"The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a service-oriented organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20."
The number of times I've spoken / written that opening line to my elevator speech is impossible to count. The problem I've always had with elevator speeches is that they never encapsulate what it really means to be a Rainbow girl. Having just received my majority, I have been a little bit (overwhelmingly) nostalgic and slightly (very) in my feelings. So to all the younger members who have a few more years left as active members, or to those who don't quite understand what Rainbow is, here are just a few things that I've learned and gained over the past nine years.
1. Rainbow is basically a mixture of Girl Scouts, a church youth group and a sorority.
Rainbow was founded in 1922 and has Masonic roots. It's similar to Girl Scouts in that it's open to girls of a certain ages and we conduct fundraisers, just not necessarily with cookies. Much like a sorority, Rainbow has a confidential ritual and a special initiation ceremony. Like a church youth group, our ritual has Biblical ties and emphasizes community service, but we accept any and all religious beliefs a girl may have. Rainbow is similar to many things, but is truly one-of-a-kind.
2. We use Robert's Rules of Order / Parliamentary procedure in meetings.
When I was younger, I thought the formality of our meetings was weird and didn't quite understand why we spoke certain ways. Come to find out we were following Robert's Rules of Order and surprise, I've had to use that in other formal meetings I've been a part of outside of Rainbow.
3. You learn the secrets of dress shopping.
Paying full price for a dress? I know of no such thing. The dress I bought for my senior year prom was a whopping $35. Of course, I haven't had to worry much about dress shopping for Grand Assembly being a Grand Officer, but that doesn't mean I don't alert my sisters whenever I come across a killer sale going on.
4. Taking public speaking is a breeze.
I have had to memorize and perform ritual work since I was 11-years-old. Speaking in front of a class with an outline to look off of was nothing new. And even if I did get nervous, I knew how to handle it.
5. You can tell how recently initiated a member is based on the sharpness of her square corners.
Slight curve? She was initiated a couple weeks ago. Sharp corner, but got off beat to the music? She's been in anywhere from a few months to a year. Sharp corner, on beat and with no apparent interruption in her footing? She's either on the Grand Floor or will be soon. And if you're a band, orchestra, choir kid or a dancer, you know you've got the upper hand.
6. Someone's familiarity with Rainbow is demonstrated in his/her ability to say Grand Office titles correctly.
Worthy Grand Advisor? Sister Associate Grand Advisor? Worthy President? Madame Grand Advisor? Not exactly, but I'm still really glad you're here and you tried! Now let me teach you the acronyms.
7. The Rainbow grasp of friendship truly reaches beyond the inner doors of your assembly.
Bonus points if you can name what lecture that line comes from. One of the things I love about Rainbow is that it's an international organization and there's always an opportunity to travel and meet sisters. I had the wonderful honor of representing Kansas at one of the Supreme Seminars and to this day it remains as one of my favorite Rainbow memories because of the bonds I shared with the other women there. I know that if I moved to another state or even another country, I would find a home in Rainbow because I've seen it happen first-hand. There aren't many places where you can say that happens.
8. There are seven colors in the rainbow and pink is not one of them.
End of story.
9. You've had an impressive collection of formal wear and business casual clothing for years.
And your Mother Advisor made sure to tell you if what you were wearing was Rainbow appropriate or not. To this day it feels scandalous to buy a black dress or something without straps.
10. Nine years as an active member go by surprisingly quickly, but your time as a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls never truly ends.
The beauty of being involved in this organization for so long is that the adults see you grow and mature and in turn, you see the younger girls do the same. To know that you have an impact on them is one of the biggest honors I've ever received. Closing my time as active member has been saddening, but I'm absolutely thrilled to help other girls discover the other contents of the Pot of Gold.
For more information about the organization or details on how to join, visit gorainbow.org.
