Mar 23, 2021 Newsletter #14

Hi Member, Welcome to Spring! In some ways, the pandemic has made it seem like winter has lasted for a year, but with the change of season comes hope for a slow return to normal. Time to turn our thoughts to new growth in the Springtime and in our membership and activities. Time for Guidance Time for Reconnecting Time for Rewarding Yourself Time for Spring Cleaning Time for a Zoom Gathering    Time for Guidance We understand, sometimes it's hard to figure out how to stir things up and add something new to your council activities. Maybe you're looking for new members, or voting in officers, or trying to find a fresh way to engage your members. Your Supreme Council is here to help! We have flyers to help attract new members. We have a Voluntary Producer Manual to help produce new members and sell products. We have a Manual for Council Officers and Members that provides a vast amount of information, from our history to officers' responsibilities to awards, grants, and scholarships -- and more. And of course, if there's anything else you need for us, just let us know and we'll be happy to give some guidance.     A Time for Reconnecting If your council or grand council hasn't connected with its members for a while, it's probably time to do so. A lot has been put on hold for the last year, but plans are being made for a slow and controlled return to normal, with the USA president suggesting small groups of vaccinated people will likely be able to safely gather early in July. We all want to be with each other in person, but we need not wait until then to keep in touch. From letters to email to phone calls to video conferencing, all the tools are available to keep in touch with your members. It's an ideal time, while most are still safely distancing themselves, to make plans for your council. Why not discuss future charitable events, future meeting sites (perhaps outdoors as the weather turns nicer?), and don't forget about council elections. Use this opportunity to ensure your council is active.    Time for Rewarding Yourself As a member of the Royal Arcanum, there are many benefits besides your financial security and being a fraternalist. With the Royal Arcanum PerkSpot, you can get discounts on a wide variety of things. Stressed about your taxes? Head to your Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum Discount Program to discover savings on the tools that will make your taxes a walk in the park this season. Discounts are available from TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct to make your taxes easier to complete, and save a few bucks while doing them. Looking to plan a trip after the pandemic restrictions ease? Lock in great prices now. There are great savings on hotels, rental cars, flights, and a whole lineup of things to do! The only thing left is to pick your destination and hit the road. Oh, and don’t forget to send us a postcard! PerkSpot also delivers great savings on everyday purchases, big-ticket items, monthly costs, and more. Sign up and be sure to keep an eye on your inbox for our weekly roundup of the best deals and regularly check your portal for the newest discounts!    Time for Spring Cleaning ... and Donating Spring is a traditional time to do a "deeper cleaning" than the usual. It's a great time to revisit any good quality and useful clothing and goods that you're no longer using, too. Why not plan a council "Spring Cleaning" to collect unused clothes, books, kitchen small appliances .. really, just about anything! The number of things that can be donated is vast, and there are many places that will take various donated items. For example, clothing might be donated directly to an organization that works with the homeless. Household essentials may be accepted by organizations that are trying to help individuals or families get back on their feet in a new home. And global organizations such as Goodwill or Salvation Army take a vast number of items (see the Salvation Army's list here). Perhaps your council would want to ask your family and friends to help, too, with their donate-able items. It's a great way to introduce them to some of the things the Royal Arcanum members do. Maybe they'll want to join us!    Time for a Zoom Gathering Don't forget the next member Zoom gathering to catch up with each other is just over a week away! Please stop by to say hi to your friends from across the jurisdictions. Be part of the laughs and smiles we've shared in our previous gatherings. March 31, 2021 6 PM Eastern / 5 PM Central / 3 PM Pacific Join by using this Link: Roy's Zoom Gathering In case you just can't join with your computer or phone audio, you can still telephone in. Join by telephone from any of the phone numbers below:          +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)         +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)         +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)         +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 916 9395 6331 Passcode: 344161 Please add our gathering to your calendar and plan to join us!

 

Mar 09, 2021 Newsletter #13

Hi Member, Highlights of this newsletter Connecting with other Fraternals Product Focus: Annuities Should You Get Vaccinated? Roy's Corner    Connecting with other Fraternals The Royal Arcanum is part of the American Fraternal Alliance. In fact, the Royal Arcanum is the last surviving founding member of the National Fraternal Congress of America, which later renamed itself the American Fraternal Alliance. Their mission is to unite members of the 59 fraternals they represent through advocacy, education and networking to advance the fraternal benefit society movement. There's lot of great information available through them, and it's worth looking at their web site at https://www.fraternalalliance.org. They have recently launched a Fraternal Pinboard to bring together the best stories from their fraternal societies. It is a "Pinterest-like" page that showcases community service with photos and postings from some of their member societies. It's a great place to look for ideas about community service and activities other societies are engaged in. Their initial rollout only includes 15 highlighted societies, so you won't find Royal Arcanum stories there yet, but browsing just might give your council some ideas. Check them out at https://my.cotribute.co/community/fraternal-alliance/detail.    Product Focus Annuities What is a Royal Arcanum Annuity? An annuity is a contract that provides you with a future income in exchange for deposits you make to your account. It’s a way of planning for the future, and in particular, your retirement. Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity A Royal Arcanum Flexible Premium Deferred Annuity can be opened with as little as $500.00. Interest accumulates on a tax-deferred basis. Additional deposits are flexible; you decide when and how much you choose to deposit.  Options at Maturity 1) Life income or specified time period. 2) Balance may be left on Deposit. Avoids Costs of Probate Upon death of the annuitant, the cash value of the Royal Arcanum Annuity is paid directly to the beneficiary named in the contract. It is important that your annuity has a beneficiary (and contingent beneficiary), and they are regularly reviewed and maintained. If there is no beneficiary, or if they predecease you, for example, the funds could go to your estate and / or be garnished from creditors. Cost Unlike other annuities, your Royal Arcanum Annuity has no contract fee, transaction fee or premium charge. Every dollar you pay in premiums goes into the cash value account of your Royal Arcanum Annuity and earns interest immediately. Safety Annuity deposits are protected by the total resources of the Royal Arcanum.  Return We are currently offering a 3% return for the first 6 years of the contract period, with a guarantee return of at least 2% for the life of the contract. Penalties There is a surrender charge if you withdraw funds in excess of 10% per year within the first six years of the annuity. The IRS imposes penalties on early withdrawals from tax deferred accounts. Please consult your tax professional for additional tax information. Please contact the home office to find out more about how Annuities can help your family.    Should You Get Vaccinated? The COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect hundreds of thousands of people across the globe each day, and thousands are still dying daily. The mortality rate for infections averages around 2% - 3% worldwide, with the United States hovering around 1.8% and Canada at 2.5%. Vaccinations are now becoming available, but some are concerned about the side effects. While there can be no guarantee of complete safety, the total number of deaths reported after getting vaccinated is very low. The vaccines that were produced and are available are very safe and have been rigorously tested for efficacy and safety. For example, in the United States, the number of people who have died after receiving the vaccine is 0.003% -- again, with those having other underlying conditions. The CDC reports that there is no evidence that there is any link to the vaccine. Even if there was, the risk is nearly 1,000 times safer than the risk if you catch COVID. If you do have some concerns, please consult your doctor to see if your specific risks warrant holding off on getting vaccinated; but for the vast majority of people, the vaccine is safe and effective and is encouraged. We hope all our members can stay safe and we can all soon gather together in our council meetings and beyond. Until then, stay safe!    Roy's Corner It's time for another Zoom meeting to catch up with each other. Join us March 31, 2021 6 PM Eastern / 5 PM Central / 3 PM Pacific Join by using this Link: Roy's Zoom Gathering In case you just can't join with your computer or phone audio, you can still telephone in. Join by telephone from any of the phone numbers below:          +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)         +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)         +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)         +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) Meeting ID: 916 9395 6331 Passcode: 344161 Please add our gathering to your calendar and plan to join us!