Arizona State Update
by AASFAA President Philip R. Schroeder,
Cochise College

As the newly elected President of the Arizona Association, I have had little time to contemplate the upcoming year. However, after returning recently form the WASFAA 2000 conference in Anchorage, Alaska, I realize there is a lot of work ahead of us. As we assemble our committee chairs and members, we will focus on key issues that affect all of us, especially training and technology.

We are coming into our transition period, with meetings and conferences to attend and some to orchestrate. As the new board convenes in June for the first time, the vision will be to increase the opportunities for our membership to enhance their financial aid skills through training and workshops. We have invited the Department of Education Region IV to our fall conference being held jointly with the Nevada Association in Laughlin, Nevada from November 15th to the 17th. After meeting with my Nevada colleagues when we were all in Anchorage, we are all looking forward to what promises to be a very informative, educational and fun fall conference.

In addition, we are looking ahead to the spring 2001 conference. Again, we are looking at holding a joint conference; however, we're hoping to organize the spring conference with the New Mexico Association. This gives our members the opportunity to share ideas and innovations with another of our border neighboring states. All in all, it appears that the new year will be productive and exciting.