Greetings SWASFAA Members!

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your President for 2009, and I want to continue moving our association forward with providing training and updates that are vital to our association.

I would like to extend a sincere "Thank You" to David Page and his board members for a successful 2008 year, as the 2008 conference theme of “Mission Possible: A New State of Mind” was so appropriate for each of us to keep an open mind to the always-changing financial aid profession.

I want to ensure you that your board members and all committees are very busy and off to an excellent start. Thank you to the many volunteers that allowed your name to be submitted to assist with the various committees. The Conference, Boot Camp, and Continuing Education committees are well underway getting organized to provide you with training opportunities. Please mark your calendar for December 7-11, 2009 for a weeks worth of training, whether you attend Boot Camp (December 7-9), Mid Level (December 8-9) and/or the Conference (December 9-11), all the training will be excellent and very worthwhile. More details are due shortly on the website, so stay tuned.

As institutions' budgets are having constraints even more during these economic times, it is important that we continue to investigate inventive ways of communicating with our membership and still providing training opportunities. Through each of our committees, they will be working toward continuing our electronic communication to keep the membership updated through the website and listserv.

Anyone who has been in financial aid for more than a year knows that our profession changes, and adapting to changes is what we do best. From dealing with the constant regulatory updates, implementing HEOA across the campus, dealing with the new PLUS auction that still has not been totally conducted or implemented, to the new administrations proposal of changes, to the student loan programs that we provide to our students…Financial Aid Administrators and their staff have to remain focused on our true purpose, which is ensuring that our students receive the financial assistance that they need to achieve their educational goals. Along with all this, we must always provide the best service possible, regardless of the issues that each financial aid professional is dealing with at their institution. We are all in this together!

I would like to extend our congratulations to Judi Sears from New Mexico State University-Carlsbad who has recently been elected to serve as a NASFAA Representative-at-Large to the Board of Directors through 2010. She will assist the NASFAA membership in bringing any concerns to the board’s attention, along with David Page (Past President), Lee Carrillo (President-Elect), Alvina Thomas (Representative-at-Large), and I as your President, who also serve on the NASFAA Board of Directors.

I look forward to working with each of you during this year, so please do not hesitate to contact me and let me know how SWASFAA can better serve you!

Sincerely,
Taina Savoit

Just a thought to think about: Yesterday is history, Tomorrow’s a mystery, Today’s a gift—that is why we call it the Present…Stay focused and remain encouraged—you each have a lot to offer your colleagues and students!