Region 6 Regional Notes/Report

Notes/Report: DATE: June 23, 2006 - NYSFAAA Region VI Summer Meeting Notes NYSFAAA Region VI Summer Meeting Minutes The 2006 Region VI Summer Meeting was held on Thursday, June 23, 2006. The following individuals were present: Adams Hassan Pratt Institute Ali Rebecca Hunter College Azcona Bienchy TCI Bolden Toby L. Nellie Mae Bonilla Saul Pratt Institute Burnett-Rodriguez Farah Columbia University Casillas Yolanda John Jay CUNY Clark Wesley G AU in Cairo, NYO Constable Chris EdAmerica Cook Jason Citibank Cotte Walter Touro College Dedeian Diana AU in Cairo, NYO Dennis Daffodil M. Hunter College Duran Ursula National Education Dzelika Daniel Fordham University Edelman Joshua Fordham University Ercetin Tracy SVA Esparza Angelica AFC Farley Michele AFC Franklin Joy American Credit Alliance, inc Gago Socorro Queens College Garcia Chrisine TCI Garelick David Citibank Gathard James Bank of America Ghanoo Brian NSLP Gieseke Theresa NextStudent Goldstein Mark Nelnet Grace Lynn Pratt Institute Gonzalez Ed Sallie Mae Ham Juana Hunter College Hanson Georgia CUNY Kingsborough C.C. Hayes Gary SVA Herbst Patty College Loan Corporation Hilton-King Gertrude CUNY Central Office Johnson Anne CUNY Graduate Center Kilby Tracy Collegiate Solutions Kokis Tom Edfund Kopit Anna Aveda Institute New York Lane Fred CUNY BMCC Lieberman Andrea P. Sovereign Bank Mack William RIT Millstein Julie American U of Beirut Morales Ben Pratt Institute Murray LaQuanda Wachovia Education Finance Oggirri Eva Katherine Gibbs Schools Ortz-Harvey Cristina Pratt Institute Pimentel Lynnise CUNY Office of SFA Pino Areti Touro College Quirindongo Frank SVA Rodriguez Aristalia Hunter College Santora Jason Student Loan Xpress Seabrooks Kenneth CUNY Brooklyn College Senese Vera Chase Smith Brenda Nelnet Solorzano Henry Fordham University Sweet Steven NYSHESC Taylor Carolee V. Hunter College Torres-Erickson Mary M&T Bank Trauman Jennifer Access group Traverso Anne Student Loan Xpress Tripp Barrie Citibank Turek Angelika TCI Turner Michael Fordham University Twitchell Marion Collegiate Solutions VanDekker Angela Fordham University Velez Gina CUNY Central Office Villalona Rafael Wachovia Education Finance Wakie Barbara Fordham University Waldron Joe Fordham University Weidmann Susan AMDA Worrell Shelley CUNY Graduate Center Zurinaga Frances Fordham University Zarkos Tom Bank of America SB The focus of this meeting was to meet new friends, network, team build, relax, and have fun with colleagues. All you needed to attend was a sharp mind and a good pair of shoes. Current NYSFAAA members were urged to sponsor new members at this event. If this occurred, the NYSFAAA Member’s $10 fee was waived and the non-member would win a free one year membership to NYSFAAA. In total, 9 new members were sponsored. The first two components, lunch and Stress Management & Team Building Workshop, took place at Bruno Jamais Restaurant. As individuals arrived, they were issued name tags that also included their team name and were instructed to locate the rest of their team mates while mixing and mingling. Following a delicious lunch, Angela VanDekker gave an executive council report update. A few highlights from her report are listed below. The entire report is posted on the NYSFAAA website. President’s Reported: • Worked on Region 6 June meeting solicitation issues, including emails, phone calls, and consultation with attorney and auditor • She reminded all that the President speaks for the Association • Marilyn Faller, the Treasurer-Elect, will be appointed Treasurer when Sam Veeder leaves Active Member status; this is earlier than anticipated as Sam is leaving Hobart 6/30/06 (The Council approved this appointment.) • Worked with Development Committee in development of policies and procedures for use and distribution of regional meeting donations and clarification of use of list serve for advertisement of vendor- sponsored training. Membership has been strong for 2005-2006. The association has 1416 unduplicated members, over 1888 memberships in total. . Region VI has 486 members. We represent a large proportion of the members. **It is requested that Regional Council people remind the members to renew their membership for 2006-2007. **Reminder to all that you need to specifically sign up for the regional list serves. Tell your colleagues. Statewide Training • The tax workshop was well received and Jim Briggs was great to work with. We plan to have tax training again during a week in February 2007. • Plan to do HERA training at six locations in the fall; EASFAA in spring. • There is a plan to have two-day leadership training in the fall probably at the Binghamton Regency in October. • Also plans for Access and diversity training with Steve Morgan. Regional Reports Region 6 See my report on the regional news for detail • Motion to move the region 6 proposal to the membership committee for review was approved. Development Committee – Katrina DelGrosso Sponsorship opportunities available on the web on June 21 and 22 for viewing and will open at 9 AM June 23 for selection. -Regional Events will now be included as a separate option. -When regional events are held utilizing sponsorship funds all sponsors for regional events must be recognized. -The committee has been asked to come up with a report of their findings for the September meeting. Executive Session held Motion was made by Sharon Karwowski Region 3, seconded by Maria Barlaam that the President Elect Dave Canaski be censored based on the email that was sent to Region 6 officers. Discussion followed. McDonnell requested a vote by ballot. Motion approved. 2006 Conference – Lake Placid Nov. 6-9. • Registration for conference and hotel available as of August 1. Registration is capped at 550. **We should survey the regions to determine who might use the bus. College Goal Sunday (Chair - Wayne Harewood) will be held Sunday February 12th. **We need to reach out and secure names of principals and Guidance Counselors in schools identified in the list from HESC. Revised Policy and Procedure Manual: David Canaski distributed a revised Policy and Procedure Manual on June 6th to support his proposed changes in the committee structure. **The region VI council person voted against this because of the short time provided for review. The last review took one year and was just finalized at the September 2005 and revised at the April 2006 meetings. There are items that need further revision but there was no time to have those discussions. It was recommended that this review is to be the first thing on the agenda for the September meeting. Following Angela’s update, Mr. Luis F. Sierra, Ph.D. presented his unique approach to Stress Management & Team Building. Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness as Stress Management: Cultivating well-being through awareness. The goals of this experimental workshop, conducted under dim lights and very little noise, were to: • Learn to identify the sources of stress in our lives • Understand its effects and develop their own daily program to relieve stress and maintain optimum health One point that stood out was when Mr. Sierra indicated that we need to understand ourselves more closely. Although we knew a lot about our selves, we don’t understand everything about us and if we don’t understand ourselves, we can’t change ourselves. In addition, he also engaged those present in several exercise that required them to physically participate using different breathing and stretching techniques. In many instances, after the sessions participants report a deep sense of relaxation and a boost of energy. A packet of information that further detailed the techniques was distributed. Before heading to the museum, thank you cards, see below, were distributed to all vendors, past and present, who had supported Region VI. At 2:30, everyone assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where Watson Adventures LLC passed out question and answer sheets and gave instructions concerning the scavenger hunt. A few of the clues were straight forward. However, most were pretty tricky! Through out the hunt, teams would pass each other while carefully guarding their answers, right or wrong. The closer it got to 4:40 p.m., the ending time, the more answers were shared amongst teams. Two hours later, we reconvened and the total number of points earned by each team was tallied and announced. Congratulations to all who participated. Kudos to the winning teams. Each member of the winning teams received a Starbuck’s Gift Card. On behalf of Region VI, we would like to recognize these vendors for their generous contributions for the 2006 Summer Meeting. AFC ACCESS GROUP CHASE EDUCATION FINANCE COLLEGE LOAN CORPORATION EDAMERICA NATIONAL EDUCATION NELLIE MAE NELNET SOLUTIONS NEXT STUDENT WACHOVIA EDUCATION FINANCE We also extend thanks to all NYSFAAA Vendors for their support for all 2005-2006 events. Have a most enjoyable summer! Angela VanDekker Council Representative Brian Ghanoo Co-Chair Anna Kopit Co-Chair Anthony Thompson Membership Chair Shelley Worrell Secretary/Treasurer POSTED BY: Shelley Worrell