As the incoming RMASFAA President, I planned and conducted a Transitional Board Meeting in August to facilitate laying the groundwork for a highly productive 2005-2006. Newly elected officers, in-coming state delegates and committee chairs, and NASFAA Chair Dave Gelinas participated. This meeting marked a return to the RMASFAA Summer Board Retreat, which was not held the past two years. Chair Gelinas brought us updates from NASFAA and from Reauthorization discussions, and facilitated a very informative team-building exercise.

The new RMASFAA Board has created an ad hoc committee to direct leadership development and mentoring activities for our region. The committee is charged with formalizing processes for bringing potential leaders through a “leadership pipeline”, with a specified mentoring component for new financial aid administrators. A formal plan and timeline were approved by the Board of Directors at our October Board Meeting, and Beverly Bell was named Chair of the Leadership Pipeline Committee.

As an extension of that committee, I am offering discussions at each state conference on leadership and volunteering. President-Elect Cristi Easton or I will be included in each state meeting to discuss such topics as how we each got into our current leadership positions, the benefits of leadership and volunteering, responsibilities of leadership, and possible downsides for home life and office.

So far, I have participated in conferences in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming, and Past President Peg Mason covered Colorado last month. We are getting good attendance and positive feedback.

Our 2005 Conference was held at Snow King Lodge in Jackson, WY. We had the wonderful “problem” of a much higher attendance rate than previous years, terrific sessions, beautiful scenery, and great companionship. Our DMCI Committee service project this year was the Latino Resource Center in Jackson, and our fund-raising activities were creative and successful. The 2006 RMASFAA Conference will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the theme “Keeping the Spirit Alive – Feel the Excellence.” The 2007 Conference will be held in Breckenridge, Colorado, and the 2008 Conference is set for Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Our next Board Meeting is March 20 – 21, 2006, in Denver, Colorado. Any Board member can be available at your convenience to discuss your questions, ideas, and input. I look forward to hearing from all of you in the coming year.

Best regards,

Sally Crow Schuman
2006 RMASFAA President