International Order of the Rainbow for Girls
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The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (IORG) is a youth service organization which teaches leadership training through community service. Girls (ages 11-21) learn about the value of charity and service through their work and involvement with their annual local and Grand (state or country) service projects.
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[edit] History
The order was created in 1922 when the Reverend W. Mark Sexson was asked to make an address before South McAlester Chapter #149, Order of the Eastern Star, in McAlester, Oklahoma. As the Order of DeMolay had come under his close study and observation during his Masonic activities, he decided that another Order for girls, setting forth some of the principles of Freemasonry, would be welcomed if it did not have to have a Masonic parent or grandparent as a requirement, as the Job's Daughters did. The first class of girls that was initiated into the Order consisted of a class of 171 girls, on April 6, 1922, in the auditorium of the Scottish Rite Temple in McAlester.
[edit] Officers
Girls can hold many different offices in the local assembly. Each requires some memory work and all but 2 serve for 1 term (4 to 6 months out of the year). Officers include:
- Worthy Advisor (WA) Presides at meetings and plans activities for her term like a President: highest office. (elected),
- Worthy Associate Advisor (WAA) Duties similar to a Vice President: moves up to WA. (elected),
- Charity Teaches about charitable deeds: moves up to WAA. (elected),
- Hope Teaches that hope is always there: moves up to Charity (elected),
- Faith Teaches that faith is our companion: moves up to Hope (elected),
- Recorder Records minutes and handles correspondances: serves for 1 year and must be a Past WA (elected),
- Treasurer Handles monies: serves for 1 year and must be a Past WA (elected),
- Chaplain Leads in prayers (appointed by WA),
- Drill Leader Leads in floor work (appointed by WA),
- Seven Bow Stations Teaches about their color and corresponding virtue (appointed by WA),
- Love (red)
- Religion (orange)
- Nature (yellow)
- Immortality (green)
- Fidelity (blue)
- Patriotism (indigo)
- Service (violet)
- Confidential and Outer Observers Guards the inner and outer doors, respectively (appointed by WA),
- Musician and Choir Director Provides music for the meetings (appointed by WA).
[edit] Advisors
The Mother Advisor sits next to the Worthy Advisor during meetings and is the main adult with the girls. Members of the sponsoring orders, parents, and Majority Members (alumnae) make up an Advisory Board that also oversees and aids the girls in ways that only adults can. Most of the work is done by the girls, however.
[edit] High Honors
Once a girl has been WA, she has the option of becoming a Grand Officer representing the state/country that she is from. Grand Officers serve for one year. Additional Grand Officers may be added by the state/country if they so desire. Other Grand Appointments include Grand Representatives who travel to other states/countries, Grand Choir members, and other specialized positions desired by the state/country. Requirements for these other appointments vary.
Majority is reached upon the 20th or 21st birthday of a member. The Grand Cross of Color is the highest award given to a member or adult leader for outstanding service.
[edit] Locations
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has Assemblies in 47 states in the United States as well as in 6 other countries. The states which do not currently have Assemblies are: Delaware, Utah, and Wyoming. (South Dakota instituted its first assembly in 2006.) The countries outside the United States which have assemblies are: Aruba, Australia (in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia), Bolivia, Brazil (in both Parana and São Paulo), Canada (in both Ontario and New Brunswick), the Philippines, and Guam. Rainbow has had assemblies in the past in the following countries, mostly due to American military presence: Cuba, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Panama and Vietnam. The governing body of Rainbow is Supreme Assembly, which meets formally every two years.
[edit] Membership
Being related to a Master Mason is not a requirement in order to join Rainbow. A few years ago, the rules for Eastern Star were changed so that majority members of Rainbow were eligible for membership in that order.
