Oct 19, 2021 Newsletter #29

Hi Member,  The year is moving on, and we have some interesting and informative information for you in this edition.  October is the Month of... Notice: No 2022 Pocket Calendars Scholarship Applications are Being Accepted A Message from our Junior Director    October is the Month of... October is best known for Halloween, but the spooky thing is that we forget how many other things this hard-working month is known for. Here's a small selection of things to know about the 10th month.   But if it's the tenth month, why October? The early Roman calendar, which is thought to have been introduced around 750 BC, was a lunar calendar. This system only contained 10 months, and October was the eighth month in that cycle, which started in Martius, now known as March. Each month had 30 or 31 days and only totaled 304 days. So what happened to the other 60 or so days? They were nameless, and two lunar cycles in the winter were skipped. It was about 40 or 50 years later that another two months were introduced, but historians aren't sure if they were added to the end of the calendar or with one at the beginning and one at the end. In any case, the current calendar we all use was last updated by Pope Gregory in 1582 -- in October! Despite its current placement as the 10th month, the original name of October stuck. Explore the history of the calendar before and since Roman times.   ADHD Awareness Month Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults around the globe. Learn about ADHD and the latest on diagnosing and treating it.   Adopt a Shelter Dog Month The American Humane Society has designated October as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. It's a great time to help a dog waiting to find a forever home from one of the more than 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide or the equally large group of rescue groups and animal sanctuaries. Now is the time to make a tail wag!   Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. This year, it is estimated that more than 40,000 women and 500 men will die from breast cancer. Knowing your family history and getting screened are two powerful ways to be aware and allow for early detection when survival rates are highest. Were you aware that the two greatest risks are simply being a woman, and getting older? Raise your awareness and help support efforts against this disease.   Italian American / Polish American Heritage Month October is a month to celebrate the heritage of many different ethnic backgrounds. Two of them are Italian Americans and Polish Americans. Celebrate by appreciating the immigrants who made this country a melting pot of cultures.   Bat Appreciation Month We love to see bats as decorations for Halloween, but do you know how they help the environment through their diet of invasive insects? Learn more about these little creatures and gain some respect for them beyond their ability to insight fear of vampires.    Notice: No 2022 Pocket Calendars The change in weather might not have set in yet, but there's no doubt a new year is headed our way. We wanted to let you know that we will not be ordering pocket calendars for 2022. We're taking a break from them for a few reasons. First, because there won't be any visitations before the end-of-March Session, calendars would all have to be mailed, and this increases the overall calendar cost. Waiting until the Session would mean missing the first quarter of the year, which would decrease the value of the calendars. Also, we have had a declining number of members interested in pocket calendars, as many are moving to use calendars on their smartphones. Ordering calendars in smaller quantities increases the per-calendar cost. With just these three factors, it was decided to take a break for 2022 in pocket calendars. We wanted to let you know early so those who still use them can keep an eye out for one for themselves when shopping this autumn.    Calling for Scholarship Applications Applications for our Royal Arcanum Scholarships and non-competitive grants are now being accepted. More than $60,000 in scholarships and over $8,000 in grants are available. Remind your eligible members that the initial applications must be in the Home Office by December 31, 2021. Don't let this opportunity for an award pass you by! To apply, call 1-888-ARCANUM or visit http://royalarcanum.com/collegecareer.html. Applications are due by December 31, 2021. Please include a photograph of yourself in your application that we can use for advertising winners. After your application is received, you will hear back on the next steps required to be submitted. If you don't hear from them, follow up to make sure your application was received. All components of the application must be submitted and completed by March 31, 2022. Do you know of family or friends with children that are not yet members? Talk to them today about signing up so they can take advantage of this golden opportunity when they reach college age! It's just one of the many benefits of membership.    A Message from our Junior Director One of the tasks that I enjoy most by being Junior Director is searching for and purchasing Christmas gifts for our juniors. Sometimes it is really a challenge because children today have so many toys, games, electronics, etc. It’s completely different from the time when we were growing up. We love to tell our children and grandchildren stories that begin with, "When I was your age..." Some of us were lucky if we received one toy because most of the time we would get clothes, shoes, and other necessities.  Today's generation is easily spoiled by their parents and grandparents.  As a grandmother, I love the thrill and excitement of seeing my grandchildren open presents and receive surprises.     As more Covid restrictions are being lifted, hopefully, more councils in our jurisdictions will be hosting parties for our youngest members. In November, Christmas gifts for juniors will be available from the home office for the appropriate age groups. Let your council officer download the form online or request them by calling the home office.   To our college students that would like to receive a care package at the beginning of the new year for the next semester, please send us your college or home address.   Wishing you all a safe Halloween and a peaceful and joyous Thanksgiving with your family. Take this holiday to remember to be thankful for all that we have.     Yours in V.M.C. Errica Conforto

 

Oct 05, 2021 Newsletter #28

Hi Member, With autumn comes reminders of important deadlines. These and other news is included in this edition of the newsletter. Highlights of the Executive Committee Teleconference Anything missing from our website? Bulletin Deadline: October 9 Scholarship Winners need to submit their tuition bill    Highlights of the Executive Committee Teleconference The Executive Committee recently met by teleconference. Here are some highlights from that meeting. A more detailed summary has been sent to the Supreme Council Officers - contact your local or grand council for more information.   Investments increased from March through July The Royal Arcanum investment portfolio is reviewed by the Executive Committee on a regular basis. The last period under review was from March through July 2021. The market value of the portfolio increased by about 1.34% during that period.   Upcoming Session Plans for the upcoming 2022 Session in March in Annapolis, Maryland are advancing. The Session Committee has been working to ensure a safe and successful Session. Members of the Executive Committee have been reaching out to identify those who are planning to attend; if you are planning on coming but haven't been contacted, let us know, we're glad you'll be joining us!   Business summary Our life insurance operation has seen an 8% increase in new business application volume compared to 2022.  We have received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, effective August 2021, which is an exciting step for our organization. The Sales department reported an increase in newly appointed agents across the 31 states in which we are licensed, which should help us continue to increase our sales.   Scholarships awarded over $64,000 Our Junior Director reported that over $64,000 in scholarships and grants were awarded this year! This enticing benefit is a great reason to encourage friends and families with pre-college children to join the Royal Arcanum.   Home Office upgrades Keeping up with advances in technology is a requirement of business these days. Our Home Office recently upgraded their computer server and key backend software to support the ongoing growth in business and everchanging needs of support.   Charitable projects before the end of the year Our Acting Supreme Regent Maria DiBartolo has asked all councils to take on at least one more charitable project before the end of the year. Every project is helpful, and if your council hasn't yet reached its IFS reimbursement limit, your charitable gift can go further. Plan a charitable project today.    Website Resources Needed? Did you know there are many member resources on our website, www.royalarcanum.com? You can find common forms for members such as a Change of Address form or the Change of Beneficiary form. We also have resources for councils such as the annual report instructions & forms and brochures & forms for council programs such as the International Fraternal Service program and the Donald E. Ferry Spirit of Service Award program. We have electronic copies of our most recent Bulletins, Scholarship applications, and the Royal Perks program. We have information on all of our protection products, both insurance and annuities. You can find our constitution and history, our officers, and junior games and puzzles (along with coloring pages then we've received back from our junior members). Is there something else you'd like to see on our website? We're in the midst of making a few updates, and it's a great time to add any missing information you may want to see. Drop us an email to let us know what we're missing and we'll see if we can get it into the upcoming update.    Bulletin Deadline: October 9 If you have any articles for the upcoming Bulletin, please submit them as soon as possible. We have a firm deadline of October 9 to have the best chance of the Bulletins getting out to our members on time. Articles received after the deadline will be considered for the next quarterly Bulletin. As always, be sure to include a high-res photo if you're including pictures, and be sure to identify everyone in the photos. Thanks!    Scholarship Winners: Tuition Bills Due Please note that Scholarship winners must submit their tuition bill and include their student ID each year in order for the funds to be sent to their school. A letter is sent out annually to scholarship winners as a reminder. In case it got lost in the mail or was overlooked, please be sure winners from your council complete this important task. Please call our office at 888-ARCANUM if you are a scholarship winner and have any questions.