Service . . . That's what the International
Order of The Rainbow For Girls is all about.
The primary function of a Rainbow Girl is to
serve others and humanity. Giving unselfishly of oneself to assist another in need can be
one of the most rewarding experiences in life.
Rainbow Girls provide service in many ways. These
include earning funds in an effort to assist such worthwhile projects as Cystic Fibrosis,
the Make a Wish Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind, The Alicia Ann Ruch Burn Foundation,
Airlifeline, Canine Companions for Independence, and the Blind Babies Foundation to name a
few.
There are many ways girls may elect to earn funds
to assist these projects. They might have a car wash, bake sales, bike-a-thon, candy sales
or serve meals at a Masonic Lodge or Eastern Star function.
In the past 10 years, California Rainbow Girls
have earned and donated more than $850,000 to non-profit charitable organizations. The
funds have been raised from their State Service Projects.
Although the girls have fun at their service and
fund raising activities, they also plan some events specifically for their entertainment.
We believe that if young women have fun and enjoy participating in the many varied
activities their assemblies offer, they will want to continue to be active members and
invite their friends to join our organization. Girls are encouraged to use their
imagination when planning their activities so that there will always be something new and
different to do. Some fun activities might be slumber parties, family picnics, progressive
dinners, scavenger hunts, ice cream socials, skating, Rainbow Camp and our annual State
Convention; Grand Assembly.
Like many other experiences in life, the girl
will benefit most from Rainbow by becoming an involved active member.
Rainbow assemblies are located in nearly every
State in the United States and in many foreign countries. California is the largest
jurisdiction in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, having nearly 200 assemblies
and thousands of enthusiastic members working to serve others.
All Rainbow jurisdictions are members of the
Supreme Assembly, whose headquarters are located in McAlester, Oklahoma. Each State is a
jurisdiction within itself under the leadership of a Supreme Officer.
Each Rainbow Assembly is organized and governed
by a uniform code of by-laws set forth by the Supreme Assembly.
The formal component of this organization is
centered around bi-monthly meetings at the Masonic Center. Under the direction of the
Worthy Advisor (a girl elected to serve as the assembly leader for a four month period),
with the assistance of the Mother Advisor (a member of the adult advisory board), the
girls attend to business and perform memorized work including opening and closing
ceremonies and initiation. A complete corps of officers consists of 20 girls. The girls
themselves are responsible for the financial management, correspondence, and organization
of all assembly activities.
At the age of 20, Rainbow Girls receive their
majority certificate. That means they are no longer active voting members of their
assembly, but now hold a lifetime membership in the order. By this time they are well
trained, well groomed, poised young ladies prepared to enter adult life. They have self
confidence and most feel very comfortable speaking in public and are able to conduct
themselves graciously in most any situation.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
is a non-profit self-supporting organization. This means that the girls must spend some of
their time earning funds to meet their expenses to manage their business affairs.
An Adult Advisory Board assists Rainbow Girls
with their activities. These advisors consist of Master Masons, Eastern Star or Majority
Members. All activities are under the direct supervision of Advisory Board members
and parents of the girls.
The name "Rainbow" is incorporated into
the structure an lessons of our Organization. Seven lessons taught to the girls at their
initiation ceremony are represented by the colors of the Rainbow. Short lectures are given
on the subject 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 instruct the girls into a better way of life.
The initiation is a beautiful presentation that
impresses an obligation on a young lady to live a life of service. Rainbow inspires young
ladies to become better daughters, better wives and better mothers
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
is not a religion or cult. It is a youth organization founded by a Master Mason in
1922 to offer an interesting and complete program of general youth character and
development, the best environment, worthwhile associates and a wholesome occupation of
spare time.
