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The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has Assemblies in most US States, as well as Canada, Australia, Italy, Brazil, and other Grand Jurisdictions.

However, each Grand Jurisdiction has differences that make it unique. Traditions, history, songs, Grandies... the list goes on. I'll bet many of you, like me, weren't aware of how different Rainbow can be from decade to decade, state to state!

What I'm attempting to do is catalog the differences in each Grand Jurisdiction, and since I cannot afford to travel to each state and check out everything myself, I'm asking for your assistance!

Grab your songbook, your Grand Assembly program, your state handbook, your state newspaper, your scrapbook, and anything else you can think of, and fill out the questionnaire below, to the best of your ability. This will take a while to complete, though I have broken this up into two sections, so you don't have to fill everything out at one time. I honestly appreciate your efforts in helping me to create this database! And please, don't feel bad if you don't know the answer to a question - any info you give will be helpful, and I'm sure other people can fill in the blanks over time. You can always email me with additional information later on!

If you joined one Assembly, then moved to another Jurisdiction; or if you're a Majority Member involved with an Assembly in another Jurisdiction (or if times have changed lots from when you were active) -- please consider filling out this form two separate times. Once as the first Assembly you were involved with, and once as the Assembly you next became involved with. It will keep you from confusing the two together, and thus confusing me!

Please note -- identifying information will remain private, and I will remove any names of girls, or other personal info that may be left in by accident. This form asks if I can credit you by your Assembly's name (example "Sunshine Assembly #321, City, ST") or just by Grand Jurisdiction.

If you have already completed Part One (your affiliation, location & local Assembly information), please continue on to Part Two (Area/District and Jurisdiction-wide/Grand information). Do not fill out Part Two without having filled out Part One (the section below).

07-14-01 - Note: Make sure you TAB between text boxes, and not hit the Enter key, or it will submit the questionnaire.

Part One

email address (mandatory, to send form):

I am (click all that apply): active Rainbow Girl Majority Rainbow Girl parent of active Rainbow Girl parent of Majority Rainbow Girl Other (please fill in)

Assembly you are (or were) a member of: Assembly Number: City this is in: State/Province: (if applicable) Country: (if USA, leave blank) This is the Grand Jurisdiction of: (example: Washington/Idaho) If you were a Grand Officer, Grand Representative, or had some other kind of Grand appointment, please list that below, including title(s), year(s), etc. How may I credit you by?: "Assembly name & #, City, State/Province/Country, Grand Jurisdiction of..." "State/Province/Country, Grand Jurisdiction of..." only

Note on filling this form out: Please do not answer "yes" and "no" to the following questions; rather, write the description for each answer out. Pretend I'm that English teacher you never liked, who insisted on complete answers. I will assume that the answers to these questions are based on how things are NOW. If you are a Majority Member and are filling this out based on info from when you were in Rainbow, please state the years you were a member, so I can use that to help categorize things. "I am a Majority Member, and was active between these years: "

Local Level questions: How old is your Assembly? Do you know the date of its institution, or any other historical information on it? Do you know of any former members of your Assembly that are now "famous"? (like musician, actress, politician, artist, etc.) Where does your Assembly meet? (examples: the Masonic Center, the town's Fraternal Building, etc. -- NOT the address!) Who sponsors your particular Assembly? Is it the local Masons, the local Star Chapter, the local Amaranth Court, a group of Majority Members? Or, are you a Board-sponsored Assembly? In your Assembly, what traditions are there? (examples: passed-down stories & legends, traditional events, Ooga-Booga, etc.) What item(s) does your Worthy Advisor decide upon for her term? (example: mascot, colors, flower, symbol, theme, scripture, motto, honored station, etc.) Do you have mascots? If so, who chooses them? (examples: each girl chooses her own; the line officers choose one for the new Worthy Advisor.) What are your Installations like? Are they usually on weekends, or weekdays? Regular meeting days, or special days? Are they afternoon events, or evening ones, with a dinner beforehand, or a dance afterwards? More Installation questions: Do the officers have "carry-ins"? Does the Worthy Advisor give each member a little gift, like a pin representing her term, or special brag-rag? Do you have to wear a certain color or type of dress for Installation? Even more Installation questions: Do the local DeMolay, Jobs, Star, Amaranth, Masons, Shriners, etc. do anything like present the flag, or a gift, or form an arch or row for the WA to walk through/under? Are there any special Installing Officers (besides the ones mentioned in the ritual), and if so, what are their duties? (example: Bible Bearer, Mascot. California sometimes has Marshal and Honorary Marshal, usually in matching dresses, who take turns presenting the officers before the altar.) Are any items passed down at Installations (gavels, jewelry, etc.)? Do you have Rainbow Dads, Rainbow Beaux, or other "special honorees" appointed each term/year? How are they chosen? Are there any other awards given out at Installation, or yearly? Is something given to the outgoing WA at her last meeting, or at Installation? (examples: crying towel, memory quilt, Rainbow Bible.) Are there any special songs, recitations or skits done at Installation, Initiation, or at the end of regular meetings? If so, please give me the words/lyrics/description! Are there any special ways you march in during Opening, or end the meeting during Closing, that you think are unique to your Assembly (or local area)? Do you feel that your local Masons, Star, Amaranth, and Majority Members are involved enough with your Assembly? If so, how are they involved? Do they have a Booster Club or other supportive group? If you feel they aren't involved enough, do you have any idea why? (Examples: they're all really old; they don't know anything about us; they don't invite us to anything, and we don't either; there was some kind of problem a while back that people are still mad about.) Can you give me any information on other Assemblies in your Grand Jurisdiction; their traditions, history, etc? (Please give name & number of Assembly, as well as the city it's located in.) Is there anything else "traditional" that I've forgotten to ask you? (think carefully. Things you may assume are "common everywhere" may be unique to your Assembly, district, or Grand Jurisdiction.)

If you experienced any problems with this questionnaire, or have any comments for me, please email me and let me know. Thanks!

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