Royal Arcanum News and Events

 

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!