President's Corner |June 2022

Dear Fellow BEPC Members,
It’s hard to believe that my term as President of the Boston Estate Planning Council is coming to an end on June 30.  Despite the disruption of the pandemic, it has been another great year for BEPC, capped off by the amazing 2022 Annual Gala, celebrated in person with 400 people on May 4. 

As BEPC’s 2022 fiscal year comes to an end, I am excited to see what President-Elect Beth Milkovits has in store for the organization when she takes the helm as President on July 1. However, although the Council is making a transition from one President to another, Beth and I have been working together for many years and we have had continuity in mind as we formulated BEPC’s most important initiatives.   

As the new year unfolds, BEPC will continue to forward the goals of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force, which is now working with the Kaleidoscope Group, a prominent DE&I consulting firm, in a long term multi-tiered engagement in the area of DEI and how these concepts apply to BEPC. 

BEPC will continue to work to raise its profile in the community as a thought leader and the “go-to” place for estate planning in Greater Boston and nationally. The Marketing & Communications Committee continues to work with marketing consultants to enhance and spread the reputation of BEPC in the community. The Council Outreach Committee continues advance BEPC’s leadership role on the national level as one of the most successful estate planning councils in the country.  And the Community Engagement Committee continues to expand its BEPC’s visibility in Greater Boston, while working with community partners to use our collective expertise to help others. 
And of course, as BEPC works to further these long term initiatives, it will also continue to provide members with award winning educational programming and entertaining networking opportunities. The Council has a full schedule of in-person and virtual events coming up in the spring and summer months, including its popular annual Golf Outing and Summer Social events, a new family event, an in-person Roundtable event and more. Please keep a close eye on the calendar at https://www.bepc.org/events/event_list.asp. 

As I think back on the many years I have spent involved in BEPC matters, I look back fondly at the beginning, when I first decided to volunteer to serve on a committee. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know many people at BEPC and I didn’t really know what the organization was all about. But I had been told that it was a great group and worthy of a look. Turns out joining a committee was a great decision. It led me to where I am now. To support all of BEPC's events, programs, and initiatives, the organization relies on over 160 volunteers to serve on close to 20 committees. Volunteering on a BEPC committee is the perfect way to get involved with BEPC. As this year comes to an end and a new one approaches, I urge you to get involved by volunteering to serve on a committee in the coming year.

Volunteering provides opportunities for members to gain new skills outside of the workplace. Join the Sponsorship Committee to learn about business development! Join the Marketing & Communications Committee to gain experience in online engagement and content marketing! BEPC actively cultivates a culture of giving back through its philanthropic initiatives. Volunteer to serve on the Community Engagement Committee to foster relationships between BEPC members, sponsors, and our Nonprofit Partner Program! BEPC strives to be a thought leader within the estate planning and wealth management industry. Help BEPC develop innovative educational programming by recruiting speakers on emerging topics for the Seminars/Webinars Committee or the Roundtable Committee! BEPC seeks to inform and connect with related professions and geographies. Serve on the Council Outreach Committee to identify opportunities to collaborate with other estate planning councils and professional associations!
During the month of June, the fiscal year 2023 committee leaders will contact those interested in serving on their committee.  Committee membership is finalized during the summer months. If selected to serve on a committee, the committee leadership will confirm your appointment and schedule meetings to begin planning for the year's activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here: https://forms.gle/1dwYptYiTX7GJe9e6. 

Thank you for allowing me to lead this organization for the last year. It has been my greatest honor. I look forward to seeing you all at upcoming events this summer and in future months as the Boston Estate Planning Council moves forward. 

Warm Regards,

Steve M. Carr, President