NJASFAA Executive Council Meeting Minutes

Mercer County Community College

September 23, 2005

 

Attended:  Jim Anderson, Lissa Anderson, Francine Andrea, Sharon Austin, Evelynne Blatt, Catherine Boscher-Murphy, Michael Corso, Vince Davis, Gloria Green, Jean Hathaway, Adrienne Hynek, John Iacovelli, Gisele Joachim, Woodrow Lewis, Helen Mikulak, Carmen Panlilio, Chris Pesotski, Maribeth Quinn, Joe Roberto, Larry Sharp, David Sheridan, Mark Singer, Karen Weber

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:50 a.m.  A quorum was established.

 

Motion to approve the August 25 Executive Council meeting minutes moved by Lissa Anderson; seconded by Mark Singer.  Minutes were approved unanimously by a voice vote.

 

Officer Reports:

 

President:  Carmen Panlilio

 

·        Two lenders and CBM Enterprises, Inc. will match NJASFAA’s donation to the American Red Cross to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.

·        NASFAA wrote an article for University Business magazine on financial aid consultants.  It mentioned NJASFAA’s efforts to educate students, families and guidance counselors of the differences between financial aid professionals and financial aid consultants.

·        Carmen and Jack Williams have been selected as NJASFAA representatives to serve on NJACSA.

·        Carmen received information from Learned Student Aid Partnerships.  This organization provides online training for new financial aid professionals.  She will share this information with the Training and Professional Development Committee.

 

Past President:  Maribeth Quinn

 

·        The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on November 6, prior to the fall conference.

 

Treasurer:  Helen Mikulak

 

·        The NJASFAA Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss Statement are current as of September 22.

·        Helen filed the NJASFAA federal and state tax returns.

·        Our books have been given to Fylstra, Wright & Company for the audit. 

·        Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report moved by Mark Singer; seconded by Karen Weber.  Treasurer’s Report was approved unanimously by a voice vote.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Conference:  Catherine Boscher-Murphy

 

·        The committee is closing in on a keynote speaker.

·        The agenda is complete, except for three sessions.

·        Postcards will be sent to all members to promote the conference.

·        NJASFAA will have a booth at the vendor area.

 

Development:  Vince Davis

 

·        Vince distributed the 2005-2006 Levels of Sponsorship.  Eight sponsors have replied.

 

Electronic Initiatives:  Larry Sharp

 

·        Our new Web site is working well.

·        Larry is testing a new function on the site.  Once a committee chair posts minutes, these will be forwarded to committee members.

·        The Speakers Bureau list has been updated.

·        The job posting board is operational.  Jobs are listed for thirty days.

 

Endowment:  Jim Anderson

 

·        The committee has been charged with developing a NJASFAA-sponsored scholarship program.  Carmen Panlilio, Maribeth Quinn, Helen Mikulak and Jim Anderson met on August 23 with Diana Leo, a development officer at New Jersey City University.

·        They discussed the establishment of endowments and restricted scholarships.  Since NJASFAA has committed $20,000 for this fund, if a true endowment were established and no additional contributions were made to the fund, it would be years before the fund was large enough to generate income for a meaningful scholarship.

·        Other options available to NJASFAA include setting up the fund as a restricted scholarship fund.  In this case, both principal and interest could be utilized for scholarships and unless additional contributions were made, the fund would eventually be dissolved.

·        Everyone agreed that a separate account needs to be established for this fund, regardless of how it is set up.  Also, the guidelines for the fund should provide for access to the funds by NJASFAA if it needs the funds for other purposes.

·        A mission statement will be needed once the program is defined and an annual report will be required detailing income and expenditures.

 

Government Relations:  Michael Corso and Chris Pesotski

 

The committee would like to:

 

·        Recruit new members.

·        Publish a digest of information.

 

Graduate and Professional Concerns:  Gisele Joachim

 

·        The first committee meeting will be held on September 29.

·        The committee will develop a brochure for undergraduate students, providing them with information on financial aid at the graduate level.

·        Gisele is working with the Training and Professional Development Committee on a loan workshop.

 

Leadership:  John Iacovelli

 

The committee will:

 

·        Focus on personal and professional development for our membership.

·        Present a session at the fall conference, and create informational pieces for members.

·        Send helpful hints on leadership to the NJASFAA list.

 

Membership:  Adrienne Hynek

 

·        The association has 380 members.

·        Carmen will send a letter to financial aid directors encouraging their staff to become involved in NJASFAA.

 

Multicultural Concerns:  Woodrow Lewis

 

·        Glenn Lang will speak at a session at the fall conference.

 

Newsletter/Magazine:  Lissa Anderson

 

·        Lissa sent an article to the NJASFAA list to notify members of what the committee will be doing this year.

·        She will post timely information for members on our Web site.  She reminded us to submit updates to her to include in the News & Updates section of the site.

·        The committee will produce two printed publications.

 

Public Relations:  Mark Singer

 

·        The committee will revise our brochure and include information on College Goal Sunday.

 

Speakers Bureau:  David Sheridan

 

·        David recruited about fifteen members to join the Speakers Bureau, including some from South Jersey.

·        He will send information to members who are on the Speakers Bureau.

·        He and John Iacovelli will present a session at the fall conference geared toward those with limited public speaking experience.

 

Sunshine:  Evelynne Blatt

 

·        Evelynne will send a welcome packet to new members and will include our brochure in the packets.

 

Training and Professional Development:  Sharon Austin

 

·        EASFAA fall training will be held on October 26 at Brookdale Community College.

·        The committee is working with Gisele for a half-day loan workshop, which will include alternative loan training.

·        The committee will present a session at the fall conference on the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

 

HESAA Update:  Francine Andrea

 

·        HESAA has installed a new telephone system and it is now operational.

·        HR609 Reauthorization bill addresses several important issues for the aid community.  HESAA has been working with the House and Senate on these issues.

·        The Legislature is expected to present a number of education-related bills this fall.

 

EASFAA Update:  Maribeth Quinn

 

·        Postcards announcing the 2006 EASFAA Conference will be included in our fall conference packets.  Richard Woodland will be presented with the NASFAA Regional Leadership Award at the EASFAA Conference.

·        Administrative Capability Training will be held this fall at several locations.

·        Maribeth will submit a NJASFAA update to the EASFAA Quarterly newsletter.

·        She will attend the next EASFAA Executive Council meeting, to be held in November in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

 

Old Business:

 

·        We will wait until our audit is complete to make sure we want to retain Fylstra, Wright & Company as our new accounting firm.  If so, Carmen will send a letter to our current accounting firm notifying them that we will no longer use their services.

 

Motion to adjourn moved by Maribeth Quinn; seconded by Karen Weber and unanimously approved at 11:20 a.m.