Illinois Masonic Outreach Services program unveils
Matching Grant program to assist Lodges.

The participation of each Lodge when identifying and providing assistance to members in need is an integral part of the Illinois Masonic Outreach Services (IMOS) program.  In December, the Board of Managers approved a matching grant program where, under certain circumstances, One-Time-Payment funding is available to assist a Lodge with these endeavors.   The IMOS program offers one dollar of matching funds for every one dollar of cash contributed over $250.00 up to $1,000.00.  (i.e. Initial Lodge Investment of $450.00 less the $250.00 Lodge Contribution results in $200.00 in Matching funds)    ** Please Note- Donated labor does not count toward the Lodge’s contribution. 

To qualify for a Matching Grant, the following requirements must be met:

• Application: Submit completed application attaching any documentation necessary to support the request.  While there are no limits on the number of applications submitted in a calendar year, preference will be given to those applications of a critical nature.       
• Minimum Lodge Contribution: An initial investment of $250 must be contributed by each Lodge.  Please note this amount is not eligible for matching funds.  Any amount over $250.00 up to $1,000.00 is eligible for matching grant participation.
• Requirement - To qualify for a Matching Grant, the Lodge must have made, or anticipates making, a minimum of a $250 contribution in cash or purchased goods which will then be utilized to provide necessary assistance to support an aging Illinois Mason in good standing or a Widow of an Illinois Mason who was in good standing at the time of his death.   

Applications can be downloaded at http://ilmos.org/forms_and_documents.htm or by emailing kcarwile@afam-il.org

Applications should be submitted to:

Karla Carwile, Director
Illinois Masonic Outreach Services
2866 Via Verde
Springfield, IL 62703

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Congratulations to Horicon Lodge No 244 Recipients of the 1st Annual Exceptional Service Award!

 

The 1st Annual Illinois Masonic Outreach Services - Exceptional Service Award was presented to Horicon Lodge No 244.  Identified as a leader in their efforts to serve the aging Members, Wives and Widows of the fraternity, they are to be commended for their efforts.  

To Learn More about the programs and services implemented in this Lodge, click the icon to view their submission!

 

If not YOU then WHO?

 

As winter begins to descend upon us we are sure to have days filled with winds, snow, and ice. 

For many senior citizens, the long winter months can mean isolation and confinement.  Research supports that social contact impacts every facet of a healthy lifestyle.  This winter, Lodges should consider an alternative to such isolation!  Design your winter Lodge activities to provide opportunities for the aging members to participate. 

Consider locating events of interest in your area. 
Contact Senior Centers to request calendars of events.  Share these with Lodge members, wives and widows. 
Involve the wives and widows to host additional activities including, but not limited to: morning coffee, bingo, Bunco, beginner bridge, arts and crafts, local outings, rummy, stamp collecting, scrabble, Mahjongg, knitting/crocheting, an exercise program, a monthly noontime birthday potluck and the list goes on and on.  

Set up a transportation tree!  Assist the members in your Lodge to get to their appointments. 

Contact your local Meals on Wheels program, which is designed to get meals to homebound seniors.  See if any of your interested members may qualify! 

          Winter Tips for Senior Citizens
 

Winter is a special time for caution if you or someone in your family is an older adult. It is the season for flus, for slips on icy streets, and for other dangers that are especially great for senior citizens.

"Something as simple as a fall can be devastating for older men and women," says Dr. Rafael Bejarano-Narbona, medical director for Geriatric Practice of the Ambulatory Care Network at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. "Before the cold weather arrives, it is important to prepare."

Dr. Bejarano (pronounced bay-RAHN-o) offers tips for a healthy and safe winter:

-- Get vaccinated annually against the flu. The season for flu runs from mid-October to mid-March, and the illness can be fatal to older adults. The vaccine offers some, if not complete, protection.

-- Ask your doctor about Pneumovax, the vaccine against pneumococcus, which protects against pneumonia.

-- Check the lighting in your house. Make sure there are no great contrasts from one room to another, because older people have difficulty adjusting to changes in light and high contrasts increase the risk of slip and falls. Also, use night lights, and don't have loose extension cords lying around -- tape them to the floor.

* Check your rugs. Make sure they are not wrinkled or torn in a way that can trip you up as you walk. Use padding or special tape underneath them to prevent from sliding.

-- In the bathroom, have mats inside and outside the tub to keep you from slipping on a wet surface. If you need them, install grab bars inside the tub, and always check the temperature of the water before getting into the tub.

-- Continue your exercise regimen -- indoors if possible. However, avoid strenuous exercise like shoveling snow.

-- Maintain your diet and a good level of hydration. Drink at least four or five glasses of water every day. This should not change just because it is winter.

-- Make sure your smoke alarms are working. If you live in your own house rather than an apartment, you should also have carbon-monoxide alarms.

-- Wear appropriate footwear. Comfortable shoes with anti-slip soles will help you navigate icy streets.

-- Have a programmable phone with emergency numbers entered. Another good idea for older persons living alone is a personal emergency response system -- a device worn around the neck or on a bracelet, which can summon help if needed. Wear this device all the time, and use it.
 

Many Lodges are choosing to make Widow Volunteer service a more formal part of their function.  Since the inception of the IMOS program, many Lodges have created Widow Outreach committees.  Has your Lodge gone above and beyond to make a difference?  If so, tell us about it!  IMOS would like to thank you!  kcarwile@afam-il.org