This Just In... 46th Annual Conference Program Released! Exciting Member Benefits & Educational Webinars We challenge you to find a better estate planning program in the country during 2009! See 46th Annual Conference Information The list of member benefits changes daily... don't miss your opportunity to take advantage of the exciting benefits, programs & services available to you! See Member Benefits, Programs & Services Message from the President Kathleen J. Belmonte, CTFA, AEP Sabal Trust Company Tampa, FL We hope you have marked your calendar to join us at the Amelia Island Plantation in northeast Florida for the 46th Annual Conference from November 11-13, 2009. We have a full slate of nationally-recognized speakers that will provide us with two full days of continuing education credit, and the first day of the conference is devoted to council leadership, so please consider sending at least one member from your council to this conference. You can learn more about the conference, including exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, on our website. We are very excited about National Estate Planning Awareness Week scheduled for October 19-25 as declared by the House on September 27, 2008 when H Resolution 1499 was passed. All of the tools your council will need to plan an estate planning day in your community can be found right here on the NAEPC website. If your council is not currently part of the Every Council Campaign, so that we may distribute information directly to your members, we encourage your board to review the information on our website and consider approving your council's participation. Hopefully your council is encouraging members to apply for the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation, which is awarded to professionals who meet stringent experience and education qualifications. This program allows your council to honor its most highly respected and distinguished members by nominating them for the AEP designation as a council nominated candidate. The requirements and applications can be found on our website. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you in November in Amelia Island. The weather in Florida is fantastic in November! Very truly yours,

In This Issue  MAY 2009 Message from the President 46th Annual Conference Information Member Benefits, Programs & Services The NAEPC Foundation Report NAEPC Council Relations Committee Happenings NAEPC Administered Designation Programs Subscription Options NAEPC National Website {ADDRESS_2}

46th Annual Conference Information

Please join us from November 11 – 13, 2009 on Amelia Island (near Jacksonville, Florida) for the NAEPC / The NAEPC Foundation 46th Annual Conference! Early bird registration is now available.

This event is not just for council leadership! While the Wednesday, November 11, 2009 sessions are devoted to council leaders, the two full days of technical education that follow are appropriate for every member of your council. The programming committee has finalized the schedule for the event and we're proud to note that the following speakers and topics will be presented:

The conference is located at the Amelia Island Plantation, a AAA-Four Diamond, 1350 acre property with four 18-hole championship golf courses & 23 clay tennis courts located just 30 miles North of Jacksonville. The Amelia Island Plantation also features a health and fitness center, award-winning youth programs, fine shops, a full service spa and excellent dining options.

Online conference, resort and rental car reservations, along with the "early bird" brochure, are now available.

NAEPC would like to thank Coventry for their support of the 46th Annual Conference. A complete sponsor kit is available and opportunities are limited – register today!

Member Benefits, Programs & Services

Robert G. Alexander, JD, LL.M., AEP, EPLS Alexander Law Offices, S.C. Milwaukee, WI The Professional Development & Education Committee works hard to offer high quality professional products, services and educational opportunities at value pricing for the entire NAEPC membership. We continue to diligently look for opportunities that will enhance the significance of your membership and make your individual practice more efficient.

May 2009 NAEPC & InterActive Legal Systems Webinar Schedule

Visit Benefits for Members for instructions on how to register for any of these exciting programs! You will need to enter a discount code when registering to obtain the special NAEPC member pricing of $85/seminar. The discount code can be found when logged into the secure member benefits section of www.naepc.org.

For a list of all member benefits, programs and services, including NAEPC's $99 subscription to Trusts & Estates magazine, please visit Benefits for Members.

The NAEPC Foundation Report

The NAEPC Foundation has recently appointed its Advisory Board and would like to thank the following participants:

Steve R. Akers, JD, AEP (Distinguished) of Bessemer Trust
P. Thomas Austin, CPA, CLU, ChFC, AEP (Distinguished) of Ziegler, Metzger & Miller LLP
Frank S. Berall, Attorney, AEP, LL.M. of Copp & Berall LLP
Jonathan G. Blattmachr, JD, AEP (Distinguished) of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy
Lawrence Brody, JD, LL.M., AEP (Distinguished) of Bryan Cave LLP
Vincent M. D'Addona, CLU, ChFC, AEP of Strategies for Wealth Creation & Protection
Jo Ann Engelhardt, JD, LL.M., AEP (Distinguished) of Bessemer Trust Company, N.A.
Thomas M. Forrest, TO, CPA, AEP (Distinguished) of Charles Schwab
Lawrence P. Katzenstein, Atty, AEP (Distinguished) of Thompson Coburn LLP
Robert S. Keebler, CPA, MST, AEP (Distinguished) of Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP
Sidney Kess, CPA, JD, LL.M., AEP (Distinguished)
Al W. King, III, JD, LL.M., AEP (Distinguished) of South Dakota Trust Company, LLC
Bernard A. Krooks of Littman Krooks LLP
Stephan R. Leimberg, JD, AEP (Distinguished) of Leimberg & Associates
Richard A. Oshins, JD, LL.M, MBA, AEP (Distinguished) of Oshins & Associates, LLC
Jeffrey N. Pennell, JD of Emory University School of Law
John W. Porter, B.B.A., JD, AEP (Distinguished) of Baker Botts LLP
Susan Porter, JD, LL.M., CTFA, AEP (Distinguished) of US Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management; and Richard M. Weber, MBA, CLU, AEP (Distinguished) of The Ethical Edge, Inc.

Council Relations Committee Happenings

Joanna Averett, MBA, CFP®, CIF®, AEP First American Trust San Bernardino, CA The Council Relations Committee has been very busy contacting affiliated local councils, meeting and talking with unaffiliated councils, and reconnecting with councils who have formerly been members of NAEPC, but had not renewed membership in the last few years. Our committee is pleased to have many new member benefits and initiatives to discuss with all of these groups. A complete list of council relations committee representatives and their territories can be found here. I encourage you to review the information found within the member benefits section regularly!

As a local leader and volunteer, choosing the right website for your council can be a daunting experience.  It can be difficult to know which company is the most reliable and if the pricing is competitive.  Since 2000, the NAEPC has been offering websites to its affiliated councils that are easy to use, economical and continuously enhanced.  By  subscribing to a NAEPC website, your council will be able to; create a "custom" home page, provide links to sponsor and member web sites, send meeting announcements, receive RSVPs, post a calendar of events, list current officers and maintain a membership directory with photos. NAEPC is extending a special 50% discount on the first year of service for any new or upgraded website request received by June 30, 2009!  Don't miss this fantastic opportunity for your council!

Did you Know?

April 16, 2009 was National Healthcare Decisions Day. This event is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be. The NHDD coalition includes more than 75 national organizations as well as 375 state and community organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and at international U.S. Military bases. Many of these community organizations hosted events and outreach activities on April 16.

NAEPC Administered Designation Information

Professional estate planners can now achieve an accreditation that acknowledges their experience and specialization in estate planning. The Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation is available to attorneys, Chartered Life Underwriters, Certified Public Accountants, Certified Trust and Financial Advisors, Chartered Financial Consultants, and Certified Financial Planners® and is awarded to professionals who meet stringent experience and education qualifications including two graduate level courses administered by The American College.

The Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) designation is available to attorneys by the Estate Law Specialist Board, Inc., an attorney-run subsidiary of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Attorneys who become Board-certified under this program demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to the concept of specialization. We believe that as attorney specialization increases, it will benefit not only lawyers but the public. This program is currently the only program, other than certain state bar association programs which are only for residents of their particular states, accredited by the American Bar Association to Board-certify attorneys as Estate Planning Law Specialists.

See more information about both of these designations.

Your affiliated local estate planning council is able to honor its most highly respected and distinguished members by nominating them as a Council Nominated Candidate for the AEP designation. Your estate planning council has been authorized by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils to recommend individuals from each of the following five disciplines for this designation: Attorney, CPA, CLU, ChFC/CFP®, and CTFA. If your council has a membership of 100 or less, you can designate one individual from each of the five disciplines per calendar year. If your council has a membership of more than 100, you can designate two individuals from each of the disciplines per calendar year. The individuals nominated through a council board resolution to receive the AEP designation must have a minimum of 15 years experience in estate planning and estate planning activities and will be subject to current AEP qualifications and requirements, except the requirements for professional references. The application fee for these candidates will be $125, which is 50% of the usual fee. Contact Susan Austin Carney at (866) 226-2224 if you have any questions about this program.

Volunteer! The NAEPC is looking for volunteers to participate on our Accredited Estate Planner Designation and Council Relations Committees. If you have an interest in joining our group, please send an e-mail to eleanor@naepc.org. Thank you!

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