I am thrilled
to be starting off the year as MASFAA’s
36th President. I have always believed that it is important
to volunteer for MASFAA, and I am excited to now be
leading one of the most successful and active financial
aid professional
associations in the country. The credit for MASFAA’s
success is due to the hundreds of members who volunteer
each year.
MASFAA began the year in August with the Annual
Retreat, held at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis.
The Executive
Council was joined by the chairs of the 13 MASFAA
committees. In addition to regular Association business,
the Executive
Council and Committee Chairs had several productive
discussions regarding the future of the Association
and MASFAA’s
relationship with sponsors. I have attended many
Retreats in past, and I can honestly say that the group
assembled
this year truly has the best interests of the Association
and the aid profession in mind. I wish to thank all
those who could attend for their hard work and support
of MASFAA.
Working with so many dedicated and caring aid professionals
is proving to be the highlight of my career in aid.
I welcome you to review these highlights of the year
ahead:
- The Archives Committee has compiled Association-related
information, including minutes, photographs,
newsletters and memorabilia, dating back to the Association’s
inception in 1969. Many items will be on display at the Conference in
November.
- The
College Goal Sunday Committee will hold its fourth-annual,
one-day event on Sunday,
January 27, 2008 to
help families at 17 sites across the state
successfully complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Please be sure
to sign up to volunteer at this wonderful event!
- The Committee to Enhance
Ethnic Diversity (CEED) will be working to engage
and educate the membership about issues of diversity
throughout
the upcoming
year.
The Committee will be submitting articles on diversity topics to the
MASFAA Newsletter throughout the year and will also
be building a library from
which members can
borrow books related to diversity. The Committee has several events
planned for the year.
- The Conference Committee will
be hosting this year’s
Annual Fall Conference November 7th-9th at the Boston Marriott – Newton
Hotel in Newton, MA. This year’s theme is “MASFAA’s
Amazing Race: Helping Students Go the Distance.”
- The Early
Awareness Committee is planning another Carnival of Learning to
be held the day before the Annual Fall Conference
to introduce
middle school
students
to the idea of extending their education beyond high school. The
committee is also working on their annual Journey to College event,
an opportunity
for middle
schools to partner with local colleges or universities to create
programs that encourage young students to make higher education
a primary goal.
- The Government Relations
Committee will continue
to keep us all up-to-date on what’s happening
with HERA, Reauthorization and the happenings on
Capitol
Hill. The Committee will also be working closely
with our
Congressional
leadership
to make sure that they are aware of the issues that matter most
to our students. The Committee will be working hard
this
year to make sure that
the membership
stays abreast of all new regulations and pending legislation.
- The Graduate
and Professional Concerns Committee will be hosting
another great Graduate Symposium event on December
7th at the Boston University
School of Management.
In addition, the Committee will be offering several sessions
at the Fall conference.
- The Just the F.A.C.T.S.
Committee will be hosting
a five-week (one day per week) training program
using the NASFAA Core training modules
on
October 2, 9, 16,
23 and 30 at Northeastern University. This program is a great,
all-inclusive package for new aid administrators
and the training is free to all
paid members
of MASFAA!
- The Membership Committee is hard at work renewing
memberships, soliciting new members, and making
sure that you can search the
database for
colleagues who
are current MASFAA members.
- The Newsletter Committee will be
producing five issues through MASFAA’s
website. All MASFAA members are encouraged to contribute to
the Newsletter. You don’t have to be on the
Committee to participate!
- The Professional Development
and Training Committee has numerous training opportunities scheduled
throughout the year. Some of
the workshops
planned include a new training
for members who wish to become leaders within the Association,
the annual FISAP training, Need Analysis training, Support
Staff training
and the
Novice Seminar.
- The Public Relations Committee will be transitioning
this year and will take charge of the MASFAA
volunteer process. The Committee
will
also
assist in
the promotion of MASFAA through publications and support
to other committees.
- The Technology Committee continues
to work hard updating and enhancing the MASFAA
website as well as coordinating
the online
voting process.
If there
is something
you would like to see that isn’t currently on
our website, please let us know!
The hundreds of MASFAA members
who volunteer
their time make these
activities
possible. If you are not currently a volunteer, I strongly
encourage you to sign up today at www.masfaa.org.
I
am excited to be President of MASFAA, and I will
be participating
in as many MASFAA events as possible during the year.
If you would like
to know
more about
MASFAA and our activities, please feel free to contact
me at any time by email or
phone at 617.373.4624.
Very
truly yours,
Anthony R. Erwin
President
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