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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.

Do not fill out Part Two (the section below) without having previously filled out Part One.

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

Part Two

email address (mandatory, to send form):

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: "

District or Area Level questions What Assemblies (name, number, city) are in your local Area or District? (under the jurisdiction of a Grand Deputy or similar adult): Do the Assemblies in your District (Area) get together for any events, like fundraisers or picnics, the Grand Cross breakfast, etc? Do the Assemblies in your District get together and exemplify the ritual work once a year? If so, for whom? Please describe what goes on at this event. (example: In California, these are called Official Visits, or OV's. The Supreme Deputy and Grand Worthy Advisor visit each district, every year, to see the girls perform the work. The girls in the District perform a skit, and present the GWA with the money raised by each Assembly for the Grand Service Project.) Is there anything else you feel is unique to your district that I've forgotten to ask?

Grand (State/Country) Level questions The information I'm looking for here is for both Grand Officers and regular Assembly Officers. If, for example, the GWA in your state wears a crown, but Assembly WA's do not, please specify that in the form. Describe what your Jurisdiction's proficiency exam is like. How many questions, are there written or oral parts? What things do you have to memorize? Songs, oaths, etc. Merit Pin, bars, pot of gold and wreath. How do you earn them? Some states have special requirements for each bar. Describe! Is the Term length for the Worthy Advisor 4 months, or 6 months? What months are Installations generally held? Are Rainbow crowns worn in your Jurisdiction? If so, which officers wear them? Describe the Coronation (what is said and done). What are the songs sung for each of the seven Bow stations during Initiation? What song do Assembly Choirs sing when entering their regular Assembly room? ("Onward Christian Soldiers" is the norm, I know.) What are the Bible Opening & Closing songs? Does your Jurisdiction have Pledge Groups, or a similar organization? What are they like? How do the officers march in an Assembly? Do they float, with their arms at their sides? Do they walk normally? Do they march, with arms swinging? Describe how you do Closing March (not floorwork, but what songs sung, prayers said, etc. in the order they happen). What colors are you allowed, or not allowed, to wear, for formals? What is the dress code for your Assembly meetings, Initiation, Installation, Special function, Grand Assembly? Are hoopskirts allowed in your Grand Jurisdiction? If so, who is allowed to wear them? Does your Grand Jurisdiction have an official, jurisdiction-wide publication (newspaper or magazine)? What is it's name? When was it started? When was your Jurisdiction's first Grand Assembly? Grandies. How are Grand Officers chosen in your Jurisdiction? How are Grand Representatives chosen? Are there other Grandies besides the 20 floor Officers? Name them. More Grandies. Are Floor Officers and Representatives both considered Grand Officers? Are Representatives for other Jurisdictions called something other than "Grand Representative to (or "of")..."? Is there a limit to how many times you can be a Grand Officer, or Grand Representative? Is there a limit to how many Grand Officers (or Representative) each Assembly can have? Do Grand Officers/Representatives have mascots? What are the requirements for being a Grand Officer? a Grand Representative? Who nominates, or recommends, the potential Grand Officers & Reps? (example: California requires girls recommended by the Board to be: a PWA, 17 or older, have the Grand Cross, and Proficiency pin.) What are the duties of the Grand Officers, or Representatives? (example: in California, an Assembly's Grandie is required to give a speech at the end of each meeting. The Grand Line is responsible for learning the work for the Grand Cross ceremony at Grand Assembly.) Does your Jurisdiction have a Grand Cross of Color Team? Are they considered Grand Officers (equal with floor officers) or not? What are their duties? For Grand Assembly, how do girls join the Grand Choir? Is there a limit on girls per Assembly? For Grand Assembly, how are Grand Pages selected? What are their duties? For Grand Assembly, how are the Grand Confidential Observer's Helpers/Tilers/Sentinels selected? What are their duties? For Grand Assembly, do the girls from each local Assembly wear matching dresses (either identical fabric in the same pattern, or identical fabric in the pattern of their choice)? If not, what is the dress code for Grand Sessions? For Grand Assembly, do the Grand Officers wear identical dresses? Are the Grand Representatives' dresses like the Grand Officers? Are there any special colors? (example: Reps wear white.) Do Grandies in your Jurisdiction wear hairpieces? (curly little wiglets that cover their hair, which is in a bun.) Are there any other special Grand Assembly appointments? How are they chosen? What traditional events happen during Grand Assembly? (examples: baby dedication; crowning; how Grand Officers are announced; how mascots are announced; talent.) Does your Jurisdiction have any State (Province, Country) Honors (example: Miss Service) How are they chosen? How and when are the new designates of the Grand Cross of Color revealed? When is the degree conferred upon them? (examples: at Grand Assembly; at GA or at local/area degrees performed by the Cross of Color Team.) Know of any famous former Rainbow Girls from your Grand Jurisdiction? Does your Jurisdiction have some kind of Majority Members Association? If so, please describe. (Note: if it is a local, area, or "unofficial" Majority Association, fill this box out anyhow, but mention that it is not the Grand Jurisdiction's Majority Group.) Last, but not least -- is there anything else about your Grand Jurisdiction that I've forgotten to ask?

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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