Karen Walker

Yesterday, the 2018 MASFAP Board met to collaborate on the coming year for MASFAP. The day included reviewing responsibilities and expectations, a budget and finance overview, board use of the website including reaching out to volunteers, setting goals, planning the year on the calendar and teambuilding. Attached are some pictures taken yesterday at this 1-day board retreat in Columbia.

Congrats MASFAP on 50 years! #masfapturns50

MASFAP President Amy Hager’s Opening Remarks (Amy is AWESOME):

Whether you are a newcomer or you have an overwhelming number collection of conference badges on your office wall, the 2017 MASFAP Annual Conference is the one NOT to miss! This year, MASFAP is celebrating 50 years with the theme, “Celebrating Our Past, Inspiring Our Future.” And, here are 50 reasons why you should attend the MASFAP Fall conference November 6-8 at the Lodge of Four Seasons:

1. Everyone will be there!

Not too long ago, I was puzzled how September passed by in a blur… and now I feel the same way about October. Time is flying by! Fall keeps trying to make an appearance… one chilly morning for my daily walk with our dog I wore a down vest … in contrast a few days later at the pumpkin patch with our grandson the temperature was 80 degrees. Ghosts, ghouls, skeletons and other assorted decorations have appeared throughout my neighborhood, and the stores have Halloween candy prominently displayed… as well as even some holiday displays. This can only mean one thing… the MASFAP conference is around the corner!

This time of year always puts me in the MASFAP state of mind. Crazy temperature changes, Halloween decorations and the holidays right around the corner, it just gets me thinking about and looking forward to MASFAP! I look forward to learning new regulations and best practices from my esteemed colleagues, and I look forward to seeing all of your friendly faces. This year, I’m looking forward to seeing old friends, renewing friendships and meeting new friends. And I know we are going to have a fabulous time at the 50th celebration! If you haven’t already, please register for the annual conference at http://www.masfap.org/docs/conferences/site/index.html – here you can complete your registration, book your hotel, and view the draft program agenda.

As you prepare to hit the road to travel to the MASFAP conference, you might ask yourself, “Why am I going?” Or in my case, I have the cutest 4-year-old little boy asking, “Daddy, why are you going to a conference?” Having gone to a number of these things over the last several years, I’ve begun to actually think about my answer.

I used to say I was going for work. That was sufficient for a 2-year-old…but a 4-year-old, that’s not going to cut it. Because inevitably, I’ll get the follow-up questions, “What do you do at a conference?”, “If it’s for work, why do you have to go somewhere?”, “Who goes to your conference?”, “Do they have a pool or a playground?”, and lately, when I say Nick Prewett will be there, I get the question, “Will my friends Maddi and Collin be there?” (we visited Columbia a few weeks ago and they are now, in his mind, his BFF’s).

Today, October 18 (3rd Wednesday in October) is a special day set aside to celebrate and recognize the contributions of all financial aid professionals for helping students make their college-going dreams a reality! What is your office doing today to celebrate??? Please comment below…and HAPPY Financial Aid Day to you – YOU make a difference!

The registration link is now live for the MASFAP High School Counselor Workshops at https://goo.gl/forms/XjfFfXbfrAuQJwJC3

MASFAP Members – please help spread the word to high school counselor contacts that registration is open!

L to R Steve Garman, Gena Boling, Keri Gilbert, Rep. Cleaver, Dena Norris, Crystal Bruntz, Amy Hager, Jennifer Moore

As I wondered about what to share with you, I thought about my recent personal experiences and information we all need to remember and can relate to. Not necessarily work related, but more importantly about life.

During the past few months, I’ve come to realize that life is too short. I came to this realization after losing five friends in the past two months that had so much more life to live. They had plans but were not able to see them through.

As you know, MASFAP is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year! Have you saved the date for the fall conference? If not, please add November 6-8, 2017 now to your calendar, because you won’t want to miss this amazing conference!

We will be Celebrating Our Past and Inspiring Our Future at the Lodge of Four Seasons, in Lake Ozark Missouri.

The 2018 MASFAP election results are in! Here are the newly elected officials:

President: Samantha Matchefts, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Vice President: Alexandria Miller, William Woods University
Secretary: Kim Cary, Ozarks Technical Community College
Treasurer: Becca Diskin, Missouri Southern State University
Delegate (3 Year): Charles Mayfield, Northwest Missouri State University
Delegate (1 Year): Scott Young, University of Missouri – Kansas City

Effective immediately, MASFAP has a new mailing address (since the UPS Store our box is located in is moving).

The new mailing address is:

The MASFAP Leadership Development group arrived today to Washington, D.C. for their financial aid advocacy trip – they are eager to begin their meetings!! Take a look at some fun pics as they arrived!

The first Thursday of each month leading up to MASFAP’s 50th Anniversary Conference is Throwback Thursday! Check out these pics and see if you can guess the year they were taken!

Here’s a fun group – Kelli Hartman, Brent Carpenter, Michelle (Pursel) Metcalf and Becca Diskin.

I was excited to hear that we have some relief for students and families this morning regarding verification requirements as a result of the recent suspension of the DRT. Have you read the exciting new Dear Colleague Letter out today about Changes to 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Verification Requirements: https://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/GEN1704.html? I am grateful for all who have been advocating for relief in the verification process through the DRT suspension. This should help students as well as financial aid administrators as this new guidance will lighten loads in some ways. However, it could cause confusion for others.  I would love to hear what your offices are talking about today in light of the changes. Please comment to this blog!