Welcome to WASFAA, Population 476
by Cub Reporter Laurie Bodnar,
Central Oregon Community College

Saturday, April 15th
My first indication of what the week was going to be like was at the Seattle airport. As I approached my gate, I saw a crowd talking, hugging and acting as though they were already at a party. Some I recognized from the OASFAA conference, some were new faces, and some appeared to be "Lenders." I called home to say "hi," and said, "The entire Northwest financial aid brain-trust is on this plane!"

The next gathering happened on the shuttle to the hotel, where someone recognized that we were all in Anchorage for the same reason. So, we went around the shuttle in an orderly fashion, and introduced ourselves. (Note to self: in this business, someone in the group is always organizing the socializing!) Surprisingly, someone knew a former registrar from my college, COCC, which sparked a conversation about 'who's where now'. Over the course of the week, I came to realize that I shouldn't have been surprised. I was a newcomer in what amounts to "The Small and Friendly Town of Financial Aid."

Sunday, April 16th
As a newbie, I started off by going to the Newcomers session. I met some nice people, got some background on the conference, and got this job -writing an article, taking pictures with a blue camera, and having an excellent excuse for some of the simplistic questions I was planning to ask over the next two days. The next event was the kickoff lunch. Clearly, this was a group that was happy to be together! I found "The Oregon Table," which was full, and decided that I would make it a point to sit at a table of strangers at each event. I felt that would maximize my chances of finding someone in financial aid that had a school just like ours, a philosophy just like ours, and all the answers to all my questions. (Naivete does not disappear with age!) The opening lunch was informative, entertaining - in great part due to our unofficial host Mr. Henderson (Remember? "The odds are good, but the goods are odd!") - and educational. The Native American dancers were wonderful, and talking to Tracy (the aunt of Darius, the youngest dancer, and mom to 3 of the young girls) helped me understand what an important part of their family life the dancing and performing has become. Just as my third child was born knowing all of the words to "Good-Night Moon" after hearing it so many times, Darius was born familiar with the loud drumming and singing he now appeared so comfortable with. I think all the WASFAA attendees really enjoyed the performance, and particularly the opportunity we all had to show why we shouldn't quit our day jobs to become dancers!

It was nice to start Sunday slowly, because after the dancers a dizzying array of sessions began with federal updates (Hey, I recognize those women at the front of the room - be careful what you ask!); how to use the listservs, websites and databases to find what you need (and don't have time to read); how to keep up your and your staff's training (SFA Coach is now online); how OASFAA fits into WASFAA which fits into NASFAA and what the relationship is to RMASFAA (they're like a cousin). I was definitely relieved when it was time to stop by the Sallie Mae reception and talk to some of my Oregon friends I had seen briefly earlier in the day. Then, off to dinner with "them" - we like them, we take their office supplies, we let them feed us, we soak up all their information, and we make sure that we don't put them at the top of our lender list JUST because they bought us dinner. got tons of great information from everyone in our dinner group, a handful of business cards, some new ideas and even some new friends. (We put ours in alphabetical order.)

Monday, April 17th
I had a quick cup of coffee and more sessions. Another federal update. Too many good sessions all at the same time - so chose one, and then peeked into an-other, and tried to notice who was in a third so I could catch up with them later. How are we going to implement all this? The lunch speaker, DeeDee Jonrowe, was a welcome break and fascinating to listen to. I have to agree with her - the preparation is what wears you out! Once the race starts (or the letters go out), you just deal with what comes your way. On to more sessions - NSLDS, more familiar faces, and more people walking up after sessions to offer support, condolences and business cards! Then the train ride. I tagged onto a group that looked knowledgeable, figuring this was one of my last chances to extract nuggets of the secrets to success in financial aid. After strategically choosing a spot right across from the food table (excellent move, gentlemen!), we introduced ourselves and proceeded to have an enjoyable evening. I think that, between the three of them, they knew almost everyone who passed our table on their way to the beverage car. We had the additional opportunity to spend some time with one of the next day's honorees, and he regaled us with stories of how financial aid USED to work and how to succeed in financial aid no matter what your prior educational or business background may have been. The evening was definitely entertaining, but once again the thing that struck me was the willingness of this particular group of business people to share their knowledge, insights and knack for enjoying their jobs.

Tuesday, April 18th
It's time to go home, and I think I'm ready. My suitcase weighs a ton, my briefcase has tons of business cards in it, my pen is almost out of ink and my brain is overflowing with information. A wrap-up meeting, some awards, ANOTHER federal update, door prizes and it's over. My take away? There is a lot to learn, and doing it in concentrated doses like this definitely beats trying to keep up from my desk with ringing phones, tons of e-mail and people peeking in my office door. More so than any other busi-ness I've been in, the relationships are what make the difference. No matter whether someone comes from the school perspective, regulatory perspective or vendor perspective, they all have something useful to share. Leaving the WASFAA Conference, I have so many supportive offers of help, advice, guidance and direction that I no longer feel like a stranger in this town.

Photos, from top to bottom: Jim Henderson, Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, Ted Malone on right. Native American Dancers