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!

By Destiny M., Grand Love & Representative to IN & KY

Hi! My name is Destiny M. and I’m your Grand Love and Representative to Indiana and Kentucky. I’ve had such an exciting year serving California Rainbow and I can’t wait to tell you all about my lovely office. 

As a Grand Officer, we have the opportunity to attend retreats that help us bond, travel to Official Visits, Receptions, and anything we can help assemblies out with as well. I had the absolutely fantastic opportunity to travel to both Indiana and Kentucky for their Grand Assemblies. I got to meet lots of new girls and adults, learn about their beautiful jurisdictions, and spot the differences between our jurisdictions and theirs. I’ve loved staying in touch with them and continuing to learn new things. Along with staying in touch with our Representatives, we’re also allowed to choose a team to work with during our Grand Year. I chose to work with the Membership Team this year and help find ways to gain membership and keep members in California Rainbow. The main tasks we take on when joining a team is attending the Zoom™ meetings and helping out with special projects or statewide events. At the end of the year, we’ll be writing our Representative reports, which consist of sharing what you learned about your jurisdictions throughout the year. At Grand Assembly, I’ll be participating in the Grand Cross of Color Ceremony as well as presenting the first bow lecture to the new initiates and California Rainbow. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to meet lots of new people and learn new things, not only about California Rainbow but other Jurisdictions as well. I’ve had an absolutely lovely time this year creating closer friendships and experiencing new places.

By Rosemarie K., Grand Nature & Representative to MT and ND

Being Grand Nature and Representative to Montana and North Dakota has been one of the greatest honors I’ve had during my time in Rainbow. As Grand Nature, I’ve been able to grow my appreciation for our natural world and share it with others. I’m so grateful that I’m able to impress on our new initiates at Grand Assembly the importance of spending time in nature and emphasizing the joy it can bring. As the Representative to Montana and North Dakota, I’ve been able to get to know Rainbow Girls and alumni from both jurisdictions and learn about the differences in the traditions of both our states. For example, in Montana, rather than granting wishes that are submitted by girls at Grand Assembly, they have a “wish wheel” that girls are able to spin if their name is drawn during a session. Once they spin the wheel, girls are able to win a dance break for everyone at sessions, a sweet treat, or a surprise. One difference I learned about California and North Dakota Rainbow is that girls are able to join Rainbow in North Dakota at 10 years old! This makes Rainbow open to so many more girls and makes their members more diverse in age. I’ve had so much fun filling this role this year and hope you’ve had fun learning more about my office! See you at Grand Assembly!

By Sara O., GEC, Lecturer & Representative to AR, LA and MS

Even though I have been in Rainbow for seven years, I am just like most of you, not having any idea of what most of the Grand Officers do, especially GEC, Lecturer, and Representatives. I’m still learning as I go.

As a member of the Grand Executive Committee, I feel very privileged to get to hear about, and actually be a part of, so many of the behind-the-scenes workings of California Rainbow. Having meetings virtually, I think, has made it easier for all of us to “get together” more often. As a Rainbow Girl, being asked for my input has been an honor and it is so impressive to me that our organization truly is “our” organization.

I’ve always loved writing and giving speeches, and as Grand Lecturer, that is a big part of what I get to do. I write all of my own speeches for Grand Assembly, my very own thoughts put into words, such an honor and responsibility. I also hear a lot of talk about being a part of  “the big three” at Grand Assembly. I’m excited to be part of the first three Grand Officers to walk in – showing off our beautiful dresses for the first time!

I am also the Representative to THREE states! Whew! Three! Even though I didn’t get to visit any of my jurisdictions this year, I did have the opportunity to correspond with them and learn some of the unique differences in each state. I think the biggest difference I found was in Arkansas. Did you know that a girl as young as 11 can be a Grand Representative? The Grand Representative to California this year may only be 11, but besides being really cute, she really impressed me with her maturity and knowledge of Rainbow, love you Leitzel.

Louisiana’s Grand Representative to California, Lily, is also Grand Chaplain and was able to visit California during her summer break. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to meet her, but our Grand Chaplain, Joyce did.

I learned that Mississippi’s Grand Representative to California is Zoie and is also Grand Patriotism. Mississippi’s Grand Service Project this year is raising funds and awareness for a hospital foundation that supports cancer patients and families.

Every Grand Office carries with it a lot of responsibilities and I am very honored to have been chosen to represent my assembly and California Rainbow this year as a member of the Pioneering Wolfpack.