RAINBOW SPIRIT May 2011 Official Publication of the Grand Assembly of South Carolina Volume 11 No. 3 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

Dear Rainbow Girls and Friends, Notes from the Hart My, time flies! It seems as though it was only a short time ago when I was recounting the exciting times at our Official Visits. Now it is May, school will be ending, and our Grand Assembly Session will be upon us. I hope that you and your Assembly are making your preparations for a wonderful “Fly to the Moon” Session! On March 5, the Grand Officers began their preparations for this Session with a rehearsal. I was very impressed with their work and I know that you will be, too. Later, the same day some very talented girls found out that they would have a special part in our Session when they won places on the Ritual Team. These ritualists will be performing the Memorial Service on Thursday evening. Finally, that evening we had our Irish Blessings Ball. We enjoyed the music provided by Mr. and Mrs. Rawls, including the ever popular “Chicken Dance” and “Limbo”. The decorations and refreshments were just great. I think that everyone had a wonderful time. Special thanks to the South Carolina Association of Majority Members (SCAMM) for financing this event and to West Columbia Advisory Board and Adults for their work. On April 2, we enjoyed our Masonic Youth Day at Dentsville Lodge. Our Grand Worthy Advisor, Virginia, planned a lot of fun games…both for the indoors and outdoors. Few of us will forget the human knots and the balloon chases! Thanks to Mr. Marcucci for providing our hamburger and hot dog lunch. After the fun at the lodge, we traveled to Royal Z Lanes for a few games of bowling…the Official South Carolina Rainbow Sport! We appreciate Mr. Marcucci for making these arrangements for us. You should be very proud of your Grand Worthy Advisor. She spoke on your behalf at the Grand York Rite Banquet on March 13 and wowed the audience with her inspiring words. She also managed to pick up a few funds for our “Kiss the Cow” contest! Virginia has been very busy this year with school. She has a very challenging major at Clemson University and has to spend a great deal of time with her books. However, she has been very dedicated to her responsibilities as Grand Worthy Advisor and has put your interests ahead of her own. She truly has a heart for our Order and is worthy of your admiration and praise…she certainly has mine! I cannot wait to see you all at our Grand Assembly Session on June 23-26. I know that we are going to have a Session full of fun, fellowship, and fabulous flights to the moon. So pack your cat, fiddle, cow, dog, dish, spoon, and Tiger paws, and meet me in Columbia for the ride of your life!

In Rainbow Love and Service, Dedra A. Hart Supreme Outer Observer and Supreme Inspector in South Carolina Among the Stars Rainbow Sisters and Friends, I am counting down the days until Grand Assembly; I can't believe that it's so close! I hope all of you are hard at work memorizing parts, working on costumes, putting together scrapbooks, and the numerous other things that go into preparing for Grand Assembly. I want to remind you to relax and to not stress out. Nothing will go exactly as planned, no matter how hard we prepare. Just realize that you have an entire state there to support you in everything that you do. Here are a few inspirational quotes that I would like to share with you while you are preparing for Grand Assembly. "Human beings are made up of flesh and blood, and a miracle fiber called courage." -George Patton "Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." -William Faulkner "Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances." -Thomas Jefferson I know that each of you will try your very best, and I'm so proud of everything that you have done this year. I cannot wait until I get to see you again!

Always Reach for the Moon, Virginia King Grand Worthy Advisor in South Carolina SUPREME NOTES Our Supreme Worthy Advisor is Mrs. Linda Lee Little of Canada. Her theme involves all creatures great and small, especially those that do things that are unusual for them. For example, aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly but it does. She wants the Rainbow Girls to send in their nominations of animals that do unusual things. Her motto is, “That which inhabits the land, sea, and sky determines your future and that of Planet Earth.” Her symbols are the Tree of Life, and Bridges. Her colors are green and blue. The Peace Rose is her flower and Genesis 9:9-10 is her scripture. Mrs. Little believes in “Going Green” and her projects reflect it. She asks that every day when you log onto your computer, go to The Hunger Site web page, click on the “free donation” box and make your free donation. She asks that we send e-cards to save trees and this can be done at The Hunger Site to donate more for the hungry of the world. She also wants your ideas for “Going Green” using free web sites. If you have a suggestion, send it to Mrs. Hart at [email protected] and she will be certain to forward it to Mrs. Little. Our Supreme Temple in McAlester, Oklahoma, houses our offices and many Rainbow artifacts; our business is conducted and our history is preserved within its walls. Rainbow Girls built it for Rainbow Girls and its maintenance is important. Currently, it is in need of several thousands of dollars to replace the heating and air-conditioning units. Please remember our Supreme Temple fund when you make your Assembly donations or when you consider a gift in Mrs. Hart’s honor. The Supreme Disaster Relief Fund is a way that we can help our Rainbow Sisters in time of need. It must always have enough money so that when disaster strikes, we can be of immediate assistance. Please remember this fund when you make your Assembly donations to our projects. Supreme Sessions occur every two years. The 2012 Session will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan and we will be in Baltimore, Maryland in 2014. Start making your plans and saving your money to attend. Supreme Sessions are a worthwhile experience! Charleston Assembly #1 Charleston has been very busy. In November, Charleston donated four packages to Samarian’s Purse. The Installation of Officers of Solomon Lodge and their Christmas banquet were held on December 3. Charleston Assembly supported the dinner in the kitchen as well as the wait staff. Mr. Bill Dinius served baked potatoes; Mrs. Lavera Reynolds served green beans and rolls while Mrs. Teresa Dinius and Mrs. Beth Gibbs were organizing each plate to separate rare to well-done steaks. Dorothea Dinius, Lily Darrington, Ivey Gibbs and Cassidy Baldwin were excellent waitresses to serve over 150 guests. It was wonderful day for everyone. On January 15, Mrs. Lavera Reynolds, Mrs. Violet Cook, Mrs. Beth Gibbs, Mrs. Teresa Dinius, Dorothea Dinius, Cassidy Baldwin, Charlotte Cook, Ivey Gibbs, and Cydney Horne enjoyed the Official Visit of the Hope District. On February 5, we visited our Sister Assembly, Dorchester Waylyn. Congratulations to Savannah Reeves. On February 8, Ivey Gibbs and Dorothea Dinius enjoyed a get acquainted with the members of DeMolay. They played Scatagagorus and had a good time getting to know each other. On February 19, Mrs. Lavera Reynolds, Mrs. Violet Cook, Mrs. Beth Gibbs, Mrs. Teresa Dinius, Dorothea Dinius, Cassidy Baldwin, Charlotte Cook, Ivey Gibbs, and Lily Darrington enjoyed the Service District’s “All You Need is Love” Official Visit. On Saturday, March 12, Charleston worked a Fish Fry to support Eastern Star’s Tom Corbin as Worthy Patron. Also Dorothea Dinius, Cassidy Baldwin and Teresa Dinius sold signature ads. Charleston’s Installation of Officers was held on March 25. We had a great time together. Charleston’s Officers for the new term are: Worthy Advisor, Cassidy Baldwin; Worthy Associate Advisor, Ivey Gibbs; Charity, Brittany Lee Baumer; Hope, Dorothea Dinius; Faith, Lily Darrington; Chaplin, Cydney Horne; Drill Leader, Charlotte Cook. We were honored to have over 30 people in attendance. Cassidy was crowned by her mother and then presided over the Assembly where she told about her plans for the new term. Cassidy has selected the following: Theme - Stop and Smell the Roses; Honor Stations - Charity and Fidelity; Scripture - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.); Colors - Violet and Sky Blue; Symbols - Cross, Footprints; Mascot - Pandas; Flower - Roses; Poem - Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson; Charity Project - Salvation Army; and Service Project - MUSC Children’s Hospital. Charlotte Cook presented the Rose Lecture to each of the girls as a special tribute to begin our new term. Awards were presented to each of the girls. The reception was outstanding. We had sandwiches, meat and cheese trays, fruits, wonderful crab dip, chips and dip, specialty sweets, nuts, and chocolate and vanilla cup-cakes decorated with violet and sky blue icing.

Charleston Assembly # 1 held an Installation of Officers on Friday, March 25, 2011 at the Charleston Masonic Lodge. Cassidy Baldwin was installed as Worthy Advisor.

A Rainbow Family - 3 Generations of South Carolina Rainbow Girls Ivey Gibbs, a member of Charleston #1 is a third generation South Carolina Rainbow Girl. Her grandmother, Anne Farmer Smith, is a Past Worthy Advisor of Charleston Assembly #1 and a former Advisory Board member of St. Andrews Assembly #19. Ivey’s mother, Beth Whitten Gibbs, is a Past Worthy Advisor of St. Andrews Assembly #19, a Past Grand Officer and currently on the Advisory Board of Charleston Assembly #1. Dentsville Assembly #40 Dentsville Assembly began the month of March with the activities at the Scottish Rite Center in Columbia on Saturday, March 5. Sister Desiré Webb, our Grand Worthy Associate Advisor in South Carolina, attended the Grand Officers’ Rehearsal in the morning and then she and her mother, Mrs. Rebecca Webb, who is also one of the Grand Deputies of the Hope District and Advisory Board member of Dentsville Assembly #40, served as a couple of the judges for the Ritual Team try-outs in the afternoon. Sister Elizabeth Schofield, of Dentsville Assembly, competed in the Ritual Team try-outs and will serve as the Sister of Immortality in the Memorial Service at Grand Assembly. The Irish Blessings Ball was held in the evening following the Ritual Team try-outs. Everyone danced the night away and enjoyed the fellowship and fun. On March 26, Dentsville Assembly participated with West Columbia Assembly in serving as volunteers at the American Heart Association Walk in downtown Columbia. The Assemblies helped set up tables and chairs at tents, tie balloons to the sides of the tents, and give out bottled water at a designated water station to the walkers. Sister Desiré had several friends also join the two Assemblies and enjoyed being a part of the service project. Sister Elizabeth Schofield especially enjoyed the temporary tattoos that one booth was providing at the walk. It was great to see so many participants in the walk, and the Rainbow Girls and their friends enjoyed serving as volunteers. Thank you to Mrs. Marcia Wadford for including Dentsville Assembly in the community service project! Dentsville Assembly has been very busy selling ads for the Grand Assembly program; collecting box tops for “Box Tops for Education,” Sister Desiré’s service project for her term of office as Worthy Advisor; collecting aluminum can pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House of Columbia; and selling World’s Finest Chocolate Candy as a fundraiser for the Assembly’s treasury. Sister Desiré has inspired us at each of our Assembly’s regular meetings with a mini lesson during our Good of the Order. Thus far, Sister Desiré has delivered lessons on Love, Believe, Learn, Faith, Easter Love, Dream Big, Hope, and Wish. Dentsville Assembly has enjoyed Sister Desiré’s inspirational messages provoking the Assembly to think about these topics and to apply them to their own lives. Often Sister Desiré would have the Assembly comment at the conclusion of the lessons with their personal experiences on these topics. Masonic Youth Day was held at Dentsville Masonic Lodge on April 2. Games were played indoors and outdoors and a delicious cookout of hamburgers and hot dogs was served by Mr. John Marcucci. The Assembly went to Royal Z Bowling Lanes for an afternoon of bowling and more fellowship. Rainbow Church Sunday on April 3 was such a fun event for Dentsville Assembly! Dentsville Assembly knows how to have fun and enjoy great meals, too! For Rainbow Church Sunday, Dentsville Assembly attended a worship service at The Church of the Holy Comforter, an Episcopal denomination, in Sumter. Following the church worship service, the Assembly went to Swan Lake in Sumter where Mrs. Rebecca Webb and Mr. Loyd Webb were waiting with a complete hamburger and hot dog cookout for the group. Everyone took side items and a delicious cookout was enjoyed by all. Dentsville Assembly even had a Rainbow petitioner, Keeli Chock, and her parents and brother in attendance at the cookout. The Assembly went on walks through Swan Lake during the afternoon. Great photo opportunities of nature presented itself to the Assembly. It was truly a delightful day celebrating the founding of Rainbow and a better time could not have presented itself for the event.

Dentsville Assembly held an Open Meeting on April 14 and had three friends of Rainbow Girls and three adult guests attend the meeting. Mr. Todd Schofield provided the Assembly with a pizza dinner following the meeting. Thank you, Mr. Schofield; we very much enjoyed our treat! Following the pizzas dinner, the Assembly had an Easter egg hunt in the Assembly room. That was really fun! The members brought plastic Easter eggs to fill, all sorts of candy and treats, Easter baskets, grass and various decorations for the baskets, and Easter theme gifts. The assortment was spread out on tables and it looked like a store with all of the huge selection! The members and their friends decorated Easter baskets and put together their own collection of the goodies for their individual baskets. They all had so much fun with the process and the idea for it originated with Sister Audrey Anderson. Sister Audrey, thank you for your GREAT idea! Dentsville Assembly needs to name you the Official Event Planner! Thank you, too, to everyone who brought the goodies and assisted the girls with their baskets. Dentsville Assembly’s Easter Party is one of the highlights of their year; it is always great fun! The Assembly participated in The Massing of the Colors sponsored by The Military Order of the World Wars, Columbia Chapter, on April 17 at the Scottish Rite Center in Columbia. Members of the Assembly presented the American Flag and the flag representing The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. The annual event is a ceremony honoring the flag of the United States of America and those living and dead who have struggled to preserve it. Special music and speeches were heard and enjoyed by all in attendance. The address was given by MG James M. Milano, the Commanding General of Fort Jackson. Our own Mrs. Dedra Hart was one of the dignitaries introduced. In attendance from Dentsville Assembly were Sisters Halei Fiedor, Elizabeth Schofield, Tabitha Simonson, Desiré Webb, Mr. Mike Broom, Mrs. Susan Broom, Mr. Mike Harman, Mr. Earl Nichols, Mr. Todd Schofield, Mrs. Christine Simonson, Mr. Loyd Webb, and Mrs. Rebecca Webb. Dentsville Assembly sold some of their World’s Finest Chocolate Candy while they were at the event, too. Dentsville Assembly will spend the remainder of the spring planning its Mother’s Day Observance, Father’s Day Observance, writing cards for our military soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, collecting box tops for Box Tops for Education and aluminum can pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, assisting with Dentsville Masonic Lodge’s annual barbecue chicken dinner fundraiser, and preparing for the various competitions at Grand Assembly. Dentsville Assembly is looking forward to seeing our South Carolina Rainbow Family and guests at Grand Assembly on June 23- 26 as we all “Fly to the Moon!” What a fun-filled, spectacular event it is sure to be for everyone! Fidelity Assembly #56 Fidelity Assembly had a great quarter with lots of service projects, lots of community visibility in our Assembly T- shirts, and 3 petitions handed out because of it. With the able guidance of Mother Advisor Pro-tem, Mrs. Christine Tolley; and Advisory Board members, Mrs. Tammy Willoughby and Mr. Andrew Willoughby, the girls participated in Wings and Wheels, a fundraiser for Meals on Wheels at Pickens County Airport. Courtney Gambill, Jewel Willoughby, Kathy McKelvey, Billie McKelvey, Savannah Tinsley, Lindsey Fowler, and Chandra McDaniel assisted at the booth run by Bates Masonic Lodge. This is not our sponsoring lodge, and the Masons of Bates Lodge were well impressed with our girls. Because of this event, we handed out 3 new petitions! We also participated in the United Way Cay of Caring in Simpsonville. On May 14, we held an initiation, and Savannah Tinsley and Mikayla Lee joined our Order. Kathy McKelvey impressed everyone by doing four bow stations and Charity, Jewel Willoughby did two bow stations and Hope, and Billie McKelvey did Drill Leader and Service. Courtney Gambill is Worthy Advisor and Virginia King, Grand Worthy Advisor, was Worthy Associate Advisor. We were most grateful to have Elizabeth Bostic come and help us out by doing Faith. Goose Creek Assembly #39 Goose Creek Assembly has been busy the last couple of months. On February 12, we met with Myrtle Beach and Arc-en-Ceil Assemblies and held a rehearsal for our Official Visit. On February 19, our Official Visit was a special day for several reasons. Mrs. Dedra Hart was honored by the DeMolay and it was the first time our new district performed the ritualistic work together. We also initiated two new girls, Alexis Fuchs and Megan Floyd. The day was a huge success and all of the girls did an excellent job. In fact, we had such a great time together, we started planning a sleepover for our district for March 18. While that was being planned, Goose Creek Assembly was busy with a cake sale, which was a terrific success. Thanks to Mrs. Teresa Rentzel and Mrs. Lyn Netterville for baking the cakes. The girls sold about 21 cakes. Not bad for the first time doing this fundraiser. In the middle of the cake sale, duty called and we had to go to the Grand Officers’ Rehearsal on March 5. Katie and Julie Rentzel, our Grand Officers, were in attendance for the rehearsal. We also took along Megan Floyd, Jennifer Rentzel and Julie’s boyfriend, Kyle. (Timberland’s girls’ basketball team was playing in the State Championship at USC.) After the rehearsal, we got together with some of our Rainbow Family and went to Applebee’s for lunch. Julie and Kyle ditched us to go to the game. The rest of us attended the Irish Blessings Ball. We had fun dancing and enjoyed the fellowship with one another. Katie even got a DeMolay boy to dance. A great time was had by all and Timberland’s girls’ basketball team won the State Championship. Go Lady Wolves! After the rehearsal and ball, we had about two weeks to relax and then it was time for the sleepover for our district. Myrtle Beach, Arc-en-Ceil and Goose Creek met at Goose Creek Masonic Lodge. Those from Goose Creek Assembly were Katie Rentzel, Julie Rentzel, Shei Boren, Kelli Benton, Cassey Verburg, Lauren McBride, Amber Fuchs, Alexis Fuchs, Michaela Bailey, Morgan DeChant, Ms. Brandy Rein, Mrs. Michele Shirey, Mr. Bill Shirey (our cook) and Mrs. Teresa Rentzel. We had hamburger and hot dogs for supper. Thanks, Mr. Bill! Before we could start the fun activities, we had to practice our march for the March Competition. Then, it was time to start hair and nails. The girls had a great time doing both and just getting to know each other. We had doughnuts for breakfast and then everyone headed home a little tired, because you don’t get much sleep at sleepovers. On April 2, Goose Creek Assembly headed to Dentsville Assembly in Columbia for Masonic Youth Day. Mrs. Teresa Rentzel and her faithful sidekick, Mrs. Michele Shirey, Katie Rentzel, Michaela Bailey, Cassey Verburg, Shei Boren and Kelli Benton were in attendance. The food was good and the games were fun. After all that, we all headed to the Royal Z Bowling Lanes. We all had a great time. Everyone was tired on the ride home. On April 10, we met with the DeMolay and went to Victory Christian Church in Goose Creek for Rainbow Church Sunday. After church, we went back to the lodge, had pizza and worked on our scrapbook. The DeMolay joined us for lunch and Katie Rentzel told a little bit about Rainbow, and Albert Meyer told us a little bit about DeMolay. On April 15, Goose Creek Assembly had another sleepover and had pizza for dinner. Katie Rentzel, Cassey Verburg, Michaela Bailey, Shei Boren, Kelli Benton, Lauren McBride, Amber Fuchs, Alexis Fuchs, Morgan DeChant and Ms. Brandy Rein were in attendance. We worked on our Assembly’s scrapbook and completed our banner. We also worked on our entertaining talent and watched movies. Everyone had a great time. On May 10, we held our Mother’s Day Observance. We had a dinner and read a poem in honor of our mothers. We got to meet Michelle Green who is interested in joining Rainbow. Hopefully, we will initiate her on June 16 in Summerville, and she will come with us to Grand Assembly. We are very excited about getting a new member. On May 21, we headed to Myrtle Beach to meet up with Arc-en-Ceil and Myrtle Beach Assemblies for another sleepover for our district. Mrs. Teresa Rentzel, Mrs. Michele Shirey, Michaela Bailey, Cassey Verburg, Shei Boren, Katie Rentzel and Jennifer Rentzel attended. We rehearsed our march again and then it was off to Myrtle Beach State Park for sun, fun and food. Mr. Joe, Ms. Dawn-Marie Whitton’s friend, cooked hamburger and hot dogs on the grill for us. Thanks, Mr. Joe! After a long day on the beach, we headed back to Myrtle Beach Masonic Lodge, and we did hair and nail makeovers. Just about everyone got their nails done. Even Mrs. Teresa Rentzel got Zebra stripes on her nails. It looked like the Zebras escaped from the zoo with all of the nails being painted with zebra stripes. We all had a great time! So much, in fact, we are planning another sleepover for our district in September with a hayride at Arc-en-Ceil. There will be no rest for us before Grand Assembly as we are still working on all of the competitions and planning what we need to pack so we can have fun at Grand Assembly. If Mrs. Teresa Rentzel and Mrs. Michele Shirey look tired at Grand Assembly, by now you know WHY! Until next time, have fun and enjoy your summer. Summerville Assembly #28 Summerville has had a very busy spring. We served barbecue dinners all day on April 2 for our Masonic Lodge's Annual Barbecue. On April 3, we celebrated Rainbow Church Sunday at the First United Methodist Church of Isle of Palms with Mr. Calvin Lipscomb. What a wonderful day that was! We were able to take six gallons of aluminum can pull tabs to the Ronald McDonald House for one of our ongoing service projects. In May, we celebrated Mother's Day with our mothers and honored them with dinner and a movie night. We are planning a picnic and volleyball game with our fathers for Father's Day in June. We are holding weekly workshops to prepare for Grand Assembly and to work on our competition projects. We are also studying our Assembly ritualistic stations and preparing to initiate several new Rainbow Girls before we head off to Grand Assembly. Come watch us grow!

In Rainbow Love, Jessica, Emily, Amanda, Darien, Joy, and Mary FOR SALE Grand Worthy Advisor Pins - $3.00 Jurisdictional T-shirts - $10.00 Jurisdictional Decals - $2.00 Photo CDs of Grand Assembly Session - $10.00 SCAMM Pins - $4.00 SCAMM Cookbooks - $15.00 Rainbow Milestones - $5.00 RAINBOW SPIRIT This publication acknowledges allegiance to the Supreme Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, whose seat of authority is in McAlester, Oklahoma, and to the Grand Assembly of South Carolina of which Mrs. Dedra A. Hart is Supreme Inspector. Send articles, pictures, and e-mail addresses to: Amy Broom, 201 North Ridge Road, Columbia, SC 29223 or [email protected]