<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)">
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal>Greetings!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>With the absence of the Fall Conference, there is less
business for the board agenda, but I would like to bring you up to date on what
we are doing.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>We met on July 22 at the Moore-Norman Technology Center.
Committee Chairs reported their progress in organizing their membership
and beginning the planning process for their duties. The search for
conference locations in the Tulsa area for the 2010-2011 year are underway.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A proposal for the Membership dues process was discussed and
adopted. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A budget for the 2009-10 year was established and approved. Acknowledging
the fact that our income resources will most likely be much less than previous
years, the expenses were also lowered to cut the frills and we managed a bottom
line in the black. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The board will begin work on a brochure to promote our
organization to Legislators, High School Counselors, College Presidents,
etc. This idea came from discussion and examples at the NASFAA Leadership
Conference as ways to let our state leaders and educators know that we are
willing to answer their questions; share our knowledge; educate students and
contribute to the community through service. David Barron took on the job
of brochure design. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A second meeting was held September 25<sup>th</sup> at the
Northeastern State University Broken Arrow Campus. Our treasurer, Mendy
Schmerer, was absent due to the birth of Abagail, but reports that the membership
invoicing process is half-way completed and several payments already received. A
big thanks to those schools and the rest of you can expect invoices at a later
date. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The website is now updated with the currently revised Board
members, constitution and by-laws. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>David Barron had overheads of the draft brochure for
suggestions and changes. It is coming along well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>It was decided that our conference theme for the Spring 09
Conference will be a Circus. We want to look on the bright side of this
year’s challenges, have fun, enjoy some humor and escape from the
stress. On the other hand, the confusing, convoluted legislation, rules
and regulations brings to mind the statement, “It’s a circus!”
<span style='font-family:Wingdings'>J</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Lee Kanakis is pursuing several possible sites for the
2009-10 conference in the Tulsa area. Suggestions are also welcome.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>NASFAA Fall training was extremely expensive this
year. Even if we met as groups, each school would be charged $95, plus
their travel, meals, and we would also have to print the materials. The cost
to attend individually was $380 - $700+ depending on membership status. Fortunately,
FSA also offered free webinars covering the same subjects, for free, about that
same time. That information was forwarded to you and we hope you were
able to take advantage of that opportunity. Hopefully, several schools
will be able to attend FSA in December.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>A statewide OGSLP Conference Call with Mary Mowdy and Rick
Edington, held just days before, was discussed with those who did not
participate. In the call, we were assured that OGSLP is supportive of
HR3221 regarding community colleges. Mary also described the 10 areas in
which they plan to continue providing services for the financial aid
community. Their printed educational materials are very appealing and
comprehensive and available free for our use, so check them out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Mary reports that cohort default rates just inched up in
Oklahoma, but many states saw a big increase. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations to Rick Edington for being appointed Interim
Director in Mary Mowdy’s position at OGSLP. A big “Thank you”
to Mary for her years of dedication and knowledge and best wishes for her
retirement.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The announcement was also made by SWASFAA recently that the
newly elected officers for 2011 include Laura Coponiti as President and Andrew
Hammontree as Oklahoma Delegate. We should be well represented on the
regional level.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The attached letter was approved by the board and faxed to
the Oklahoma Senators and leading members of the Senate Education
Committee. Please consider writing the Senate with your own
thoughts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>The next meeting will be held in mid-November. If you
have any concerns or ideas, please contact your delegates, Carol Stanfield and
Dustin Davidson.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Without the fall conference and opportunities to gather as
an organization and financial aid family, we could easily lose our
networking and personal connections. Please keep the listserv, board or me
informed of events, joys, concerns, etc. Together we can be strong –
even if it is a circus out there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Nancy Moats<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>OASFAA President<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>