[Oasfaa] FW: [SWASFAA Team Chatter] Conference Update

[Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC)]

Good morning, my OASFAA friends!  Who else is looking forward to New Mexico in November?

Happy Friday!

Mendy Schmerer, M.Ed.
Assistant Director
Office of Student Financial Aid
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1106 N. Stonewall, Rm 301
Oklahoma City, OK  73117
(405) 271-2118, x 48817 (p)
(405) 271-5446 (f)
Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu 
http://www.ouhsc.edu/financialservices/SFA/ 

 Become our fan on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/OUHSCFinancialAid 

-----Original Message-----
From: SWASFAA Team Chatter [mailto:blog at swasfaa.org] 
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2015 2:56 PM
To: Schmerer, Mendy M. (HSC) <Mendy-Schmerer at ouhsc.edu>
Subject: [SWASFAA Team Chatter] Conference Update

SWASFAA Team Chatter has posted a new item, 'Conference Update'

Brace yourselves—it’s coming!

“What’s coming?” you ask nervously. An earthquake? Armageddon?
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act? Please don’t let it be another Congressional bill that complicates our lives with new, nonsensical regulations!

Settle down. It’s good news this time. I’m talking about the SWASFAA Conference on November 4-6 at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque.



This year’s conference is jam-packed with informative sessions, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun and relax at the same time. People are going to love the location. The hotel has a golf course and spa on-site, and the beautiful Sandia Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop. For all you trivia buffs, sandia translates to watermelon in Spanish. At sunset, when the light strikes the mountains, they turn a reddish hue (hence the name). In addition to all that, the hotel includes a casino, shopping, restaurants, and a bar/lounge area.

 



When I visited the hotel last spring, I took a free shuttle ride to Sandiago’s, a nearby restaurant with a patio that offers a great view of the city. I highly recommend you go at sunset so you can watch the landscape change colors before your very eyes. The view after dark, when the city lights are visible, is also spectacular.

It’s important to experience the culture when you visit a city. We had a lot of fun indulging in the culture of New Orleans last year, and likewise, we want this year’s conference attendees to experience the uniqueness of New Mexico.
On Thursday night, we have shuttles that will transport everyone to Albuquerque’s Old Town.  The area is similar to Santa Fe’s Plaza, but the galleries and boutiques are less expensive than the ones in Santa Fe, which is always good news for thrifty people like me. You’ll have time to wander through the area to visit some of the sites after dinner. Speaking of dinner, we’ll provide a full meal at a restaurant in the heart of the district while a mariachi band plays live music for everyone.

Another exciting part of Albuquerque is the Breaking Bad experience. This is one of my all-time favorite shows (catch it on Netflix if you haven’t already seen it—it’s so good!). Breaking Bad was filmed in Albuquerque, so you might recognize some of the locations. They are now filming the second season of the prequel series, Better Call Saul. Maybe some of us can snag a gig as walk-on extras. I can dream, right?

We will continue to showcase some of the wonders of New Mexico, AKA the Land of Enchantment, through this blog, in case you want to extend your stay for an extra day or two. Shuttles to Santa Fe are cheap and frequent, and the ride is only about an hour each way. Be sure to check out the conference mini-site and don't forget to review the other SWASFAA events going on that same week, including Boot Camp and the Leadership Workshop. I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Andrew

 

You may view the latest post at
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__swasfaa.org_b_conference_conference-2Dupdate_&d=AwIDaQ&c=qRnFByZajCb3ogDwk-HidsbrxD-31vTsTBEIa6TCCEk&r=-Lnq0C7sCiFyP0whbJJ3dxf5JnVjhYZXejVPgZDRGLk&m=JWIdM9wHVcpS7s8h-_kUmJ-hhZ4cn8XydzvYNPFp_tA&s=n5tZrx4Vk_O4yU8EYldpSs8cqgjEucvX2DE9EwplOPU&e= 

You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted.