The Rocky Mountain Exchange


	CONTENTS

		Voigt's View Bob Fomer Retires Movers & Shakers State Updates In the Spotlight: Sharon Kienow Julie Cooper Robb Cummings Paula Kohles Chris Christensen Financial Aid Nights Associate Articles USA Funds tips Exit Counseling Resources Misc. Information

The RMASFAA Exchange is published bi-monthly for its members. Articles submitted by any person, company, or organization to the chair of the publications committee are subject to final acceptance by the chair prior to printing the newsletter. The chair reserves the right to reject any article or information submitted for the newsletter. Articles must be intended for the benefit of RMASFAA members and not for company promotion, publicity, or otherwise persuasive purposes. Any advertisement offered by any person, company, or organization to any member of RMASFAA is subject to final acceptance by either the chair of the membership or publications committees at any time prior to printing. Each chair reserves the right to authorize a refund for any money paid and to reject any offer to advertise. RMASFAA does not solicit the advertising of business opportunities, job openings, or other employment related information. For contact regarding the RMASFAA exchange: Renee Leach, Editor Augustana College 2001 S Summit Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57197 Phone: 605-274-5216 Fax: 605-274-5295 rleach@wise.augie.edu For information on Advertising: Tip Blewitt Colorado Student Obligation Bond Authority 1801 Broadway, Suite 1300 Denver, CO 80202 Phone: 800-448-2424 Ext 815 Fax: 303 296 4811 tblewitt@csoba.org Publication Committee: Renee Leach, Chair Norm Finlinson, Co-Chair State Representatives: Wendy Cobb, Nebraska Kristi Hollar, North Dakota David Gruen, Colorado Cheryl Bellinger, Kansas Shauna Savage, Montana Molly Williams, Wyoming Cody McMichael, South Dakota Karen Clark, Utah

Voigt's View
By Darry Voigt, RMASFAA President

Well I must be having fun because the time has certainly flown by. I can hardly believe that it is time for my second submission to the Exchange as your RMASFAA President. I have to thank Renee Leach and the Publications committee for coming up with the title of Voigt's View. It allows me to provide my opinions and observations on a variety of things without it being the "Official RMASFAA position"; it's just Voigt's View. Some of you may find this hard to believe (har har) but I occasionally have an opinion or observation that I am willing to share with whoever will listen. Putting these observations and opinions (maybe I should call them Oh-Oh's for short) in a logical written sequence is the challenge.

Believe it or not, it's that time of the year to be thinking of running for office or at least thinking of who you would like to nominate. Jim Swanson, your President-Elect, is in charge of getting a slate of candidates ready and will need your nominations. The open positions will be: President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary and Associate Member Delegate. Jim will be setting up nomination forms on the RMASFAA web site and sending out information on RMASFAA-L concerning the entire process. Be on the lookout for this information.

Summer Institute is also just around the corner. Brenda Sebastian and her committee have been working tirelessly to put together another fantastic learning experience. For those of you that are not quite so new to Financial Aid, you will want to check out the offerings closely as RMASFAA is working with NASFAA on something special just for you. Of course we will still have the sessions for Neophytes, Loan Pros., etc., that have been recognized as some of the best offered by any region. I am sure Brenda will be providing information on the web and through RMASFAA-L on everything you will need to know to register for the Summer Institute.

For those of you wondering about the Road Rally, Ruben Guerrero and Chris Christensen are tackling that project. I am sure information will be coming out soon but if you can't wait to hear what they have come up with you might want to give them a call. Knowing those two, I am sure it will be great.

And one last thought…

From my office I look across College Drive at a recently constructed brick wall. Because of my vantage point I can see a construction flaw. Now, probably 99% of the people driving by never notice the flaw. They just see a wall. So, in spite of its flaws, it is doing what it is supposed to do. Well, now I have a choice, I can look for the flaws or I can look at the wall. I often need to remind myself, that in so many of life's circumstances, it is the wall that needs to be seen. I hope that you will look for the "wall" and not the flaws when you read Voigt's View.