Rainbow Girls

IORG

http://www.gorainbow.org/

IORG—International Order of Rainbow for Girls is a wonderful youth group affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.  As some naysayers try to paint us, it is not a cult or anything close to it.  It teaches great life values to girls eleven to twenty.  I am a follower of a Jewish carpenter, first and foremost.  If anything caused a conflict with my belief in our Lord Jesus, I would not be a part of it. That being said, I am, therefore, extremely proud to say that I was a member of the Order.  I guess a part of me still is—kind of like once a Marine, always a Marine—once a Rainbow, always a Rainbow.

As our emblem, we use the seven ROYGBIV colors of a spectrum.  I learned lessons about God and country.  The Holy Bible physically is the center of our existence.  It is also morally our compass (or at least it should be).  I learned Love through Service.  Lessons of Faith, Hope and Charity.  I learned many lessons presented to me from the ritual which I might call “tangible” lessons.  I also learned many “intangible” lessons.  Confidence.  Leadership.  Decision making. Ability to talk to a group/audience. Self assurance.  Ritual work, I believe, helped me with my school work through structured memorizing.  Kindness to our sisters in the organization.  Kindness to strangers (especially those who are visitors in one’s Assembly)   A sort of gentleness.  And, conversely, a sort of boldness.  Humility.  An oxymoron is coming as Pride was instilled as well.  Can one have humble pride?

It also gave me life-long friendships.  I met JJ in 1959 when she was installing a new corps of officers.  I talked to her on the phone this past week.  JJ and I are members of the same Order of the Eastern Star Chapter.  When I go north, she, her husband, Steve and I get together socially at each other’s home or meet at a restaurant a couple of times while I am “up there.”   

A second long-time friendship is with another woman with whom I went to school.  She had several children and saw to it that her daughters all joined.  They now have daughters of their own.  Many years after this woman and I had been long past the age of majority, she invited me to her eldest daughter’s installation as WA.  Although I seem to have lost touch with her over the last couple of years (my fault), we had a special bond for oh so many years.  I actually caught her bridal bouquet.  I would not have had the opportunity to enjoy these friendships without my having joined this beautiful order.  There are also many I know to whom  I could call in time of need.  Some of these folks I met as an adult when my niece joined Rainbow in the 80’s.  There is no time boundary for friendship.

In my assembly which covered two full towns and portions of one or two others was vibrant and active.  Most of our meetings had attendance of thirty to fifty girls plus and active Advisory Board. We held twenty formal meetings each year (and lots of fun get togethers).  For a  couple of years, we had degree work at most of the formal meetings as we had so many girls who wanted to be part of the organization.  The meetings were very structured.  No one talked unless recognized by the WA.  The MA was the only adult who spoke unless specifically addressed by the WA. There was great friendly competition for various offices.  And each officer knew her ritualistic work verbatim.

I was blessed as I outlasted many in my age group.  Partly because I did not have the opportunity to go to college, I was able to “go through the chairs” to become a WA and eventually on to being a state office. (As JJ says, “When God closes a door, He opens a window!!”)  WA’s tended to be seventeen or eighteen.  We were maturing, but certainly not yet matured. I also EARNED my Grand Cross of Colors through years of service.  I was an active member from January 1959 to December 1966 at which time I received my “majority” (aged out). I continued on as an AdvisoryBoard member for another three years.

I can proudly say that in time period, I missed only one meeting.  That was in my last year as an Advisory Board member.  The Beach Boys were in concert in Hartford.  And, I must confess that was the only night I played hooky from my beloved Rainbow Assembly.  As years passed I was on two other Boards for two other Assemblies…one in Connecticut, one in Florida.  I also had a two-year stint as a Pledge Mother…not missing any more meetings.

The Rainbow website shows pictures of several distinguished women (if you click on their pictures, you will find their profiles) who give credit for their accomplishments—at least in part—to their having been in Rainbow.  Astronaut(s), Hollywood stars and actresses, Supreme Court Justice, Business executives. Educators. Senators. Miss America.  And a whole lot more.

Having said all this, Christina, invited me to a meeting to an Assembly to which her daughter is a member.  I had not been to a Rainbow meeting in at least six years. I accepted her invitation.  I was horrified . Well, maybe that is too strong a word, but I certainly was very disappointed. I walked into the building.  Only one gentleman spoke to me, and that was barely.  I found a seat.  Christina arrived and sat next to me.  Only one young lady greeted me at all.  She, I must say, was very pleasant.  I don’t expect a standing O, but the treatment was borderline rude (or maybe not so borderline…down and out rude).  The Mother Advisor totally ignored me, as did the girls.  Albeit, after the meetings, she did say a couple of words to me.  Sort of terse.  Almost as though they did not want visitros.  None of other adult Broad members said so much as a “How-de-doo.”  One cannot, however, expect anything better from the girls if the people who is supposed to be THE adult leaders are not hospitable. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE FRIENDSHIP  that the extended hands in our emblem denotes!!???!!!  Honestly, I felt (as my mother might say) as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.

What a difference a couple of days make!!  These folks should take some lessons from those wonderful folks in Valdosta (previous posting).

Okay, so the hand of friendship was not extended.  Let’s get to the ritualistic work.  Too much reading from the book.  Granted, several girls were filling in offices that were really not theirs.  Two of the six were excellent and filled in several stations (the gal that greeted me filled WAA and Charity; also Hope did a good job).   And the DL who has no speaking part did nice floor work.  But, there is no excuse for the Worthy Advisor and the Mother Advisor to read their parts.  NEVER would have happened in days gone by.  Too much competition.  Now, I know life has changed.  We depend on multitudes of media which were not available “in my day.”  But that should not change certain aspects of our organization.  Maybe, the fact that only six girls were available for a meeting, rather than the multitudes of fifty years ago, stems (at least in a large part) from the sloppiness and demeanor and the less than friendly attitude.  We were extremely structured in our meetings. In this meeting,  structure was almost non existent.

The MA drove me nuts.  I am not a perfectionist on much of anything in my life, but I do like to see well run meetings.  Again, in the “old days” a person speaking stood up.  This is for many reasons.  One very practical reason is that one’s voice projects better.  It is, therefore, possible for more people to hear what you have to say when one stands to speak.  The MA did all her speechifying (except the required ritual standing) in a sitting position.  Legs crossed in a most uncomely manner with her tat blaring out from her leg.  The whole demeanor-- to me--presented a very unladylike attitude.  What an example for the girls! 

I think that it will be quite some time before I attend another local meeting of the Order at least at that Assembly.  I am, however, looking forward the next Supreme Assembly in a couple of years.

 I am aware that times change.  But…