By Carley L., Grand Charity, Assistant Editor & Representative to WA/ID

Hey everyone, I’m Carley! It has been an honor to serve as Grand Charity and Representative to Washington/Idaho. Now you may be wondering, what exactly does Grand Charity and Representative to Washington/ Idaho do throughout the Grand Year? Grand Charity is a part of the Grand Line. This means that we support the GWA throughout the year as she travels up and down the state as well as participates in the Beyond the Line Luncheon, held on Sunday at Grand Assembly. The luncheon is attended by the line officers from each assembly. The Grand Line also votes on who will be awarded the Distinguished Leader Award for the year. Charity also memorizes Opening, Closing, Initiation, and In Memoriam for Grand Assembly. But wait, there’s more. As Representative to Washington/Idaho, I connected with the Grand Representative to California and she taught me more about Rainbow in Washington/Idaho. Did you know that Idaho is called the Gem state? Also, Starbucks was actually founded in Washington! In addition, one of my favorite shows, Grey’s Anatomy was set in Washington, which I ended up basing the theme of my Representative report around. I did attend Washington/Idaho’s Grand Assembly and had an absolute blast! I learned about all the cool traditions including that the Grand Worthy Advisor gets her own special dress, they elect the Grand Line during sessions, and that they hold the First OV at their annual summer camp! Serving as Grand Charity and Representative to Washington/Idaho has been incredible and I cannot wait to watch my 2024 Grandie shine!

By Jonelle C., Grand Choir Director & Representative to OH and PA

As my title states, I direct the Grand Choir but what does that really mean? My job began right after Grand Assembly; on my car ride home, I was listening to music of different eras, genres, and tempos and started compiling a list of songs I thought would be fun to have the choir perform at Grand Assembly 2023. A few weeks later Mrs. Allen, the Director of the Music Team, gave me a binder with important dates and information to follow. She also gave me the advice to spend the first portion of the year traveling and being a Representative to Ohio and Pennsylvania, which is exactly what I did. In June, I went to Ohio’s “Where Will Rainbow Take You?” Grand Assembly session virtually but was still as excited as if I was going in person. In July, I went to Pennsylvania’s “Lend A Hand” Grand Assembly Sessions in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

At the end of July, I received a text telling me what the Grand Assembly theme was going to be and let me tell you I was ecstatic. Shortly after hearing the theme I finished my set list and turned it into Mrs. Allen.

In October, I wrote a letter to prospective Grand Choir members and their Mother Advisors. Soon after the letters were sent out, I received a couple of boxes of the Grand Choir Dress Fabric for me to cut up into the correct yardage for each girl. The next thing that I prepared for are the four Grand Choir practices — two in the north and two in the south. It’s at this point that things really start to come together. After the practices leading up to Grand Assembly and practicing my conducting skills, it was finally time for the final practice. This is where all of the girls have their dress checks, receive they’re matching hair bows, and practice the songs one last time. Then, hours later, the first beat of the walk-in song plays and all the effort and hard work all pays off.

By Sabrina C., GEC, Christian Flag Bearer & Representative to Aruba, FL and TN

Are you ready to learn about all the wonderful things that you get to do as Member of the Grand Executive Committee, Christian Flag Bearer and Representative to Aruba, Florida, and Tennessee? Well, good cause I’m ready to share with you.

As a member of the GEC, you get to attend meetings in the room where it happens. Although it’s not technically a room and more of a Zoom™ meeting, you get to be a part of the process of making decisions that affect all of California Rainbow. 

Being Christian Flag Bearer is a big responsibility, not only do you carry the Christian Flag at Grand Assembly, you also get to write a personal tribute to the flag and what it means to you. I myself am so honored to be able to speak about our flag and how it has made such a huge impact in my life and in the life of others. 

Being a Representative in itself is a wonderful opportunity. Not only do you get the chance to talk with girls from other jurisdictions and see what Rainbow looks like outside of California, but you also get to form friendships with girls you would otherwise never meet. If you are able you can even visit these jurisdictions. After you learn all that you can, you get to give a report at Grand Assembly informing everyone of what you learned about your jurisdictions. I think that we’re pretty blessed in our Representative states of Aruba, Florida, and Tennessee. They are the coolest places to visit after all.  You will also get the opportunity to honor your Rep. states in the Cavalcade of Flags which I think is pretty cool.

By Maddison C., GEC, Color Bearer & Representative to CO/NV

Each part of my office is very special to me and is all equally important.

The first part of my title is Member of the Grand Executive Committee. The Grand Executive Committee basically makes a lot of the rules and decides on very important things. My job as a girl in the GEC is to bring up concerns/ ideas from the girls and advocate for them. Whenever you have an idea or concern a GEC member would be the best place to start.

The next part of my office is Color Bearer. What the Color Bearer does is carry the American Flag. At Grand Assembly, we also have the opportunity to give a tribute. Another very important part of this office is we get the chance to bring in the American Flag at Grand Lodge which is a super big honor. It is basically Grand Assembly for the Masons.

The last but one of the most important parts of my office is I am the Representative to Colorado and Nevada from California. Being a Rep. entails being in contact and even most of the time visiting that rep state. It is a great program that gathers Rainbow Girls not only all over the United States but the world now. Learning and corresponding with other jurisdictions is super important.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my office. It means a lot to me and hopefully, you learned something new.

By Emily D., GEC, California Flag Bearer, Circulation Manager & Representative to MI

Hi, I’m Emily D.! I’m a Member of the Grand Executive Committee, California Flag Bearer, Circulation Manager, and Representative to Michigan. What a mouthful right!? A title this long can get a bit confusing, so let’s break it down.

As a Member of the Grand Executive Committee, I help represent girls in our state when big decisions need to be made.

As California Flag Bearer, I escort and give a tribute about our state’s beautiful flag.

Did you receive your Pot of Gold this year? My job as Circulation Manager is to Wrap, Label, and Bundle all of the copies ordered. Of course, this is done with the help of some friends and Mrs. Fallon, our Business and Circulation Manager.

And as a Representative to Michigan, I correspond with a girl from their Jurisdiction and find out what is happening in their own world of Rainbow, and lots of ways our jurisdictions are both similar and different. Did you know that for Michigan’s Grand Assembly, the Grand officers wear white business suits with skirts during their business sessions? I would definitely stain mine if I wore one. I can’t wait for Grand Assembly, and I hope to see you there!

By Charley B., Grand Fidelity & Representative to AK and HI

Fidelity is faithfulness to something by demonstrating constant loyalty and support. In fact it’s the greatest manifestation of the strength of human character. Fidelity is being true to not only yourself but to everyone. By being Grand Fidelity and Rep. to AK and HI I have learned a lot of things, but the most important is being honest with yourself. Being a Rep. to AK and HI is also pretty awesome! Not only because Alaska and Hawaii in my opinion are the best Rep. States but because I get to see how Rainbow works in other jurisdictions. For example, in Hawaii last term they did beach clean-ups and in Alaska, they did a Seward cemetery restoration and bought new headstones for people who are missing theirs. Even though I was not able to travel to my states I was able to go to Supreme Assembly where there were some girls from Alaska! It was so nice to be able to talk to them and introduce myself on behalf of California Rainbow. This year has been really special and I’m glad I had the honor to be Grand Fidelity and Rep. to AK and HI.

By Elizabeth W., Grand Drill Leader & Representative to AR and NM

Hey, California Rainbow it’s me again. I’m so excited to tell you a little bit about the things I do serving California as Grand Drill Leader and Representative to Arizona and New Mexico. Now let’s take a walk in my shoes! Grab your favorite toms and square those corners!

Just like any assembly, the Drill Leader’s job is to guide the officers and members into the assembly room, carry in the flag, and escort everyone who requires an escort, as we all know escorts can kind of be stressful if you’re the Drill Leader always remembering if it’s ”The Honor, or, The pleasure”. One tip is to ALWAYS wear comfy shoes as Drill Leader. Escorts at Grand Assembly are a little different: Drill Leader and Honorary Drill Leader alternate the role of Drill Leader, during escort. 

Something that you might not know that a Grand Drill Leader has to do is, Sakura, the Grand Honorary Drill Leader and I get the incredible opportunity to come up with the informal walk-ins for the Grand Officers in the formation of the Grand Choir, Observer Helpers, and Pages during all informal openings. Along with an informal opening, we get to plan our walks for the Cavalcade of Flags, and we also get to pick the music during these walks. It can be super stressful, but with the teamwork with the Grand Directors and the Drill Leaders, there’s nothing to stress about because they are incredibly helpful.

Another super fun task that this office comes with, is you get to reach out to some of our neighboring states of Arizona and New Mexico and sometimes you get the incredible opportunity to travel to those states and meet the girls of those jurisdictions. It was my duty to keep in touch with these girls all throughout the year getting to learn more about their jurisdictions in order for me to report back to all of California Rainbow about what Arizona and New Mexico’s jurisdictions are doing. A super cool tradition that California Rainbow has is if you’re Representative to a surrounding jurisdiction, you get to dress up the current year’s mascot and give it to your jurisdiction and Arizona is one of those states that I get to dress up a mascot and give to their California Representative in Arizona. After learning so much from Arizona and New Mexico, I get to take it all in and create a very informative speech to share with all of California Rainbow! Now that’s a big step but I believe in all of you. Thank you California Rainbow. Always remember to lead on! Grand Drill Leader Rep. to AZ/NM,  OUT!