def METHOD_NAME(self, name, default=None):
    raw_value = self.event.config.get(name, default)
    field = self.CONFIG_FIELDS.get(name, None)
    # If the handler template is calling the wrong attribute, return None.
    if not (raw_value and field):
        return None
    try:
        if raw_value is None:
            if field.initial is not None and field.initial != '':
                return field.to_python(field.initial)
            else:
                return default
        else:
            return field.to_python(raw_value)
    except forms.ValidationError:
        # XXX: A hack to get around ChoiceField stuff. The idea is that if the value is in
        #      the config field, then it was most likely valid when the event was created.
        return raw_value