Worried because you don’t know what Hill Day is going to be like? We have you covered. Here is a snapshot of what to expect on February 14. Make sure to sign up today at masfap.org under Training!

MASFAP will conduct Hill Day in the capitol building in Jefferson City. We will have a table set up where we can converse with elected officials and policy makers. The place we occupy is very public, so diverse types of capitol employees will walk by to ask who we are and what we do.

Pictured are Janice Barnes, Todd Morris, Vicki Mattocks, Ronn Ramey and Kathy Morris.

Good morning MASFAP!

The MASFAP Board is meeting now! Do you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions for the Board? Please let us know by commenting to this blog or emailing one of your MASFAP Delegates:

Took a minute out of the day to get a picture of the MASFAP Board members today at the board retreat in New Haven, MO (it was the quietest this group has been all day). This year is MASFAP’s 50th Anniversary – we are having a lot of great discussion about this year and the future of MASFAP!!!

As new legislators have taken their oaths of office, they have affirmed their commitment to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of their position. Although financial aid officers may not have to take an oath, many of us in the industry feel a responsibility to help further simplify and improve financial aid for students and their families.

A fellow Missourian and legend in financial aid did just that. Allan Purdy pioneered financial aid policies and advocated on behalf of students during his time spent as the University of Missouri’s first director of scholarships and financial aid. He was the founding president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, helped to create MASFAA, Sallie Mae, USA Funds, as well as MOHELA. Mr. Purdy’s leadership in the financial aid industry is unparalleled. He believed in using one’s voice and knowledge to help students and families obtain higher education.

Networking can be intimidating. The idea of going to an event and mingling can stir fear in even the most extroverted of people. Luckily, you have the opportunity to put your networking skills into practice at our upcoming MASFAP event: Hill Day! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people because not only are you able to mingle with current MASFAP colleagues, there will be opportunities to meet and form connections with Missouri state legislators as well.

Creating bonds like these are important, not only for your career, but for higher education in our state. Forming bonds can lead to becoming a resource to our elected officials. Think you know everyone that’s been elected? Well think again! Thanks to our latest election day, this Hill Day is a great opportunity for volunteers new and old to come out and meet our newest officials.

Happy New Year! As 2017 sets in, if you haven’t made your New Year’s resolution (or if you already broke some!) – how about you consider getting more involved with MASFAP? There are lots of ways to advocate for students, meet new people, step out of your shell and network in your field.

One way you can help MASFAP kick off 2017 is with our Hill Day in Jefferson City on February 14. This event goes throughout the day – (it is entirely up to your schedule how you would like to volunteer your time, of course) – and involves presentations to different committee members, meetings with key legislative staff, and getting the word out to legislators about what MASFAP is and what our members do!

It’s that time of year again! The date has been set for MASFAP’s Hill Day and it’s going to be Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

As you make your New Year’s Resolution, consider how you might increase your involvement with MASFAP. What better way is there to demonstrate true kindness and love than volunteering with MASFAP and advocating for Missouri’s students?  There are lots of new representatives in Jefferson City so share the love and kick off this New Year by advocating for students and get involved with MASFAP. Hill Day is something that everyone can do. We need your help to maximize the potential of a successful legislative visit!

They just posted some pics from MASFAP’s charity event – so fun and such a great cause! Thank you again for everyone’s generosity!

https://www.facebook.com/lotoidiotsclub/

Sparky is so excited he cannot contain himself! He is leaving early to drive to the conference – it takes the little guy a little longer to drive a car than most!

Conference reminders:

Thursday, December 8, 2016- 4 days until the conference

Today Sparky was wondering what to do with his wrapped gift for the charity once he gets to the conference. He found that there will be a table in the vendor area for each attendee to drop off the gifts. Also, make sure that the family # and child name are on the tag!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 – 5 days until the conference

What comes to your mind when you hear the word team.  Sometimes, it’s a collective term used too often to describe things that it’s not really meant to describe.  There are many off shoots of the word as well…team work, team training, team building.  Webster does not have a definition for team building, however defines team work as: “marked by devotion rather than an individual achievement.”  Wikipedia states team training as “designed to improve efficiency, rather than interpersonal relations” and that team building “enhances social relations and defines roles within teams, often involving collaborative tasks.”  The simple definition of team according to Webster, “a group of people who work together.”  Sounds not too difficult to understand, right?  No stress involved, right?  Um…sure.  Teams are complex.  Teams need attention.  Teams need development.  If you stop and think about it, how many teams are you a part of?  At work, at home, at Church, in your neighborhood, in your community, in MASFAP.  Are all of your teams successful?  Why or why not?  Are teams successful because they have good leaders?  Are teams successful because they have dedicated members or participants and everyone pulls their weight?  Are teams successful because they have cohesion and unity and everyone gets along?  Are teams successful because they are organized?  Successful teams take much effort.  How many times have you participated in a team building exercise and at the on-set groaned.  Come on be honest.  Team building exercises are built to expose problems within the group.  Is that why you groan?  Who likes to be exposed?  How many times though have you come away from a team building exercise with an “ah-ha” moment and grown from that moment?  Know however, that a team builder is not a quick fix to mend a team that appears broken.  It won’t magically help poor leadership or broken communication, teams that appear unproductive or without vision.  The team builder will identify where the challenges are and then smaller teams will need to be formed to dig deeper into the underlying causes.  Often times team building is not given the attention it deserves.  The activity is fun, but the follow up is lacking.  Studies have shown that if done right, participants become more united, more committed, morale becomes higher and performance increases.  And why?  Because all participants should have been a part of the decision making along the way and ultimately of the outcome.  Some take aways…team members are individuals with different needs, ultimately individual differences.  Teams should be created and utilized with each individual in mind so as to be built with their strengths in mind, not their weaknesses.    

When’s the last time you’ve participated in or planned a team building activity?  Are you overdue?  What are you waiting for?”

Check out Sparky’s Adventures this week!

Friday, December 2, 2016– 10 days until the conference

Sparky wishes you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time with your family and he looks forward to seeing you next week when the countdown to the conference will continue!

Sparky wants to encourage you to pick a “virtual gift tag” and purchase a gift for one of the families MASFAP is adopting.

Take a moment to read about the families: