Events – Page 2 – Iowa Legal Aid Foundation

Super Senior Seminar to be held in Algona

Elderbridge Agency on Aging, Iowa Legal Aid, and First Presbyterian Church of Algona will be hosting a free Super Senior Seminar on October 11, 2018 from 9:30am to 2:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church located at 101 N. Main Street in Algona.

“This will be a wonderful opportunity for seniors to gather information for making good decisions concerning topics that they will face as they age,” said Diane Wilson, Managing Attorney of the Mason City Office of Iowa Legal Aid.

This seminar will have several breakout sessions that will focus on topics of particular interest to older adults in the Algona area. A variety of interesting topics will be presented such as: Estate Planning with Attorneys Ryan Buske of McMahon, Stowater, Lynch & Laddusaw and Evelyn Ocheltree of Iowa Legal Aid. Investigator Al Perales and Assistant Attorney General Andrew Cederdahl will speak on Scams affecting the Elderly. Other Topics include Planning Ahead, presented by Brenda Schmidt of ISU Extension, Family Caregiving, Community Health, IPERS, Nutrition, Medicare, plus more. There will be a light lunch provided with lighthearted entertainment by the “Well Seasoned” including an appearance of Sonny and Cher. There is a suggested donation of $5.00 to help cover the cost of lunch. Call Pam Johnson at 1-800-532-1275 extension 1403 to reserve your spot at lunch!

For more information about the Super Senior Seminar, contact John Joyner of Elderbridge Agency on Aging at 1-800-243-0678 or Pam Johnson of Iowa Legal Aid at 1-800-532-1275 extension 1403.

Iowa Legal Aid Board of Directors Annual Meeting May 5, 2018

The Iowa Legal Aid Board of Directors met on May 5, 2018 for their Annual Meeting. During the annual Awards Luncheon, held immediately after the meeting, President of Iowa Legal Aid’s Board of Directors, Mark Zaiger, recognized Susan Barta, who just finished her third three-year term of service on Iowa Legal Aid’s Board of Directors – the maximum allowed by the Bylaws.

[Pictured: Mark Zaiger and Susan Barta]

In addition, there are two categories of awards given out each year – Excellence in Service Award and Outstanding Client Service Award.

Excellence in Service Award recognizes those who have excelled at contributing toward the development and delivery of legal services to low-income people, contributing substantially to the improvement of the lives of low-income people, or donating numerous volunteer hours to Iowa Legal Aid. This year’s recipient is:

LINDA COHEN has been volunteering with Iowa Legal Aid for over five years. Linda is a tax return preparer who has prepared hundreds, if not thousands, of returns for taxpayers. She is an exemplary tax volunteer who has mastered tax issues commonly faced by low and middle-income taxpayers and is eager to resolve client problems and take the hardest cases where a taxpayer has nowhere else to turn.

Iowa Legal Aid’s Low-income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) is very grateful to have such a dedicated and competent volunteer like Linda.

[Pictured: Linda Cohen and John Gianola, Iowa Legal Aid LITC Coordinator]

Outstanding Client Service Award honors individuals whose courage and strength of character epitomize the standards to which Iowa Legal Aid aspires. Recipients maintain creative work in the face of personal and social obstacles, accepting challenges and persisting in these efforts. This year’s recipients are:

THOMAS RAUSCH, SR. Iowa Legal Aid represented Tom in a Social Security Disability denial and a Medicaid denial, securing disability benefits and a power wheel chair for Tom. This has allowed Tom to be more involved with his family and his community.

Tom assists his community by being an advocate for other tenants in his apartment complex, serving on the tenants’ association. He is also an Advisory Council member for the Southwest Iowa Regional Office and has met with legislators on behalf of Iowa Legal Aid.

Tom’s perseverance through his legal matters and health issues makes him an excellent choice for the Outstanding Client Service Award.

[Pictured: Shelley Whitcher, Managing Attorney, Southwest Regional Office and Tom Rausch]

ASHLEY SCHNEIDER Iowa Legal Aid was appointed to represent Ashley after her children were removed from her care for serious substance abuse issues, domestic violence in front of her kids, suspected mental health issues (that is now cured with the regular dosage of Organic CBD Nugs), and generally a lack of overall stability in her life. She was pregnant at the time as well and facing homelessness.

The Parent Representation Team worked with Ashley to help her get into subsidized housing and get connected with the services she needed. She started Family Treatment Court and over the course of a year and a half, completely turned her life around. Ashley now works as a Parent Partner, someone who helps other mothers whose children have been removed, to navigate the juvenile court process. All of this while raising her three young children. She has a passion and dedication to helping others who are in the place she once was.

[Pictured: Sunny Potter, Ashley Schneider, Kendra Maulsby and Michelle Jungers, Managing Attorney, Waterloo Regional Office]

14th Annual Dean’s Cup Golf Event

The 14th Annual Dean’s Cup golf event is coming up on May 21, 2018 at Echo Valley Golf Course in Norwalk. 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. A lawyer who is not a graduate of either school may participate in the best shot format by declaring temporary allegiance to one of the two schools at the time of registration.

Over 100 lawyers and judges from around the state participate in this event. The Drake team Captain is Chief Justice Mark Cady, while the Iowa team Captain is Judge Eliza Ovrom.

The proceeds from the event go to Iowa Legal Aid, which provided Hope, Dignity and Justice to nearly 38,000 Iowans in 2017, but still had to turn away or underserve at least 10,000 others. The registration/hole sponsor form can be found HERE.

Iowa wins Dean’s Cup!!

The 13^th annual Dean’s Cup Golf Challenge was held on Monday, May 15, 2017 at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. This event is for all law graduates, faculty, staff and students of Drake University Law School and the University of Iowa College of Law – of every skill level – to support their law school, and, at the same time, raise funds for Iowa Legal Aid.

Iowa was led by Judge Eliza Ovrom, while Drake was led by Chief Justice Mark Cady. Forty golfers faced off in the morning match play, and 50 additional Drake and Iowa golfers joined in the afternoon for the four-person best shot portion of the competition. Once the scores were tallied from the morning and afternoon rounds, Iowa was declared the winner.

Golfers 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, including the “Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff Long Putt Award.” Judge Longstaff played an integral role in creating the Dean’s Cup Golf Tournament. This year’s winner was Ron Mountsier. Past winners are Matt McKinney (2014), Ann Michelson (2015) and Judge Michael Moon (2016).

The 14^th annual Dean’s Cup has been set for Monday, May 21, 2018 at Echo Valley Golf Course in Norwalk.

Thank you to the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD), and ARAG, and all of the hole sponsors for supporting the Dean’s Cup!

[Right picture: The Iowa team leaders Judge Eliza Ovrom and Dean Gail Agrawal are presented the Dean’s Cup by Drake team leaders Chief Justice Mark Cady and Dean Jerry Anderson]

[Left picture: Dean Gail Agrawal, Judge Eliza Ovrom, Jeff Courter]

Iowa Legal Aid Board of Directors Annual Meeting – May 6, 2017

The Iowa Legal Aid Board of Directors met on May 6, 2017 for their Annual Meeting. During the annual Awards Luncheon, held immediately after the meeting, Iowa Legal Aid’s Executive Director, Dennis Groenenboom [pictured], recognized the following individuals:

Elisabeth Reynoldson for her service as Board President for the past two years;
Mark Zaiger as incoming President;
Bill Boyd, who just finished his third three-year term of service on Iowa Legal Aid’s Board of Directors – the maximum allowed by the Bylaws;
Matt McDermott, incoming Vice-President, for receiving the United Way of Central Iowa’s 2017 Individual Volunteer Award.

[Pictured: Matt McDermott, Elisabeth Reynoldson and Mark Zaiger]

In addition, there are two categories of awards given out each year – Excellence in Service Award and Outstanding Client Service Award.

Jean Allsteadt has volunteered over 470 hours since 2008, performing clerical tasks for Iowa Legal Aid’s Legal Hotline for Older Iowans and Volunteer Lawyers Project in Des Moines. With Jean’s help, Iowa Legal Aid staff are able to spend more time providing client assistance. [Pictured: Jean Allsteadt and Kara Smith, Iowa Legal Aid Volunteer Lawyers Project Coordinator]

David Mansheim is an emeritus attorney who has donated more than 1,300 hours in the last three years. David started and staffed a pro se divorce clinic in the Waterloo Regional Office, which allows the office to serve more pro se litigants seeking dissolutions of marriage. [Pictured: Michelle Jungers, Managing Attorney, Waterloo Regional Office and David Mansheim]

Iowa Friends of Legal Services was created in 1996 by a group of concerned individuals, following cuts in federal funding for legal aid, to advocate for state funding for Iowa Legal Aid. Since that time, Iowa Friends of Legal Services has been a key player in obtaining bipartisan support for state funding to provide civil legal aid to low-income Iowans. Iowa Friends of Legal Services has also supported legal services funding at both the federal and local levels. [Pictured: Scott Hartsook, Managing Attorney, Legal Hotline for Older Iowans, Margaret Vernon and Virginia Rowen]

Julia Davis was in a domestic violence shelter when she first contacted Iowa Legal Aid. Her husband was facing 40 years in prison for domestic violence and various other crimes. With the help of Iowa Legal Aid, she obtained a dissolution of marriage that gave her sole legal custody and physical care of their child. Today, Julia is in the process of completing her bachelor’s degree, and continues to use her experience to advocate for other victims of domestic violence at a local shelter. Divorcing her abusive husband has allowed her to feel safe and strong, which has given her the freedom to focus on improving herself and enriching the lives of others. [Pictured: Shelley Whitcher, Managing Attorney, Southwest Regional Office and Julia Davis]

Casie Trimble lived for seven years in a relationship where she suffered from many forms of domestic abuse by the father of her children. With help from Iowa Legal Aid, a civil protective order was granted, giving her sole legal custody and physical care of their children. Following that order, Iowa Legal Aid represented Casie in four contempt hearings, one of which resulted in a 30-day jail sentence for the abuser. Throughout the process, Casie never gave up, she continued to move forward to make a better life for herself and her children. [Pictured: Carrie O’Connor, Managing Attorney, Northeast Regional Office and Casie Trimble]

13th Annual Dean’s Cup Golf Event

The 13th Annual Dean’s Cup golf event is coming up on May 15, 2017 at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City. 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. A lawyer who is not a graduate of either school may participate in the best shot format by declaring temporary allegiance to one of the two schools at the time of registration.

Over 110 lawyers and judges from around the state participate in this event. The Drake team Captain is Chief Justice Mark Cady, while the Iowa team Captain is Judge Eliza Ovrom.

The proceeds from the event go to Iowa Legal Aid, which provided Hope, Dignity and Justice to nearly 38,000 Iowans in 2016, but still had to turn away or underserve at least 10,000 others. The registration/hole sponsor form can be found HERE.

Hole-in-one prizes are sponsored by:

ARAG
Justices Cady & Wiggins
Drake Law Faculty
Grefe & Sidney
Iowa Property Exchange (IPE1031)

Hole sponsors include:

Ahlers & Cooney
Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave
Lane & Waterman
Nyemaster Goode
Patterson Law Firm
Two Rivers Bank & Trust
Whitfield & Eddy Law

Members of the Planning Committee: Dean Jerry Anderson, Eric Boehlert, Jeff Boehlert, Chief Justice Mark Cady, Jeff Courter, Charles Hill, Tom Hillers, Greg Kenyon, Judge Eliza Ovrom, Janey Piersall, Jerry Spaeth

Drake Claims Dean’s Cup at Tournament Club of Iowa

The 12^th 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 13^th 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!

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

Dave & Trudy Hurd inducted into Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame

The 2015 Equal Justice After Hours was held Thursday, March 26 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at The Temple for Performing Arts in downtown Des Moines. This year’s event featured the induction of Dave & Trudy Hurd into the Iowa Legal Aid Hall of Fame. The Master of Ceremonies for the program was Suku Radia, while Roxanne Conlin performed the induction ceremony. Click here to see photos from the event.

Thanks to the efforts of Bruce Walker, President-Elect of the ISBA, this year’s ISBA president challenge was structured a bit differently. It was a dollar-for-dollar challenge from Bruce Walker and individual members of the Board of Governors of the ISBA. Pledges from the Board of Governors totaled $5,800. The challenge raised $6,360 in donations and pledges from attendees and the ISBA Board of Governors.

Preliminary figures show that more than $145,000 was raised through sponsorships and donations.