An email from Jeff Hagen:
To Everyone:
The Earle Hagen Memorial Golf Tennis And Poker Tournament Committee wishes you and yours the most joyful, safe, healthy and prosperous of HOLIDAYS and NEW YEAR. May your 2015 exceed all of your expectations.
That’s it…thanks…and…oh!…I almost forgot…the SEVENTH Annual Earle Hagen Memorial Golf, Tennis And Poker Tournament is coming on Monday September 21, 2015…at the Porter Valley Country Club in Northridge.
Note that we changed the date–not so much because we really wanted to have it on the same day as the autumnal equinox, although that was a big factor, but so as to not conflict with the National Conference Of Bankruptcy Judges…so the Tournament is NOT on Monday September 28, 2015…or Monday September 28, 2014…it’s on Monday September 21, 2015.
That’s only 249 days away! The way time flies–and you can quote me on that–it’s practically right around the corner! Sign up early!
Future blasts will include a flyer, which itself will include a registration form. Can you just show up unannounced, i.e., sans reservation? Of course! Everyone who brings enough money is welcome!
Thank you to all of you who participated in last month’s…um…marketing study…and noticed that in my last blast, I told you to “save the date” of 09/28/2014. It was…er…all a test to see how many people read these blasts and to see how many people would point out that 09/28/2014 is two plus months in the past rather than nine plus months in the future. And the winner is Mark Markus! Marky Mark not only won the poker tournament at the Sixth Annual EHMGTPT, but he was the first to spot and report the date error. So kudos to Mark. So…yes…the Seventh Annual EHMGTPT is on Monday 09/21…2015…not 2014, not 2016, but 2015.
You’ll notice that every year, the date of the Tournament moves up at least a day…from 10/01/2012 to 09/30/2013 to 09/29/2014 and now 09/21/2015. For those of you who would prefer to have the Tournament in April rather than September, you only have to wait another 150 or so more years!
You don’t play golf, tennis or poker? Not a problem! Come at a reduced price and have a ton ‘o fun at the dinner, silent auction, and hosted (open/free/gratis) bar. Or just contribute to a very worthy cause! And please keep in mind that the Tournament is designed to be fun for those that have never played before. Come on out and hack away (sorry groundskeepers)!
Why attend, you ask?
1. Take pride in the fact that you’re helping a very worthy tax deductible cause. Proceeds benefit Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Program. The Tournament has now generated over $170,000.00 of profit for Public Counsel in its six year history. And last year’s Tournament, the Sixth Annual EHMGTPT, raised over $38,000–our best year yet. Our goal–elusive so far but within the realm of possibility–is to raise over $50,000.00 in 2015. Help us reach our goal!
For over a decade, Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project (“DAP”) has helped thousands of individuals navigate the bankruptcy system when they are no longer able to support their families while struggling under crushing debt loads.
Public Counsel’s DAP provides greatly needed pro bono legal services to over 3,300 individuals and families every year by:
1. providing counsel and advice at the Los Angeles Self-Help Desk;
2. guiding pro se litigants in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process at monthly Chapter 7 clinics;
3. advising pro se litigants regarding their rights at monthly reaffirmation hearings in the Los Angeles and Woodland Hills Divisions;
4. representing consumer debtors in Chapter 7 pro bono cases; and
5. defending consumers against non-meritorious nondischargeability complaints.
In addition to assisting and representing pro se litigants in bankruptcy proceedings, Public Counsel’s DAP has also worked collaboratively with the Bankruptcy Court to educate the public about the bankruptcy process. Recently, Public Counsel’s DAP, in collaboration with the United States Bankruptcy Court, produced two bankruptcy informational videos which are now accessible directly from Public Counsel’s website and through a link from the Bankruptcy Court website.
Your participation at the Tournament is one way you can support our work and help make a difference in the lives of those most vulnerable in our community.
A quick DAP success story:
A visitor to the self-help desk came in seeking assistance with filing for bankruptcy relief. She mentioned that her daughter was disabled and was having trouble dealing with her student loans and that the lenders were now demanding payments. The daughter had been in an accident and later discovered she had two brain tumors and an aneurism. She suffered from excruciating headaches, lack of sleep and other complications. We explained to our client that her daughter was eligible to apply for a total and permanent disability discharge, a new federal program which would enable disabled applicants to discharge their federal student loans. We recently created a total and permanent disability discharge packet. We are happy to report that the daughter applied for relief and was able to discharge $120,000 of federal student loans. Our client and her daughter no longer have to deal with the stress of student loan demand letters, and our client can now focus on helping her daughter with her health issues.
2. Everyone is welcome! Debtors’ attorneys, creditors’ attorneys, judges, trustees, government employees, spouses, significant others, office staff, your svengali…everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
3. Be seen! At every Tournament, we get a few more Central District judges and trustees to attend, especially when the Tournament does not conflict with the National Conference Of Bankruptcy Judges. It’s an excellent opportunity to hang in a social setting with the professionals you usually only see in court.
4. You could win something really cool. In the past, it’s been a Harley-Davidson motorcycle…and last year it was a Fiat 500 electric car! All you have to do is sink a hole-in-one! Admittedly, the odds are not great that you’ll win a vehicle if you’re playing tennis or poker, but you must admit, it’s a fun and exciting selling point nonetheless.
5. Even if you don’t win a motorized vehicle of some sort, you can and most likely will win a trophy, which will look great on your bookshelves and impress your clients. We seemingly have more trophies than players, so you have to figure your odds are strong.
6. No one goes home empty handed. Very cool shirts and gift bags for all players!
7. And yes, there’s always the spectacle (okay, train wreck) of me getting up in front of everyone toward the end of the evening and sharing some of my thoughts and observations.
The Earle Hagen Memorial Golf Tennis And Poker Tournament Committee