EASFAA & NASFAA News
Hello CAPFAA Members,
The EASFAA Conference on May 16-19 at Foxwoods, MGM Grand Resort in CT. The conference provided all attendees with informative training sessions and time to network with colleagues from all over the east coast. The EASFAA conference committee hosted a state table contest. All the states attending the conference decorated a table representing their state. The Connecticut table spotlighted castles and lighthouses along with the UCONN Women Huskies, Pez Candy, Wiffle Ball and Lego’s. Unfortunately CT didn’t win the award for best state table—the prize went to Maine.
I think Maine won due to the fact that Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) is from Maine. Congratulations to CT’s own Neville Brown, who is the EASFAA President for 2010-2011. We all know Neville is passionate about financial aid and volunteering. He encourages us all to reach out and volunteer in any capacity for CAPFAA or EASFAA. Neville has instituted a Financial Aid Day which will be held annually on the third Wednesday of October. The concept of Financial Aid Day is for all financial aid professionals, administrators and support staff to be given a pat on the back for their dedication and commitment to the Financial Aid profession. We all are aware of how much effort we put into our students to help them succeed –your hard work does not go unnoticed. This year’s Financial Aid Day will be on October 20 th - how will your office commemorate this day??? More to follow…
Speaking of volunteering, CAPFAA participated in Habitat for Humanity on June 12, 2010. CAPFAA volunteers worked at sites in Danbury and New Haven. The Danbury site consisted of cleaning out a completed home, which included washing windows, sweeping floors, and cleaning woodwork. Volunteers loaded equipment and tools onto a truck so the tools could be transported to another site that was under construction. The Danbury Habitat for Humanity home took over two years to complete with volunteers working only 2 days per week. The Danbury volunteers had the pleasure of meeting the recipient family that will be moving into the new home. We wish them well in their new home. At the New Haven site our CAPFAA volunteers worked outdoors putting up a fence. Yes, they had the tougher job--- but they found their experience to be educational as well as fulfilling. Thanks to all of you who volunteered. Think about joining us next year for Habitat for Humanity. (see photos following this update)
The EASFAA Retreat was held on June 27 and 28 in Windsor, CT. The EASFAA committees are in high gear for the EASFAA Conference which will be held May 15-18,2011 in Philadelphia. The retreat exposed me to a common thread in the Financial Aid arena—dedication. All our colleagues are dedicated to helping their students succeed and are advocates for their needs. Hope to see you all at the EASFAA conference in May.My first year as EASFAA Representative was a learning experience. My experience as EASFAA Representative has taught me new ideas but more importantly has brought me bouquets of new friends.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Vitale, EASFAA Representative
