Tuesday, July 1, 2025

 

July 01, 2025
Newsletter #83

Hi Member,


A Message from our Supreme Regent


Our Supreme Regent provides an update on her latest visitation


Why Giving Matters

Fraternalism and charitable giving are a cornerstone of the Royal Arcanum

Charitable Activities Highlights

Read about the latest charitable activities 


College News

Attention: Here are this year's scholarship and grant winners!

Inspirational Quote

Keep yourself inspired!

Upcoming Dates

Keep these important dates in your calendar.
 

   A Message from our Supreme Regent


Hello Members,

On Saturday, June 14th I presented my program “Revive the Royal Arcanum Family” at my home jurisdiction of Illinois. The Grand Regent Lisa Crawford hosted the luncheon at the Wildfire Restaurant in Glenview. We had a fantastic turnout. I was very pleased to see the number that were able to attend. Lisa introduced our Deputy Supreme Regent and life member David Covelli and past Supreme Regent and elected member to the executive committee Carl Krzystofczyk. It made my heart feel so good to see so many familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in quite a while.

The Grand Council of Illinois donated over two hundred and fifty books to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Oak Park. Dan Winters their senior philanthropist was in attendance to explain to our members in great detail how the Shriners help thousands of children every year with some of the most complicated diseases children have to endure. He was amazed to see the number of books we collected. He told us that when the children select a book during their visit to the hospital for treatment, they can take the book home with them as it becomes theirs. I am very happy that my initiative to collect books is so beneficial to many worthwhile organizations.

I am looking forward to my next visitation to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in September. 

Fondly,
 
Nicole M. Covelli
Supreme Regent


 


 

   Why Giving Matters


Since its inception, the Royal Arcanum has focused on the care of its members, charitable institutions, and the youth. We are proud to be part of the fraternal system, which is estimated to provide over $2 billion in charitable assistance annually. Have you ever stopped to reflect on why our founders made it an essential foundational principle, and why it continues to be a vital element of the Royal Arcanum today?

At the founding of the Royal Arcanum, the United States was in the midst of change. It was a decade after the Civil War ended and the start of the second Industrial Revolution. The rapid social changes created a challenge to the country's principles of equality and a longing for institutions to take on the task of providing for the most needy. The Royal Arcanum's founding beliefs of Virtue, Mercy, and Charity aligned with the general mood of the times and led to a rapid growth in membership.

Over the last 148 years, society has changed. For example, our fraternal status is defined in the IRS code, and it exhorts us to provide fraternal and charitable support as part of the requirements for maintaining our recognized status. Aside from the legal requirement, it's important to realize that most charitable organizations rely on donations from individuals and small groups for the bulk of their operations: on average, 75% of their income comes from individual giving. 

Causes unite people. Your council's charitable activities are important to the Royal Arcanum's IRS status, to the organizations that receive your fraternal support, and to attract members. Be bold in trumpeting your fraternal activities, and partner with non-members when you can. Your common interests may attract them to become members, as it has for nearly a century and a half.
 
Carl Krzystofczyk
Member of the Executive Committee


 


 

   Charitable Activities Highlights

 

Last month marked the annual start of the Donald E. Ferry Jr. Spirit of Service program. This program was created in honor of Donald E. Ferry, Jr., a Legion of Honor member who worked in the Home Office for 29 years. Don's passion as a fraternalist shone most brightly in his passion for working on the Junior Committee in the Supreme Council. The Executive Committee commissioned the Donald E. Ferry Jr. Spirit of Service program to annually reward the council that emulates Don's zeal by supporting a children's charity or performing a charitable program for the benefit of children.

Councils can participate by sponsoring a volunteer program benefiting children from June 1st through November 20th. Hands-on participation of council members is a requirement for this program, donation-only support is not qualified, but we're sure that members who participate will feel a sense of accomplishment. The winning council will receive a $500 award. Now is a perfect time to plan your sponsorship so that it is completed by the November 20 deadline.
 

   College News

 

The 2025 Royal Arcanum Scholarship & Grant winners are here! Congratulations to our members and best of luck to them on their future careers!

 

$10,000 Scholarship

 

Jacob Olano - Group California #1999
Emily Solondz - Woodside Council #1358
 

$8,000 Scholarship

 

Isabella Wisniewski - Sons of Poland Council #2016
Gabriela Potoczak - Sons of Poland Council #2016
 

$5,000 Scholarship

    
Brianna LaFreeda - Integrity Council #586
Edward Aboud - Integrity Council #586
 

$2,000 Scholarship

 

Julia Hammond - Group New Jersey #1999
Finnegan Dougherty - Integrity Council #586
Jake Bourhill - Sons of Poland Council #2016
 

$1,200 Continuing Education Grant

 

Connor Voisine - Haut St. Jean Council #59

 

The winners will be featured in the summer edition of the Bulletin.


 

   Inspirational quotes

 

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.”

―    Robert Louis Stevenson
 

   Upcoming dates

 

Mark your calendar with these important dates:
 

  • Summer Bulletin submission deadline: July 8, 2025
  • Monthly Lend A Hand - Lift A Heart submission deadline: July 31, 2025
  • Summer Bulletin publication date: August 19, 2025
  • Donald E. Ferry Spirit of Service Award Projects Ends: November 20, 2025
 
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    Tuesday, March 4, 2025

     

    March 04, 2025
    Newsletter #79

    Hi Member,

     

    Supreme Regent By the Book

    Have you heard about the challenge our new Supreme Regent has given to our members? Read about it here.
     

    Charitable Activities Highlights

    2024 Fraternal Projects have come to an end, it's time to organize your councils for 2025 charitable projects.
     
    College News

    Last call for this year's scholarship applicants to complete their checklist and a reminder to high school seniors.

    Inspirational Quote

    Get inspired this month in your neighborhood!

    Upcoming Dates

    Keep these important dates in your calendar.
     

       Supreme Regent By the Book


    Books for Young People


    Since its founding, the Royal Arcanum has focused on the well-being of our youths. Supreme Regent Nicole Covelli has a strong focus on the continued education of young people and the importance of reading in their lives. She encourages our councils and our members to support reading in children's lives and promotes them to get involved with organizations that promote reading activities for the youth.

    Throughout her term, she encourages you to sponsor collecting books for the benefit of organizations that promote education and development through reading.  Here are some ideas that you or your council may want to partner with to help fulfill her initiative.

    • Local Schools: Contact your school district to see if they would welcome receiving a donation of age-appropriate reading material for their students. Councils may also want to partner with their school districts in fundraisers that will be used for providing new reading materials.
    • Libraries: Your local library may already have plenty of books on hand, but do they have young readers? Many local libraries have events scheduled to make reading fun for kids and would welcome volunteers or councils to help sponsor their events. Contact them and form a partnership for our future.
    • Reading is Fundamental: Founded in 1966 by Margaret McNamara, Reading is Fundamental is the largest non-profit promoting reading among children in the United States.
    • Reach Out and Read: Barry Zuckerman founded Reach Out and Read in 1989 to help families make reading a part of their daily routines. It has since expanded to become a national charity that integrates reading aloud into pediatric care.
    • Goodwill and The Salvation Army: Both organizations accept donations of used books, which can provide children of disadvantaged families with access to quality reading material.
    • Little Free Diverse Libraries: Many communities have created their own Little Free Diverse Libraries, making their front yard a mini-library available to their neighborhood children. Your council and members can participate in transforming young lives on a very personal level.
    Have more ideas? Make it happen in your council and share it with us for a future newsletter or Bulletin article.

     

       Charitable Activities Highlights

     

     

    Thank you to all the councils who participated in the IFS program in 2024! More than 25 projects were approved by the IFS Committee from more than 15 different subordinate or grand councils, providing more than $16,000 to local and national causes.

    The IFS Committee continues to stand ready to receive 2025 projects. Each subordinate or grand council is eligible to receive half of the value of qualifying charitable projects, up to $1,000 of reimbursement. Be sure to review the IFS Program guidelines, select the charitable projects of your choice, and submit an IFS Request as part of your activities for 2025.

     

    Medora Council #1648

    Hurricane Helene Relief


    Medora Council closed their year with support for Operation Holiday Chest through a donation to the Fraternal Department's Hurricane Helene Relief project. Thank you to all councils and individuals who supported this project to help the many who suffered from the results of the hurricane.


    Greater Chicago Food Depository

     

    Medora Council also made a year-end donation to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which strives to end hunger by connecting our neighbors with healthy food and advancing solutions that address the root causes of hunger.

     

       College News

     

    Final Reminder for Scholarship Applicants

     

    Warning: the deadline to complete the next steps of their Scholarship application is March 31.  Applicants should verify that the required items in the checklist they should have received from the Home Office have been completed. Please contact the Home Office immediately at (888) 272-2686 if you lost or did not receive your list of next steps. Good luck to all!

     

    High School Seniors, Get Ready for College

     

    Seniors, have you heard from the colleges you applied to? College admissions decisions are often made in March. Watch your mail and email for final admission letters.

    You're not done with high school yet! Be sure to prepare for your AP test and final exams to end your senior year on a high note and perhaps earn college credits with good scores.

       Inspirational quotes

     

    “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It's easy to say, "It's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem." Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”

    ―    Fred Rogers

       Upcoming dates

     

    Mark your calendar with these important dates:

    • Daylight Saving Time begins: March 9, 2025
    • Spring Begins: March 20, 2025
    • Spring Bulletin submission deadline: March 23, 2025
    • Monthly Lend A Hand - Lift A Heart submission deadline: March 31, 2025
    • Scholarship and Grant checklist items deadline: March 31, 2025
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    Tuesday, February 4, 2025

     

    February 04, 2025
    Newsletter #78

    Hi Member,

     

    Home Office News

    As our Home Office adjusts to the staff changes, learn what self-service things you can take care of using our website
     

    Charitable Activities Highlights

    Have you completed your IFS requests for your council's 2024 year-end donations? See who has, and don't forget to file your requests before the deadline.
     
    College News

    Scholarship applicants need to complete their checklist of tasks before the deadline. Check to see what's needed.

    Inspirational Quote

    Get inspired this month!

    Upcoming Dates

    Keep these important dates in your calendar.
     

       Home Office News


    Our Home Office is going through a few changes, with the departure of Nick Benoit from his job as our Chief Operations Officer and our Chief Financial Officer John Crisanti's move to a new home and working remotely. Our well-trained staff isn't missing a beat in providing assistance for any fraternal or in continuing to keep the business side of things rolling. But did you know that there are many tasks you can initiate yourself, for either you or your council?

    Our website, royalarcanum.com, provides access to brochures and forms that may answer your questions or allow you to initiate a task by yourself.
     

    Our Products

     

    Do you need a refresher on the products we offer? Click on the PRODUCTSlink across the top of our website to get information on our insurance and annuity certificates. There's information about our Annuity offerings, Whole LifePlans, Limited Payment policies, and our Medicare Supplement Plan.

    Individual product brochures are available to download and print for handy reference. If you're not sure which type of product might be best, why not look over our Timeline brochure to see what might be most appropriate?

     

    Program Outlines and Forms

     

    There are many programs offered to councils to inspire your members in their fraternal activities, many of which can bring funds into your council's coffers. From our home page, click on FORMS to access council and member forms.

     

    Policyholder Forms

     

    The most common forms you might need to help manage your existing policy can be found in this section. Important updates such as the Change of Address Form or the Change of Beneficiary Form can be found in this section.

     

    Fraternal/Council Forms

     

    Council Secretaries will love this section! It contains the links for the annual reports for Grand Councils and Subordinate Councils, but it also provides access to our Fraternal program outlines and forms. Deadlines are this month for completing a project for the Lorraine J. D'Emilio Legacy of Hope Award and for filing last year's Fraternalism in Action report. Familiarize yourself with the programs that can help the coffers of your council.

     

    Privacy Forms

     

    Our policy for Children's Online Privacy Protection can be found here, as well as a release form to allow us to use video, photos, or audio of minors under the age of 13.

     

    Junior Forms

     

    Councils who will request Christmas Gifts for Juniors can find the request form here.

     

    Scholarship Forms

     

    Applications for our Scholarships and Grants are available from this page, too. Those applications are due each year by December 31st, so bookmark these links for next autumn's application window.

     

    Completed form can be mailed to the Home Office. Many of the forms can be emailed to the Home Office at info@royalarcanum.com for faster service.

     

       Charitable Activities Highlights

     


    The 2024 IFS Project Requests End This Month

     

    If your council completed an IFS project in 2024, a request for reimbursement must be submitted by February 28, 2025. If there is something you're waiting for before turning the request form in (for example, an acknowledgment letter that hasn't yet arrived), don't wait too long. We also accept a copy of your bank statement or a copy of the canceled check. If you're unsure, reach out to us and we'll guide you through the request.
     

    Send in your 2025 IFS Projects


    The IFS Program runs on a calendar year, so any donations made this year can be submitted at any time this year. Remember that if your council voted for the funds last year but made the donation this year, it becomes a 2025 request: The actual donation date determines which year's limit the request counts toward.
     

    Charitable Activity Since the Last Newsletter


    The last newsletter was in early November, and since then our councils have been very busy being very charitable! Here's a rundown of all the wonderful charitable work that's been going on for the past few months.
     

    Bayonne Council #695 and the New Jersey Grand Council
    Felician School for Exceptional Children/Lodi


    Both Bayonne Council and the New Jersey Grand Council chose the Felician School for Exceptional Children/Lodi as their IFS Projects. The school cares for young men and women with special needs, striving to meet the specific needs of each student.
     

    Integrity Council #586
    Manna


    integrity Council chose to support MANNA, an organization serving the greater Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey to help anyone at nutritional risk due to critical illness.


    Massachusetts Grand Council
    New England Hemophilia Association


    The New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA) once again was the target of the Massachusetts Grand Council's IFS Project. NEHA is dedicated to improving the quality of life of all persons with bleeding disorders and their families through education, support, and advocacy. 


    Fort Dearborn Council #278 and Claremont Council #1655
    Hurricane Helene Relief
    St. Elizabeths School


    Fraternalism was inspired across the country as both Fort Dearborn Council and Claremont Council threw their support to two of the Supreme Council fraternal projects. Both councils donated to the Hurricane Helene Relief project, where funds were channeled directly to help the residents in the area afflicted by the hurricane; and also supported the Summer Fraternal Project benefiting St. Elizabeth School of Baltimore, which works to realize the personal potential of students by integrating academic growth, social/emotional development, functional life skills, and vocational training to create a community environment that fosters a sense of belonging.
     

    New York Grand Council
    Calvary Hospital


    The New York Grand Council donated to Calvary Hospital, which cares for the medical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our adult patients with advanced cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. Their family-centric approach to care is geared to reduce the stress and concerns of family members of patients in addition to serving the needs of their patients.

     

     

    Rhododendron Council #701
    Shriners


    Rhododendron Council continued its longtime support of the Mountain Buggies unit of the Shriners Organization, which is dedicated to brotherhood, compassion, and service to others. They serve under the charter of Shriners International, which strives to improve the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care.

     

     

    Harrisburg Council #499
    Alzheimer's Association
    Furry Friends Network
    Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    Ronald McDonald House
    Vision Resources

     

    Harrisburg Council closed its year with a profusion of activity, choosing five different organizations to support with their IFS Projects.

    The Alzheimer's Association is dedicated to finding a way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia through research and is active in advocating risk reduction, early detection, and maximizing quality care and support to those afflicted with Alzheimer's.

    Furry Friends Network is dedicated to saving the lives of unwanted dogs and cats by providing necessary medical treatment, spay/neuter surgeries, and foster and adoption services.

    The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers. 

     

    Ronald McDonald House Charities, or RMHC, provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.

    Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania has a mission to facilitate independence, enrich the quality of life, and empower individuals who are visually impaired or otherwise disabled through prevention, employment, and educational awareness programs.

     

       College News

     

    Scholarship Follow-up Reminder

     

    Have you applied for a scholarship or grant? If so, be sure to complete all the items on the checklist received from the Home Office. The deadline to complete everything on your checklist is March 31 -- less than two months away! Completing it all is necessary to be qualified to receive a scholarship or grant.

    If you haven't received a checklist from the Home Office, please contact us at (888) 272-2686 as soon as possible.

       Inspirational quotes

     

    “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.”

    ―    Helen James

       Upcoming dates

     

    Mark your calendar with these important dates:

    • Fraternalism in Action report deadline: February 15, 2025
    • Winter Bulletin Publication Date: February 17, 2025
    • IFS submission deadline for 2024 projects: February 28, 2025
    • Monthly Lend A Hand - Lift A Heart submission deadline: February 28, 2025
    • Lorraine J. D'Emilio Legacy of Hope Projects end: February 28, 2025
    • Daylight Saving Time begins: March 9, 2025
    • Spring Begins: March 20, 2025
    • Scholarship and Grant checklist items deadline: March 31, 2025
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