In celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Month, we will be sharing stories and photos of Iowa Legal Aid’s various volunteers. Please visit our Volunteer page for all the information.
Author: Terri Bennett
Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Finalist for Award
Steve Jackson, a long-time volunteer at Iowa Legal Aid’s Cedar Rapids Regional Office, has been named a finalist of the United Way East Central Iowa’s Annual Volunteer Award. The winner of the award is selected by voting on the website. You may vote once per day until April 7. The winner can direct $500 to a non-profit of their choice. Cast your vote HERE:
Iowa West Foundation Grant Award
In October 2016, Iowa Legal Aid was informed that it would receive renewed funding from the Iowa West Foundation for its highly successful Youth Link Project in Council Bluffs. The goal of the Youth Link Project is to empower Council Bluffs at-risk youth with the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to successfully address legal issues that can bring stability into their lives and prepare them to be more successful, productive adults. This goal will be accomplished through legal education and legal representation of youth and their families. Iowa Legal Aid is grateful for the ongoing support of the Youth Link Project from the Iowa West Foundation.
Foundation Support Helps Improve Iowa Legal Aid’s Volunteer Capacity
Over the past several years, Iowa Legal Aid has benefited from recruiting high quality volunteers and keeping them engaged. With financial support from the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and the Iowa State Bar Foundation, Iowa Legal Aid was able to hire a Volunteer Project Manager to improve the program’s volunteer capacity. The new project has developed new systems and procedures for recruiting, providing orientation, training and recognizing volunteers.
Among the accomplishments of the project are: expanded recruitment efforts to include online applications and direct outreach to community organizations and academic institutions; development of volunteer satisfaction surveys; selection and implementation of a volunteer database; training modules for volunteers; and, protocols for volunteer appreciation. Iowa Legal Aid is grateful for the support of these foundations. For more information about volunteering with Iowa Legal Aid, visit Iowa Legal Aid’s website at www.iowalegalaid.org/volunteers
Support from Principal Financial Group
Iowa Legal Aid is proud to be a community partner with Principal Financial Group. With a $25,000 grant, Iowa Legal Aid will be providing civil legal assistance to older Iowans age 60 and over through its Legal Hotline for Older Iowans. Grant funds will also be used to help pay the costs associated with the program’s Unified Intake Project. Iowa Legal Aid is grateful for both the financial support and volunteer support it receives from Principal Financial Group.
Drake Claims Dean’s Cup at Tournament Club of Iowa
The 12th annual Dean’s Cup was held on Monday, May 16, 2016 at Tournament Club of Iowa in Polk City. Forty golfers faced off in the morning match play. Iowa was led by Judges Eliza Ovrom and Art Gamble, while Drake was led by Chief Justice Mark Cady.
After lunch, the match players were joined by 70 additional Drake and Iowa golfers for the four-person best shot portion of the competition. Once the scores were tallied from the morning and afternoon rounds, Drake was declared the winner.
Adding to the fun there were several opportunities for participants to demonstrate their abilities to win a $5,000 cash prize on each of par three holes. Although no one claimed the grand prizes, there were a few close calls.
Following golf, the participants shared post-round food and drink and bid on silent auction items. Prizes for various skillful shots (long drive, closest to the pin, etc.) were awarded. The 2016 event also featured the “Judge Longstaff Long Putt Award.” Judge Longstaff played an integral role the creation of the Dean’s Cup Golf Tournament. This year’s winner was Judge Michael Moon. Past winners are Matt McKinney (2014) and Ann Michelson (2015).
Former law clerks of Judge Longstaff generously donated funds to create this award. They include: Renae Angeroth, Debby Grimm, Carla Hamborg, Kelsey Knowles, Judge Larry McLellan, Kathy Nutt, Lindsay Vaught and Judge Colin Witt.
In addition, a “Squires Club” award was given to seven golfers who have participated in the Dean’s Cup for ten of the twelve years the event has been held. This year’s new members are: Chief Justice Mark Cady, Justice David Baker, Fred Haskins, Jason Miller, George Oleson, Jason Miller and Kevin Reynolds.
There are currently 23 members of the Squires Club. Click here for the list.
Thank you to the 2016 Dean’s Cup Planning Committee: Eric Boehlert, Jeff Boehlert, Chief Justice Mark Cady, Jeff Courter, Charles Hill, Greg Kenyon, Judge Eliza Ovrom, Janey Piersall, Jerry Spaeth and Ben Ullem
Please mark your calendars for the 13th annual Dean’s Cup, scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2017 at the Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.
A special thank you to ARAG for sponsoring the Dean’s Cup event.
[Top picture: Chief Justice Mark Cady and Judge Art Gamble with the Dean’s Cup trophy.]
[Middle picture: Planning committee members Greg Kenyon and Jeff Courter present Judge Michael Moon with the Judge Longstaff Long Putt Award]
[Bottom picture: Justice David L. Baker receives his Squires Club award.]
12th Annual Dean’s Cup Golf Challenge
Date: Monday, May 16, 2016
8:30 AM start time for match play
11:30 AM start time for best shot
Location: Tournament Club of Iowa – Polk City, Iowa
This event is for all law graduates, faculty, staff and students of Drake Law School and the Iowa College of Law – of every skill level – to support their law school, and, at the same time, raise funds for Iowa Legal Aid, which provided Hope, Dignity and Justice to an estimated 43,000 Iowans in 2014, but still had to turn away or underserve at least 11,500 others.
The event includes two formats – match play and best shot. Also, a lawyer who is not a graduate of either school may also participate in the best shot format by declaring temporary allegiance to one of the two schools at the time of registration. Again in 2016, persons who wish to support Iowa Legal Aid, Drake, or the University of Iowa may make a contribution of $25 or more and will be added to the Dean’s List. Dean’s List members are invited to attend the reception after golf. The school who garners the most members of the Dean’s List will receive a one stroke advantage for one team in the best shot competition.
Over 110 lawyers and judges from around the state participated in the 2015 event. Drake, led by Captain Chief Justice Mark Cady, won the Cup from a spirited Iowa squad and its Captain Judge Eliza Ovrom. In addition to playing in the event, many alums and businesses supported the event by donating items for the silent auction, sponsoring a hole or making other contributions to the event.
The Registration fee is partially tax deductible. To sign up and secure your spot in this prestigious event, or indicate your desire to be a sponsor, click HERE.
The field is limited, so be sure to submit your registration right away!
Support from Wells Fargo
Iowa Legal Aid received a $5,000 grant award from Wells Fargo to establish a Community Economic Development Project in Iowa. The project will assist low-income entrepreneurs wishing to start or further develop small businesses in an effort to lift themselves out of poverty. Under this project, Iowa Legal Aid will provide legal advice on business formation, real estate acquisition, contract negotiation drafting transactional documents such as articles of incorporation or partnership agreements, providing tax advice and assistance, and other legal matters entrepreneurs confront. The project will help provide financial stability to clients served as well as impact economically depressed areas by reducing barriers inhibiting the growth of small businesses and replacing vacant storefronts with thriving enterprise.
[Pictured above are Sarabeth Anderson from Wells Fargo and Dennis Groenenboom, Executive Director of Iowa Legal Aid]
SAVE THE DATE
Equal Justice After Hours 2016
Can Lawyers Improve a Person’s Health?
Yes! Doctors alone can’t solve all health problems. Sometimes a legal remedy is needed, too. Equal Justice After Hours 2016 will highlight Iowa Legal Aid’s Health & Law Projects that partner with hospitals and clinics to solve health problems that are made worse by legal problems such as domestic violence, substandard housing and denial of public benefits.
When:
Thursday, March 31, 2016
5:00—7:00 p.m.
Where:
American Enterprise Group
601 6th Avenue, Des Moines
A delicious array of appetizers and drinks will be provided.
Many levels of sponsorship are available
To sponsor or buy tickets for this event, contact Terri Bennett at 515-243-2980 x 1611 or tbennett@iowalaw.org
Trial of the Three Bears v. Goldilocks
The trial of the Three Bears v. Goldilocks took place on Wednesday November 25, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. at the Kossuth County Courthouse. The four 2nd grade classes from Bryant School were in attendance. Twelve students volunteered to become Jurors in the case. Local Attorneys Ryan Buske, Conrad Meis and Stephanie Miller participated as the Judge, Counsel for Gold E Locks and The Three Bears respectively. The Bears were Papa Bear – Adam Denner, Mama Bear – Dana Haverkamp, Baby Bear – Carson Simpson and Gold E Locks – Brooke Boettcher. The children participated in jury selection, opening and closing statements of the attorneys and listened closely to the testimony of all the witnesses. The attorneys also cross-examined the witnesses. Evidence was admitted by Judge Buske including a broken chair, the bowls used by the Three Bears and a pillow with yellow hair caught in it (presumably from Ms. Gold E Locks).
The children comprising the jury were invited to the Jury room to deliberate. The Jury found Gold E Locks guilty of bad manners. There was general class discussion about what evidence the students relied upon in coming to their verdict.
The actors are students at Algona High School who volunteered for the trial. Many thanks go out to the attorneys, students and teachers for their enthusiasm and hard work.
Thanks also go out to the Kossuth County Clerk of Court who graciously set the courtroom aside for this educational experience.
