On August 5, 2017 Batu, Zoe, Zoey, Joella, Katie, Sami, Dalanie, Gigi, and I went to the Norfolk Assembly Installation of Officers. I got to ride down with Vanessa, Zoe, Zoey, Batu, and Joella. Mom Paula drove us. I always like riding down with Mom Paula because it’s always entertaining to see Vanessa annoy Mom Paula 😊. The car ride down was very fun and entertaining. Fun tip, don’t fall asleep in the car! They will take pictures of you while you sleep! I was ecstatic when I saw how pretty the Chesapeake Bay is. I was also excited to go under a tile tunnel because it felt like I was in Japan.

We finally arrived at the Norfolk Masonic Temple around 1:45 pm and saw Pia get installed as Worthy Advisor. It was a very beautiful Installation and Pia wore the most gorgeous cream-colored dress. Pia’s theme is, “Life is a Journey Enjoy the Detours”. Her symbols is the compass, colors are blue, green, orange, and yellow, her mascot is the Kola bear (Penny), her service project is Pin Ministry, her charity project is for Hope for Life and Supreme 2018.

After the Installation, everyone went downstairs and ate some cake pops and spaghetti. While we were eating and socializing we saw the two newest Girls of the Assembly eat baby food as it is a tradition at Norfolk. Then Batu, Vanessa, and I rode home with Mom Paula. Overall it was a very fun trip and I hope to go to more installations in the future.

In Rainbow Love and Service,
M’Balu

This year I had the opportunity to attend the NJ Grand Assembly with Kate B who had been appointed the Grand Representative to NJ at our Virginia Grand Assembly in July of this year.  The NJ Grand Assembly took place at the Hilton Hotel in Parsippany from August 11 – August 13, 2017.  Their Grand Worthy Advisor, Jenna Brink, selected the theme:  “Have Courage and Be Kind”; and her mascot was Cinderella.  Kate’s mom drove up with Kate, my mom, and me, and we were able to attend the Grand Officer Banquet and the Opening Session.

Kate and I were seated at the Grand Officer’s table during the Banquet and I was even able to get some phone numbers of the girls so I can keep in contact with them.  After the Banquet was over, we went over to the ball room that was the Assembly Room for the Grand Assembly Sessions.  I was surprised that they sat me in the East and I was introduced as a visiting dignitary.  Kate and I were both showered with gifts and everyone was very kind to us the entire evening.  We got three gift bags each: one from NJ Grand Assembly, one from the Grand Rep. Counterpart, and one from NJ OES.

I noticed differences between the NJ Grand Assembly and that of Virginia.  The Mother Advisors of the different Assemblies are introduced behind the Bow and then got to sit in the East.  All the visiting Grand Officers and Grand Representatives are introduced as a group behind the Bow and then go to the East as a group but then get to go up to stand with the Grand Worthy Advisor in the East and be individually introduced before going to their seats.  I think that’s neat!

They had two types of parades/contests during the opening session.  The first was for the Assembly and Pledge Group Banners.  NJ has nine active Assemblies and six active Pledge groups.  The banners were judged and the winner got to have a pizza party during Grand Assembly.  The second parade/contest was for the costumes for the Grand Representatives and some of them were pretty amazing!  The Grand Representatives dressed up to represent their appointed State/Grand term for that State.  My favorite one was the Dr. Seuss where the Grand Representative actually had a bookshelf that she pushed around the room.

There were several soloist songs sung and there were several Grand Officer Reports given.  I found it interesting that they announced the 2017-2018 Grand Officers during the opening session and even the Grand Worthy Advisor is appointed as a new officer and is not the Grand Worthy Associate Advisor for the prior year.  For the 2017-2018 Grand Year Amy Wilkie is the new GWA and her theme is:  “Don’t Just Fly, Soar with NJ Rainbow” and her mascot is Dumbo.  There was also a slide show of all the pictures throughout the year.  They also have the Grand Officers sign the Book of Memories during the Opening Session so that meeting is really long and lasted from 7:30pm until after 11pm. 

Once the Opening Session was over, we were able to meet up with Mom Renn, Mrs Susan Rennegal, our Supreme Worthy Advisor, since she was there as well! Kate was able to meet her new counterpart, Lydia, and she is also their Grand Hope.  We were very tired by the time we could finally go to bed, but we had a good time!

In Rainbow Love & Service,
Isabella C.

On August 5th, Norfolk Assembly had their Installation of officers.  Pia was installed as our new Worthy Advisor.  I was excited to be her Installing Chaplain for her Installation.  To tell you a little bit about Pia’s term, her theme is “Life is a Journey, Enjoy the Detours.”  Her motto is, “You were Given this Life because You are Strong Enough to Live it.”  Pia’s honor stations are Hope and Service.  Her colors are baby blue, pear green, cantaloupe orange, and daffodil yellow, along with her mascot being a Koala Bear.  Pia’s service project is the PIN Ministry and her charity projects are Hope for Life and Supreme 2018.  Before the Installation started, Pia’s cousin and our pledge, Joie, carried in the Bible.  Also, Pia was crowned by our Grand Worthy Advisor, Olivia, and her gavel was presented by Hampton’s Worthy Advisor, Brittany.  We had the ribbon ceremony given by our pledges, Sarah and Joie.  We also got our Merit Bars and Service Bars by our Mother Advisor, Christi.  She also announced who won the “Friendliest of the Term” and who is the next Rainbow Dad.  Haylee won the Friendliest and Dad Brian won the Rainbow Dad.  Pia’s Installation went so beautifully and I was so proud of how amazing she did on Saturday.  When we went downstairs for spaghetti, I gave a prayer before we ate.  Everyone enjoyed the food and we had so much fun with our Rainbow, Jobie, and DeMolay family.  Overall, our Installation was beautifully done and I can’t wait to see what Pia has in store for our Assembly.

On July 23rd, our Worthy Advisor, Phoenix, had her last meeting as our Worthy Advisor for this term.  At this meeting, we were happy to have two guests attend.  We had the Grand Royal Matron of Amaranth, Honored Lady Virginia Gillikin and Grand Lecturer of Amaranth, Honored Lady Daron Gregory. It was great to see these special ladies here because it helps us see how many people will come out of their way to support our Assembly.  Honored Lady Virginia was so thoughtful during our Good of the Order and it made me feel so great to have heard how proud she was of our Assembly and how happy she was to attend.  Overall, it was a fantastic last meeting for our Worthy Advisor because we got to see these wonderful women, and I can’t wait to see what our next Worthy Advisor, Pia, has in store for our Assembly.