President's Report
by Doug Severs, Idaho State University

Wasn't that a great conference in Anchorage? Barb Alm and Rick Weems and all of the Conference Committee did a great job, and I want to thank them for all of their work. I am still trying to figure out how they scheduled such balmy Alaskan weather. At the recent NASFAA board meeting, members of the NASFAA board who attended the WASFAA Conference gave rave reviews. It made me very proud of WASFAA.

I believe Ted Malone was relieved to pass the gavel for the second time; he kept indicating he was going to super glue the gavel to my hand. I was going to tease him at the conference by telling him that the Department of Education liked hiring WASFAA Presidents so much that they had offered me a job. Well, I figured he had enough stress during the conference and that he would remind me that the by-laws say that it is the next willing Past-President that fills the presidential replacement. Ted did have fun on his return flight from the NASFAA board meeting in Santa Fe. He was reviewing his return schedule and realized that it was not a direct flight from Santa Fe to Seattle - his Southwest flight stopped in Phoenix, Las Vegas AND Boise before landing in Seattle. He could either be an unofficial crewmember or give a complete review of Southwest's snacks for their in-flight magazine.

As WASFAA President-Elect, President and Past-President, you get to attend three years of NASFAA board meetings. The first year is kind of strange, as you sit in what is termed the "peanut gallery". All of the President-Elects from each region sit at a separate table, somewhat offset from the regular meeting tables. It is like family reunions where you're at the 'kiddie' table. We can't vote but we can participate in the discussions. The NASFAA board met at the beginning of May in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The room was so big in Santa Fe that it tested everyone's hearing and eyesight. It also tested the peanut gallery voices, since we had no microphone. Next year, when I get to move up to the 'big table' with 'the adults', a NASFAA board meeting will be held in Seattle in November. Visitors are welcome and we promise to make room at our special tables. Peanuts are optional!

Accessing WASFAA and the West
When my wife and I were considering whether or not I should apply for the position at Idaho State University, going West was a great appeal. The job advertisement indicated that Pocatello, Idaho was located in a valley surrounded by mountains and was within three hours of Yellowstone Park, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley and the ski slopes of Utah (of course, the long-term residents have joked that Pocatello is three hours from somewhere). Being flat-landers, having grown up in Nebraska, the mountains drew both of us to decide I should apply for the position.

Well, after accepting the position, we packed the moving van to overfull and headed west with our Voyager Van and Honda Civic. We didn't realize how under-powered the Civic was until we started climbing the mountains in Wyoming. The Civic joined the semi-trucks in the slow lane and the Voyager driver had to wait for the Civic to catch up. The only other difficulty was that we thought we lost our cat in Rock Springs, Wyoming. We had stopped for lunch, came back, and couldn't see where he went. We finally figured out that he'd re-config-ured his body to squeeze under the Civic's passenger seat. It seemed impossible to do, but animals have a knack for hiding.

While driving West, we were struck by how desolate the land of western Nebraska, Wyoming and Idaho appeared to be miles and miles of sagebrush, dirt and rocks. It certainly must have been a challenge for the wagon trains heading west. While we could cross Wyoming in a day in air conditioning, a wagon train could only cover thirty miles with choking dust and scalding heat or freezing cold. We felt very fortunate to be coming West at this time in history.

While we did not have the hardships to overcome heading West like the others that came earlier, we were coming West for the same basic reason of improving our lives. I indicated earlier that the physical aspect of the West appealed to us; however, it also was the chance for growth in a new job and a better economic situation. This, I believe, is the hallmark of the West: the natural, physical beauty - of the ocean, mountains, lakes, rivers, gorges, and deserts - and the opportunity to improve one's future.

While colleges and universities don't necessarily have the physical beauty of the West on their campuses, they are today's West with regards to providing access to improve one's future. When helping freshmen get into their dorm rooms, I always think of the journey they are taking and how we as financial aid administrators have such a large part in helping finance their future. Of course, some students don't make it (their covered wagons were wrecked for not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress), but most do make it and it is great to see them graduate.

My goals for WASFAA center on assisting you in your work to help these students with their journey. We have a terrific executive council for 2000-2001 and we have already begun our work for the next year. We will keep you informed on training and other opportunities throughout the year.