johnson

 

The current balance is $1,591.00. This does not include the bill from the Support Staff Workshop and today’s event.

 

STATE UPDATE: Dawn Langdon

 

HESC will shut down processing and update its systems from Noon on Saturday, December 29 through 6 AM on Wednesday, January 2. This will give HESC time to:

 

·        Update the Grants & Scholarships database so that they can start processing TAP with the 2008 ISIR records.

·        Enable lenders to view Credit Reports.

·        Add first disbursement date instead of guarantee date when calculating origination fees paid by the lender for EFT Express.

·        Make behind the scenes updates.

 

The benefits from these updates should outweigh the inconvenience which may be experienced be their customers.

 

 

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR: Kate Bellefeuille

 

·        47 Counselors attended the Binghamton workshop and 199 the Syracuse one. The numbers were down from last year. It is harder to find a date that can accommodate everyone. The agenda went well and the comments were good. Kate thanked all who helped.

 

 

COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY - Sonya Griggs

 

·        February 10, 2008 with a snow date set for February 17th.

·        Syracuse has 10 volunteers already but will take more. In the beginning of January 1100 invitations will be mailed to students in the Syracuse school district. A follow up note will be mailed 10 days before the actual date.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

·        John View suggested that we give the guidance counselors who attend our workshop a certificate of attendance. He also suggested we request money from the fines that the Attorney General has collected to support some of our workshops.

·        Also, NYSFAAA should look into presenting at the guidance counselor annual conference. Pat Johnson commented they we have tried in the past but received no response.  It might be worth looking into again.

·        Cathy Patella announced that they had the 1st meeting of the State Fair Committee and a representative from the AG’s office was there and wants a table. They had 26 tables last year and 16 are already reserved for next year. There has been a turnover at the Fair headquarters so no contract has been established yet.

·        Mike McGraw congratulated John View for his article that appeared in the NAFSAA Transitions on financial Planning.

·        The search is still going on for a new CEO for NAFSAA.

 

 

CONFERENCE 2008: John View

 

·        Plans are still going strong to make this a “green” conference by eliminating as much paper as possible. There will be a pocket program but probably not the big brochure.

·        John did some housecleaning and found over 50 “conference bags” at home so they may do away with bags to save money.

·        A preliminary draft of the agenda was sent out on the list serve.

·        There will be a meeting Friday, January 11th at LeMoyne College. The program committee will meet from 10-12 and other committees will meet at noon for a working lunch.

·        Starting in January look for conference information on the NYSFAAA web site.

 

Entertainment - Abbey Linsner & Shane Rauh

·        Still looking for ideas that represent Region III.

·        A vote was taken whether to have a DJ or Band and was split evenly. Price may dictate the outcome.

 

Program Committee - Gina Soliz & Sean View

·        The deadline for submitting session proposals is January 7th. They are reviewing the ones they have received. Holly Z. suggested looking on the Web to other state conferences for ideas.

 

Banquet /40th Anniversary – Diane Dixon

·        Past presidents of NYSFAAA and charter members may be honored depending on the budget.

·        They will be asking the list serve for any old photos of past conferences.

·        Some awards will be made during lunch the day before to shorten the ceremony at the dinner.

 

Evaluation Committee – Nancy Teodecki

·        Evaluations will be done on the web.

 

Registration Committee - Sharon Karwowski

·        Registration will start in August and be done on the Web.

 

The business meeting adjourned shortly before noon followed by a holiday lunch and a bit of socializing.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bonnie Rooker

Regional Secretary

rookerb@cayuga-cc.edu