THE ENDOWMENT AT WORK: ABI TASK FORCE ON VETERANS’ AND SERVICEMEMBERS’ AFFAIRS

Those who have served our country in the military are treated less favorably under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code than those who haven’t, and veterans and servicemembers face different challenges in dealing with personal debt issues that civilians don’t encounter. For these reasons, ABI President Ted Gavin has committed the talents and expertise of ABI’s volunteers to researching and proposing solutions for these problems.

The Task Force on Veterans' and Servicemembers' Affairs — which will be financed in part by a grant from the ABI Endowment Fund and will be under the leadership of former ABI Presidents John Ames and John Penn, two-time ABI Resident Scholar Jack Williams, and Prof. Nancy Rapoport, who will serve as Reporter — has assembled more than two dozen enthusiastic volunteers from ABI membership as well as from the public sector. The Task Force will focus on two major goals. First, it will provide information regarding the HAVEN Act, which proposes to remove veterans' disability benefits from the calculation of income under the means test. Second, it will develop a financial support group for the military, similar to CARE, with volunteers trained to help veterans and current servicemembers better understand credit issues.

The group has formed committees focused on Legislative Affairs, Financial Education & Counseling, Outreach, Pro Bono matters and Tribal Affairs (Native Americans are, as a group, overrepresented in the U.S. Armed Forces — over 50% generally and over 200% in the Marine Corps; the overrepresentation increases when only counting female members). These groups are already hard at work. For instance, the Outreach Committee has already established relationships with a number of groups to determine what they are doing and how ABI's efforts can be complementary.

Endowment events in Los Angeles & Dallas

The Western Region Endowment Wine Dinner kicked off the fall season of Endowment events on Oct. 3 at Upstairs2 in Los Angeles. Thanks go to the following sponsors: Bienert, Miller & Katzman, PLC; Development Specialists, Inc.; Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc.; East West Bank; FTI Consulting, Inc.; Katrina McLean; Omni Management Group, Inc.; Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; Polsinelli; SierraConstellation Partners; and Smiley Wang-Ekvall, LLP.

On Oct. 11, Gray Reed & McGraw LLP hosted “An Evening with Bench and Bar” at the firm’s Elm Street office in Dallas. It featured an elegant cocktail reception with remarks by Judges Harlin D. Hale, Stacey G. C. Jernigan and Mark X. Mullin of the Northern District of Texas. ABI thanks the financial supporters of this event. Premium sponsor: Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. Gold sponsors: FTI Consulting, Inc.; GlassRatner (B. Riley Financial Co.); Haynes and Boone, LLP; Omni Management Group, Inc.; and Vinson & Elkins LLP. Silver sponsors: BMC Group; Chiron Financial LLC; CR3 Partners, LLC; Foley Gardere; Forshey & Prostok, LLP; Jackson Walker LLP; Kane Russell Coleman & Logan, PC; Nathan Associates, Inc.; Norton Rose Fulbright; Rochelle McCullough, LLP; and Secretariat International.

WINE DINNER TO BE HELD NOV. 28 IN PHILADELPHIA