Royal Arcanum News and Events

 

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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