Executive Council Report to Region VI- June 2006 - Executive Council Retreat and Meeting June 14-16, 2006

 

Mission Statement & Strategic Goals

On the first day, Betsy Penrose led exercises to begin the creation of a Mission Statement as well as a review of the strategic goals of the association through an analysis of NYSFAAA’s strengths and weaknesses, and opportunities for growth. The mission statement will be the foundation for a new long-range plan.

 

Thursday June 15

The 2008 Conference Committee representatives, Bill Cheetham and John View, recommended a change in location from the Turning Stone to the Adams Mark in Buffalo because the Turning Stone has still not resolved its differences with New York State.  New York State employees are prohibited from attending events there. Also the Turning Stone has not allowed fire officials on premise to inspect.  The Council approved the change in venue and recommended the signing of the contract with the Adams Mark.

 

A motion was then made by Heather McDonnell that NYSAAA enter into a multi-year contract with the Adams Mark. There was some discussion at length about having a conference there two years in a row. It was decided that Heather (Region 5) would look at another location, possibly The Prime in Saratoga. Region V may opt to wait until 2010 to host.

 

Investment up-date

Rob Bell from Smith Barney reported on NYSFAAA’s investments. Our reserve and endowed scholarship funds have been doing well in the long term despite a downturn in recent weeks. We will continue our current strategy. We will consider increasing the size of the scholarships in the future. Rob emphasized that he needs to know when we plan to draw on the account

 

President’s Reported:

  • On a heavy travel schedule: HESC Board, SUNYFAP, EASFAA, Tri-Regional, Novice and EASFAA Exec Council meeting.
  • Worked with Don Taylor to identify potential conference sites.
  • Wrote newsletter articles for NYSFAAA and EASFAA.
  • Assisted in Volunteer recruitment for College Goal Sunday.
  • 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.
  • The Budget Committee has been formed and consists of Angela VanDekker, Heather McDonnell and Sue Aldrich, Exec Council representatives. A motion passed to make the Development Chair a member of the Budget Committee and have that clarified/written into the Policies and Procedures Manual.
  • President also reported on training by other associations
    1. The DOE will be doing HERA training this summer.
    2. NASFAA will do fall training

 

EASFAA Report –

  • Will offer leadership training and is looking for 6 areas in NYS.
  • If electronic voting if utilized, the decision needs to be ratified at the next meeting. (Robert’s rules modified.)
  • There is sentiment that Congress should be asked to correct the error made when direct PLUS loans were left at 7.9% while FFELP PLUS went to 8.5% by moving to the lower interest rate for all, and not by asking for higher rates for DL

 

Reminder the list serve notices are to be used for notifying of training, not for advertising.

 

Budget Committee met and proposed a budget to Exec Council.  The budget did not include income for regional events, or regional event expenses.  It is expected that these will wash each other out.

 

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 1 is sponsoring a pilot Admissions financial aid training in financial aid basics, professional judgment and needs analysis.  They are expecting 115 participants. Expressed concern that Exec Council denied funding.  Must first use regional treasury.

Region 2 Officers elections being redone; Support staff workshop attendance down;

 

Region 3 will be having a training with Steve Morgan.  The Associates pay for their own lunch, and the members are paid for by the region.

Region 4 April meeting – Jim Vallee government relations; June 23 summer meeting

Region 5 has trained 18 members in financial literacy and they will provide training for the Housing ‘Development Council.

Jim Vallee spoke on government relations

June 23 summer meeting 1/2 day training by HESC on alternative loans

Region 7 Angela presented Sheryl Mihopulos report

Region 6 See my report on the regional news for detail

  • April meeting at Baruch financial literacy and identity theft.
  • Presented Region 6’s concern about the membership policy with regard to members that are unemployed when it comes time to renew their membership. Dave said our proposal required an amendment to constitution.
  • Motion to move the region 6 proposal to the membership committee for review was approved.
  • I requested an executive session to bring a matter to council. The request was delayed to later in the day.

Region 8

New officers have been elected.

 

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.

 

High School Guidance Counselor Workshops – Pat Johnson

  • **Region VI needs a regional committee chair or co-chairs a date and a budget for the workshop. 
  • Pat Johnson must be notified of chair  by Aug. 1 along with the number of raffle items needed, as well as a request for the amount of letterhead and envelopes (in reams and boxes) and a the number of pads and pencils. Linda Bridgewater at HESC also needs to be notified so that she can secure the speakers.
  • Previously offerings included Scams and Financial Planners; Award letters, how to read and compare; State and federal changes, i.e. Smart Grants.
  • Question has been raised whether to invite Middle School Counselors.  (There are 1600 middle school counselors in the state)
  • Working together with Early Awareness to combine message to middle school and high school counselors.
  • Trying to exhibit at NYS Counselor Conference in October.

 

New York State Fair -Sharon Karwowski– by July 15th we need to secure a volunteer for the State Fair, September 1, Friday before Labor Day (sometime between 10 and 5.  Local staff will be used for the early and late hours. It is near Syracuse.

 

Government Relations Committee – Jim Vallee

Watching for rest of reauthorization

Budget is squeezing through the House

Do we want to visit Washington with EASFAA or on our own?  Sentiment we should do both.

 

Executive Session held. Region 6 report completed.

I expressed the concern of the regional officers with the email sent.

The proceedings were taken out of Executive Session.

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.

 

Friday June 16

Dave Canaski requested to address the Council. The President Elect made a public apology to the association for his behavior in the email to region 6.

Motion: To impeach the President Elect – made by Canaski/Dodds seconded.  Call to question. Motion failed. (It would have required a ¾ vote of council at two meetings.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Budget distributed. Revenue checks to regions being cut for end of year (6/30).

Important that she receive all 8 regional quarterly reports to turn over to auditor.

Proposed 2006-7 budget was reviewed without regional sponsorship and expenses. These should be a wash.

Motion: To approve budget. McDonnell/Wright. Motion Approved.

 

2007 Conference  New York City Sheraton Hotel 

Jim Murphy from Baruch represented Region VI’s conference committee. 

Discussed amount of profit expected. 20,000 in budget but could be more.

Dept. of Education representatives have been invited.

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Reviewed committee chairs:

Tri Chairs Jim Murphy, Clair Jacobi and Tony Olivero

Program Chairs Bill Mack and Christine Falzerano////////////////////////

Listed several other chairs.

 

Transportation:

It is difficult to drive into New York.  Better to take public transportation.

For buses coming from other regions there will be an unloading fee.

 

2006 Conference – Lake Placid Nov. 6-9.

  • Registration for conference and hotel available as  of August 1.  Registration is capped at 550.
  • All communications will be done via email, so don’t wait for the paper mailing.
  • One bus would be from Albany and other regions could train to Albany.  Regions 5 & 6 requested a bus originate on Long Island and go through Westchester to upstate.  This will be further investigated.

 

**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.

 

HESC Report – Mike Williams

  • Reporting Earned Credits:

With the new budget legislation HESC has to collect credits earned.  This summer will pull together a group to discuss how to do it.

  • Professional Judgment for TAP  - HESC and legislature still discussing.  We had hoped it would rest with the financial aid administrator, but the legislation said it rests with HESC.  It was extended to catastrophic illness of parent or student, death, military service.
  • Loan Symposium September 21-22.

 

President Elect David Canaski reviewed his proposal for new committee reporting and structure.  Base the committees and their reporting on their purpose.

 

Spoke about new application of $75 gift regulations for SUNY and CUNY to limit interaction with vendors to a cumulative $75 on a rolling year.

 

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.

It was agreed that the general concept was sound.   In order to allow Dave to go forward with his plans between now and November the Executive Council adopted the Policies and Procedures, as proposed, with the understanding that it is a living document and will be edited and revised over the next several months and prior to becoming effective in November. Angela voiced concern that a statement indicating the importance of diversity, i.e. geographic, ethnic and sector had been removed. Canaski indicated he will draft text for the fall meeting.

**The region VI council person voted against this because of the short time provided for review (i.e. one week).  The last review took one year and was just finalized at the September 2005 meeting 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.

 

Statement of Principles

 

David Canaski sent a draft revision of the statement of principles.

There were several suggested revisions and the discussion was postponed.

 

Next meeting: September 14-15, 2006


 

Appendix A

Region VI Response to Change in Membership Policy

 

Proposal to Executive Council from Region 6 based on discussion of new membership policy by members at February 24th regional meeting

 

At the February meeting the revisions to the membership policy were reviewed.

 

Region VI is in favor of NYSFAAA’s effort to manage the membership to include only those professionals whose objectives and practices are in keeping with the mission of NYSFAAA.

 

We understand the importance of limiting memberships to those organizations and individuals whose business practices are congruent with those of NYSFAAA.

 

We understand the importance of members notifying NYSFAAA of a change of employment because of the need to maintain accurate and efficient communications. 

However for individuals who have been in good standing within NYSFAAA, and

Ø       who have lost their employment, and

Ø       who when membership renewal is due have not yet secured another position,

Ø       and therefore do not have an employer who has been approved as acceptable,

 it is creating another obstacle to preclude them from renewing their membership.

 

NYSFAAA is about training and networking and keeping current in the field.  At this most difficult time when our members need their colleagues, they would be precluded from renewing their membership.  They would need to pay higher fees to attend some functions or events without being able to join NYSFAAA. If they were still unemployed by the conference they would need to pay the non-member fee which generally includes membership but would not receive that membership.  We request that the Executive Council review this issue and provide for these individuals.

 

The membership requests other avenues be considered such as a 3-6 month probationary period, etc.

 

 

Notes from February 24 meeting Executive council Report:

Current members

New Membership policy adopted by Executive Council:

An applicant whose employer is not on the approved list will provide a written request for approval, explaining “how the employer’s values and actions are consistent with those of NYSFAAA.

Approved List: Membership is limited to individuals employed at post-secondary educational institutions, retirees from those institutions, or employees of other entities approved by the Council.

The Council approved all current member lenders, agencies and servicers.  All primary and secondary schools are also automatically approved.

Members must notify the membership Vice President of job changes.