Thursday, October 12, 2000
Rainbow Girls
Leadership, patriotism, religion all part of group’s
focus
By Brian Bethel
Reporter-News Staff Writer
In the halls of the Order of the Eastern Star, a flurry of white
formals moves as one as a small crowd of young girls greets their newest sister.
Smiling and joking among themselves, the group looks and sounds like
a set of typical teens. But each girl shares a special bond as part of the International
Order of the Rainbow, an organization for girls that is part of the various orders of
Freemasonry.
Members must be between the ages of 11 and 18 to join and usually
have some sort of Masonic affiliation within their family.
“It’s fun to be able to get together in a group where you
really do have things in common with the other members,” said Megan Rabel, 14. “We
have a lot of fun when we’re together, but we also learn many good lessons about life
and how we can be better people. I enjoy the group a lot.”
Started in McAlester, Okla., in 1922 by W. Mark Sexson, a 33rd
degree Mason, the group emphasizes leadership, active church membership and participation,
patriotism, cooperation with equals, love of home, loyalty to family and service to
humanity.
This particular evening, the girls are gathered to honor a new
member, Melissa Hedrick, and to reinforce the ties that bind them.
“I’m hoping to get a lot out of the organization,”
Hedrick said, still flush from her initiation ceremony moments before. “I like the
fact that it places a real emphasis on your religious values and encourages you to develop
leadership skills and to help others while keeping a strong faith. All of those things are
important to me.”
Members learn proper etiquette and public speaking skills in
addition to participating in peer-led meetings, said adult leader Karla Weaver, who has
recently been named Mother Advisor of the Year for Rainbow International.
“We try to keep the girls active and interested while promoting
the values of the organization,” she said. “I think that the core values we
teach them are extremely valuable, and I honestly believe any girl can learn and grow from
the ideals the group represents.”
A variety of service projects add color and opportunities to help
others to the group’s agenda, and a sense of equality and teamwork is constantly
being fostered.
“Essentially, we’re trying to teach them how to be a good
person,” said Nona Ramey, mother of member Pamela Grimes.
“We want them to be able to make good decisions and we want to
see them become capable young women,” Ramey said. “The lessons they learn, from
basic etiquette to directing and leading projects, provide valuable tools that can benefit
them throughout their lives.”
For Grimes, 17, the current Worthy Advisor (peer leader) of the
group, the greatest advantage of being a member is that she is allowed to freely express
her religious beliefs and personal convictions in a friendly environment.
“You don’t have to hide the fact that you’re a
Christian, and you don’t have to worry about being judged by your peers,” she
said. “I’ve also enjoyed being able to travel and meet other members with
similar interests.”
Members can visit statewide or international Rainbow assemblies and
can advance to leadership positions on a statewide level.
The local group has grown in recent years, now boasting a membership
roster of 18. Most important to the vast majority of the girls interviewed was the sense
of camaraderie and friendship the group fostered.
“It’s like having a bunch of sisters,” said DeeDee
Bolden, 19. “You form the sort of friendships that last a lifetime in Rainbow, and
you also learn how to help others while improving yourself. It’s a great
organization, and I think any girl could benefit from joining.”
Copyright
©2000, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps. Publications |
E.W.
Scripps Publications