FAQ's from Holden Assembly #85
International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
Prosepective and new members and parents often have lots of questions about Rainbow - hopefully you'll find your answer here, but if not, please do not hesitate to contact us for more info or to suggest additional questions for the website! We also are grateful to Chris Lawton, webmaster of Nevada Grand Assembly's website, for allowing us to use and adapt many of their FAQ's.
Can Parents Help?
YES! Parents, Grandparents or Legal Guardians are most cordially invited to attend all meetings and events. Many Rainbow parents feel their participation has provided an opportunity to establish a closer relationship with their daughters and her Rainbow friends.
Does being involved with Rainbow cost money?
Yes, but not a lot! There are the yearly dues (currently $15 for Holden), and there is a small fee when you submit your petition (to cover supplies, paperwork, etc.) for Initiation. For meetings, you have to wear a white gown, but it need not be either expensive or brand new. Also, many Assemblies, including Holden, have a "dress closet" where there are hand-me-down formals that other girls in the Assembly have outgrown and have passed them on to others.
Other things, like Rainbow Camp, Grand Assembly, or fun trips do cost money. Often, there are fund raisers that girls and their families participate in to help defray the cost.
Who Can Attend A Rainbow Meeting?
Active and Majority Rainbow girls in good standing may attend any Rainbow meeting or function. As well, any member of the Masons, Eastern Star, White Shrine of Jerusalem, or Amaranth in good standing, and any parent, grandparent or legal guardian of an active or majority Rainbow Girl are also welcome to attend. Rainbow Parents are always invited and encouraged to attend all meetings and events.
How Often Are The Meetings?
Rainbow Assemblies meet twice a month. Assemblies meet every two weeks on an established day, time and location, to plan their activities and perform the official opening and closing ceremonies of the ritual.
How much time is spent on Rainbow activities?
In addition to the regular bi-monthly meetings, local Assembly events are planned by the girls during that month, which may include a variety of fun, fundraising, or charity/community service activities as described earlier. A girl may also have the opportunity to visit other statewide or International Rainbow Assemblies, where she will meet other girls her own age who are members of the same organization. See also Activities.
Who supervises the girls at Rainbow functions?
Each Rainbow Assembly is supervised by a team of trained and dedicated adult volunteers who oversee the girls and guide them in the proper planning of their business meetings and activities, provide stability, set examples, and help interpret rules. These adults donate much of their time and money to developing our future leaders. The advisors also act as the "record-keepers" and administrators of the paperwork that is required to keep the Assembly operating.
Parents, grandparents, and legal guardians of active girls are also welcome and encouraged to attend meetings and activities, and may even join the Advisory Board. Family members may also volunteer for special projects or functions based on their time availability and areas of expertise. Of course, the most important role any parent or family member can play is as a member of the support network the girls can rely on, and who will be a constant source of advice, encouragement, and sometimes even a voice of conscience to motivate the girls to be all that they can be.
All Advisory Board members are required to complete a background check in order to work with the Rainbow Girls.
What will my daughter gain through membership in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls?
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls promotes self-esteem and leadership skills among its members. Girls learn valuable public speaking skills, parliamentary procedures, and acceptance of each individual member's strengths and differences.
Members have the opportunity to hold leadership positions on the local level, making them responsible for the planning and executing of the programs and activities for their Assembly, and for conducting business meetings. Girls also have the chance to advance to leadership positions on a statewide level.
Other principles of the order include, but are not limited to: patriotism to country, love of home, loyalty to family and friends, teamwork, and service to others.
What kind of leadership skills does a Rainbow Girl learn?
Members who are willing to accept the responsibility may serve as an officer in their Assembly. Most Girls work toward becoming the Worthy Advisor. A girl is elected to a six month term of office, during which she guides the Assembly with the help of the Mother Advisor. She presides over meetings, plans service projects, and serves as a mentor to the younger girls in the Assembly.
Do Rainbow Girls have a Uniform?
Not exactly; however Rainbow does have a "dress code" that applies to all members and adults whether attending a local Assembly, Grand Assembly or Supreme Assembly, or when representing Rainbow elsewhere. In Massachusetts, officers wear white floor-length gowns during meetings; during other activities, the dress code varies based on the event. Learning how to properly present herself in different situations, including through dress, is one of the benefits of being a Rainbow Girl.
Are there any awards or other benefits offered through association with Rainbow?
Some of the most obvious but intangible benefits of membership are her opportunities to make new friends, build self-confidence, travel, learn new things, and become a responsible citizen and leader.
There are other, more concrete, rewards offered to the girls in response to acts of service they perform. Members earn merit bars for participation, special awards for membership recruitment, opportunities to advance to state offices, competitions in ritual at Grand Assembly, and scholarships from Grand Assembly. This is particularly important in a highly competitive area where students may be awarded scholarships or accepted into schools or programs based on not only their academic credentials, but also their involvement in other community and civic organizations.
Is Rainbow a religious organization?
No. The International Order for Girls is non-sectarian, requiring only a belief in a Supreme Being. We encourage girls to be active in the church or House of Worship of their choice, but we don't preach about religion.
While the teachings and ceremonies of Rainbow use Christian scripture, and often quote Jesus' words from the New Testament, Rainbow is open to young women of all faiths. Membership requires only the belief in a Supreme Being, and prospective members can be assured that there is no pressure to become Christian during the Initiation ceremony, or as an active member. The Christian lessons are simply used to show basic values that are integral to many religions.
Are Rainbow Girls part of the Shriners or the Masons?
Yes and no. Originally the Rainbow Girls were created for Masonic daughters and their friends, but today any girl who is interested in joining Rainbow Girls is welcome. There is a connection between Masons and Shriners. All Shriners have a Masonic heritage, but not all Masons choose to become a Shriner.
Is Rainbow like Job's Daughters, or DeMolay? What are DeMolay and Job's Daughters?
DeMolay is an organization for young men, similar to Rainbow for Girls, that teaches leadership and respect towards others, in addition to many other lessons. They are also involved in community service. You can read all about DeMolay at their official website or the Massachusetts Demolay website.
Job's Daughters is an organization for young ladies, also similar to Rainbow, but they require that their members have a Mason for a relative. Their teachings are similar to Rainbow's, but based mostly around the lessons from the Book of Job. You can learn more about Job's Daughters at their official website.
What is the "Ritual?"
The Ritual for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a book of ceremonies used primarily for the Opening, Closing and Initiation ceremonies of a Rainbow Assembly.
When a member holds an office in the Assembly, she learns her station's lecture from the Ritual. By presenting a memorized lecture, Rainbow Girls become more confident with other public speaking in school or later, in jobs or committee meetings.
The Ritual contains Rainbow's teachings based on right living and thinking. Girls who become officers in their local assemblies assume the responsibility to learn and recite their ritual parts from memory. Memorized ritual is an important part of the Rainbow ceremonies. When a girl can recite her initiation ritual perfectly from memory she can truly make a lasting impression on the initiation candidate. Hearing the same words and lessons over and over again, and committing them to memory helps Rainbow girls understand and internalize the lessons they teach each other in their ceremonies.
As well, there is often floor work that accompanies the spoken word. The officers of the assembly walk around the assembly room in specific ways during the opening and closing of meetings, and during special ceremonies such as initiations and installations. This movement on the assembly floor is known as "floor work." Properly executed floor work is an important part of what makes our ceremonies beautiful and memorable.
Is Rainbow a cult?
No! The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a youth service organization for young women. Rainbow Girls take an oath to respect our parents, become involved in the church of our choice, be a true friend, be patriotic, and be of service to others. We have a member handshake, just like other organizations and sororities. We receive and wear merit bars and other earned recognitions and jewelry. Parents, Grandparents, and legal guardians are allowed and encouraged to attend stated meetings; there are no secrets their daughters must keep from them. We have a Ritual, which is the name of our book of ceremonies and meeting procedures.
Is the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls a gay and lesbian organization?
No. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was founded in 1922. Our Official Banner was originally a flag with the seven colors of the Rainbow. The rainbow flag, which consisted of only six colors, that has recently become associated with gay and lesbian organizations was not created until much later, around the 1970's. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has since changed the Order�s Rainbow Banner to a white flag with the official Rainbow emblem in the center.
What does the Rainbow Symbol represent?
The seven colors of the Rainbow are represented by seven officer stations, strategically placed in the shape of a bow (the arc of a rainbow). Each station is represented by a color, and each color teaches a lesson.
What is the RACOM?
The RACOM is Massachusetts' state-wide newsletter, which is published three times a year. It contains information on local Assemblies, Grand Assembly and the Grand Officers and Grand Representatives, upcoming events, and other news for all active Rainbow Girls. There is also a section for "Boosters" which allow supporters to pay per line to publish greetings, messages, jokes, etc. Each Assembly chooses a Racom Representative for the year whose job it is to write an article on the Assembly and collect Boosters for each issue during her year. Girls who complete this job earn a Merit Bar for it at Grand Assembly.
What is Rainbow Sunday?
Rainbow Sunday is a celebration of the beginning of our Order. Traditionally it is celebrated on the Sunday nearest to April 6th, the day Rainbow was founded. Attendance at Rainbow Sunday is mandatory for all Rainbow Girls. Most Assemblies, including Holden, will pick a church service to attend together; members may opt to attend their own church instead, but must provide proof (usually a letter signed from the minister). Attending Rainbow Sunday is required to receive each year's Attendance Merit Bar.
And Founder's Day?
July 8th is the birthday of Rev. W. Mark Sexson, the founder of IORG. Massachusetts usually holds an event at Rainbow Camp in Hanson in honor of Founder's Day, and local Assemblies may attend that or plan a separate fun event for the observance.
What is the Grand Assembly Scholarship Ball? The Ball Queen?
The Grand Assembly Scholarship Ball is a formal dance held every November. The proceeds from the sale of ball tickets benefits the Grand Assembly Scholarship Funds. A ball queen candidate is selected from each assembly, and a queen and her suite are chosen and crowned at the ball. A grand march is then held with the ball queen, and all the Grand Officers. Prizes are given to the Assembly that sells the most tickets to the ball.
What is Grand Assembly??
There are two ways to use this term, so it might be a little confusing. Each jurisdiction in Rainbow - usually a state, like Massachusetts, but sometimes a whole country, like Canada, or two states, like Washington and Idaho - is considered a "Grand Assembly." For example, here, all members of Holden Assembly are part of the Grand Assembly of Massachusetts.
We also call our jurisdiction-wide annual meetings "Grand Assembly." Massachusetts Grand Assembly is the last weekend in June in Plymouth. Our assembly usually goes together and spends the weekend at a hotel. Visitors come from other Rainbow jurisdictions all over the country and the world. Grand Assembly is always a lot of fun!
What is a Grand Officer or Grand Representative?
These are girls selected from their local Assembly to represent the Assembly on a state-wide level.
Girls who have been in Rainbow for at least two years may apply to be a Grand Representative. "Grand Reps" are assigned another jurisdiction and have a counterpart Grand Representative to Massachusetts from that jurisdiction to communicate with. They share information about Massachusetts and learn about customs in other areas, and many visit their assigned jurisdictions. They are appointed at Grand Assembly in June and serve for a year.
Grand Officers are Past Worthy Advisors of their local Assembly. They are Installed at Grand Assembly as a Grand Officer for the year. Most Grand Offices are the same as those in the local Assembly (Grand Worthy Associate Advisor, Grand Drill Leader, Grand Service, Grand American Flag Bearer, etc.), but some are unique to the state level. Past Grand Officers may try out each year to be the Grand Worthy Advisor in Massachusetts, the highest position a girl may hold.
What are Grand Officer Nights?
Grand Officers' Nights are held 3 times each year at different locations throughout the state. On these Saturday evenings, the Grand Officers from across the state get together for a "grand" Rainbow meeting and an initiation. Rainbow girls from the assemblies like to attend Grand Officers' Nights to support the Grand Officers from their assembly and to see what the floor work and ritual are like when they are done nearly perfectly by the Grand Officers.
