In January, Hampton Assembly attended the Installation of Officers at Norfolk Assembly. Relena was installed as Worthy Advisor and her theme is Star Wars. Her mascot is Chewbacca. Relena asked Meagan, Rachal, Brigitte and me to be Installing Officers since we had done their first Installation. I was honored and surprised when she asked me to crown her.

It was very special for Hampton Assembly to go and support these girls because many of them started at Hampton. All of them have done an impressive job growing their Assembly. I was the Worthy Advisor when Relena was initiated. Growing up with our Rainbow Sisters and cheering each other on is one of my favorite parts of being in Rainbow.

Much Rainbow Love,
Olivia

On Friday, December 11^th, 2015 the Smithfield Assembly #5 Rainbow Girls participated in Smithfield’s Christmas Evening Farmers Market! All the girls made a type of pastry or another homemade item to sell, such as cupcakes, cookies and even arm-knit scarves. We made over $200 and all the proceeds are going to our current Worthy Advisor’s charity, FACT Camp for Autism. The market was open from 5-9pm and within those 4 hours we met other Rainbow Girls from out of state, some former Smithfield Rainbow Girls, and a Past Grand Worthy Advisor of Virginia! We also passed out flyers and explained to people what Rainbow is about, along with the other Masonic organizations, and how you could join. Every minute was exciting that evening and I was so glad to be able to do it!

Lauren
Worthy Advisor Smithfield Assembly #5
Grand Outer Observer of Virginia

On the December 12th we went to the Hiddenwood Retirement Home to visit residents there that are Easter Star members. We delivered their dues cards, a holiday card, and a plant in a mug. There are three currently living in the home. They were all surprised to see us and find that we are were Rainbow Girls. They were warm and welcoming to us. Overall it was a very warm experience full of christmas spirit.

In Rainbow Love and Service,
Brittany
Hampton Assembly #2

by Joseph Grist, PM
2015-2016 State Rainbow Dad

The 237th Grand Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of Virginia, was held in Richmond, November 4th through 7th, 2015. Over 900 of Virginia’s more than 35,000 Master Masons attended Grand Lodge this year representing over 150 of the more than 300 Lodges of Virginia. There were numerous Assembly and Past State Rainbow Dads in attendance, and we can all say that our Grand Worthy Advisor, Rachel Cochrane, did an outstanding job with her speech to the Grand Lodge.

The outgoing Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful Reese Edward Carroll Jr., provided our Masonic family a great motto to follow this past year: Together We Can Make a Difference. And we know that when you work together, there is nothing our Rainbow Girls cannot accomplish. Recently this was represented perfectly as Fairfax and Springfield Assemblies provided an excellent and moving program for the Grand Visitation of our Grand Worthy Advisor.

Now, as we move into our 238th Masonic year, we have a new Grand Master of Masons in Virginia, Most Worshipful James Edward Litten, and during his Installation he provided us a moving speech focusing on how we should be setting a good example through Freemasonry. This message was not directed just to the Freemasons, but to all of our Masonic Family; no matter the time of day or day of the week, no matter the place or setting, we should always strive to set a good example for others to follow.

Most Worshipful Litten made note of some interesting statistics during his Installation speech, but there is one I will paraphrase in closing. The average household spends over 7 hours a day watching TV. With the use of computers and smartphones and all of the Facebooking, Snapchatting, Instagramming, and Tweeting that is happening, a lot of time is being used to communicate things impersonally. What if we were to use just 7 hours of just one of those days doing something good for another (a Brother or Sister in Freemasonry), for the community, or for an organization. What a difference we would make if we all did this, and what a good example we would set.