‘Twas The Night Before MASFAP
‘Twas the night before MASFAP, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The sessions were hung by the rooms with care,
In hopes that MASFAP-ians soon would be there.
The newcomers were nestled all snug in their rooms,
While visions of networking danced in their heads;
And President Karlin in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down (in different rooms, of course) for a short Winter nap;
When out in Granada there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my room to see what was the matter.
Away to the hallways I flew like a director,
Tore open the doors and turned on the projector.
The screen, on the wall of the conference room,
Gave insight to regulations and changes that loom,
But what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a planning committee bringing holiday cheer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be VP Dick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now, Susan! Now, Shandra, now, Verona and Hal!
On, Marsha! On, Laura! on Angel and Nick!
To the top of Marbella, to the top of Seachase,
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the Lodge-top the committee flew,
With a sleigh full of sessions, and the VP too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard through the rooms,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the hallway VP Dick came with a bound.
He was dressed in business casual from his head to the floor,
And his mind was all tarnished with PPY and R2T4;
A bundle of PD he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
Speed sessions, how they twinkle! Gainful Employment–how merry!
State updates are like roses, federal trainers like a cherry!
The evening activities will be drawn up like a bow,
And oh please, oh please, let there not be any snow.
The keynote speaker will bring laughs to rattle your teeth,
And maybe, just maybe, you’ll bring home a wreath.
The meals and snacks will fill up your belly,
While the federal update we hope won’t make you shake like jelly.
You’ll leave with brains that are plump, a financial aid elf,
And the Idiots Club will make you laugh, in spite of yourself.
A wink of an eye and a twist of your head
Will let you know the future is nothing to dread.
We’ll speak lots of words, and get back to work,
And fill all the stockings in the spring term,
Then laying a finger aside of your nose,
And giving a nod, back to your schools you arose.
So spring to your sleigh, and give your director a shout,
For free registration is yours if they come to hang out.
As I heard President Karlin exclaim, as she drove in to sight,
“It’s conference time everybody! And to you– Register tonight!”
The conference mini-site is now live: http://masfap.org/docs/conferences/site/index.html
This poem was written by Dan Dick. Dan is the Vice President and 2016 Program Chair
2 THOUGHTS ON “‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE MASFAP BY DAN DICK”
ddick on September 19, 2016 at 11:22 am said:
Thanks! It’s the first (and last) poem I will ever write, I am pretty sure! And if I’d have remembered how long the original was before I started, it would have never happened!
Crystal BruntzCrystal Bruntz on September 15, 2016 at 11:45 am said:
This poem is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!