What is RARA?

Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A.) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt foundation incorporated in the State of Kentucky in 1974. The purpose of the organization is to research and promote solutions to Central Auditory Processing Disorder or CAPD.

It is governed by a Board of Directors who are all Royal Arch Masons. The General Grand High Priest is the President. The Board Secretary receives all contributions, keeps records, and sends out receipts, certificates, and awards.

Each works with the R.A.R.A. Representatives and the Ambassadors for each state, together with the Regional Deputy General Grand High Priest to coordinate Chapter. In this way, the Grand Chapters in their Regions will be encouraged to participate publicly to demonstrate our community involvement. Through greater visibility to the public, the hope is to generate a greater commitment to this endeavor and promote Royal Arch Masonry.

There are three Regional Coordinators to provide public relations and fundraising assistance under the direction of the Executive Director.

The R.A.R.A. Board of Directors is committed to identifying and supporting those scientists who are searching for treatment regimens and eventually a cure for CAPD.

Cash

  • The secretary of each chapter will record the members’ donation and send the list, and any monies collected to the address below.
  • In lieu of sending a physical copy of the list, the secretary can send the list of donations to the email below.

Checks

  • Checks can be directly sent to the address below. Secretaries do not need to record these.
    • Checks will be assigned to the member’s home chapter unless specified in the note section on the check.
    • Checks should be made out to RARA.

Do you know someone who:

  • Has Auditory Processing Disorder?
  • Is Autistic?
  • Has RETT Syndrome?
  • Has Asburgers Syndrome?
  • Is Diagnosed with ADHD or ADD?

HELP NOW!

2023-2024 Triennium

Created using the Donation Thermometer plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/donation-thermometer/.$25,000Raised $19,775 towards the $25,000 target.$19,775Raised $19,775 towards the $25,000 target.79%

Autism Speaks and Royal Arch Masons award $180,000 of funding to researchers studying auditory processing disorder

Autism Speaks, with the support of a Royal Arch Research Assistance grant, is funding three pilot research projects to advance the study of central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) in autism.

Royal Arch Masons International ranks among the leading charities helping children with central auditory processing disorder, a condition that affects the ability to understand speech. People with CAPD can typically hear normally but have difficulty processing what they hear.

“Thanks to our continued partnership with the Royal Arch Masons, we are proud to announce funding for three research studies that will make progress towards developing new interventions for autistic children with CAPD,” says Dean Hartley, senior director of genetic discovery and translational science at Autism Speaks. “These studies will enhance our understanding of the neurology of CAPD, the impact of CAPD on sleep and the potential of virtual reality (VR) in the treatment of this condition, ultimately improving quality of life for autistic children with CAPD.”

Each pilot study receives $60,000 of funding for one year.

Top Three Chapters

by donation amount

LaPorte

$2,106

Prather

$1,332

Greenfield

$1,051

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

The Research

University of Pittsburgh

Signaling mechanisms of auditory cortex plasticity after noise-induced hearing loss

Meet the Researcher

manoj_kumarManoj Kumar, Ph.D.

Kumar received his doctorate in neuroscience and pharmacology from West Virginia University and completed his postdoctoral research in the department of otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is currently a research assistant professor. Kumar’s 2022 Emerging Research Grant is generously funded by the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons International.

Exposure to loud noises is the most common cause of hearing loss, which can also lead to hyperacusis and tinnitus. Despite the high prevalence and adverse consequences of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), treatment options are limited to cognitive behavioral therapy and hearing prosthetics. Therefore, to aid in the development of pharmacotherapeutic or rehabilitative treatment options for impaired hearing after NIHL, it is imperative to identify the precise signaling mechanisms underlying the auditory cortex plasticity after NIHL. It is well established that reduced GABAergic signaling contributes to the plasticity of the auditory cortex after the onset of NIHL. However, the role and the timing of plasticity of the different subtypes of GABAergic inhibitory neurons remain unknown. Here, we will employ in vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging and track the different subtypes of GABAergic inhibitory neurons after NIHL at single-cell resolution in awake mice. Determining the inhibitory circuit mechanisms underlying the plasticity of the auditory cortex after NIHL will reveal novel therapeutic targets for treating and rehabilitating impaired hearing after NIHL. Also, because auditory cortex plasticity is associated with hyperexcitability-related disorders such as tinnitus and hyperacusis, a detailed mechanistic understanding of auditory cortex plasticity will highlight a pathway toward the development of novel treatments for these disorders.

Long-term goal: To identify the molecular and cellular therapeutic targets for treating and rehabilitating the impaired hearing associated with tinnitus and hyperacusis.

RARA Donation Award Levels

Red Certificate

One Time Donation of $100.00 or more

Silver Certificate

One Time Donation of $250.00 or more !!!
If not indicated, no certificate or Pin will be sent!!!

Gold Certificate

One Time Donation of $500.00 or more

100% Certificate

One Time Donation of at least $5.00 per member

Gift for a Gift Music CD

One Time Donation of $500.00
"Music recordings to use with each specific degree for Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery"

Keystone Bronze Pin

One Time Donation of $100.00

Keystone Silver Pin

One Time Donation of $300.00

Keystone Gold Pin

One Time Donation of $500.00

RARA Diamond Pin

Donation of $1,000.00 which can be cumulative during the CURRENT TRIENNIAL

Keystone Badge

Donation of $2,500.00 which can be cumulative during the CURRENT TRIENNIAL

RARA Badge

Donation of $5,000.00 which can be cumulative during the CURRENT TRIENNIAL

ROYAL ARCH AWARD

Donation of $15,000.00 which can be cumulative during the CURRENT Triennial

ARK OF THE CONVENANT AWARD

Donation of $50,000.00 which can be cumulative during the CURRENT TRIENNIAL

Gift for A Gift

RARA Brochure

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Written by James Hodge, President, General Grand High Priest on .

Frequently we are overwhelmed with requests for contributions for one good cause or another. Many are worthwhile and important and most are worthy of our contribution; however, now we have the opportunity to receive something to benefit our Masonic bodies directly in return. No, not lapel pins, address labels, calendars, pens, or other unsolicited items that may or may not be needed, but something truly useful to your Lodge, Chapter, Council or Commandery!

The Board of Directors of ROYAL ARCH RESEARCH ASSISTANCE has introduced the Gift for a Gift program. Through the generous contribution of Companion Steven Monrotus, Past Grand High Priest of Missouri, a renowned organist in his own right, three excellent musical discs are now available for a special contribution of only $150. Each of these discs has been provided with, and includes, appropriate music for many Masonic ceremonial occasions. There are patriotic tunes as well as music for the opening, and closing of a Masonic body. There are incidental tunes and processionals to include hymns and other appropriate tunes.

The Masonic Fraternity has been blessed with many great composers and many great musical pieces which have added so much over the years to all of our ritualistic work. Few Lodges or other Masonic groups, however, retain individuals or working instruments able to reproduce these desired sounds to accompany our beloved degree work. Although there are numerous musical discs, or discs sets available with the appropriate music recorded on them, they are not arranged in a convenient manner nor are they timed to fit the lengths available to match our ritual. All recordings on these discs are of short duration (maximum 2:00 minutes) so as to be able to comfortably apply them to the ceremony being presented. An enclosed set of notes serves as a guide for use of these individual tracks.

We offer this to you and we ask you to consider making these CD's available as a gift to your Lodge, your Chapter, your Council or your Commandery or other Masonic group by a contribution to Royal Arch Research Assistance for this great Masonic working tool. We all know how much music adds to our ceremonies and this is your opportunity to step forward and make a difference in the ritualistic ceremony with one or more of these special Masonic music gifts. Here is a way you can leave your legacy to so many with your generosity by participating in the new Gift for a Gift program for Royal Arch Research Assistance.

Thank you your tax deductible contribution to Royal Arch Research Assistance and for your continued support of research in Central Auditory Processing Disorders.