Feb 22, 2022 Newsletter #38

Hi Member, We've got a few short reads for your mid-winter newsletter today, with two items thinking ahead to the summer. Can you almost feel the warmth of the sun just thinking about summer? Maybe you will with the topics we have for you. Annapolis in Summer Scholarship completion reminder Celebrate our 145th Anniversary this coming June Be on the Lookout for Scams    Annapolis in Summer Still thinking about coming to the Session in Annapolis, Maryland this coming August 21 to 25, 2022? Why not invite your family and friends to join you. Aside from coming to the Session and all the wonderful plans around the business of the Supreme Council, Annapolis is a wonderful place to visit. Take a look at their visitor's guide and think about visits to the Art District, the City Dock and Ego Alley, and enjoy their Main Street. August is a wonderful time to visit, and family and friends just might be looking for a reason to get out and about this summer. Share the excitement of our location and invite others to join you for a terrific late summer adventure!    Scholarship Completion Reminder We hope all the scholarship applicants met their end-of-year deadline to get their applications started, but that's just the first step! Now is the time to finish the steps needed to be sure you are considered for the scholarships and grants. Everything must arrive in the Home Office by March 31. Be sure to get it done right away! While you're at it, be sure to include a recent picture of yourself if you didn't include one with your application. Reminder, everyone who sent in an application should have received a confirmation from the Home Office, along with a checklist of items that will need to be completed before the application is finalized. Call the Home Office immediately if you haven't received the confirmation and checklist. Please call (888) 272-2686 or send us an email to ensure your application has been received. Only applicants who have completed all necessary steps and sent in all required documents will be considered for consideration. Don't delay, act today!    Make Plans for our 145th Anniversary Did you know that the Royal Arcanum will be 145 years old this June? That's a tremendous achievement, one that few organizations can claim, and it's a great reason to take on a special project or have a special celebration to mark the event. Reach out to your council's officers and plans for the 145th Anniversary celebration. Make a special donation to mark the event, or join with your community to take on a needed sponsorship, or work with another group in some special fraternal or charitable project. To celebrate the successful completion of your project, you might want to plan a special event for your council members (and maybe some new friends, if you've partnered with another organization) to mark our 145th anniversary on June 23rd.      Be on the Lookout for Scams It seems as if there's another rise in scams, so it's a good idea to be sure you're as safe as you can reasonably be in protecting yourself. There was even a story recently of a woman in Florida who lent her phone to a teen who said his phone battery was dead, and where he managed to transfer almost $4,000 from her accounts in minutes right in front of her! Here are a few tips to help keep yourself safe. Know who is contacting you. Don't believe any email from the Home Office or any of the Executive Committee who are urgently requesting you to help them by buying gift cards or sending them money. Yes, there are fundraisers that are held, but we never ask for any urgent action. If you receive a request and you think it's legitimate, you can always check by initiating contact yourself to call the Home Office to see if this is a legitimate fundraiser. We'll say it again: urgent requests are suspicious. Don't just be on the lookout for bogus requests from those saying they are from the Royal Arcanum. Be suspicious of calls saying they are from the IRS, from your bank, from Social Security, or on behalf of a relative. A message that tries to scare you into immediate action should make you question the request. Check with a trusted person. Even if you think something is on the level, it's always prudent to check with a trusted friend or relative. They won't be as emotionally rattled by the urgent request you may have received, and they can suggest a calmer approach to verify suspicions or remove any concerns for legitimate requests. Be sure to protect your assets. Using good passwords or other security measures may slow you from instant access to your phone apps, but it may save you in the long run. In the case of the Florida woman mentioned, she did not have a face ID verification on her cash transfer app; if she had, the teen wouldn't have been able to complete a transfer. Stay safe!

 

Feb 08, 2022 Newsletter #37

Hi Member, Crazy winter storms have ravaged the continent since our last newsletter, with a record-tying snowfall in Boston followed by a massive system that spanned from Texas to New Brunswick! There were even freeze warnings into southern Florida. We hope you were all safe. If you have any interesting pictures or stories, share them with us and we'll share them with our members. Don't forget to check in with your neighbors and relatives that live alone to make sure they are safe and with power, food, and water. A small fraternal gesture may mean a great deal to someone alone and in distress. The Supreme Council Session has been rescheduled! February is the Month of... Time for your annual information verification Tax time is here    The Supreme Council Session is Rescheduled for August 21 to 25 We are pleased to announce that we have finalized the rescheduling of the Session for August 21 to 25, 2022. Arrival is on Sunday, August 21, our Session business takes place on Monday through Wednesday, and departure is on Thursday, August 25. It's been delayed for two years, but we're very hopeful that the pandemic is receding and we'll finally be able to safely travel and gather together again. We're sure that everyone has been feeling cooped up for the last few years, and we sincerely hope that you all decide to join us in Annapolis this August to reconnect with each other. Please encourage all your members to try to attend, and extend that invitation to any of your family and friends that need a vacation break. Our fraternal family will welcome them. Long-time members know just how enjoyable our gathers are, and how the fun increases with every person in attendance. New deadlines for reservations and nominations will be posted as the time of the Session grows nearer. The Session Reservation Form and Nominations Procedure will appear in the Winter 2022 issue of the Bulletin. Any reservations and nominations already sent in will remain on deposit and on file. Save the dates on your calendar now!    February is the Month of... February marks the midpoint of winter and is the shortest month of the year, but it's still packed with plenty of interest. Most of us could rattle off the most common commemorations, such as Groundhog's Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and Black History Month. This time we'll delve into a few lesser-known facts about February.   Responsible Pet Owner's Month February is National Responsible Pet Owner's Month, dedicated to taking on the responsibility of owning a pet and giving them the love and care they deserve.   Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month You should feel inspired just by reading the title of this celebration! National Planting the Seeds of Greatness Month calls us to take the idea of New Year's resolutions to the next level, and commit to finding the greatness that lies in each of us. What a great idea to share with your children and grandchildren, and for each of us to celebrate in our own lives!   International Friendship Month What a welcome time for the celebration of friendships! Pandemic-weary and with headlines of troop build-ups in Eastern Europe, it's time to focus on the positive and friendships that cross political borders. Take the time to reach out to the special friends you have beyond the borders of your country. Send a card, make a call, or send a message to stir those friendships that grow our understanding of each other across the globe.    Time for an Annual Check-up Did you remember to do a year-end check to update any changed information for your policies? We didn't remember to remind you, but it's never too late to catch up and do a check on all your important information. Make sure your Royal Arcanum policies are in order: Beneficiaries: Are there any changes to your beneficiaries since you've last checked? The law requires we pay beneficiaries as listed, or to the estate of predeceased beneficiaries, and changes cannot be made after death. Please be sure your beneficiaries are correct. Contact information: Have you moved or changed other contact information? We might not be the first place to think about when things change, but it is important to give us the most up-to-date way to contact you if your address, phone number, and/or email address changes. Are your policies using CHECK-O-MATIC? If you've changed your bank account, be sure your policies stay current by changing your bank account with us. The Royal Arcanum isn't the only place you should verify is in order. Any other estate documents or important financial or medical providers should be kept up to date -- think wills, power of attorney, banks, and other insurance carriers. It only takes a short while to verify everything is in order, especially if you make it an annual task. Do it now and sleep easy knowing everything is in order.      Tax Time Tasks The IRS has opened receiving tax returns for this season, along with a warning things might take a bit longer to process again this year. But don't rush to file before getting all your paperwork in order. There are things that have changed in recent years, too, and you need to make sure all your paperwork is in order before filing or submitting your information to your accountant. Don't forget these important items: Collect all W-2, 1099, Interest, and Dividend notices. Check all your expected sources of income. Remember, if you don't receive them, the IRS still requires you to report them. Did you receive a stimulus payment last year? That needs to be reported, too, even if you aren't taxed on it. Look for Letter 6475 from the IRS indicating your total 2021 Economic Impact payments. Don't forget about tax form 1095-B, especially if you are participating in the Healthcare marketplace. While it isn't required to be sent when filing taxes, you will want to make sure you get any reduction in healthcare premiums correct. Check with your accountant or visit the handy online resources at the IRS to be sure you get every bit of a tax refund you deserve -- or at least be sure you've paid all the taxes you owe and avoid penalties.