November FAC - The Woodlands

[Single Mom]

I got my executed PD plan approval earlier this month and FAX'ed in the registration form August 6. I haven't heard anything from the SOA since then. I guess I was expecting to get a more complete registration (i.e. payment, number of guests attending the Graduation Banquet, etc.). Has anybody else gotten further information since you sent in your registration form?

[Joey BagofDonuts]

I'm in the same boat as you SM, I faxed mine on August 8 and I still haven't heard anything. Someone else in my office who is in Denver this week said that it took a while (more than a month) before they heard anything after they submitted. I intend to call next week and make sure that I got in.

[PinkFloydActuary]

I mailed mine in on the 12th (and I'm just up the road a piece from
Schaumburg), and nothing for me either. Now that I've heard you
folks haven't had a response yet, I'll calm down for a few days.

[Digby]

Hey...got my "big envelope" in the mail yesterday...I'll see you all at the Woodlands!

p.s. does anybody know if this is like a resort "out in the wilderness" with nothing nearby, or it is it a neighborhood with some civilization?

- Digby

[Single Mom]

Thanks for your responses. I feel much less stressed now! Digby, Congratulations!!!!

[PinkFloydActuary]

My notice came today ( 6/28 ) and it was postmarked on the 26th. So you should be seeing things soon! See y'all (got to start working on my Southern lingo) there!

[Joey BagofDonuts]

I got my "confirmation form" today, soon it will be all over!!

[annabel lee]

I'm writing my part of the budget for the student program. With luck, I'll be going to a FAC sometime next year. Can anyone tell me how much it costs, and a reasonable estimate for hotel expenses? (and how many days is it?) thanks.

[Single Mom]

I was just looking at my confirmation form so I have that handy! The FAC registration fee is $750 and includes all meals and study materials. Guests are an additional $150, or $80 for the graduation banquet only. The FAC is 2 days, and start early in the morning. The graduation banquet is until 9:30 the second night, so you'll probably be in the hotel 3 nights. The SOA rate in Colorado was $169, and in TX is $150.

[Elessar]

Hey...got my "big envelope" in the mail yesterday...I'll see you all at the Woodlands!

p.s. does anybody know if this is like a resort "out in the wilderness" with nothing nearby, or it is it a neighborhood with some civilization?

- Digby

Okay, so I'm envious of you all, because I'm nowhere near being able to think about the FAC, but I have been to the Woodlands, so...

There isn't a whole lot nearby. A town with bars and stores and stuff, but nothing huge. Houston is about 40 minutes to an hour away from there. The upside to it is that it's a beautiful resort. There's a nice golf course (actually, more than one, IIRC) and the weather is pretty nice (although I don't know about November).

Have fun!

[Mathgod]

I just emailed & Fedex-ed my executed plan today hoping that it will be approved in time so I can make it to the Woodlands.
Here was the wonderful email reply:

"Core Studies and Global Initiatives staff members maintaining pdcomments will be out of the office from September 3 through September 10. We will respond to your email upon our return (Sept. 11).
Thank you for your patience."

So glad I hurried!
Fingers crossed,
Mathgod

[Brad Spirrison]

Me too..


.... same result.

[Healey]

I'll be attending the FAC in November and I'll be glad to be done. How many out there, even given the crummy economy, would go through the exam system (in any form) again? I definitely would not.

[Need_A_New_Career]

I just FedEx'd my completed PD package on the 11th. Do you think the SOA will get our PD approved in time? I feel like it's 50/50, and I am dreading the possibility of waiting until next year.

[Digby]

I just FedEx'd my completed PD package on the 11th. Do you think the SOA will get our PD approved in time? I feel like it's 50/50, and I am dreading the possibility of waiting until next year.

Need --

I think you'll be fine. In my experience, it took them 3 weeks to read my executed package enough to send me back some rewrite suggestions, and another 3 weeks after I sent back my rewrite for them to send me the invitation to the FAC. So I was under the (possibly mistaken) impression that they do everything in 3 week cycles.

The "Deadline" listed on the SOA site is not firm -- if there's still space open, (and it's not administratively too late to send out FAC info) they let people in.

Best of luck!
- Digby

[Need_A_New_Career]

Thanks Digby. I had heard through the grapevine that the FAC registration deadlines weren't drop-dead dates, but it's good to get some confirmation.

[Brad Spirrison]

Some interesting Stats (from the voice of pessimism):

119 out of 361 individuals that passed a course 8 in November of 2000 and 367 out of 498 people that passed a course 8 in November of 2001 have yet to get their Fellowship. That means that there are ~486 people out there that either are working on their PD or have already submitted it to the SOA (excluding individuals that only needed course 7 or PD).

This makes me nervous because no FAC has admitted more than 125 Fellows in the past 2 years.

It wouldn't surprise me if the SOA drags their feet on some of the PD submissions that were close to the deadline (like my own). Or maybe they'll start nitpicking.

Guess I better start making plans for the March 2003 FAC (wherever it will be)

[Need_A_New_Career]

Very nice. I just got my PD approval in the mail. The SOA turned it around in 6 days! I transitioned with 25 credits, so I didn't have a project...but I'm still impressed (and relieved). See y'all in Texas.

Just an FYI -- I was one of the multitude who passed C8 in Nov 2001.

[Brad Spirrison]

I just got mine approved too (7 day turnaround), 30 credits w/o project.

I guess inventory must be pretty low given the 3-4 week estimate they had provided earlier. They probably won't close this FAC until late Oct/ early Nov. They sure had me fooled.

Se y'all in Texass too.

[Mathgod]

Boy this must be an SOA record, I just received my approval too! Nine days for approval and I had 25 credits, no project.

Yee haa, Texas here I come!
Anyone got info on the possibility of playing golf on Wednesday???

[Jack]

I received my approval today. I submitted my plan on the 6th. I don't care, just a 2 day gym class in TX and I'm finished. Ya-freakin-hoo

[CurtisBlow]

I sent the SOA my executed plan on Sept. 12. I was a little miffed when I didn't receive any type of confirmation they had received it so I decided to lob them a phone call on the 20th. Well, not only had they received it, but they told me it had been approved on the 16th and the FAC registration was in the mail.

[Jack]

I submitted my registration via fax a couple of days ago. How long should I expect to wait for a response from the Society? I thought they would e-mail me to acknowledge receipt of the fax. If I don't hear from them in a couple of days, I'll call.

[Jack]

There isn't a whole lot nearby. A town with bars and stores and stuff, but nothing huge. Houston is about 40 minutes to an hour away from there. The upside to it is that it's a beautiful resort. There's a nice golf course (actually, more than one, IIRC) and the weather is pretty nice (although I don't know about November).

Nov. avg high 72
Nov. avg. low 50

Based on the avg low avg high it seems November is probably Houstons nicest month.

[Mathgod]

Just an update...I faxed in my registration on 9/23 and just received (9/26) a letter confirming my registration. The letter asks to send in the fee by 10/25 and that more materials will be sent late October.

[Brad Spirrison]

It appears to be a 3 step process.

1. PD Approval
2. Confirmation of Registration
3. Confirmation of Payment with FAC Materials ~ 1 month prior to FAC

[Jack]

I made my hotel reservation and the Woodlands mailed me a brouchore (sp?). This place ain't a motel 6, it's a fancy schmancy type resort with pools, spas, and golf courses.

[Brad Spirrison]

October 7th has passed and apparently the FAC has not closed yet.

Anyone out there still waiting for approval?
Any predictions on the close date?
I'll go with October 18th (1 month prior).

[Sancho]

The SoA has replaced the 2002 FAC dates & locations with the 2003 info. Does this mean that the November FAC is now closed?

[Me]

Sancho, I wouldn't assume that. I'd get confirmation from someone at the SOA before I gave up on November.

So the deadline for the first one next year is Jan 20. If course 8 results come out on the 10th and I have my 15 credits of PD ready to ship overnight as soon as I (hopefully) see my candidate number on the list, does anyone think I could get approved before Jan 20th and get registered for that first FAC?

[Brad Spirrison]

Sancho, I wouldn't assume that. I'd get confirmation from someone at the SOA before I gave up on November.

So the deadline for the first one next year is Jan 20. If course 8 results come out on the 10th and I have my 15 credits of PD ready to ship overnight as soon as I (hopefully) see my candidate number on the list, does anyone think I could get approved before Jan 20th and get registered for that first FAC?

I think it depends on how full they already are (namely how much November overflow exists, and how many people only need C7 or C8 to qualify for the FAC). The time deadline seems to be more of a suggestion that a hard and fast rule. The Society's wording is:

"Registrations will be accepted up to six weeks prior to the start of a given FAC session, space permitting."

My research indicates that 13 out of 102 March 2001 Fellows passed C8 in November 2000, and 18 out of 121 March 2002 Fellows passed C8 in November 2001.

I wasn't able to get any C7 results because I couldn't get any names.

Good Luck

[Brad Spirrison]

I also noticed that PD Model Plans were updated on the SOA Website.

Does anyone recognize theirs as one of the samples?

[Me]

My research indicates that 13 out of 102 March 2001 Fellows passed C8 in November 2000, and 18 out of 121 March 2002 Fellows passed C8 in November 2001.

So about 10-15% of people at the March FACs got their results in January and got approved before the deadline? That's encouraging news. I assume they were all people with transition credits and no need for a project, but so am I! I'd rather go to Montreal than Atlanta, but I'd also rather get thru sooner. Cool.

[skier]

I predict the FAC will close soon. In conversation today with the SOA I learned that only a couple spots remain and there are 15 or so approved executed PDs.

[Healey]

Hey, Jack!

Of course it's a fancy schmancy place. The nicer it is, the higher the costs, the bigger the SOA kickbacks. And since companies are paying, the higher the better!

[Brad Spirrison]

bump

Time to resurrect this one. All this exam talk is giving me indigestion.

I just got my "reading materials" in the mail.

Anyone else???

25 days til FSA.

[Single Mom]

I got mine, too. I haven't had time to read them yet. How are they?

[Jack]

The Denny Levine article is very entertaining.

[Brad Spirrison]

I'm saving mine for the plane ride (in case there are delays)

[Brad Spirrison]

bump


Now that exams are out of the way.

11 days & counting to FSA.