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The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in California

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Meet the Meerkats – GEC, Rainbow Flag Bearer and Rep. to Canada, New Hampshire and Vermont

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Our Sister Braving the Great White North

By: Destiny M. GEC, Rainbow Flag Bearer and Rep. to Canada/NH/VT, Roseville DeRiemer

Destiny M., GEC Rainbow Flag Bearer & Rep. to Canada, NH and Vermont, Roseville DeRiemer

Hello everyone! I am Destiny M., Member of the Grand Executive Committee, Rainbow Flag Bearer, and Representative to Canada, New Hampshire, and Vermont. I’ve been in Rainbow for eight years. I’m a PWA of Roseville DeRiemer Assembly and have served as Worthy Advisor seven times. Thankfully, my family has been involved. I’m a 3rd generation Rainbow Girl. I was a Talent Page with Sami M., Member of the Grand Executive Committee, Color Bearer, and Representative to Colorado and Nevada, in 2019. I graduated high school in 2020 and I’m currently going to school for nursing. I live with my parents Kim and Allan Morse and my brother Travis. I have two brothers and one sister. I have a hyper, black lab named Minkah and he’s one year old. I enjoy watching movies, writing, and traveling. I’m so grateful for this opportunity to serve California Rainbow with the Milestone Making Meerkats! I can’t wait to meet everybody and see where this year takes us.

Life Lessons with Troy

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Katie S., Grand Worthy Advisor, Visalia

By: Katie S., Grand Worthy Advisor, Visalia

Helloooooo California Rainbow! It’s me, Troy. I’m Katie’s spontaneous, adventurous, milestone making travel buddy! One day Katie and I were talking and she shared how much Rainbow teaches about leadership. So while Katie was on one of her many Zoom calls, I got to thinking how much the meerkats can teach all of you about leadership. So I decided to write you an article for this thing you call, the Pot of Gold (that is what Katie told me it was anyway) and give you some words of wisdom from all of the meerkats. 

From the outside, the Milestone Making Meerkats may look cute and cuddly, and yes we are, but we are one ferocious group. We like to say that we are tiny but mighty. When we are not traveling the state protecting our travel buddies, or what Katie calls them, Grand Officers, we live out in the wild. Yes, folks the wild. Out in the grasslands of Southern Africa where we must fend for ourselves. We live together in large groups of about thirty called mobs. Isn’t that crazy because there are 28 Grand Officers! It is as though it was meant to be! We live together, hunt together, protect each other, and most importantly, stick together. During Katie and I’s conversation, she shared how much Rainbow Girls stick together and how important this thing called sisterhood was. Here are some of the leadership lessons all of the milestone making, funny-dressed meerkats can teach. 

Lesson Number 1: Sharing the load. While we live in the wild and our Grand Officer bag, we have to dig for our food, or whatever sweets they have down in there. The only problem is, we are a little small… but mighty of course… and can easily become someone’s snack. When we are digging for our meals, we bury our heads and can’t always watch our surroundings. So to protect ourselves, we take turns standing guard on high rocks or trees. We each take our fair share of the work; so we can all eat and stay safe. If that’s not teamwork, I don’t know what is! So our advice for you is to make sure everyone has a role by working together as a team. Whether your head is in the ground or you are scouting out on the top of a rock, you play a very important role in the success of your team. 

Lesson Number 2: Communication. Did you know that meerkats have 30 different distinct calls? Our survival is dependant on these calls out in the wild so the biggest tip we have for you is to keep talking. We call for each other when we are in trouble or if something doesn’t seem right. If we think one of our mob mates is sad or needs help, we give them a shout-out. Katie says that you do that as well. Keep it up! Keep encouraging your fellow Rainbow Sisters! Katie says they are the best. 

Lesson Number 3: Stick Together. In the unfortunate event where we get ourselves into a bit of a pickle and escape is not an option, we join together. Our meerkat mob will stir up dust or stand together, so we look much larger than we actually are. Once again… tiny but mighty. So when your team’s deadlines are short, someone is having a difficult time, or when things get a little hectic, stick together. The best teams work together by supporting and encouraging one another, never leaving anyone, or meerkat, behind. A good team stands together. 

Lastly, Lesson Number 4: Raise and Develop. Meerkats are masters in preparing their next generation to be successful and help our mob grow. If the mob goes out and about, at least one adult meerkat stays back to watch the young. We love to give our new upcoming leaders a hands-on experience of digging new holes, calling out to each other, and looking for some yummy beetles. Always make sure that your team members are being pushed to grow and develop. Each meerkat, I mean member, has their own set of talents. Make sure everyone gets to practice their strengths and everyone supports each other as you learn new skills. Challenging and believing in each other will be your biggest asset. The strength of a meerkat comes from the strong unity and support of the clan. Never forget that! 

Well, I hope you remember these lessons from your wise meerkat friends. Katie says Rainbow provides leadership opportunities and if you follow these lessons I’m sure your mob or assembly will grow stronger and bigger. I can’t wait to meet you and all of the other meerkats. Katie said we get to travel soon but I need to go buy something called a suitcase? Does a suitcase hold beetles?

Love,

Troy Mickey Meerkat

Katie’s Grand Milestone Making Meerkat

Meet the Meerkats – Grand Worthy Associate Advisor and Historian

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Minnie Meerkat Megan

By: Megan L., GWAA and Historian, New Hope

Megan L., Grand Worthy Associate Advisor and Historian, New Hope

Hey there California Rainbow! My name is Megan L. I am the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother. I started my Rainbow journey before I can even remember. My mom was a member of New Hope Assembly, was Past Grand Recorder, and Mother Advisor of New Hope even before my sister and I were able to be initiated. This meant I got to tag along to fun events and service projects. I joined Rainbow as soon as I was able to. I went through the line and became Worthy Advisor. This is currently my 10th term as Worthy Advisor and I love it. I have a small but mighty assembly with an absolutely adorable Pledge group!

I have had the joy of being on the State Leadership Team for the past two years. I got to meet and work with some amazing young women, one of which I am so excited to share this Grand Year with (first LT buddies, then partners in crime, now a duo with an everlasting bond)!  It has been a blast creating leadership programs and planning events. Who wouldn’t enjoy planning and attending a Disneyland© take-over day? Speaking of Disneyland©, this is one of my favorite places to be. I guess what they say is true; it truly is the happiest place on earth! My love for Disney made it even more exciting to be appointed as Grand Worthy Associate Advisor and Historian because I now get to collect Minnie Mouse things as part of my office! I am truly blessed to have this amazing opportunity to serve California Rainbow this year!

Outside of Rainbow, I was very involved in my High School and a part of programs like Key Club, CSF, and Student Government. In Student Government, I was our school’s Culture Chairman and Community Chairman. This means I was in charge of leading a group of students to plan events like the Homecoming Parade, Bonfire Rally, Talent Show and so much more. One of my favorite things was being able to help plan activities and events that brought our school together and built our school’s culture. I was also involved in our School Site Council and our Parent’s Club Liaison both of which allowed me to do public speaking and have a say in what happened at our school. 

Additionally, I am involved at my church. I am a part of our Life Teen youth group and also volunteer as a Lector and Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist. 

In the next chapter of my life, I will be attending our local community college and studying to become an elementary school teacher. I love kids, planning, helping others, and public speaking so this seemed like a perfect combination of all of those things.

I can’t wait to see ( and capture) all of the wonderful memories this Milestone Making year has in store!

Fun with Chico-Paradise Assembly

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Chico-Paradise Assembly

By: Malia C., Chico-Paradise

Chico-Paradise Assembly has done multiple fun things this year. We have had themed meetings, craft nights, and more! Most of the time, there is a theme in our meetings because we are still on Zoom and trying to make it more fun. We ask a question every meeting for attendance and that question usually corresponds to the theme. For example, if the theme was Disney©, the question might be “What is your favorite Disney© movie?”

Chico-Paradise gets to enjoy craft nights as well! There is one every month. These usually correspond with the holiday for that month. For example, in February we made little owls that said “Whooo is your Valentine?” In March, instead of making something for St. Patrick’s Day, we made posters and other decorations to congratulate Bailee during Grand Assembly. 

Talking about Grand Assembly, everyone in Chico-Paradise enjoyed Grand Assembly very much. Our Worthy Advisor, Hope R., became Grand Musician and Representative to New Jersey and New York. We gained a member during Initiation, and one of our members reached her majority as well.

Meet the Meerkats – Grand Musician and Rep. to NJ/NY

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Readings from a Musical Meerkat

By: Hope R., Grand Musician & Rep. to NJ/NY, Chico-Paradise

Hope R., Grand Musician & Rep. to NJ/NY, Chico-Paradise

Hello everybody! I, Hope R., got installed as the Grand Musician and Representative to New Jersey and New York. It hit me that I was a Grand Officer during my first meeting back to my assembly. My mother and Grand Deputy of Chico-Paradise reminded me that we had to sing the Grand Officer benediction. I have always been used to hearing it during meetings, but now it was my turn to sing it. I felt so proud to be a Grand Officer and to represent California Rainbow in New Jersey and New York. I was initiated in 2014 at Marysville Assembly when I was 11, and it was also the same night as my cousin’s majority at the age of 20. I transferred to Chico-Paradise in 2016 because my parents decided to start a 24/7 tow truck business in Willows. I have lived in Willows since 7th grade.

I have always loved to play music. Before I was even 1-year old, I would try to sing in church, and I started performing in the church choir as soon as I could speak. I eventually fell in love with playing music because of my mother, she was a music teacher for five years. I started out playing clarinet in 4th grade and I now play clarinet, bass clarinet, alto-bass clarinet, contra-bass clarinet, and a couple of notes on the oboe. When I transferred schools to Willows from Colusa, I joined their band. However, they had a marching band, and that was new to me. I ended up falling in love with marching and went on to perform in parades, competitions, football games, volleyball games, and even soccer games. I even did the auditions to perform at Chico State University; twice. As my band career blossomed, so did my school career. 

I have been secretary in Recycle Club, always had above a 3.50 GPA, took AP courses, took honor classes, received academic awards, and took college classes, all while still in high school. A fun fact about me is that my favorite color is blue, I love Scooby-Doo, I love horses, and my favorite flower is a rose. This is cool because it just so happens that New Jersey’s state animal is a horse, and New York’s state flower is a rose. I hope this helped you get to know me, and I can’t wait to serve as the Musician in the centennial year of Rainbow in 2022!

Use Your Dreams to Make Rainbow Grow

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Katie S., Grand Worthy Advisor, Visalia

By: Katie S., Grand Worthy Advisor, Visalia

Hey California Rainbow! It’s Katie S., your Milestone Making Meerkat Grand Worthy Advisor. Did you have fun on your adventure in the Enchanted Forest? I know I did! Now I am ready for an adventure with the Milestone Making Meerkats and I hope you are too.

All my friends know I love coffee. Not only do I love to drink it, but I love to make it. I am a proud barista at Dutch Bros (yes Mrs. Regier, Dutch Bros) and had the opportunity to help open the first stand in my town! If you are familiar with Dutch Bros, we are a lively and upbeat group of guys and gals. I get to walk into the Mafia door (that’s what our work crew is called), every day and hang out with and bring smiles to fellow coffee lovers. Dutch Bros is a service and leadership orientated company. In fact, during my interview, I shared about Rainbow and that is what helped me get the job!! During my training, the “Dutch Creed” was shared. The Creed is a message that is instilled into every barista across the West Coast. It is a powerful statement of positivity, strength, and hope.

One of my favorite parts of the creed is “To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true”. Throughout these uncertain times, my optimism was put to the test. I leaned on my faith, family, and friends to keep positive. I also found peace in exercising every day either through swimming or going to the gym. Just like many of us, I quickly learned how to attend class online, zoomed meetings, and we were pushed into a new world of technology. These times of change caused us to adapt and grow as a person and as an organization. 

The creativity California Rainbow has shown throughout this year shows how we looked at the sunny side of this milestone moment. We took advantage of this virtual world and “traveled” to other assemblies to attend meetings, play games, meet other girls, create new ceremonies, and so much more. Our Grand Assembly was the pinnacle of optimism and strength. Our Lemurs and their directors transformed our Grand Assembly into a virtual experience. They didn’t do it alone. With the help of all of our amazing grand adults and our milestone making Supreme Inspector, Grand Assembly showed the world that California Rainbow is ready for the next century. 

I know we are all excited and thrilled to be able to meet again soon, but what about all of the new learnings and discoveries we made during our virtual era? What are we going to do with it? Are we going to forget what we learned, or are we going to make it part of Rainbow? I challenge California Rainbow to continue with that creativity and optimism. I challenge all of us to dream about our “new normal”. Dream about how we can use our learning of connecting to our Rainbow sisters not only across California but across the world. Dream about all of the new activities that we experienced. Dream about our virtual Grand Assembly. Now take those dreams and make Rainbow grow. Plan the best meetings, best activities, and the best service projects all while using our new learning. Let’s rise up California Rainbow and embrace this new normal and show the world that Rainbow will even make a bigger difference to the world in the next 100 years and I know the Milestone Making Meerkats are ready to lead the way.

Meet the Meerkats – GEC, Color Bearer & Rep. to CO/NV

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With All Snowflakes, Silver and Stars

By: Sami M., GEC, Grand Color Bearer and Representative to CO/NV, San Fernando Valley

Sami M., GEC, Grand Color Bearer & Rep. to CO/NV

Hello California Rainbow! I’m Sami M., the new Member of the Grand Executive Committee, Color Bearer, and Representative to Colorado and Nevada! I’m so excited to serve this year with our Milestone Making Meerkats and to share more about me with all of you! I have been to Nevada Grand Assembly three times and I’m stoked to represent California to this amazing Jurisdiction!

I joined Rainbow when I was 13 and became Worthy Advisor of my Assembly within two years. After my Worthy Advisor term, I became a Job’s Daughter and served as League Sweetheart for Dynasty League in Southern California DeMolay and had the honor of receiving my Grand Cross of Color that same year. The next year I got to serve as Talent Page with Destiny, our Member of the Grand Executive Committee, Rainbow Flag Bearer, and Representative to Canada, New Hampshire, and Vermont, which is the same year I was Southern California Jurisdiction’s Lady of the Priory. I am the Jr Past Jurisdiction Princess of Southern California DeMolay and am currently Worthy Advisor of my Assembly for the second time.

In what little free time I have, I like to read, write, and draw; I’m in the middle of four books (two of which are series) and I’m trying to write a book series.

I am beyond honored to serve this year with my new Meerkat sisters and can’t wait to share my journey with all of California Rainbow.

Meet the Meerkats – GEC, Lecturer & Rep. to MS/AR/LA

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Uncovering Lecturer

By: Jordan M., GEC, Grand Lecturer and Representative to MS/AR/LA, Rose

Jordan M., GEC, Grand Lecturer & Rep. to MS/AR/LA

Hi California Rainbow! This is Jordan M., your 2022 Grand Lecturer and Representative to Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. I feel so incredibly honored and lucky to have been entrusted with this office, and I hope to make you all proud!

A little bit about me. I’m a born and raised Northern Californian; I live part-time with my beautiful mom in Elk Grove and part-time with my amazing dad and stepmom in Tracy. I have three dogs and a cat, Honey, who is totally my favorite – don’t tell the dogs! In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to alt-rock, playing Legend of Zelda, and watching commentary YouTubers. I’m from Rose Assembly, and I want to wholeheartedly thank the inimitable Rose girls and adults who have supported me all these years and made me into the girl I am today. Without you, I would probably still be a shy and antisocial bookworm trying to live vicariously through fantasy novels instead of experiencing real life to the fullest. (Well, sometimes that last one still applies, but much less nowadays.) You mean the world to me and I love you from the bottom of my heart!

I currently live in Berkeley, where I’m a sophomore majoring in Classics (Greco-Roman history) and Political Science and minoring in Anthropology (Go Bears!). I work at the scheduling office on campus while volunteering at the University food bank, writing for the Berkeley Political Review, and serving on a panelist for student conduct cases. I am certain that without the confidence and work ethic Rainbow has given me, I would never have had the guts or ability to reach for my academic and professional goals the way that I have in the last two years. I’m also a huge Francophile; I’m working on my French fluency and am studying at the Paris Institute of Political Studies in the fall of 2021. I am, however, probably an even bigger philhellene. I love studying everything ancient and Greek and am currently learning Attic Greek so that I can read the ancient texts in their original glory. I plan on attending the archaeological field school in Nemea, Greece in the summer of 2022, an absolute dream come true for this Percy Jackson nerd-turned Greek academic. After this trip, I’ll try to decide whether I want to pursue a career in classical archaeology or international relations. I like to think that by studying the ancient world I’m learning what molded our global culture and set its foundations, and by studying political science I’m learning how our global culture functions today. I’m slowly putting it all together into a worldview, and I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned with you this year!

I could not be more excited to have been given the office of Lecturer specifically, because I am a person who lives for words. I live in eternal gratefulness for them, for without them I would know nothing of the past or present, nor would anyone know anything of me. I try to do them justice with eloquence in speaking and especially in writing – with my (very amateur) poetry, articles, and essays (so many essays) – and plan to bring this dedication to every word of every speech that I give to you. In doing so I hope that I can help, in my own way, to make this a truly milestone-making year!

Meet our New GEC MA from the North

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Mrs. Bonnie Witzke, GEC MA, Oak Summit

She Was Amazing from the Gec-ko!

Introducing our newest GEC Mom, Mrs. Bonnie Witzke from Oak Summit Assembly! Her Rainbow journey began when she was initiated on September 26, 1988. She told me that her favorite ritual is Service, this isn’t surprising once you learn that she served as a Grand Officer. Yes, you guessed it – she was Grand Service. Mrs. Witzke has continued her involvement with California Rainbow as an adult. She has three daughters. Her youngest daughter was initiated at our most recent Grand Assembly, and her eldest was just appointed the new Grand Faith and Representative to Australia and the Orient Pacific.

When I asked what her biggest challenge has been this past year, she said being away from her Rainbow family. She is so excited to be able to see all of California Rainbow again!

Mrs. Witzke’s duties as a GEC mom include attending the GEC meetings and Grand Officer sleepovers, chaperoning events, and being there for all of the Milestone Making Meerkats. Whew! Sounds like she will be a very busy lady. In addition to Rainbow, she loves being outside, going to the family cabin, designing and creating custom tumblers, and of course, spending time with friends and family.

Fun fact about our GEC Mom, she lives on a 2,300-acre cattle ranch that has been in her family for over 170 years! I did the math and believe her family must have settled on their ranch around the time that California was becoming a state! I loved getting to know more about Mrs. Witzke and I know you all will too!

Meet the Meerkats – Faith & Rep. to Australia and the Orient Pacific

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By: Makena M., Grand Faith & Representative to Australia and the Orient Pacific, Oak Summit

Makena M., Faith & Rep. to Australia and the Orient Pacific, Oak Summit

Hey y’all! My name is Makena M., Kena to family and friends, California’s new Grand Faith and Representative to Australia and the Orient Pacific. I am from Oak Summit Assembly, also known as one of the smallest Masonic lodges to California Rainbow! Though it is small, much love comes pouring out of it. I have been in Rainbow for seven years. I was initiated at Grand Assembly in 2014 when I was 11. My mom, grandma, great-grandma, grandpa and great-grandpa, along with lots of aunts, uncles and family were and are involved in Rainbow, DeMolay and Masons, so you could say I come from a very Masonic family. I have served almost all offices within my assembly, including Religion, Nature, Fidelity, Patriotism, Service, Confidential Observer, Recorder, the line, and Worthy Advisor three times! As well as Drill leader and Chaplin. Most people who know me know that my family is very patriotic and that one of my favorite offices is Patriotism because of my undying love for my country and flag. If I was ever given the chance to give an American flag tribute within my area, you already knew I was on it. I got the amazing opportunity to serve as one of California’s Grand Marshals in 2019. The Vivacious Vans and I enjoyed every minute in the best Marshal dresses of all time. You probably know them as the retro rainbow ruffles of the 2019 Winter Solstice Grand Assembly in Ontario California. I also received my Grand Cross of Color at Grand Assembly 2019.

I have three siblings, two sisters and one brother. I live on a 2300 acre cattle ranch with my three dogs, two cats, two horses and six chickens, and of course the rest of my family. Some of my hobbies consist of going on ranger rides outback, taking pictures, blasting classic rock and country music, and spending some quality time in the nature that surrounds me. Those who know me have gotten used to calling me an “Old Soul” because of my dislike of technology and phones, I’d rather be rolling around in the grass, working, getting my hands dirty, endlessly talking about how I wish I was born in the 60s, rather than sitting around scrolling through social media. I love food even though I can’t cook a thing. I am the biggest fan of mama’s cookin’ or any home-cooked meal, I will eat everything and anything. I’m not picky at all, I believe if it’s food, eat it, you just might love it, which most of the time, I do. I can’t think of any type of food I actually dislike.

I am 18 years old and a senior at Oakdale High School. I have been playing golf for 11 years. I originally started playing with my grandparents when I was seven years old and I have truly grown to love and appreciate the sport. I have been involved in many matches and tournaments, the most recent one being the Cornina Green Tournament in 2020, winning second place. I have been in summer camps and academies to enhance my skills. I am now a part of the Girls High School Golf Team and have been for the last three years. I am very sad to say that my last season is over.

I am so beyond excited for this upcoming year and travels with my fellow Meerkats in Rainbow’s centennial year of 2022. And I think we are ready to make some milestones! How about you?