Happy New Year from your new CASFAA President!

When giving opening remarks as the incoming President at this year’s conference, I made the decision to speak with you from the heart, as this was the best way to convey my goals and vision for the 2012 year. Anyone who knows me would agree that I’m not the most formal person and reading from a prepared speech just isn’t my style. So, with that being said, up to that podium I went, not only without hesitation but also without a prepared word in sight. While I’m hopeful that the goals I’ve set forth for our Association, along with my passion for what we do, was conveyed, I know find myself echoing one of Rhonda Mohr’s favorite phrases when thinking about my lack of written words…Good Grief! Apparently the norm is to publish the written remarks in both the newsletter and on the website.

So, for the sake of keeping Daniel Reed, our Secretary, Joanne Brennan, our Archives Chair and Addalou Davis, our Administrative Queen happy, and for those of you who did not make the Conference, I’m going to do my best to summarize what I believe my main points were.

To re-energize and grow our association

We will look at, analyze, and improve all that our Association is and will continue to be. Here’s the value proposition – What do you get by being a member of CASFAA? If I expect you to join CASFAA, I need to give you something in return.

Training Opportunities
CASFAA has evolved over the years. This year we will be looking at how training is offered. We will focus our efforts on content that supports our evolving needs in formats that address our lifestyle. Rhonda Mohr, Association Training Coordinator, will be working with our vendor partners to develop CASFAA sponsored training events in a variety of mediums. Also investigated will be the implementation of an “on demand” training library which will be available to CASFAA members free of charge, but will carry a small fee for non- association members.

CASFAA Webpage
Wayne Mahoney and Dennis Schroeder lead our Electronic Initiatives team, and will be reviewing our current practices. Look for a redesign of our CASFAA webpage with new features such as “Ask an Expert”, and a Speakers Bureau. You will also see an improved Facebook presence to facilitate timely communication.

Professional Development
Professional growth requires opportunities for networking and development. Involvement in your State, Regional and National Association is a way to achieve this. We will work to ensure that all who want to become involved are given the opportunity. In addition, CASFAA will work to provide additional opportunities to network with your California colleagues – the ones who are “home” with you and the ones who are there to provide the guidance, support, friendship and mentorship that you need. Look for CA “Welcome Home” events at WASFAA and NASFAA.

Vendor Partnerships
Re-engagement of our vendor partners is crucial to our success. Times have changed and we desperately need each other to help chart our course in these new waters. New products and services abound and an atmosphere will be provided to ensure success for all. I will be reaching out to our vendors to discuss ways in which we can better partner to provide training opportunities and product support. We are both vital to each other’s success and its time we truly embrace what we all bring to the table.

2012 Annual Conference
The annual conference should not only provide training opportunities that support your growth as a financial aid professional, but should also be a time where we embrace each other and celebrate who we are. Providing opportunities for networking and socialization is equally important as classroom hours.

Last year many of us made the decision to attend FSA instead of CASFAA. While I am not negating the value of FSA, or the content provided by the knowledgeable speakers, I need to ask each of you who attended: How much individualize attention did you get in the sea of 7,000+ attendees? Did you walk away feeling as though you had made connections and relationships that could be turned to in times where support or guidance were needed? Did you feel as though you were part of a community or merely a number in the crowd?

This year, our annual conference will ensure that you are not just a number but that you have a face and a name. We will work to develop a conference program that will not only enable you to walk away with the tools and knowledge needed to do your job, but will also work to provide you with relationships that support you at home, in California.

I am excited to announce that due to a strong partnership with the leaders within the CCCSFAAA organization, for the 2012 Conference, we have decided to work together and join forces to offer one CASFAA Conference – a Conference that joins all of our segments – CC, CSU, UC, Private, For Profit, into one event – a Conference that truly lets us learn from each other and celebrates all that each of us have to bring to the table – A Conference that helps us realize that we are truly family and that CA is our home –A Conference that helps us remember that home is where we turn for support, guidance and friendship after the conference is over.

CASFAA 2012 – There’s No Place like Home
Lynne Garcia and Jack Millis are co-chairing our conference in 2012 and are already on their way to producing an amazing event. Look for updates in our newsletters. If you want to volunteer for this event, please fill out a volunteer form on the CASFAA website.

In closing, I want to encourage you to reach out to me or any one of our 2012 EC members if you have ideas, suggestions or comments. I am counting on each of you to be an active part of this organization – without you, we are nothing – without you, and our home is just an empty house.

Looking forward to the year – and remember

CASFAA 2012 – There’s no place like home

deb barker-garcia.jpg