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MASFAP Hill Day – great group of people representing MASFAP today!

In Preparation for Hill Day by Will Shaffner

BE SURE TO REGISTER for HILL DAY – sign up today at masfap.org under Training! MASFAP’s Hill Day is finally here! The event is right around the corner and we have a few tips to help prepare you. What to wear: Dress professionally. Advice straight from our Chair: wear comfortable shoes! You’ll be standing for much of the time. Parking:  We suggest carpooling because parking is tight. Plan to arrive early because weather and traffic are not reliable. Lunch: Bring a bagged lunch and drink and we can keep them under the MASFAP table, or you can purchase lunch in the small cafeteria located in the Capitol building. Remember, if you are interested in meeting with officials, contact the Legislative Committee by emailing [email protected] so the committee can set a meeting up for you! MASFAP will provide a list of speaking points and legislative priorities for your meetings beforehand. Still want to contribute to Hill Day as a volunteer? It’s never too late! Plan on arriving on site at 7:30 a.m. and talk to a member of the Legislative Committee when you get there. We will make sure you have a job and are contributing to the day’s responsibilities. If you can’t come first thing in the morning, we would still love to have you help out.  Be sure to arrive before 1 p.m. Send an email to Will Shaffner at [email protected] and let him know you’ll be coming! If you have any hesitations about volunteering, know that you are very much needed! There is power in numbers and every student that goes to your institution, or goes to any institution in Missouri, needs your representation in Jefferson City. Your expertise is exactly what these legislators need to make informed decisions about higher education in Missouri. Don’t leave it up to fate! Come out next week on Tuesday, February 14 and support MASFAP and Missouri’s education system! Will Shaffner is MASFAP’s Legislative Chair.

Hill Day: What to Expect By Will Shaffner

Worried because you don’t know what Hill Day is going to be like? We have you covered. Here is a snapshot of what to expect on February 14. Make sure to sign up today at masfap.org under Training!

MASFAP will conduct Hill Day in the capitol building in Jefferson City. We will have a table set up where we can converse with elected officials and policy makers. The place we occupy is very public, so diverse types of capitol employees will walk by to ask who we are and what we do.

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Vicki Mattocks Receives the Missouri Award

Pictured are Janice Barnes, Todd Morris, Vicki Mattocks, Ronn Ramey and Kathy Morris.

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Good Morning from the MASFAP Board Meeting!

Good morning MASFAP!

The MASFAP Board is meeting now! Do you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions for the Board? Please let us know by commenting to this blog or emailing one of your MASFAP Delegates:

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Lots of great discussion about the future of MASFAP!

Took a minute out of the day to get a picture of the MASFAP Board members today at the board retreat in New Haven, MO (it was the quietest this group has been all day). This year is MASFAP’s 50th Anniversary – we are having a lot of great discussion about this year and the future of MASFAP!!!

Make Your Voice Heard to Affect Change By Will Shaffner

As new legislators have taken their oaths of office, they have affirmed their commitment to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of their position. Although financial aid officers may not have to take an oath, many of us in the industry feel a responsibility to help further simplify and improve financial aid for students and their families.

A fellow Missourian and legend in financial aid did just that. Allan Purdy pioneered financial aid policies and advocated on behalf of students during his time spent as the University of Missouri’s first director of scholarships and financial aid. He was the founding president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, helped to create MASFAA, Sallie Mae, USA Funds, as well as MOHELA. Mr. Purdy’s leadership in the financial aid industry is unparalleled. He believed in using one’s voice and knowledge to help students and families obtain higher education.

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Networking on Hill Day By Will Shaffner

Networking can be intimidating. The idea of going to an event and mingling can stir fear in even the most extroverted of people. Luckily, you have the opportunity to put your networking skills into practice at our upcoming MASFAP event: Hill Day! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people because not only are you able to mingle with current MASFAP colleagues, there will be opportunities to meet and form connections with Missouri state legislators as well.

Creating bonds like these are important, not only for your career, but for higher education in our state. Forming bonds can lead to becoming a resource to our elected officials. Think you know everyone that’s been elected? Well think again! Thanks to our latest election day, this Hill Day is a great opportunity for volunteers new and old to come out and meet our newest officials.

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Make a Resolution to Get Involved By Will Shaffner

Happy New Year! As 2017 sets in, if you haven’t made your New Year’s resolution (or if you already broke some!) – how about you consider getting more involved with MASFAP? There are lots of ways to advocate for students, meet new people, step out of your shell and network in your field.

One way you can help MASFAP kick off 2017 is with our Hill Day in Jefferson City on February 14. This event goes throughout the day – (it is entirely up to your schedule how you would like to volunteer your time, of course) – and involves presentations to different committee members, meetings with key legislative staff, and getting the word out to legislators about what MASFAP is and what our members do!

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Save the Date for MASFAP Hill Day: February 14 By Will Shaffner

It’s that time of year again! The date has been set for MASFAP’s Hill Day and it’s going to be Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2017.

As you make your New Year’s Resolution, consider how you might increase your involvement with MASFAP. What better way is there to demonstrate true kindness and love than volunteering with MASFAP and advocating for Missouri’s students?  There are lots of new representatives in Jefferson City so share the love and kick off this New Year by advocating for students and get involved with MASFAP. Hill Day is something that everyone can do. We need your help to maximize the potential of a successful legislative visit!

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Check Out Lake of the Ozarks Idiots Club Facebook Page

They just posted some pics from MASFAP’s charity event – so fun and such a great cause! Thank you again for everyone’s generosity!

https://www.facebook.com/lotoidiotsclub/

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OH MY Goodness – ONLY 3 days until the conference!

Sparky is so excited he cannot contain himself! He is leaving early to drive to the conference – it takes the little guy a little longer to drive a car than most!

Conference reminders:

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Sparky – 4 days until the conference!

sparky-4-daysThursday, December 8, 2016- 4 days until the conference

Today Sparky was wondering what to do with his wrapped gift for the charity once he gets to the conference. He found that there will be a table in the vendor area for each attendee to drop off the gifts. Also, make sure that the family # and child name are on the tag!

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MASFAP’s Elf on the Shelf Counting Down to the Conference

sparky-snow

Wednesday, December 7, 2016 – 5 days until the conference

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On team building… By Kelly Fleming

What comes to your mind when you hear the word team.  Sometimes, it’s a collective term used too often to describe things that it’s not really meant to describe.  There are many off shoots of the word as well…team work, team training, team building.  Webster does not have a definition for team building, however defines team work as: “marked by devotion rather than an individual achievement.”  Wikipedia states team training as “designed to improve efficiency, rather than interpersonal relations” and that team building “enhances social relations and defines roles within teams, often involving collaborative tasks.”  The simple definition of team according to Webster, “a group of people who work together.”  Sounds not too difficult to understand, right?  No stress involved, right?  Um…sure.  Teams are complex.  Teams need attention.  Teams need development.  If you stop and think about it, how many teams are you a part of?  At work, at home, at Church, in your neighborhood, in your community, in MASFAP.  Are all of your teams successful?  Why or why not?  Are teams successful because they have good leaders?  Are teams successful because they have dedicated members or participants and everyone pulls their weight?  Are teams successful because they have cohesion and unity and everyone gets along?  Are teams successful because they are organized?  Successful teams take much effort.  How many times have you participated in a team building exercise and at the on-set groaned.  Come on be honest.  Team building exercises are built to expose problems within the group.  Is that why you groan?  Who likes to be exposed?  How many times though have you come away from a team building exercise with an “ah-ha” moment and grown from that moment?  Know however, that a team builder is not a quick fix to mend a team that appears broken.  It won’t magically help poor leadership or broken communication, teams that appear unproductive or without vision.  The team builder will identify where the challenges are and then smaller teams will need to be formed to dig deeper into the underlying causes.  Often times team building is not given the attention it deserves.  The activity is fun, but the follow up is lacking.  Studies have shown that if done right, participants become more united, more committed, morale becomes higher and performance increases.  And why?  Because all participants should have been a part of the decision making along the way and ultimately of the outcome.  Some take aways…team members are individuals with different needs, ultimately individual differences.  Teams should be created and utilized with each individual in mind so as to be built with their strengths in mind, not their weaknesses.    

When’s the last time you’ve participated in or planned a team building activity?  Are you overdue?  What are you waiting for?”

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MASFAP’s Elf on the Shelf – counting down until the conference!

Check out Sparky’s Adventures this week!
sparky-packing

Friday, December 2, 2016– 10 days until the conference

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MASFAP’s Elf on the Shelf – 14 days until the conference


sparky-14-days-untilToday Sparky was spotted eating a salad and trying to lose the 5 pounds he gained over Thanksgiving! Speaking of food…. We are going to have great food at the conference  – including salad! Still time to register – at www.masfap.org!

 

 


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Happy Thanksgiving! 20 Days Until the MASFAP Conference!

Sparky wishes you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time with your family and he looks forward to seeing you next week when the countdown to the conference will continue!

sparky-20-days

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Grab a gift for charity – 21 days until the conference

Sparky wants to encourage you to pick a “virtual gift tag” and purchase a gift for one of the families MASFAP is adopting.

Take a moment to read about the families:

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Sparky found his Ugly Sweater! 24 days until the conference

Look! Sparky is now sporting his Ugly Sweater he found to wear for MASFAP’s Ugly Sweater Contest – after searching high and low he borrowed the sweater from his friend Nick. Do you think he will win? Do you have yours yet? Ugly Sweater Contest is Monday of the conference!