Royal Arcanum News and Events

 

December 06, 2022 Newsletter #54

Hi Member, The holiday season is upon us as we enter the last month of the year. It's a wonderful time for our councils to host parties for our junior members as well as have a get-together for the adult members. It's also a time for charitable giving, especially as the cold weather may drive more need in our communities. Share the best of the Royal Arcanum with those you meet and invite them to join our family. A Message from our Supreme Secretary Our new Supreme Secretary introduces himself with a message to our members. Be sure to get to know him better and how to connect with him. Annuity News Did you miss the news on the annuity rate increase? The treasury rates have dropped since last month, but our rates are better than the fed's 5-year, 10-year, and 30-year rates! Annuities can be opened for as little as $500 and could make nice Christmas gifts. December is the Month of As December brings the end to another trip around the sun, we offer some items of interest to ponder as we say goodbye to another year. Charitable Activities Highlights The giving spirit of our members continues, and we highlight some of the latest of their generosity. It's also a good time to remember that councils are eligible for up to $1,000 of reimbursements for charitable gifts under the IFS program. Read about it all and see if your council can make more of a difference in your community. College News Don't miss the deadlines for our college students and college-bound members. Inspirational Quote We offer this month a quote on the joys of giving. Upcoming Dates Time to update your calendar again!    A Message from our Supreme Secretary   Greetings Brothers and Sisters, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Antal Basa, Jr., I often go by Tony. I have been married to my wonderful wife; Debra for 24 exciting years and we have three children together. Anthony (23), Andrew (21), and Grace (16) keep us very busy and on our toes. I am retired from the US Army with over 21 years. I worked in the Home Office for 12 years, then moved into the Insurance field, and am currently a Patient Educator with a Pharmaceutical Company based in Paramus, NJ. It is an honor to be elected as your Supreme Secretary.  While at the 105th Supreme Council Session in Annapolis, MD, one thing stood out to me; Royal Arcanum is one big family. It was so wonderful seeing all the members who could make the session. This was certainly a reunion that allowed us to reconnect.  But even while enjoying this reunion and reconnection, there was something else missing.  The rest of you. Since we missed the rest of you at the session, I want to make sure I place a considerable effort to reconnect with members of the Grand and Subordinate Councils.  I challenge everyone to reach out to each other just to check in and ensure we are all doing okay.  All too often we get tied up in our own existence and forget to reach out and then have a nag of regret later.  Well, that’s no good for me or this RA family.  The lack of connections can have undesired effects on anyone.  I am hopeful that reaching out to members of the Grand and Subordinate Councils will help everyone to reconnect and bring life back to normal. I would like to ask everyone who would like to reconnect please send me an email or call me so that we all can stay in touch.  You can find my contact information below.  In the meantime, I will be looking forward to making plans to meet with you all very soon. Stay Safe Yours in V.M.C. Tony Basa Abasa@royalarcanum.com 617-429-8763 (cell) 508-297-2633 (home)      Annuity news     4% Rate of Return for Annuities While you're in the giving mood, we wanted to remind everyone that the Royal Arcanum has increased the annuity credited rate to 4% within the US. It can make a wonderful gift. New annuities can be started with as little as $500, and they can grow to make a substantial contribution to retirement income. New annuities that we offer will continue to maintain a guaranteed minimum annuity rate of 3% for the first 6 years and are guaranteed a minimum rate of 2% for the life of the annuity.  They will be issued with a current credited rate of 4%, but if market rates decrease, we reserve the right to reduce the annuity to a minimum of 3% for years 3-6.   Royal Arcanum annuities continue to earn interest after the first six years, credited at the current rate, and with the minimum rate that they were guaranteed at the time of issuance. Now is a great time to encourage your family and friends to lock in their financial future. Consider gifting yourself with a stream of income for your retirement through a Royal Arcanum annuity.      December is the month of...     Awarenesses   International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness Month The month of December is set aside as International Sharps Injury Prevention Awareness. The observance encourages the review of protocols and training. It’s also a time to assess how injuries occur and implement safeguards to improve outcomes.   Operation Santa Paws December encourages animal lovers to share gifts with animal shelters during the month of December. Started in 2001 in Lang Beach, California, Operation Santa Paws calls all animal lovers to donate blankets, treats, food, toys, supplies, and money for all our loyal furry friends housed in several shelters and rescue centers around the country.   Universal Human Rights Month This month hosts the global campaign calling for people across the globe to stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all human beings. On December 10 in 1948, the United Nations published the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stating "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."   Holidays and Observances St. Nicholas Day is on December 6. Nicholas was the bishop of Myra (now in modern-day Turkey) and is largely thought to be the historical basis of Santa Claus. He was widely known for his generosity. He was reputed to drop gold coins into the drying stockings of three young women for their marriage dowry, saving them from a life of poverty, and cementing the tradition of hanging stockings by the fireplace.   The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, falling on December 21st this year. Every day after this until mid-June will be slightly longer. More sunlight is coming, but because of the tilt and position of the earth to the sun, it also marks the beginning of winter and the coldest and snowiest season of the year for the northern hemisphere.   Christmas Day s celebrated as a Christian commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and as a public holiday. Did you know the celebration of Christmas was destained in the 17th century in Europe, and it wasn’t until the Victorian era that it became widely embraced?   Hanukkah is an 8-day festival of lights celebrated from Monday, December 19 to Monday, December 26 in 2022. Its origins date to the celebration of the Maccabean victories over the Seleucid king's forces and the Temple's rededication in 164 BCE.   Fun Days For the end of the year, we thought we’d go with the theme of colors. Every fun day entry has a color in its name.   Eat a Red Apple Day is celebrated on December 1 December 4 is Wear Brown Shoes Day National Brownie Day is on December 8. We’ve already used brown, but who doesn’t like brownies? December 14 is Roast Chestnuts Day National Lemon Cupcake Day is December 15 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day is December 16 December 17 is Maple Syrup Day National Eggnog Day is on December 24 Look for an Evergreen Day on December 19. It’s also Oatmeal Muffin Day Historical Events December 6, 1921:    Ireland’s 26 southern states form the Irish Republic December 7, 1941:    Pearl Harbor December 8, 1980:    John Lennon is assassinated in New York City outside his home December 10, 1901:    The first Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded December 14, 1962:    The Mariner II probe traveled to within 22,000 miles of Venus, the first contact with another planet December 15, 1791:    The Bill of Rights becomes a part of the U.S. Constitution December 19, 1732:    Benjamin Franklin first published Poor Richard’s Almanac December 25, 440:    Church leaders agree to fix the date of the birth of Christ, replacing dates in May and January that some celebrated December 31, 1781:    Thomas Edison publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent lamp at his laboratory in Menlo Park, NJ      Charitable Activities Highlights   End-of-Year Reminders on Fraternal Projects This month brings the end of the 2022 IFS Program, so councils that have not yet reached their annual reimbursement amount are encouraged to make this year's donations. The Donald E. Ferry Jr. Spirit of Service Program closed on November 20, and all applications must be in the Home office by today. Our Fraternalism in Action report runs through the end of the year and the report must be received by February 15. The Lorraine J. D’Emilio Legacy of Hope projects run from September 1st to February 28th, so make plans for your activities now.   Felician School for Exceptional Children Bayonne Council #695 and the Grand Council of New Jersey have both supported the Felician School for Exceptional Children, Lodi as their IFS Project. The school cares for youngsters with special needs and provides them with help to live independent and productive lives in the future. The Grand Council of New Jersey and Bayonne Council have been friends of the school since it started more than 50 years ago. Founded in 1971, Students are enrolled in The Felician School by their local school districts at no cost to the family.   MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance) Integrity Council #586 has a long history of supporting the needy in their community and has recently completed an IFS Project supporting MANNA, which serves the greater Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey. MANNA opened its doors in 1990 when seven members of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia began delivering meals to their neighbors dying of AIDS. As their organization grew, they began serving anyone at nutritional risk due to critical illness in 2006, and have grown to serve clients with more than 85 different illnesses.   Mountain Buggies unit of the Shriners Organization Rhododendron Council #701 supported the Mountain Buggies unit of the Shriners Organization. The Shriners are a well-known organization of men who are dedicated to brotherhood, compassion, and service to others.  Shriners International's dedication to dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care is well known.     Caitlin's Smiles Harrisburg Council #499 made several year-end donations as IFS Projects. Caitlin's Smiles is a non-profit that distributes arts and crafts activities to children in medical facilities, striving to heighten their feelings of self-worth as well as lower their stress & anxiety levels by providing them with opportunities to be creative and successful with a variety of creative art experiences. They encourage children with serious health challenges to explore their unique creative talents by taking part in arts and crafts activities and thereby putting smiles on the faces of the children and everyone involved with their activities.   Downtown Daily Bread Harrisburg Council next supported Downtown Daily Bread, which provides basic human services to hundreds of hungry and homeless in the Harrisburg area. Founded in 1983 by Pine Street Presbyterian Church, they have grown to support a wide range of support. They offer a Soup Kitchen with weekday breakfasts and daily lunch meals; a Day Shelter with cots, computers, phones, and staff counselors; a winter season Night Shelter for men, and numerous assistance programs such as showers, lockers, mail delivery, laundry cards, vouchers for photo IDs, clothing, and other personal hygiene items.    Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Harrisburg Council also made a donation as an IFS Project to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Society was founded in 1949 following the death of the teenage son of Rudolph and Antoinette de Villiers from Leukemia. It has grown to become dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers. And they've had success: in their 1955 annual report, they noted that leukemia was nearly 100% fatal. Now, the average five-year survival rate is 65% in the United States, and for children with acute leukemia who are cancer-free after five years, the cancer is unlikely to return.   St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital Harrisburg Council continued spreading its support through a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Their mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. It was founded by Danny Thomas in 1962 and continues to honor the standard set then that families never receive a bill, thanks to generation donations from individuals and organizations such as Harrisburg Council.   Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania Harrisburg Council's final recipient this year was Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania, a 100-year-old community benefit organization with 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. It serves Harrburg's Dauphin county, as well as Cumberland, Franklin, and Perry counties. Thank you for all the generous charitable support our members are offering. Your time and donations are greatly appreciated. Please remember to submit an article (and pictures, if possible) to the bulletin.      College News   Reminders to Scholarship winners Please remember to submit your tuition bills, including a copy of your student ID, each year to the Home Office so your scholarship funds can be sent to your school.   Last Call for Applications for Scholarships and Grants The Home Office must receive all scholarship and grant applications by December 31, 2022. To apply, call 1-888-ARCANUM or visit our website.       Inspirational quotes   “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”   ―     Charles Dickens      Upcoming dates   Mark your calendar with these important dates: Donald E. Ferry Jr. Spirit of Service submission deadline: December 6 Scholarship and Grant applications deadline: December 31 2022 IFS Donation deadline: December 31 2022 Fraternalism in Action reports deadline: February 15, 2023 The Lorraine J. D'Emilio Legacy of Home projects run from September 1 to February 28 2022 IFS submission deadline: February 28, 2023 Dime A Day program completion: October 18, 2023