As usual, I looked forward to the OASFAA Conference for weeks before hand. Not only was I looking forward to attending the conference, but my entire family would be coming along as well. Truthfully, I was a bit jealous that they would get to see the Newport Aquarium while I was going over the minutia of Verification. I envisioned them taking long walks on the beach while the Federal Update loomed before me. I knew I would get the last laugh, however, as I would be eating all my meals at the Conference, while I had only purchased breakfast tickets for them.

During the Conference itself, I had a blast. Aside from being spotted at 7:00 in the morning wearing nothing but a bathing suit and a toddler (hopefully you didn't have your contacts in, Tami!) things went much more smoothly than I had expected. Andrea and I spent all of my free time in the pool, but she and her dad had a wonderful time at the beach.

I was too engrossed in my sessions to be all that jealous of the fun my family was having! I learned at lot of ways to improve my performance as an FAA, an employee, and a boss. Gene from OSAC taught me how to wage a PR campaign within my own college, so that the powers that be realized just how important financial aid really is. I learned more than I ever thought possible about the NSLDS. And, as always, Verification is my friend, Verification is my friend, Verification is my friend.

Yes, there was that little incident where Andrea threw ice cream into my hair during the Sunday Brunch (and thanks to all of you who reminded me of that during the Conference), but overall, I discovered that family and financial aid can mix!

I also learned how nice it is to have the last night of a conference all alone in a King Size bed. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

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by Andrea Stone, (Jennifer's Daughter), 18 months

This was my second OASFAA Conference, and I was thrilled when Becky noticed my budding journalistic talents! Unlike last year, when I slept and ate my way through the conference, THIS year, I was old enough to pay attention.

I learned a lot of things. Like if you look really cute at the Sunday Brunch, people you don't even know will come up and give you lots of attention. Also, they shamed my mom into letting me eat food that she is too strict to allow me to eat at home. But when my mama didn't pay enough attention to me, I experimented, and learned that if you throw ice cream at her, she will whisk you away to the room for a nap.

I also got to see my mom play with a bunch of monkeys one morning. It was kind of scary, so my dad kept taking me and leaving the room. I tried telling him that they were only FAKE monkeys, and that mama was okay, but he seemed pretty shaken up. I wonder if he'll ever grow up enough to know the difference between make believe and real life? I mean, does he STILL believe that technology will make our lives easier?

Mama spent a lot of time going to "sessions" with her friends and learning a lot of things. One of her friends, Raymond, kept talking about when they were younger and stayed up late in the lounge. But I know my mama likes to go to bed when I do, because what else would she do with her time? Mama likes this conference a lot because of the things she learns, but I think she secretly likes it so much because of all the nice people.

I like the pool the best, but mama only took me 7 times in 2 days. I wish she would've taken me more often! And I don't understand why she was so upset when she was carrying me back to the room and we ran into one of her friends. All I had on was a swim diaper and a towel. Mama had on a bathing suit AND tennis shoes! She had on more clothes than I did, but she acted like she was completely embarrassed!

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I hope I get to go again next year, so that everyone can fawn all over me and I can go and see the fishies at the aquarium. And I hope I get to start another food fight!

OASFAA Conference 2001: A Financial Aid Odyssey
by Cub Reporter Danette Eichele, Mount Hood Community College

The weather was great, the food was unbeatable, and the company even better at the OASFAA conference held February 4-6 in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. Some of the highlights were Jim Beyer's retirement roast (you look great in a dress, Jim), Raymond's Harem winning the Mr. Bill's Trivia contest after dinner on Saturday, and the ever popular Not Ready for NASFAA players' rendition of 2001: A Space Odyssey as 2001: A Financial Aid Idiocy.