10. Two words – Conference food

9. Quality time in America’s finest airports

8. Pillow mints and a collection of assorted hotel ballpoint pens

7. You can tell your in-laws that your colleagues think you finally amounted to something

6. You need additional frequent flyer miles

5. The ‘pay’ is really good

4. You finally get to say ‘yes!’

3. You’re running out of things to say in the office

2. You like to do all your holiday shopping on SkyMall

1. A lifetime of memories

As you know NASFAA would not be what it is today nor could it provide the services it does without the active involvement and volunteerism of our membership. You have an important professional responsibility to participate actively in the nominations process of the Association. I strongly encourage you to submit nominations (you may nominate yourself) to fill the positions of National Chair/Chair-Elect, four national Representatives-at-Large to the Board of Directors, and three members of the Nominations and Elections Committee. Do it now. Just like Uncle Sam, NASFAA needs you!

What other reasons can you come up with to run for NASFAA office? Add them to my list below!

access (n): A means of approaching, entering, exiting, communicating with, or making use of: a store with easy access.

access (n): The ability or right to approach, enter, exit, communicate with, or make use of: has access to the restricted area; has access to classified material.

NASFAA is redefining and re-establishing its commitment to efforts that provide college access programs and services. Phil Day’s recent announcement to members outlines NASFAA’s intent to take its college access endeavors to the next level. NASFAA members have long been enthusiastic promoters of College Goal Sunday program. Now, with College Goal Sunday moving to a more community-based outreach effort through the YMCA, we have an extraordinary opportunity to rethink how we can expand our efforts past an annual, one-day event, while broadening our efforts to impact more students like non-traditional students - in addition to current efforts for traditional students.

The definitions listed above can be massaged to be used in an educational environment to show that we - as financial aid professionals - are seeking easy access for all potential students to a post-secondary education so that a college education is not restricted or limited.

Phil Day and I will be hosting town hall meetings as we visit the regional association conferences. Please plan to attend and give input on NASFAA’s efforts to expand access. You will also be able to get an update on the exciting National Conversation Initiative that will be rolled out shortly.

In my experience, financial aid professionals have never been shy about sharing their viewpoints. I know you have opinions and ideas about how NASFAA can expand its college access efforts to have the greatest impact on all of our nations’ citizens. Please take the time to respond to this blog with your ideas. Also, please contact your representatives on the NASFAA Board of Directors and on the Student Access and Diversity Committee and share your ideas.

We are in an exciting time of transition for NASFAA, and your opinion counts. Remember that ‘You are NASFAA’. Let’s join together and rightfully make NASFAA the nation’s leader in access opportunities for post-secondary education.

Those of you attending NASFAA’s National Conference this past week possibly heard my remarks at the Business Meeting, but I thought I would share some of them again.

I come from the Cowboy state of Wyoming and have lived and worked in Oklahoma - another Cowboy state. And, as you are aware, next year’s NASFAA Conference is in Texas – another Cowboy state. So, I’m warning you now that we are going to ‘Cowboy Up!!’ this year. For those who have never heard this phrase, the simplest explanation for ‘Cowboy Up!!’ is that it’s the ‘Cowboy Spirit’ - to give it all you’ve got; don’t give up; do the best you can with the hand you’re dealt.

The Western ethos is alive and well where I live. In the West there is an unwritten Cowboy ‘Code of the West’. Although we hear much about change, these days, I believe that basic truths never change and that the Code is still applicable in today’s world and to how we, as financial aid professionals, do business. While NASFAA has developed a written code, we also live by an unwritten code within our profession. While there are many platitudes in the Code, there are two that are especially significant and applicable to us in financial aid: 1) be proud of your occupation, and; 2) be loyal to your brand and those you ride with.

Like you, I am very proud of what we do. I can’t think of a more dedicated and inspiring group of folks than those in the trenches assisting students and families every day. We are the champions for the under-privileged seeking education and pursuing a better life. We work long and hard often under some very exacting and perplexing regulations to serve our students and institutions. Volunteering is one way to demonstrate pride for your occupation. We have a moral duty to each other, to our institutions and especially to our students to be involved professionally. Without volunteers, we cannot achieve the necessary level of training and good works that our associations thrive on. Show your pride by supporting NASFAA and your state and regional associations by volunteering your knowledge, thoughts and time. It’s your duty, so ‘Cowboy Up!!’

The ongoing Direct Loan vs. FFELP debate provides a great avenue to demonstrate loyalty to ‘those we ride with.’ This debate has been going on for 15 years! Isn’t it time to put aside our differences? Let’s trust one another to make the best decision for our students and institution. So ‘Cowboy Up!!’ and refrain from personal attacks and remember our loyalty to each other and to our students. As long as the two programs are supported by the government, NASFAA will continue to support both, providing good information and training for both so that institutions can make the right decision for their students.

We have had a rough couple of years, but through the strong leadership of past Chairs Janet Dodson and Michael Bennett we have persevered. But, let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s look forward, to where NASFAA will lead in providing students with access, choice and success in higher education. I know that at times we can get mired down with regulations making it easy to forget why we do what we do. That’s when we need to ‘Cowboy Up!!’ Attorney General Cuomo’s investigations provide an opportunity to demonstrate our loyalty to our students and our profession. I challenge Mr. Cuomo to join with NASFAA to efficiently use the funds he has accumulated to educate students and families about financial aid and financial literacy. Who better for him to work with than the professionals most trusted by college-going students? Mr. Cuomo, let’s ‘Cowboy Up!!’ and work together.

This is such a rewarding profession. For many of us financial aid is more than a job, it’s a career, it’s a cause. Like many of you, we give our personal time to be involved in our professional associations. My involvement has given me so much more than I have ever put in. Like you, I’ve met and assisted many fantastic students – students who would not have been successful without our counseling and assistance. And, like you, I’ve visited places I never would have gone, I’ve met people that I never would have met, and I’ve established friendships that have endured many years and will last a lifetime. I hope that when you take a deep breath and can look back over your career that you will feel, like me, that you feel truly blessed to have chosen financial aid as your career.

So, are you ready to ride with me? ‘Cowboy Up!!’