International Order of Rainbow for Girls

Go Rainbow

Rainbow is a non-profit, service-oriented organization that teaches girls three basic virtues: Faith in a Supreme Being and other people, having Hope in all that they do, and Charity toward others.

The seven colors of the Rainbow are used to represent seven teachings that each member receives on her journey toward the pot of gold.

William Mark Sexson, a Christian minister and active member of the Masonic Lodge, founded the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in 1922. The Rev. Sexson had spent his life dedicated to both fraternal organizations, and his ministry, and became aware of the need for a youth organization for young women who were from a Masonic or Eastern Star home.

Rainbow is open to girls between the ages of 11 and 20, regardless of race, creed, color or national origin. You do not have to be Christian to be a member. You can be assured that the values promoted by Rainbow are strong and basic to many religions

Many jurisdictions also offer Pledge groups for younger girls who wish to join Rainbow when they turn 11. The age range for Pledges is usually 8-10 year olds, though some jurisdictions allow younger girls to join Pledge groups. Check with your local jurisdiction for specifics about their Pledge program.

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

• Be a young woman from 11 to 20 years of age. (For girls, age 8 to 10, many assemblies have Pledge Groups)
• Belief in a Supreme Being (Individual religious beliefs are respected.)
• Be a friend of and/or recommended by a Rainbow Girl, Mason, Eastern Star, Amaranth, or White Shrine but being related to a Mason is not a requirement. (Help will be provided to identify those who can recommend a young woman)
• Be of good character and reputation. (Nobody is perfect, but members should strive to be the best they can be.)
• Petition an assembly for membership (Parents or guardians must approve of membership).

Famous Rainbows:

• Alaska – Ermalee Hickel, Wife of Gov. Walter Hicke
• Alaska (Jeneau #3) – Renee Geurin, Broadway Performer, Head of the Voice and Speech Department of the American Adademy of Dramatic Arts, NYC
• California – Patricia Barry, TV & movie Actress (Days of our Lives)
• California – Lee Merriwether, Miss America, Actress Former Grand Officer
• California – Dorthy Lamb, First Lady of Colorado
• California – Jill Kinmont, A world-class (Olympic) skier who was paralyzed in a skiing accident. After her accident she became an inspirational speaker, wrote a book that is used by many schools, started her own foundation, the Jill Kinmont Indian Education Foundation. There is a movie about her life – The Other Side of the Mountain.
• Colorado – Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger, Fort Collins #2
• Hawaii – Lei LLima #2- Heather Stanton Moretzsohn, Liaison Officer for US
• Hawaii – Kehaulani #5 – Jo Ann Kinzler Krug, Sheriff, San Bernadion CA
• Hawaii – Hilo #4 – Cheryl Lau, Attorney General and Sec of State, Nevada
• Hawaii – Hilo #4 – Karen Lau Sullivan, US Commissioner to the South Pacific Islands
• Indiana – Crawsfordsville #28 – Sue Anne Gilroy, Sec. of State, IN
• Iowa – Denison Assembly – Donna Mullenger (Reed) TV Actress
• Iowa – Clarinda Assembly – Virginia Lines, Miss Iowa 1951
• Iowa – Belle Plain Assembly – Jeanne Formanek, Miss Iowa 1967
• Iowa – Avoca Assembly – Rebecca Ann King, Miss America, 1973
• Maine – Lewiston #14 – US Senator Olympia J. Snowe
• Michigan – Lansing #11 – Tammie Ferguson, Special Olympian Inspirational Athlete of the year. Lit the Torch at the 1998 Special Olympics and featured on Special Olympic Wheaties Box
• Missouri – Liberty Assembly – Judith Craig, Bishop for Western Ohio area, United Methodist Church PGWA
• Nebraska – Ashland #19 – State Senator Carol Hudkins
• Nevada – Dawn Wells, Miss Nevada, “Mary Ann” on Gilligans Island, TV journalist and hostess. Has special line of clothing “The Wishing Well”, using velcro closures for those who have difficulty dressing themselves. Advisory Board Childrens Hospital at the University of Missouri, Co-hosts the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon for Missouri for over 11 years, Board of Trustees at Stephens College. Spokesperson for the International Wildlife Coalition and The Elephant Sancturary. Instrumental in establishing the Whale Sanctuary in Antarctica.
• Nevada – Faith Assembly – Evelyn de la Rosa, Internationally renowned soporano
• New Hampshire – Portsmouth #2 – Patricia Christo Coffey, Superior Court Judge
• New Mexico – Silver City #21 – Virginia White, Personal Assistant to US Senator Jeff Bingaman
• New Mexico – Chapparal #44 – Angelina Estrada Burney, Broadcaster at KTVA, Anchorage, AK
• New Mexico – Zia Roswell #2 – Shirley Crawford Sonnamaker, co-anchor at KBIM TV
• Ohio – Fairborn #50 – Rebecca Schmidt, Attached to the Office of the Sec of Defense. PGWA
• Oklahoma – Laverne #91 – Jane Jayroe, Journalist and anchorwoman of local newscasts in Oklahoma City and Dallas/Fort Worth areas. Miss Oklahoma and Miss America
• Pennsylvania – Martha #11 – Bobbie Shunk Gaunt, First Woman President and CEO of Ford Motor Co. of Canada
• Pennsylvania – Clarion #168 – Debra Port, Actress (Melrose Place, Exorcist III..), model, spokesperson (Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, AAA, General Motors, K-Mart, Yellow Pages, Sears, Century Baby Car Seats)
• Rhode Island – Cranston #2 – Col. Lorraine Potter, Highest ranking female Chaplain in the military. Nominated for the rank of General. (She is now Maj Gen, retired)
• Rhode Island – Westerly #7 – Ruth Buzzi, Actress (Laugh-in, Sesame Street)
• Washington/Idaho – Bremerton (Wash) #12 – Frances Haddon Morgan, Washington State Senator
• Janell Berte’ is a PGWA from Pennsylvania. She is in her mid to late twenties and already a VERY successful business woman and bridal gown designer.
• Senator Daniel Inouye and for the Dept of State, and Sao Paulo Brazil.