Faith Assembly #105

Try to be a Rainbow in someone's Cloud

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is the only youth club that teaches what matters most – leadership, confidence, and citizenship.

Every day, across the globe, hundreds of thousands of girls come together to laugh, share, and grow through fun events and challenging workshops designed to empower girls of all ages. Rainbow Girls volunteer for their community and travel around the world, visiting other clubs and making lots of new friends. Along the way, they gather invaluable life skills that help them become the best daughter, sister, student, and friend they can be. If you or someone you know would like to join Rainbow, contact Marcella Centola at

faithassembly105@gmail.com

What Is Rainbow?

Mission Statement: The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls prepares girls for responsible and purposeful adulthood through character and leadership development, encouraging unselfish service and higher ideals in life, and promoting teamwork and effective interpersonal communications.

By participating in fun events and activities, keeping up with new friends, and traveling to different cities and states, members experience the excitement of what a productive life has to offer.

From volunteering for different charities, to working to improve their public speaking, to mastering the lessons of Rainbow, members tackle lots of challenging hurdles but ultimately walk away with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Whether they dream of becoming a successful veterinarian, a talented musician, or a loving mother, Rainbow Girls learn that they can accomplish anything and that they can make a difference. Rainbow strives to give girls the tools, training, and encouragement to let their individual spirits shine bright. By providing members with a safe, fun, caring environment where responsible, older girls can interact and mentor younger girls through family involvement.

When and Why Did Rainbow Begin?

In 1922, Rainbow was created for young women whose fathers were members of the Masonic Lodge, and their friends. Although a Christian minister named W. Mark Sexson founded the organization, today the leaders of Rainbow Girls respect and welcome all girls from every religion. Their main focus is more on the spiritual principles of being a kind and caring person. While the Rainbow practices and programs continue to evolve, the basic teachings of faith, hope, and charity remain a cornerstone of this dynamic girl’s youth group.

Today, there are more than 850 assemblies across the world that have bimonthly meetings. This is how the members learn standard meeting protocol and parliamentary procedure.

Adults are always present to provide support, guidance, and help interpret the rules. Members also learn to memorize meaningful lectures and to be prepared for extemporaneous speeches. Some meetings conclude with a presentation or unique entertainment.

In addition, members and advisors work on different service projects throughout the year.

Since November of 1951, world headquarters for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls has been located in McAlester, Oklahoma. This magnificent building was constructed for Rainbow Girls and funded by Rainbow Girls. It represents what can be accomplished when girls are empowered with knowledge, enlightened by travel, and energized by their own inner spirit.

Rainbow Girls Do Great Work

The amazing Jane Goodall said it best, “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls believes that through helping others, we truly help ourselves. The benefits a young girl can gain from performing acts of kindness are endless—pride from volunteering for a community clean-up project, the joy of playing checkers with a senior citizen, and the accomplishment of raising funds to support another charitable organization. These are all ways that Rainbow guides young women toward becoming responsible, caring adults.

Many Rainbow Jurisdictions support a different charity each year. Some charities have included Scottish Rite Hospitals, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. On the local Assembly level, members plan and organize service projects on an ongoing basis.

Global Network

Think of It as a Global Sorority
Rainbow is a diverse, multicultural organization with assemblies located throughout the United States. International Rainbow groups can also be found in Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Romania.

Service-Minded Kids Succeed in School and in Life

There is something eternally special about a girl who gives back to her community. This is one of the basic teachings of Rainbow. Likewise, K-12 schools and colleges believe in nurturing service-minded generations and now require many students to volunteer on an ongoing basis, or complete a specific number of hours of community service.

According to a report by Independent Sector and Youth Service America, people who begin volunteering at a young age are twice as likely to volunteer as adults. Girls who get a head start by joining Rainbow will definitely gain an advantage. According to the federal Corporation for National and Community Service*, students who report doing better in school are more likely to be volunteers. Research also shows that students who volunteer tend to be more well-rounded, productive people and are more engaged in their community. This means that groups like Rainbow play a vital role in the academic futures of young people.

There’s a reason why more than 500 colleges submitted applications to the newly formed President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll - a federal effort to honor universities that have provided the most outstanding community service. Today, an estimated 15.5 million youth (or 55% of kids ages 12-18) participate in volunteer activities and Rainbow is proud to be a part of that.

High School and College

With college entrance requirements becoming more and more competitive, students need to fit a more diverse profile. Getting good grades and scoring high on the SAT are not the only things colleges review. They want to see students who take the initiative to be involved in their community and invest their spare time in volunteering. Walking a neighbor’s dog their senior year in high school does not qualify! Students should start early. That’s why joining Rainbow is a smart investment in a girl’s future. In 2001, almost 83% of high school seniors said they volunteered before college.

Join Rainbow today for a better tomorrow because…

Many high schools are requiring community service before graduation.
Most colleges and universities look for high school students who have taken active roles in volunteering.
Volunteering presents an awesome way for girls to experience different areas of work, making it less complicated when choosing a career path.
Rainbow community service projects allow girls to network and meet with professionals for solid career guidance.

Rainbow Has Room for YOU!

Growing up can be tough on young girls. Somewhere between the pressures of fitting in, doing well in school, and being a good daughter, it’s easy for a young mind to mix up a few priorities. Girls can get lost and forget that the important things in life can’t be found in a store, a hair salon, or on the most popular list at school.

Being a member of Rainbow gives girls the power of knowledge—to know right from wrong and to be able make decisions by using their head and their heart instead of peer pressure. Rainbow Girls will experience the joy of giving through volunteering in their community or on a nation-wide assignment. Most importantly, the confidence and leadership skills taught through Rainbow will continue to open doors for each girl through college and her career.

Joining Is Easy! Rainbow welcomes girls between the ages of 11 and 20, regardless of their race or religious background. This diversity truly brings people together and makes us strong!

Step 1

Email Marcella Centola at faithassembly105@gmail.com. A Faith Assembly representative will contact you and send you a Petition for membership.

Step 2

Complete and turn in the Petition (application) that will ask for basic information.

Step 3

A small group from the Assembly will arrange a meeting with you. This informal get-together will give you and your family a good idea of what to expect in joining Rainbow.

Step 4

Much like a college sorority, once your Petition is accepted the Assembly will conduct an actual ballot and vote you into their group.

Step 5

Lastly, new members and their families participate in an Initiation Ceremony. This presentation solidifies a member’s obligation to live a good life and to do right. This ceremony is by far one of the most memorable experiences for new members.