This year, due to the at home stay for everyone in Virginia, Virginia Rainbow created a Virtual Grand Banquet presentation for all the Rainbow girls and adults to enjoy while being stuck at home. I was able to enjoy watching this with my Rainbow sisters from Norfolk, Ashburn, and Manassas. The food we chose to prepare for our banquet was yummy and delicious tacos! It was a great time to be able to talk to each other and enjoy some really great food to help make it feel like we were all attending the real Grand Banquet.

Finally, the time came to start the video of the Grand Banquet presentations and announcements. First on the agenda was an introduction of all the Grand Flag Bearers, Representatives, and Officers. Each of these girls were presented with either a picture or video of themselves, as well as, their different flag, state or states, and office positions. The flag tributes each girl did were amazing! I loved all of their speeches about their certain flag! Soon after the first segment, we went into announcements of the Rose Lecture winner from competitions. I was so excited that the winner was one of my best friends, Katie, from Manassas #13! Right after competition announcements, we listened to hear the Assembly of the Year winner. We were all cheering for the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners! Ashburn Assembly came in 3^rd, Quantico-Freedom came in 2^nd, and Manassas came in 1^st! We were so excited for them all!

Next came the announcement of the new State Rainbow Dad. Vanessa came up with a very cute and creative way to announce who the new State Rainbow Dad was going to be. We were all so excited to hear that Dad Harold got picked to be the State Rainbow Dad and his son, Zachary, is to be the Assistant to the State Rainbow Dad! Lastly, Mom Jenkins announced the new Grand positions for the 2020-2021 year. I personally was very nervous because I applied for a very special Grand Office and I was anxiously waiting to see if I had received it. Mom Jenkins announced all the new GEB and JGEB members, Flag Bearers, Grand Representatives, and then the new Grand Officers. Once it got to who the new Grand Worthy Associate Advisor was I couldn’t breathe. I am so honored that Mom Jenkins chose me to be the next Grand Worthy Associate Advisor! Everyone in the room was cheering and my mom burst into tears!

The Virtual Grand Banquet came to an end and everyone enjoyed it! I am so excited for Gigi to finish out her year strong and for Vanessa to have a great start to her year! The Virtual Grand Banquet was amazing and all the adults and girls who were a part of it did an absolutely outstanding job!

In Rainbow Love, 

Kaitlyn, Norfolk #15

           As Gigi’s year came to an end, she asked all of her Grand Officers to record a video of them saying what their favorite Rainbow memory was this Grand Year. Although there have been so many fun events and so many life-long memories, I would have to say that my favorite memory from this year was the Murder Mystery Charity Dinner. This event was my favorite memory because I was lucky enough to play a big role in the play. So big in fact that I was able to be crowned homecoming queen. Ironically, I found out later that night that I was playing the murderer! I thought it was very funny because the character I was playing was such a sweetheart that nobody would suspect her! The Murder Mystery Charity Dinner was definitely my favorite memory this year because I was able to have fun playing a role with many of my Rainbow sisters!

In Rainbow Love, 

Kaitlyn, Norfolk #15

            When we received the news that many Rainbow events were to be closed and we were not allowed to meet personally, my heart sank. I was so sad that I couldn’t see all of my Rainbow sisters. This helped me to think of a way to talk to each other and be able to meet new girls across Virginia. I came up with the Snail Mail Buddy Challenge because I wanted girls to be able to keep in touch with one another, as well as, to get through quarantine in a very fun and engaging way. I was excited that so many people so many people from Virginia Rainbow girls and adults, as well as members from Demolay and Job’s Daughters wanted to participate! Everyone was so excited to mail cute and funny letters back and forth to one another and to keep in touch with their friends and new friends during quarantine! I am so happy that so many people enjoyed this challenge and I hope it continues!  I want to start a new challenge as soon as the new term begins on July 18th!

In Rainbow Love,

Kaitlyn, Norfolk #15

           For the month of April, Sarah from Norfolk Assembly #15 made a great idea to have a spirit month. To help occupy some of the time for our Rainbow family, Sarah wanted to make sure that people had fun getting dressed instead of staying in their pajamas all day long. Some of the spirit day examples included dressing in the colors of the rainbow, Gigi apparel week, which included topics from her grand term, and things to follow our current Worthy Advisor of Norfolk’s theme, Momma Mia! All of the Rainbow girls and adults had so much fun participating in this spirit month! It was a great way to keep us all engaged!

In Rainbow Love,

Kaitlyn, Norfolk #15