Circumnavigating the WASFAA World

Welcome to our winter issue of the WASFAA newsletter. We have compiled a variety of articles and photos from all over the Western Association territory. Most notably, Marianna Deeken and Julie Yeager Arthur of the Department of Education Seattle Case Management Team have shared their experiences while traveling in the Pacific Islands to conduct federal training. This was a return home of sorts for Julie and a first time experience for Marianna.

As fall is busy with state association conferences, we also have a couple of updates from our cub reporters in the field. Participants of both the Idaho and Washington State Conferences took some great pictures and summarized their experiences in Post Falls, Idaho and Leavenworth, Washington. Doug Severs, WASFAA President, attended each conference so his report covers the region about as well as the dust of his travels must be covering him! The update on the new version of the FAFSA and FAFSA on the Web is most timely as financial aid gears up for yet another cycle ...we hope that you had a moment to catch your breath during the hazy transition from one award year to the next.

To keep you current on news and activities in the region, our states have provided some updates on their activities and we also have a draft version of the minutes from the October meeting of the WASFAA Executive Committee. Tracy Reisinger has supplied a good analysis of recent business conducted within the Association, particularly the approved change in the WASFAA fiscal year.

Finally, we take a moment in this issue to honor one of our great colleagues in financial aid, Betty Larkins. Thanks again to those of you we were able to contact, though we know we did not reach everyone, who took time to help us remember Betty. She certainly inspires reflection on that which is so precious and gives us pause to be grateful for the gift of life.

We wish each of you and your loved ones a very special holiday season!

Becky Cady
Judy Saling
WASFAA Newsletter Co-Editors