NYSFAAA Region 7 Meeting Minutes

March 20, 2015

SUNY Farmingdale

Attendees: Gene Rogers (Molloy), Jeanne McCarthy (SallieMae), Amy Thompson (SJC), Pauletta Russell (Sanford Brown), Barbara Tunney (Queensborough), Karen O’Sullivan (Queensborough), Maria Blandino (St. Francis), Laurie Wagner (SGU), Kara Johnston (SGU), Debbie Evans (Adelphi), Sheryl Mihopulos (Adelphi), Ruth Pavon (Molloy), Jim Newell (SUNY Downstate), Laura Lima (Farmingdale), Kate Cavan (Adelphi), Lyndsay Johnson (SUNY SB), Donna Crawford (SUNY SB), Angie Esparza (SUNY SB), Patti Noren (NCCC), Amanda Murray (FTC), Gordon Rowe (SJC), Jeannine Murphy (SCCC), Erica Follick (SUNY SB), Raj Jayadeva (Molloy), Kim Hayman (Farmingdale), Sandra Hustedt (Farmingdale), Laurie Lundberg (Farmingdale), Addie Newman (St. Francis), Diane Kazanecki (Farmingdale), Marion Staebler (Farmingdale).

Welcome and introduction of speaker: Jeanne McCarthy

Presentation on Veteran’s Benefits: Dr. Richard Robitaille, Associate Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Berkeley College

 The presentation will be posted to the region 7 section of the NYSFAAA website

Announcements: Jeanne McCarthy

 Region 7 is looking to hold our summer outing on Friday July 19, 2015 (tentative), need two people to volunteer to organize event and plan agenda. Ruth Pavon (Molloy College) and Angie Esparza (SUNY SB) volunteered

 Please submit topic training ideas for our meetings, some ideas are training on the new PLUS counseling requirements and repayment strategies and loan consolidation

Treasury Update: Amy Thompson

 Our treasury balance is currently at $3,513.74

Scholarship Committee Update: Debbie Evans

 Crystal from Adelphi is our regional representative on the committee, and we are looking for one to two current members to volunteer to help out

 Fundraising idea of a NYSFAAA Cookbook, will be asking for recipe submissions, more information to follow Executive Council Update: Gene Rogers

 Novice Registration is now open! Will be held at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, NY 5/30/15 to 6/4/15

 Conference 2015 will be in Buffalo, 10/27/15 to 10/29/15

 Conference 2016 is tentatively scheduled to be held at Turning Stone

 Justin Draeger will be presenting at NYU on 3/30/15 for an open session and NASFAA update

 We are continuing our advocacy efforts for TAP and Perkins

 Patrick Ziegler, a Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo will be the new chair of the Government Relations Committee

 College Goal NY had a very successful turnout, thank you to all the volunteers!

 Two LI Colleges were awarded GEAR UP Grants, SUNY Farmingdale and Nassau CC a subcommittee will be created to work on outreach efforts

 Region 7 elections will be taking place soon, we need nominations for the following positions:

o Executive Council Representative

o Regional Co-Chairs

o Regional Treasurer/Secretary

Next Meeting: Possibly May 1 (tentative) location TBD

June 19, 2015 (tentative) Summer Outing, location TBD

Respectfully submitted by Amy Thompson

April 9, 2015