By: Annalise K. and Ryba C., Roseville DeRiemer Assembly

It was a Tuesday evening when everyone was confined to their homes, stuck in a Zoom© bubble. The DeRiemer girls were feeling upset and limited because they could not meet face to face. The energy and morale was low. They needed some way to bring them and the community together. Many ideas were suggested but nothing felt quite right. Until out of the darkness, a bright light that would shine on our pathway emerged; Mrs. McCrea with an astounding idea. “What about making cards for the hospital staff?” she said with an inquisitive tone and hopeful thoughts. The girls glanced at each other’s faces till they came to a decision, “Let’s do it!” said all the girls enthusiastically. The Rainbow Roseville Soldiers marched ahead with the plan to create at least 10 cards each. Days passed, pens were used, fingers were exhausted, and stomachs were empty, but not for nothing. At the end of their journey laid a modest mountain of beautiful homemade cards with the intent of bringing joy to another person’s day. Then, once again out of the darkness, came Mrs. McCrea and her trusty steed to transport our tokens of joy to the hospital staff that work tirelessly to keep us all healthy, to them we thank with all our hearts.

By: Mrs. DeEtte Sprimont, Pledge Mom of Infinity Pledge

Learning to have fun activities during Covid-19 has been a challenge we have all faced, but it hasn’t stopped Infinity Pledge from getting together for some virtual fun and fellowship, and sharing our activities with new friends from around the state! Whether coloring, making pinwheel crafts, or playing the 5-Second Rule, Infinity Pledge has enjoyed our virtual fellowship and learned that limitations can be overcome with creativity and perseverance.

One of our most successful events was a virtual campout we had in early August. The Pledge girls gathered their supplies and were ready for an adventure when the “Zoom© Campground” opened Friday afternoon. Their first challenge was to build a shelter, and the girls used their creativity to transform their living room into a themed campground! One of the Pledge Girls, Anna, made her shelter using a beach theme, including a tropical background and everything you need for camping at the beach! Two other Pledge Girls, Belle and Chloe, had an enchanted forest theme, with dragons guarding the outside of their tents, and enchanted rooms with magical crowns inside the tent. All of the girls went above and beyond expectations with this challenge! Additional activities at the campout included Getting to Know You Games, Reflections around the Virtual Campfire, Making S’mores, a virtual tour of a National Park, and Glow in the Dark BINGO©. After some good night selfies, everyone logged off and drifted off to sleep. In the morning, the girls did a Bed Head Walk and Scavenger Hunt, and had a morning devotional. The campout ended with a slide show featuring food photos, good-night selfies, and photos from the scavenger hunt. Infinity Pledge is definitely going to have another virtual campout, and the girls hope even more friends will join them! After all, what could be better than going camping with some sweet friends in Pledge?

By: Julie R., Fullerton/Yorba Linda Assembly

Over this interesting time, our assembly came up with the idea to hold Zoom© meetings where the girls would hold a 101 lesson about something they liked or something they knew about. The girls had to come up with the topic, set up the meeting, and come up with the plan for what they were going to talk about. They also had to be in charge of promoting the 101 class, creating a flyer, or reaching out to another girl in our assembly to make the flyer and post it to social media with the Zoom© code.

Julia made a 101 on Forensics and criminology that she has been learning in her schooling; talking about fingerprints and different ways to gain evidence in a crime scene. Emily walked the assembly through the California Rainbow website and Beyond the Line Online showing us all of the cool and interesting resources we had at our disposal. Regan gave a 101 on baking, she found a chocolate chip cookie recipe and sent it to the assembly ahead of time so we can make the recipe along with her. She walked us through the recipe and gave tips and tricks on how to make amazing cookies. Elizabeth prepared a lesson and showed all who attended how to draw themselves. We still have another 101 planned where Gen will teach us how to play the popular game Minecraft©, with basic tips and tricks on how to work the game. Elizabeth helped us create a 101 flyer to post on Facebook©.

We are working on some new 101 ideas to showcase during this next term. We can not wait to meet again in person. In the meantime time, we are trying to come up with new ways to use Zoom© to reach out to others and stay in touch.

By: Ella H., Fidelity Assembly

What’s that you say? There’s a quarantine in place? You would never know it from all the fun Fidelity Assembly #242 has been having. Six feet apart, we laughed our way through a beach clean up, and realized being six feet apart was actually six feet closer than we had been the week before. Our assembly members and their families made inspirational cards to include with deliveries to shut in senior citizens through the organization, Senior Concerns. We learned that even in a pandemic, you can still enjoy a movie party, as we virtually enjoyed The Princess and the Frog©. We have also been busy making tie blankets for our favorite charity, The Painted Turtle Camp. Our virtual blanket making parties have turned into membership parties, as our non Rainbow friends have joined us in our crafty adventures, filled with lots of laughter and girl time. We have collected non perishable foods, prepared packaging for community garden produce deliveries, and have also prepared children’s waiting room activity kits for The Shriner’s Hospital.

We have enjoyed this time to get to know each other in a completely different way, and have discovered that we are fortunate to be able to be there for each other especially at the end of a long stressful day. We have connected with Rainbow girls across the country at our meetings and discovered that Rainbow love is deep and nothing, not even a pandemic, can keep us apart. Virtual meetings, masks, gloves, and six feet apart, we are all a part of one big supportive family. We have all found that in being of some service each day, we really have found the secret to a happy life.

By: Carley L., Northern Pot of Gold Reporter, Camellia Assembly

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rainbow Assemblies near and far have been trying to stay connected. It can be challenging at times, as everyone really misses seeing each other in person, but we need to always remember we are all in this together. Although we can’t wait to go back to in-person activities and meetings, California Rainbow has been staying connected with each other, in their own unique ways!

Camellia Assembly was challenged by Natoma Assembly to participate in “The Don’t Rush Me” challenge. Camellia created a video to the Grease© song, “We Go Together” where each girl pointed to the right, which then showed each girl in a different fun pose, wearing a formal dress. Natoma Assembly did their video challenge to the song from High School Musical©, “ We’re All In This Together”. Camellia Assembly then challenged Rose, Vacaville, and Napa Assembly to participate. Also, the girls and adults had a ton of fun at the virtual friendship night that Camellia Assembly hosted on Friday, September 25th. The theme of the evening was Disney©. Several girls and adults attended, wearing their festive Disney© gear, and enjoyed playing a 50 question Kahoot© game made by Amanda M.

By: Emily S., Southern POG Reporter, Visalia Assembly

         Districts 28 and 36 were proud to host the first-ever Virtual Service Official Visit of the Grand Worthy Advisor in California Rainbow’s history. On July 18th, 2020, Visalia, Heart of the Valley, and Central Coast Assemblies kept with the Supreme Assembly’s theme of “Friendships Bloom Where Rainbow is Planted”. The Official Visit highlighted service, leadership, and ways to promote Rainbow. 

Members of the district leadership team gave a presentation on how to successfully lead virtually. Attendees learned about their leadership traits by taking a short quiz. The girls and adults shared their results and everyone was able to learn something new about themselves and each other.

The service project for the event was serving a home for families of patients to stay while their loved ones are being cared for at  Fresno Community Medical Center.  The Terry House has a reflection garden for the families. The girls painted rocks with inspirational messages that will be placed in the garden. During the Official Visit, a beautiful video was played of all of the girls painting their rocks!

The girls in the district representing the state Public Relations Team reminded everyone of the CAIORG social media platforms and the hashtags. Team members showed all of the tools the Public Relations Team has for assemblies that are available on our California Rainbow website.

Our GWA Isabella spoke about the Grand Service Project. She shared that the camp is still serving kids during the pandemic by offering virtual camps. After hearing Isabella’s inspirational speech, the assemblies organized a fun skit for Isabella and Mrs. Regier. Our leaders were asked to find items in their home that represented friendship, Rainbow, and people they love. The skit was fun for all and girls learned a little bit more about Isabella and Mrs. Regier. Due to the hard work of the districts, they were able to add an additional donation of  $1,700 to the Painted Turtle!

Even though we weren’t able to see everyone in person, it was nice to see everyone’s face virtually. With over 120 participants from around the United States, it was truly an exciting and historical event!

By: Ashley H., Napa Assembly

Napa Assembly has been having a lot of fun lately! Our area Official Visit was August 29th when we virtually traveled to Disneyland©, and ventured through the park to learn about the fundraisers each assembly in the area had been planning to raise money for the Painted Turtle.

On September 19th, we had our Zoom© manicure night with friends and family! At this fun meeting, we painted our nails using a variety of nail polish, stickers, and some even did acrylic nails. It was a lot of fun and everyone got to express their creativity.

We can hardly wait for the day that we can get together and hold our meetings and activities in person. None of us like being separated from our Rainbow Sisters.  2020 will definitely be a year to remember.

By: Paula O., Santa Cruz Assembly

Before I became a Rainbow Girl, I was in Santa Cruz’s Pledge Group. It was a great experience for me because I was able to learn new skills that I would need for Rainbow such as public speaking, leadership, and ritual work or memorization. Pledge also introduced me to an assembly room, service, serving at fundraising breakfasts and dinners, Official Visits, and all the fun of Grand Assembly!

I think Pledge is a great group to belong to and I am so thankful for the memories and friends I made while I was in Pledge. I think any girl who is too young to enter Rainbow should be a Pledge girl. If your assembly does not support a Pledge group then you should consider starting one now, the younger girls will appreciate it and your assembly will benefit from being big sisters, and especially from seeing that your assembly will prosper as the Pledge Girls blossom and grow.

By: San Fernando Valley Pot of Gold Reporters

This term, our Sister of Faith wanted to have movie nights as membership events. The girls got to vote on which movies we wanted to watch and so we have watched Casper©, the first episode of Anne with an E©, Earth to Echo©, Corpse Bride©, Karate Kid©, and my personal favorite, Shark Boy and Lava Girl©. We had a prospective member join us for some of our movie nights and attended other Zoom© events we held. After we watched Karate Kid© we had a ‘sleepover’ and made blanket forts and talked until we fell asleep or needed to hang up. Some of the girls had snacks in their forts and one had fairy lights and a fan.

Our Sister of Hope had a recycling fundraiser going on through the summer which raised about $50. My mom and I would crush cans and water bottles and containers before going to the donation center. One time we filled up an entire plastic basket with all of our plastic water containers.

Also, our Worthy Associate Advisor held Kahoot© days in which we were able to test our knowledge in certain topics. We had fun themes like Disney© and Rainbow!

Our Worthy Advisor had multiple virtual events to keep us occupied. One of them was the virtual paint night, where our members painted a colorful ostrich. She showed everyone how to do them, and they all turned out wonderful. Another virtual event was her monthly crafting events. She and our Rainbow dad made some bags filled with many materials to make the crafts. We have made bird feeders, 4th of July decor, Father’s Day cards, picture frames, etc. My favorite craft was the picture frame because I got to paint and bedazzle it!