Jun 14, 2022 Newsletter #45

Hi Member, The 105th Supreme Council Session is just over 2 months away, with only 1 month left to submit reservations and nominations. If you haven't yet completed your reservation or sent in your nomination, now is the time to ensure your room is ready and your desire to serve as an officer is registered. The 105th Supreme Council Session New RoyalPerks mobile app Bulletin deadline    Official Call for the 105th Supreme Council Session August 21-25, 2022 The Official Call to the Supreme Council Session has been sent to the officers and Supreme Council members of the Royal Arcanum. The Session in Annapolis is open to all Royal Arcanum members, and attending the Session is also available to guests at our discounted rate. Below are the key portions of the invitation, the reservation requirements, and a few highlights of the trip.   Official Call Dear Members: The 105th Session of the Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum is hereby called to convene on August 21, 2022 at the Crowne Plaza Annapolis Hotel, 173 Jennifer Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The phone number of the hotel is 1-410-266-3131.   It is important that all Officers, Representatives, Members, and Guests arrive on Sunday, August 21, 2022, beginning with Registration in the hotel’s– Ground Floor –Arundel A Foyer from 1:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M.  Dinner will be at 7:00 P.M. in the Queen Anne Room.  The meeting will begin Monday, August 22, 2022 at 8:30 A.M in the Arundel A Room and continue through Wednesday, August 24, 2022.  Guest room check-in time is 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, August 21st.  Check-out time is at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 25th.   Reservations All attendees (officers, representatives, members, and guests) MUST submit a completed reservation form and send with a $50 deposit per adult to the Supreme Treasurer by July 15, 2022.   Please see the Royal Arcanum Bulletin for a reservation form; you may also print a form from the Royal Arcanum website (www.royalarcanum.com).  The deposit is non-refundable for cancellations made on or after July 15, 2022 or if penalty by the hotel is applicable. Please Note:  Changes made after July 15, 2022 to hotel (room accommodations/dates of stay) reservations are subject to penalty charges by the hotel.  Except for emergencies, officers, members and guests will be responsible for any charges incurred.  The reservation form is available in the Spring 2022 Bulletin, on page 30.   COVID Precautions The Supreme Council looks forward to hosting this year’s event.  Being mindful of lingering COVID-19 effects or possible surges, the site committee is being attentive to arranging the activities with everyone’s safety in mind and for all to be comfortable while being respectful of other guests. The meeting and meal rooms are spacious to accommodate our attendees.  Social distancing measures will be followed as needed.  Hand sanitizers and disposable masks will be available for the meeting for those who wish to use them.  Although there are no restrictions currently in place in Annapolis for indoor mask-wearing or for providing a ‘Proof of Vaccination’ card, kindly be aware that situations may change as our event approaches.  Please be prepared!  As a global community, we’ve experienced a change to routines; everyone’s cooperation to policies and procedures that will be in effect for the Session will be appreciated.   Charitable Project At the request of the Fraternal Events Committee volunteers, this year’s fraternal project is being sponsored on Wednesday, August 24th as a Newborn and Toddler Shower to aid Ukrainian refugee babies.  Monetary donations and gifts (Sizes 6 Months thru 4 Toddler) for the project are welcomed and will be gratefully accepted.  In conjunction with the 145th Anniversary milestone of the Royal Arcanum being recognized this year, the “Share Some Sunshine” facet of the project is an easy way for members and friends who wish to participate to do so.  For a five dollar contribution, you can “reserve” a sunflower in honor or in memory of someone (family, friend, officer, member, etc.) or as a “Thinking of You” gesture.  The sunflowers will be included with the gifts and donations to be sent for the Ukrainian infants and toddlers.   Other Key Event Information   Daily breakfast buffet is included The Fraternal Celebration Dinner will be on Tuesday, August 23, replacing the formal banquet. Neat attire suggested, no need for tuxedos or evening gowns. "Seeing Purple" Theme Party and Dinner is on Wednesday, August 24. All are encouraged to wear something purple as we celebrate the Royal Arcanum's 145th anniversary. A Special Ceremony will be held, details to be given at the Session          Get the new PerkSpot Mobile App   Save everywhere you go with the new PerkSpot Mobile App The new PerkSpot mobile app makes maximizing the benefits of your Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum private discount portal easier than ever. Download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play today for on-the-go access to thousands of deals on everyday essentials and big-ticket items, including premium perks that are negotiated and verified by PerkSpot for Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum members to be the best of the best. Login to the PerkSpot mobile app with your Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum discount portal email address and password and start saving!    Bulletin Deadline Reminder   The summer bulletin article deadline is July 8 Does your council have any event updates and pictures for the Summer Bulletin? There's less than a month left: the article deadline is July 8. Send your story in today.

 

May 31, 2022 Newsletter #44

Hi Member, We have just a few short items for you in this edition: celebrating our scholarship and grant winners and previewing some of the awareness days for June.    2022 Scholarship & Grant Winners The Royal Arcanum is proud to announce the winners of our 2022 scholarships and grants!   Joseph E. Hallinan $10,000 Scholarship Justin Koplinka of Dobbs Ferry #1823   Lloyd E. Williams $10,000 Scholarship Nina Pantaleone of Sons of Poland #2016   $8,000 Scholarships Penelope Aboud of Integrity #586 Amanda Butto of Versatility Council #2501   $5,000 Scholarships Matthew Crawford of Fort Dearborn #278 Judith Kolek of Pawtucket #537   $1,500 Scholarships Sydney Jacobs of Woodside #1358 Caden Fowler of Group Colorado #1998 Jaclyn Giurintano of Sons of Poland #2016 Alyson MacDougall of Integrity #586 Connor Deboda of Integrity #586 Emma James of Integrity #586 Anthony Torricella of Claremont #1655 Michael Tomaszkowicz of Sons of Poland #2016 Paytyn Bavaro of Fort Dearborn #278 Javonta Hairston of Home Office - ACA #13   $750 Grants Kiersten Echon of California Group #1999 Wanda Marfo of New York Group #5100 We’re proud of all our winners and all applicants! The Royal Arcanum is happy to award this $62,500 in total to our deserving members. Spread the word on this and all the benefits of Royal Arcanum membership.    June is the month of... Global Day of Parents is observed on June 1st. This worldwide celebration, founded by the United Nations, marks a day to focus on the key role that parents play in the full and harmonious development of children for the well-being of families and society as a whole. June 5th is World Environment Day, a day to connect with nature and understand environmental issues in order to move towards sustainable consumption. International Albinism Awareness Day is observed on June 13. Albinism is an inherited genetic condition that occurs in all racial and ethnic groups throughout the world. It reduces the amount of melanin pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes. Many people with albinism have impaired vision or are legally blind. They can sunburn easily, and the condition sadly causes social problems because since they look different, they are ostracized. World Blood Donor Day is on June 14. This day was set aside to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their life-saving donations. World Music Day is an annual summer solstice music celebration. Celebrated since 1981, it encourages all musicians to perform on the streets and organize free concerts. It is now celebrated in more than 120 countries. United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated on June 23, which celebrates the value and virtue of public service to the community. How fitting that it’s also Royal Arcanum Day, the celebration of the founding of the Supreme Council of the Royal Arcanum in 1877.

 

May 17, 2022 Newsletter #44

Hi Member, Here's what's on our minds this time: 2022 Spirit of Service program is ready to start Planning for the Annapolis Session trip I wish I knew... The Royal Arcanum Facebook page The Royal Arcanum scholarship winners will be announced by May 27th and published in our next newsletter on May 31st.    2022 Spirit of Service program starts soon The Donald E. Ferry Jr. Spirit of Service Memorial Award is preparing to start its 2022 program. This program is dedicated to the memory of Donald E. Ferry Jr. and focuses on his drive to "See a Need and Take the Lead” in support of children’s charity or charitable programs for the benefit of children. It runs from June 1 (International Children’s Day) through November 20 (Family Volunteer Day) and is open to subordinate councils that sponsor a volunteer activity supporting children. The full guidelines are in the program brochure, which along with the program application are on the Royal Arcanum website.    Planning for the Annapolis Session trip As the excitement builds for finally gathering together again this August at our Session in Annapolis, we wanted to remind you of the wonderful vacation area this is. You may want to consider coming early or staying late and enjoying all the things to do in the area.   What to do The city of Annapolis is a great location! Learn about the top ten things to do in Annapolis.    What's the weather The long-range forecast for the Session calls for highs in the upper 80s and lows around 70. Keep an eye on the weather when the dates approach with the 10-day forecast to be sure you're prepared.   Day trips from Annapolis Don’t forget you can choose to explore the area around Annapolis, too. There are some great places to visit that are less than an hour away - such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C. - and other interesting locations not much further away. Consider extending your stay with Annapolis as your base and taking some day trips before or after our Session.    I wish I knew... How well do you know the Royal Arcanum? Any questions about our products? What about offices in the subordinate, grand, or supreme council? Any programs you have a question about? Any questions about events or people in our history? Whatever your question, we’re ready to find the answers. We invite you to submit questions to us that you’ve been wondering about. We’ll do our best to track down the answers, and highlight the most interesting questions and answers in future issues of the newsletter.    The Royal Arcanum Facebook page Are you on Facebook? Do you check our Facebook page regularly? It’s a great place to learn about council activities, articles about current topics, or learn of changes in the Home Office schedule for holidays or weather closures. For example, a recent Facebook update on our page gives some ideas on how to save money as gas prices rise. Make checking our Facebook page a regular routine in your daily updates.

 

May 03, 2022 Newsletter #43

Hi Member, We bet you're excited about May arriving! It's not much more than 100 days until the long-awaited Session in Annapolis, with reservations and nominations due in less than 75 days. The NBA and NHL have finished their regular seasons, and the MLB season is well underway. Warmer weather is here and with it an ideal time for fraternal and charitable efforts to begin in earnest. Let's take a look at all the excitement that the month of May brings. May is the month of... Grand Councils: Prepare your representatives Looking to increase your protection? The AFA Fraternal Pinboard    May is the Month of... May is the third month of the year with 31 days, and what a lovely time of year to get an extra day. The month's name is likely to have come from the Roman goddess Maia, who watched over the growth of plants and represents the focus on things giving life throughout the month. Some of the days of life-giving related celebration this month included May 1: Lei Day in Hawaii, first observed on May 1, 1928 May 8: Mother's Day, celebrating the women who gave us life May 21: Armed Forces Day, honoring all those who serve in all branches of the United States military and protect our lives May 23: Victoria Day, a Canadian celebration that includes marking the beginning of the summer season in Canada May 30: Memorial Day, remembering those who gave their lives while serving in the military May also hosts many awareness campaigns, including   Celiac Disease Awareness Month Celiac disease is a chronic digestive genetic autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine. Millions are victims of this disease, which is triggered by eating foods containing gluten but doesn't always cause an immediate onset. Research searching for a cure continues.   Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Appreciation Month Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or EDS, is a group of inherited disorders that affect connective tissue and cause hypermobility, fragile skin, and chronic fatigue among other severe and life-threatening health issues. Its cause is unknown, and the founding of EDS Awareness Month in 2006 was established to help bring education and funding for research.   National Stroke Awareness Month / World Stroke Month Learn the signs of a stroke, the risks, and how to take action during National Stroke Awareness Month. Become familiar with their FAST campaign and learn how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and how to respond and help save lives: Face - Ask the suspected stroke victim to smile, and see if one side of the face droops Arm - Ask the person to raise both arms, look to see if one arm drifts lower than the other Speech - Ask the person to repeat a single sentence and listen for slurred speech Time - Call 911 if you suspect that you see any signs of a stroke. Time can make a huge difference in recovery, and even between life and death.    Grand Councils: Prepare your representatives Each Grand Council in good standing is allowed a minimum of two representatives to the Supreme Council Session. Representatives from each jurisdiction are the heart and soul of the Royal Arcanum, and their voice and votes are the most important part of selecting the new slate of officers and the leadership they provide to our society. Prepare your Grand Council for representation by encouraging your subordinate councils to have members move through the chairs and serve as their council's Regent -- a requirement to be considered as a Supreme Council representative. First-time representatives provide for more available members to run for Supreme Council offices. Trips to the Session for representatives include reimbursed travel expenses and trip costs, to the extent approved by the Supreme Council. If you haven't been thinking about your jurisdiction's representation, now is a great time for your Grand Council to think about it, and include the selection in your election of officers. We look forward to meeting more of your local members at our upcoming Session.    Looking to increase your protection? Are you looking to increase the amount of insurance protection you have? We can do that! Call the Home Office to get started Members seeking to increase their insurance protection should contact a Service Specialist at the Home office at 1-888-ARCANUM (1-888-272-2686). A Service Specialist will take your information and send you the filled-out application and illustration for your signature. You can even complete the application electronically and set up electronic payments.   Increase your current policy or start a new one Each person has different circumstances. You may want to increase the amount of your current policy -- which may require additional medical certification -- or you may want to obtain a Simplified Life policy, which has fewer medical questions and no exam is needed. The choice is yours.   Recommenders can still earn points The Royal Arcanum member who recommends and helps you with coverage choices can earn their full points. Just let the Service Specialist know the member who has recommended you to call the Home Office, and they will earn their Distinguished Service Award points. You can even recommend yourself! Call today and find out if an increase in protection is right for you.    The AFA Fraternal Pinboard Did you know that the American Fraternal Alliance (AFA, of which the Royal Arcanum is the last surviving founding member) is the online host of the Fraternal Pinboard? The Fraternal Pinboard highlights Alliance members' fraternal activities, highlighting a wide variety of events and activities. It's a great place to look for inspiration for our own councils' plans. Visit their site today, bookmark it, and read it regularly. Fraternalism does make a difference, and it's alive and well across the United States.  This is just one of many interesting pieces of information that can be found on the AFA website. Add a new place to browse to your routine.

 

Apr 19, 2022 Newsletter #42

Hi Member, We're more than a third of the way through Spring, and our thoughts are turning to the warm weather activities. Today's newsletter is focusing on looking forward to the future. Executive Committee meeting summary Annual reports reminder SAT Preparation fee reimbursements Member benefit highlights: Video chat and Royal Perks    Executive Committee meeting summary Your Executive Committee met by teleconference on March 16 & 17. Highlights of the meeting have been sent to officers and council secretaries, and here is a short summary of a few of the items covered: Preparations are continuing for the 105th Supreme Council Session, from the business of the Session meetings to the diners and the area attractions. Those who attend are sure to have a wonderful time. The Home Office is continuing to successfully navigate a hybrid work environment. They have recently implemented a new underwriting software program enabling underwriters to access additional medical information in a swift manner, allowing for quicker decisions on coverage, which is beneficial to making Royal Arcanum policies more attractive to agents. We have also launched this year a new web-based Illustration system, allowing agents and recommenders to create illustrations from their computers, tablets, and smartphones. The Fraternal Director reported early success with obtaining support for the Ukraine Fraternal Project. More help is always needed. Projects such as these are included in the annual report that is currently being compiled for the Americal Fraternal Alliance Our Junior Director recapped the activities by the Junior Department and is calling for past Scholarship winners to get involved with writing an article on the impact of the Royal Arcanum and their scholarship on their lives. New programs designed for our junior members who are involved in volunteerism and community projects are in the works. The Sales department reports in 2021 double-digit increases in first-year premiums and a 5% increase in renewal premiums. The number of new policies sold is increasing, a particular achievement in the face of the pandemic. More information can be found in future Bulletins and by contacting your local Supreme Council Officers and council secretaries.      Annual reports reminder The annual Grand Council Report and Subordinate Council Report are due by June 30 for all councils. Requests are also being sent to the council secretaries of record in the mail. Please note that keeping your council in good standing includes filing the annual reports. Councils in good standing are eligible to participate in the many programs offered that can help provide additional funds to your council. Grand Councils must also be in good standing to provide representatives to the Session. Don't delay, get your annual report completed and sent right away!    SAT Preparation fee reimbursement College-bound members, don't forget that the Royal Arcanum will reimburse you up to $50 for members who submit a request to the Home Office along with a receipt for any SAT prep course that's completed. Don't miss the chance to get your college days off to a good start with a good SAT score. Prepare for the SAT and submit a reimbursement request.      Member benefit highlights: Video chat and Royal Perks Being a member of the Royal Arcanum comes with many benefits. Two we want to highlight today are the free Royal Arcanum Video Chat service, first introduced about a year ago, and the Royal Perks service. Video Chat The Royal Arcanum Video Chat service is a free video chat offered to every member of the Royal Arcanum. This easy-to-use service supports video calls with up to 16 people at a time, all at no cost to you. No special app is needed, only your web browser, and it works from any smartphone, tablet, or computer that has a camera, microphone, and speaker. To get started, simply browse to the Royal Arcanum Video Chat page, and select CHAT NOW to start an immediate video chat, or CHAT LATER to copy a link to a future video chat that you can share with those you want to chat with.   Royal Perks All Royal Arcanum members are eligible to get discounts on travel, hotels, rental cars, clothing, entertainment, and many other items. It's an ideal place to start planning a vacation and save some money. Royal Perks is more than a vacation-savings program: There are hundreds of discounts available: more than 20 different categories to explore and save. Sign up, plan a quick vacation, and while you're enjoying what you saved on your vacation, relax and explore all the other discounts available to you. Join the more than 4,500 Royal Arcanum members who have already joined and start saving.

 

Apr 05, 2022 Newsletter #41

Hi Member, Happy April! Spring is in full bloom, and we're another month closer to our Session in Annapolis. This month, we have a mix of news to share and encourage you and all our members to spring into fraternalism. Another Booster? Happy Easter & Passover! April is the month of... Ukraine follow-up Scholarship update    Is it time for another booster? At the end of March, the FDA and CDC approved a second COVID booster for those over 50 years of age, in addition to those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and received an initial booster dose at least 4 months earlier. The authorization was not a blanket recommendation for everyone over 50 to immediately seek a second booster. While acknowledging that this is especially important for those 65 and older and those 50 and older with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe disease from COVID-19, there was some question on the timing of an additional booster for everyone at a time when cases were dropping. Some sources suggested it might even be worthwhile to wait until an expected fall increase in cases, or if the Omicron variant causes a sharp uptick in cases. Consult with your medical professionals to determine when would be the optimal timing for your additional booster to determine the optimal plan for you.      Happy Easter and Passover! To all of our members, we offer our sincere wishes for a  Happy Easter and Happy Passover! We invite you to enjoy the Spring holidays with your family and friends, perhaps in person for the first time in a few years. We look forward to seeing you all again at our Session this August, and hope for the best for you and yours!    April is the month of... April brings the first full month of Spring and brings with it a new set of awareness campaigns. Traditional "spring cleaning" can extend beyond our household clutter, and is a great time to raise our consciousness of different needs that need our help. Financial Literacy Month April is focused on educating people about the importance of planning for a secure financial future and has been declared Financial Literacy Month. Take the time to check your financial well-being, review your Social Security statement, and get reacquainted with your finances.   Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month It's estimated that 10% - 15% of people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but many remain undiagnosed and suffer alone. IBS Awareness Month designates April as a time to work to focus attention on the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life issues associated with IBS. Why not get involved by downloading the IBS Awareness Month toolkit and learning how to get involved.   National Donate Life Awareness Month NDLM, or National Donate Life Month, is observed to encourage people to register as organ donors, as well as a time to honor those who gave the gift of life. Current estimates are that there are about 118,000 people waiting on an organ transplant. While the organ donation registry has grown recently, there is still vastly more of a need than there are organ transplant surgeries. Consider giving the gift of life!   National Parkinson's Awareness Month Parkinson's Awareness Month is a chance to increase awareness about Parkinson's, its symptoms, and ways to support its victims. Parkinson's is a long-term disorder where the central nervous system degenerates and affects the motor system. Help support the search for a cure!    Ukraine campaign update Contributions continue to come in for our fraternal project to help Ukrainian refugees. As of March 31, more than $14,000 has been contributed, with 100% of the funds directly helping the Ukrainian people, both refugees and those remaining in the war zone. A big thank you to our Grand Regents and Fraternal Events Committee for promoting the project in the Royal Arcanum jurisdictions, and to all of you for your continued support! Beyond expectations, the Ukrainian army continues to defend their homeland, but unfortunately, the war and the suffering continue, and the needs continue to grow. It's not too late for Grand and Subordinate Councils, Supreme Council Officers, and Members to send donation checks made out to the Royal Arcanum to: Cindy Macon, Fraternal Director 24 East 43rd Street Bayonne, NJ 07002 As a reminder, please let her know if you have given to another organization to support those in Ukraine. Thank you to all who have given!      Scholarship update Our scholarship and grant applicants will be happy to know that all their submissions are in the hands of our independent judge now and are being reviewed and evaluated. We expect to be able to announce the winners next month. Best of luck to all those in the running!