Royal Arcanum News and Events

 

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!