Council of Excellence Award

Created in 2014, the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils Leonard H. Neiman & Walter Lee Davis, Jr. Council of Excellence Award recognizes councils that are successful in their efforts to provide a strong multi-disciplinary council for their members.  Created by a group of council leaders, past presidents of NAEPC, and current Board and Council Relations Committee members, with all council sizes in mind, the Council of Excellence Award is intended to honor those councils that truly work to grow their programs and services and provide an exceptional member experience. 

The award is named for two individuals who truly sought to strengthen the bond between NAEPC and its affiliated councils during their terms on the board.  Walter Lee Davis, Jr. served as president of the association in 2008 and was instrumental in forming the Council Relations Committee, a group of volunteer members who are charged with being a liaison between affiliates and the national association.  Leonard H. Neiman served the association as a board member for over fifteen years.  He worked tirelessly to gather information about estate planning councils from around the country, both affiliated and unaffiliated, and to make contact with their leadership.

We consider this application a roadmap of best practices; things that help a council run smoothly and support a great member experience.  NAEPC recommends that all councils review it each year to determine where they might like to make improvements or specific areas on which to focus its board efforts.  It has been developed over many years of interaction with councils and their leaders and represents our current understanding of the practices that breed success. At the same time, the application is a reciprocal learning experience.  The narrative portion gives NAEPC an opportunity to learn more about your council and what is happening within the council network.  There has never been a better and more important time for this type of information sharing.

2023 Application

     > 2023 Application (to be used only as a reference)
     > Helpful Tips for Completing the Application
     > "Achieving Excellence" PowerPoint Presentation

2023 Honorees

   
   Extra-Small & Small Council:  Chester County Estate Planning Council
   Medium Council:  Estate Planning Council of Nassau County (New York)
   Large Council:   Financial & Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit
   Extra-Large Council:  Boston Estate Planning Council

Extra-Small & Small Councils
   Montgomery County Estate Planning Council (Pennsylvania)
   Siouxland Estate Planning Council
   York County Estate Planning Council

Medium Councils
   Central Arizona Estate Planning Council
   Estate Planning Council of Greater Miami
   Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Council
   Spokane Estate Planning Council

Large Council
   Baltimore Estate Planning Council

Extra-Large Council
   Estate Planning Council of Cleveland

Extra-Small & Small Councils
   Estate Planning Council of the Emerald Coast
   Greater Huntington Estate Planning Council

Medium Councils
   Cincinnati Estate Planning Council
   Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council