The organizational and financial
responsibilities for a successful Assembly rests on the officers and
members, with guidance from adult advisors.
All Assembly announced activities are chaperoned by advisors and/or
parents. Bi-monthly meetings
are usually held at the local Masonic Center.
Any member may accept chairmanship for any event or committee;
learning to plan, organize, execute and work with peers to a successful
conclusion. Parents are most
cordially encouraged and invited to participate.
There are many activities for parents and
families to participate in together.
Many Rainbow parents feel their participation has provided an
opportunity to establish a unique relationship with their daughter and her
Rainbow friends.
The peace of mind enjoyed by parents and
guardians, knowing their teen-age girl is participating in wholesome and
worthwhile activities, chaperoned by interested adults, is priceless.
It is comforting to know she is associating with girls who have the
same high standards and morals.
“And the bow shall be in the
cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon
the Earth.”
Is there a more beautiful sight after a storm,
when clouds part and there appears a profusion of color – a rainbow?
The order is non-sectarian, requiring only a belief in a
Supreme Being. It has no
connection with any other groups using “rainbow” in their name or logo.
The International Order of the Rainbow for
Girls is
not a religion, cult, or secret order.
The Order is a non-profit, character-building,
service organization. It is
open to all girls, regardless of their religious belief.
The teachings are nonsectarian, based on Love, Religion, Nature,
Immortality, Fidelity, Patriotism and Service.
Each of these are represented by a color of the Rainbow; therefore,
seven colors represent the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls,
not six used by others.
Love and service are a way of life for Rainbow Girls.
The high principles, standards, and morals of the Order have been
consistent throughout the 75 years of its existence.
This results in young ladies having poise, grace, speaking
abilities, and character far above their peers.
The teachings of Faith in God and themselves, Hope for the future,
and Charity to the less fortunate will continue to have a place in their
adult lives.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls offers a golden
opportunity for teen-age girls to gain self-confidence, self-respect, and
leadership skills while practicing reverence, patriotism, love and
service.
Let Each of Us Contribute
So That All of God's Children May Survive
Rainbow Girls dedicate their time to service.
The primary goal of a Rainbow Girl is to serve others and humanity.
Giving unselfishly of one’s self to assist another in need can be
one of the most rewarding experiences in life.
Rainbow provides an opportunity for its
members to build a strong base from which to launch their future and
prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood through leadership and
participation in local charity and community service projects.
Girls provide service in many ways.
Each Assembly plans a Service Project during the four-month term.
In addition, California has a state-wide, annual Service Project.
Each Assembly may choose to serve by selling
candy, serving dinners, car washes, bake sales, rock or swim-a-thons –
whatever their imaginations create.
They run so that others may walk, they swim so that someone else might
hear; they wash cars so that others might have freedom from a wheelchair;
they have bake sales so that a child may have the breath of life; they
wash dishes so a child may go to camp.
Over $950,000 has been donated during the last
ten years by California Rainbow Girls to various worthwhile causes such as
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Airlifeline, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American
Melanoma Foundation, and research for Multiple Sclerosis.
Their reward for service is that indescribable feeling within one’s
heart when they’ve made someone else happy in attaining their own goal.
Although the girls have fun at their service
and fund raising activities, they also plan some events specifically for
their entertainment –picnics, swim parties, talent shows, dances, skating
parties, shopping trips, visitation to other Assemblies and trips to
amusement parks are all a part of the Rainbow program.
The formal component of Rainbow is centered
around bi-monthly meetings.
Under direction of the Worthy Advisor (a girl elected to serve as the
assembly leader for a four-month period), the girls attend to business and
perform memorized ceremonies, including opening, closing, and initiation.
The girls themselves are responsible for the financial management,
correspondence, and organization of their Assembly, with guidance from
adult advisors. All Assembly
activities are chaperoned by advisors or parents.
A complete corps of officers consists of 20
girls. Members are encouraged
to accept the responsibility of being an officer.
Any member may accept chairmanship of an event or committee,
learning to organize and work with peers to a successful conclusion.
The annual state convention is “Grand
Assembly.” Any member of
Rainbow may attend these sessions.
The Grand Officers exemplify all of the ceremonies in beautiful form.
The new Grand Officers who will serve for the following year are
announced to the excitement of all present.
Competition is held in talent, ritual
presentation, arts & crafts, and essay.
Many awards are presented throughout Grand Assembly sessions for
outstanding Rainbow participation.
Campsites are reserved in Northern, Central,
and Southern California for a summer weekend retreat of fellowship and
camping fun. Early
reservations through each Assembly are required for this popular activity.
Seven lessons taught to the girls at their
initiation ceremony are represented by the colors of the Rainbow.
Short lectures are given on the subjects of Love, Religion, Nature,
Immortality, Fidelity, Patriotism, and Service.
There are also teachings of Faith, Hope and Charity.
Taken together, the initiation lessons of Rainbow guide a young
girl into a better way of life.
April 6, 1922 is the birth date of the Order.
The idea for the Organization was conceived in McAlester, Oklahoma
by Rev. W. Mark Sexson who wrote the beautiful ceremonies.
Rev. Sexson was a minister of the First
Christian Church,
besides being a Master
Mason and a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma.
Rev. Sexson wrote the ritual (ceremonies),
providing beautiful words of truth based on Faith, Hope, and Charity for
the opening, initiation, closing, and installation of officers ceremonies.
The officers of each Assembly recite from memory the opening,
initiation and closing ceremonies at their bi-monthly meetings.
Once at the beginning of the term, installation is performed.
The Chaplain delivers a prayer during each of these ceremonies.
Each Rainbow Assembly is organized and
governed by a uniform code of bylaws set forth by Supreme Assembly,
headquartered in McAlester, Oklahoma.
Rainbow Assemblies are located in nearly every
state and in many foreign countries.
Each state is a jurisdiction within itself under the leadership of
Supreme Assembly.
California is the largest jurisdiction having
nearly 200 assemblies with thousands of enthusiastic members working to
serve others.
You are invited to join the International
Order of the Rainbow for Girls if you are between the ages of 11 and 20.
You do not have to be a daughter of a Mason, Eastern Star or
Amaranth to become a member.
A petition for membership may be obtained from any Rainbow Girl or
Advisory Board Member.
YES! Parents are most cordially invited to
attend all meetings and events.
Some assemblies have active parents’ clubs which provide additional
support for the girls and their projects.
Many Rainbow parents feel their participation has provided an opportunity
to establish a unique relationship with their daughters and her Rainbow
friends.
Becoming a Rainbow Girl can: change your life
for the better! You will become a member of an international organization
for girls who share your hopes and dreams.
Rainbow offers an interesting and complete program of wholesome
activities in the best environment, developing poise and self-confidence.
Rainbow Girls is being re-initiated in
Independence, California, the heart of the Owens Valley, by Inyo Lodge 211
F&A.M.
All young ladies in the Owens Valley, between
the ages of 11 and 20, are invited to participate.
For further information, telephone Kirk
Livermont at (760) 878-2401
This flyer was prepared by Inyo Lodge 221 F.&A.M., Independence,
California. The content is
based upon flyers distributed by California Jurisdiction - International
Order of Rainbow Girls.
