Rainbow Spirit

In this issue, Check out "Dare to be Strange" from our guest writer Mrs. Mary, "Sharing Our Canvas" and "Coloring our Year", the form is posted to fill out for the Ritual Program, make sure to check out the Sunday Comics and our Fundraisers! Always remember to go check out our SC IORG Facebook group and our SC IORG Friends and Family Facebook page for more photos!

Don't forget to show your support by clicking on the heart icon and liking us.

May 15 – Grand Representatives’ Reports Deadline

May 15 – Grand Assembly Session Registration Deadline

May 18 – Scholarship Tea (Laurens)

Jun 1 - Order Form for Grand Assembly T-shirt Deadline

Jun 1 - Additional Forms Deadline

Jun 1 - Competitions Entry Form Deadline

Jun 1 - Donations to SCIORG Projects Deadline

Jun 19 - Grand Representative Competition Description Form Deadline

Jun 19 - Talent Showcase Competition Description Form Deadline

Jun (26) 27-30 – Grand Assembly Session (Columbia)

Jul 8 – Founder's Day (local observance)

Jul 21-24 – Supreme Assembly Session (Hampton VA)

Reminders for your Assembly:

• Submit meeting reports to the Supreme Inspector using the Google Form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSet-kQpdfAUpxFC9gttWjMA3a6fGBtoun2I2ndNk8FjFnqz8w/viewform?usp=sharing
• Turn in Service Hours for Supreme Worthy Advisor Membership and Service Incentive Program. Log your hours at https://forms.gle/LSQRpXwFNRBvrVSV9
• Participate in Grand Worthy Advisors' fundraisers
• Participate in Grand Worthy Associate Advisors' fundraisers
• Plan to attend the 2024 Supreme Assembly Session (see forwarded email Heading to Hampton! Registration for Supreme from Michelle Lusk sent on February 26).

Hello Everyone!

It was wonderful getting to see you all at Charity’s Official Visit in Summerville! Both Ashley and I fell in love with the decorations, and definitely borrowed some to reuse at Grand Assembly! We loved being able to paint before the OV, and took lots of pictures of everyone’s stunning creations! We are so proud of everyone’s ritual work— especially the girls who were initiated this year are doing amazing jobs!! Thank you to everyone who made this OV possible.

This month, Ashley and I had the honour to visit the Sojourners, a group of Masons who are also veterans and servicemen! We had the chance to have dinner with them and talk a little bit about Rainbow and how our orders are entwined!

Our Colour Run for CureSarcoma is coming up, so make sure to tell your friends as the event is open to folks outside of Rainbow!

Our honour stations for the year are the Faith and the Bow stations! The lessons of the bow are fundamental to both what Rainbow is, and to the individual Rainbow Girl. Sometimes these lessons are difficult to understand and make sense of, especially when we don’t have experience with said lessons! It may be a struggle to connect with lessons like Immortality, or Patriotism, or Religion. The lesson of Religion is something I know Ashley and I have struggled with in the past— but there is always a way to find a connection in these beautiful lessons! Our ritual has the verse James 1:27, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Religion, both in the Bible and our ritual, is not described as belief— but instead as Charity to others, and to do so without expecting praise.

It may be difficult to always believe and trust in God, especially when we are struggling in our personal lives, just as it may be difficult to connect with the lesson of Religion and what scripture tries to teach us. However, both our ritual and scripture agree, that as long as you show Love, Service, and Charity towards others— you will not falter.

Remember, you are God’s Masterpiece!

~Atlas and Ashley <3

Hello South Carolina Rainbow Family!

We are well into spring and all of the activity that the season brings. Many of you are involved in sports and other school activities. Some of you are preparing to graduate, while others will soon be celebrating promotion to the next level of school. I look forward to honoring our high school graduates at our Scholarship Tea on May 18. I hope that many of you will be there to support Grand Worthy Associate Advisor Annabell in her fundraising efforts.

Spring is also the time when we begin gearing up for our Grand Assembly Session. Competition forms have been sent to the Advisory Boards. Changes have been made to the Talent Showcase Competition in keeping with Grand Worthy Advisor Ashley’s theme and to encourage greater participation. We will introduce Rainbow Roundup to determine how quickly and accurately our members can set up an Assembly Room. Of course, I always look forward to the reports written by our Grand Representatives, and their creative way of representing their jurisdictions in their competition.

Charity District hosted a fun Official Visit on Saturday, April 20. The decorations, favors, and courtesy fit the Grand Worthy Advisor’s theme perfectly. In fact, you may be seeing some of those things again at our Grand Assembly Session. The officers and protems did a wonderful job presenting our lessons to three new members. In fact, several Masons on the sidelines made very favorable comments about our initiation. There were 87 people present, including 4 visitors from North Carolina Rainbow.

Did you know that we have welcomed 10 new Rainbow Sisters since the beginning of 2024? I’ve been told that there will be more to initiate at our Grand Assembly Session in June. I appreciate the girls and adults who invite girls to be a part of our organization. As Grand Worthy Advisor Ashley stated in a recent speech to the Ft. Jackson Chapter of Sojourners, “Not only does Rainbow get girls ready for life by teaching us leadership and service, it gives us a sisterhood, a family, a place to belong.” Sisterhood, family, and belonging are important to girls today. Let’s share that with them and their parents.

Inspired by your enthusiasm and growth,

Mrs. Dedra

Hi everyone!

We had so much fun in California, traveling to the Supreme Temple, and going to Tennessee's homecoming! And the Charity District Official Visit was amazing! We had a wonderful time painting with all of the girls! So now I am headed to Goose Creek with Savannah.

Hope to see you soon!

<3 Waldo

The Supreme Worthy Advisor Service and Membership Program started on August 1, 2022, and runs until July 2024.

Service Hours can be turned in using the Get Pumped QR code above or this link: https://forms.gle/LSQRpXwFNRBvrVSV9

Red Charm – first-line signer on ONE application or second-line signer on TWO applications

All other charms – Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet are awarded for every 20 hours of community service.

Adults you can participate too! Adults it's $9.50 for you to be able to receive the charm bracelet.

Are you saving your money for Supreme?

We would love to get as many from South Carolina at Supreme in Virginia as possible!

All of the information can be found here: https://gorainbow.org/2024-supreme-session-information/

Jurisdictional Information has been sent out! If you didn't receive it please let us know! In the meantime when you register please put Michelle Lusk as the Group Lead so that she can pick up your registration paperwork. Make sure to see the information Michelle sent out for more details! Have questions? Contact Michelle 803-431-1881, michellemlusk@yahoo.com.

The second half of the SWA's Service Project is underway! This will also check off blocks on your Rainbow Bingo! The second supreme service project (running August 1, 2023 through July 21, 2024) will honor, show appreciation for, and remember our First Responders who help each of us in so many ways. Care bags should be assembled and delivered to local first responders.

“I would imagine her, and imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this, know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.”

-Frida Kahls

Now THAT is a quote! Whew! I do love a good quote. Back before the internet we used to receive bound collections of quotations as gifts when we became Worthy Advisor. My favorite was “Apples of Gold.” Words to chew on, or to choose for the perfect occasion. A well chosen quote was a gift we gave during introductions in response to someone’s very special presence at your gathering.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

-Proverbs 25:11

I love the power of that book. Those words truly are more precious than gold when properly presented. Words that flow with love for someone as a means to express that which you can’t find the words for on your own, can bring an entire room to a full sigh while spreading a plague of goosebumps. When you love what you are saying, people know it; they can feel it. Words become visceral.

Reverend Sexson had big dreams for us. When I read my ritual I can’t help but think about how he chose those words. I imagine he prayed a lot; maybe even wondered a few times why he was doing it, but in the end he created something that proved girls are more than just, “sugar and spice and everything nice.” We are women who have the power to sway minds with the spoken word. Our words renew. Our words inspire. Our words are pathways back to strongly rooted foundations.

When you learn your ritual, you are leaving bread crumbs for yourself back to where you started. Every day forward is a day left behind. Time ticks on as you continue to become the woman you are meant to be. You are the only person who can present your ritual part in your own unique style. You are not a robot. You should never aspire to be anyone other than yourself.

So, my sister, take my words with a grain of salt and open your ritual again. Read those words for the love letter that they have been to generations of women just like you. You are the keepers of these precious words. Be kind with them and yourself.

Most importantly though, and going back to that amazing quote, “Dare to be strange.” You are amongst good company.

In Rainbow love and Service,

Miss Mary

We have new officers! Emma was installed as our new Worthy Advisor! Our newest Raindrop, Vera, was even in attendance!

We have had a busy April! Elle was installed as our new Worthy Advisor! The girls helped with the Smoke at the Lodge, we attended church together, and we grew our family at the Official Visit!

The girls at Greenwood #33 have been busy! Our craft fair fundraiser was a smashing success. We also had an Etiquette Tea hosted by PGWA Emily Kibler where our girls (and adults!) learned about the reasoning behind place settings and proper table etiquette to prepare for Grand Assembly. After our tea, we delivered care packages and some extra snacks from the tea to Lander University Police Department to thank them for what they do. We also attended Broad Street United Methodist Church for Church Sunday.

We had 3 pledge girls (Margaret, Peyton, & Sinclair) join us for dinner on March 26. All of the girls filled Easter eggs with candy and treats for the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. The Pledge girls attended our open meeting. All of the girls are excited about our upcoming Pledge initiation. The Easter eggs along with boxes of snacks were delivered to Ronald McDonald on Wednesday.

Addie, Ms. Kristie, and Ms. Marcia celebrated Rainbow Church Sunday on April 7 by attending Springdale Baptist Church. Springdale is Addie's home church.

Our Installation of Officers was held on April 9. Sister Madyson was installed at Worthy Advisor. Sister Alyssa received her Past Worthy Advisors pin.

The assembly has been collecting snacks for first responders. This month's snacks were donated to the Lexington County Coroner's Office. Snacks included Girl Scout cookies, assorted chips, assorted crackers, assorted snack bars and water.

We are looking forward to the Charity District Official Visit and the "Color Run" on May 4th.

See You Soon

We had our Installation of Officers and Savannah is our Worthy Advisor. During April Savannah presented Cpl. Cameron Blackmon and Cpl. Daniel Lambert with some snacks for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

Dentsville observed Rainbow Sunday on April 7th in Sumter.

It has been a great April! We went to church together at Mrs. Janet's church. Bailey presented an awesome Faith's Tea, the girls had so much fun guessing Broadway musicals! Then we set sail to find Life's Treasures with Aileana as our new Worthy Advisor.

So much love to all of our Rainbow Sisters,

<3 Newport

Harmony Assembly had a great month. The girls had a a ritualistic meeting and practiced for the installation of our new Worthy Advisor. Jasmine L. made an amazing closing. She ended her term with donations to her term charity project, Wigs for Kids. Jasmine L donated 15 inches of hair! Anna J. started her journey as a Worthy Advisor for the first time. All the girls did a fabulous job in their roles in the installation. It was the first for three of them! Anna J served with one of our pledges for her term charity project to raise money for the Reedy River Rotary Club of Greenville. Harmony was honored to attend Church Sunday at Carly B and her family's church. There was a delicious picnic lunch at the Wallace Masonic Lodge afterwards. The girls even cleaned up! Our fun meeting this month was making Thank You cards, especially Mother's Day cards. The girls used construction and art supplies to make beautiful cards to honor special people in their lives. Harmony girls are hosting a Scholarship Fund Afternoon Tea on May 18th at Lauren's Masonic Lodge. Hope to see everyone there!

We are looking forward to going to Georgia Grand Assembly!

Harmony is sponsoring the GWAA Scholarship Tea on May 18th! See the GWAA Fundraiser section for more details!

SCAMM is in the beginning stages of a project to assist with funds for scholarships. SCAMM is asking for donations of men’s button-down shirts that can be turned into aprons to keep food off of the young ladies' beautiful gowns. If you have a shirt from someone special, just let us know when the shirt is turned in so we can get that specific apron back to them. We will be gladly accepting men’s button-down shirts at the next few jurisdictional get-togethers like the school of instruction. The aprons will go on sale as soon as the finished products have been created. Please feel free to reach out to Lynn Carter or Heather Kamphaus for any questions or concerns.

Excerpt from Mrs. Dedra Hart’s remarks on April 20, 2024

In the coming year, there will be three District Fun Days that will include Modules 2, 3, and 4 of the IORG Youth Protection Program and Policy. Grand Deputies will be planning an event for their District to include fun, food, fellowship, and instruction in these modules. PGWA Desire’ Webb will be creating videos of these modules that the Grand Deputies can use for presentation if they choose. Girls and adults may attend other District Fun Days as well as their own. The training in these modules will help our girls and adults understand how to properly relate to each other.

That being said, there may be times when an individual may feel that someone has intentionally done something to hurt her/him. If that ever happens to anyone in Rainbow, there is an appropriate way to handle the situation. The girl/adult who feels wronged should go to the Mother Advisor or another trusted member of the Advisory Board. Members of the Advisory Board will more than likely help find a solution that will preserve the peace and harmony of the Assembly.

If, however, the problem cannot be solved by the Mother Advisor and Advisory Board, then a written complaint may be filed with the Senior Executives. They are the Appeals and Grievance Committee for our Grand Jurisdiction. They will take the situation seriously and do their best to resolve it.

But if that does not work, or if the complaint is against the Supreme Inspector or the Senior Executives, then the individual is encouraged to contact the Supreme Assembly Office to obtain their complaint form. When that completed form is submitted to the Supreme Assembly Office, the Supreme Worthy Advisor will look into the matter herself or authorize an investigation by persons outside of our Grand Jurisdiction. All parties involved will be informed of the resolution.

At the end of our Rainbow meetings, the Confidential Observer tells the Outer Observer that “peace and harmony are in every heart.” That is our goal for every Rainbow event. Our Youth Protection Policy is designed to achieve that goal. That is the reason that our focus for the coming year will be education in our IORG Youth Protection Program and Policy.

This year we are visiting all of our assemblies where we currently meet or where we use to meet! We have a total of 244 visits by girls, Majority Members, and Past Mother Advisors in some cases, to 52 Assemblies!

Originally we planned on doing 70 visits towards our legacy but amazingly surpassed the 70 in no time at all! Then we were going to do 70 visits for our legacy and 70 for our future but as you see we have accomplished that as well! You are AWESOME! Now each color represents 8ish Assemblies to get all the colors for our graphic above! So please help us finish visiting all of our Legacy Assemblies!

We Have 4 Assemblies left to visit!!

We still need to visit the following and grab a photo: Marion #4 in Marion, Anderson #7 in Anderson, Brewerton #12 in Ware Shoals, Oconee #49 in Walhalla.

I believe in us :D!!

Yellow Diamonds are Assemblies that need to be visited, Green Circles are current assemblies, and Stars are Assemblies that have been visited and the color corresponds to the list above

How are you doing filling in spaces? Do any of our Assemblies have Bingos yet? Do any of the girls have a Bingo yet? Can't wait to hear!

Mother Advisors, If you have girls who have said ritual parts towards our "Remembering Our Rainbow" Ritual Program please fill out the form using the link here: https://forms.gle/rhcWqcr4foE2FhsR8

We now have Large Ritual covers in for $10!

Ashley, Mrs. Dedra, and Mom Michelle attended the Waves of Opportunity Lie Beyond the Shore in 2024 and had an absolute blast! It was great to see friends and make new friends! Ask Mrs. Dedra to see her bag that she made during fun night and check out the photos on SC IORG and SC IORG Friends and Family!

Ashley spent part of her spring break visiting the Supreme Temple. You can see additional photos on SC IORG and SC IORG Friends and Family.

April 13th Bailey, Grand Representative of Tennessee , Aileana, Grand Faith, Ashley, GWA headed to Nashville Tennessee for the Homecoming Official Visit of McKenzie, GWA of Tennessee. Bailey did a fantastic job bringing greetings for her first time! We all had a fantastic time visiting with Tennessee and our 2 visits to Buck-ees!

Our GWA had the opportunity to speak at a meeting on Fort Jackson Chapter of the National Sojourners on April 17th. She spoke about the connection of Patriotism between Rainbow and the Sojourners. It was wonderful to be with these special Masons!

Our GWA, Ashley, Mrs. Dedra, and Mom Michelle attended the Wednesday night dinner and the Ladies Luncheon at Grand Lodge in North Charleston April 24-25. Ashley presented the Grand Master, Mr. Steve Hames, with a commemorative SC IORG emblem in honor of our 70 years of Rainbow in SC.

I hope you have been corresponding with your counterparts and are gathering information for your reports. Reports are due May 15. We will be sending reminders every month. Please contact me (marciawadford@gmail.com or 803-600-7069) if you have not received information from your counterpart. I will contact the director in that state.

Hope to see you at the Official Visit in April.

Rainbow Love

Marcia Wadford

Co-director of Grand Representatives in South Carolina

Charity District’s Official Visit on April 20th was so much fun!! And we gained 3 new Sisters!

Thank you for all of your hard work!! It was a wonderful day!

Make sure to check out SC IORG and SC IORG Friends and Family for more photos!

April 27th the Grand Family met at the SRC to talk about Grand Assembly, work on floorwork and meet about Grand Representative responsibilities. It was a good morning with the girls.

Editor and Publisher: Michelle Lusk

sciorgmmpr@gmail.com

Supreme Charity and Supreme Inspector: Dedra Hart

PGHope79@aol.com

This publication acknowledges allegiance to the Supreme Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, whose seat of authority is in McAlester, Oklahoma, USA; of which the late Reverend W. Mark Sexson was the founder; of which Mrs. Kay Letterman is the Supreme Worthy Advisor; and to the Grand Jurisdiction of South Carolina of which Ashley Lusk is Grand Worthy Advisor and Mrs. Dedra A. Hart is Supreme Inspector