This year I had the opportunity to attend the MD Grand Assembly with Katie, Sami, Vanessa, Mom Paula and my mom from Manassas Assembly #13.  The MD Grand Assembly took place at the Delta Hunt Valley Inn from March 15 – 18, 2018.  MD Grand Worthy Advisor, Blake DeVaney’s, theme this year was:  “Hike Your Own Trail with Maryland Rainbow” and her mascots for the year were Black Bears and Forest Friends and all the Grand Officers wore red dresses.
After the morning session was over we met up with our GWA Libby, PGWA Rachal, and Libby’s parents from Virginia.  We got some pictures with all of the attending VA Rainbow girls and then Libby and Rachal needed to get ready for the Grand Cross luncheon while the rest of us went out to eat at Panera and to do some shopping in the afternoon to pass the time until the evening Installation.  Libby, Rachal, my mom and I went to the Installation banquet while the rest of our group went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  I saw familiar faces from NJ both the PGWA and current GWA who I saw when I went to their Grand Assembly last August.  The meal was served buffet style and my mom and I sat with people from Georgia and Pennsylvania.  I did some pin trading with the people from PA.  Next Grand Assembly I will need to buy several extra pins for trading especially since Supreme Assembly is coming and I hear pin trading is becoming popular. After the banquet was over, we went over to the ball room that was the assembly room for the GA sessions. 

We noticed the differences with the installation in MD from those of Virginia.  There were a lot of introductions.  They even introduced all of their pledges!  The Grand Deputies had funny sun glasses at their introduction as well.  The new GWA, Allie Robinette had a beautiful dress and all the girls wore white for the installation.  This year’s term 2018 – 2019 has a theme of:  “Finding Your Pot of Gold with Maryland Rainbow” and a mascot of the Irish Work Horse theme was spot-on since it all took place on St. Patrick’s Day.  This installation was long compared with the Virginia Installations at Grand Assembly and it was followed by a dance. I left before it ended since I was going home that night because I had a lot of other activities going on the next morning back at home.  We were very tired by the time we could finally go to bed, but we had a good time!

Isabella
Manassas Assembly #13

The Richmond Installation was on January 27th, 2018 at the Scottish Rite Temple. Sierra was being installed as Worthy Advisor and her theme was “Walk the Stage with Broadway Musicals”.  I went there with Zoey, M’Balu and Mom Jean and we ate at a Wendy’s with very bad service.  The Girls that attended were me, Isabella, Gigi, M’ Balu, Zoey, Joella, Makenzie, and Dalanie. Before the Rainbow Installation, the Girls held a Sparkle Installation for Sierra’s little sister. During the Rainbow Installation, the Installing Officers did a great job and I really liked the carry-in’s that the Richmond Girls made. Sierra was presented with her crown, gavel, and sounding block by her friends and family, and she gave a speech about her theme and the musicals that she chose to use in the Installation. Then two of the Richmond Girls (one of them being her sister) performed a musical that they wrote about Sierra becoming Worthy Advisor and gave her the red panda mascot. In the refreshment room, each table was decorated with things from some of Sierra’s favorite musicals. Everyone got to vote on the best decorated table by the Girls, and the best decorated table by the adults. The winners was the Hamilton table (by Girls) and the Wicked table (by adults). There was lots of food and I definitely had lots of fun!

Alyssa

Manassas Assembly #13

Ms. Sandy Leathers was installed on March 3^rd, 2018. Katie, Sami, M’balu, Batu and I went to Quantico’s John A. Lejeune Masonic Temple.  Mom Tammy, Mom Jean, and Mom Robin attended also. M’balu, Batu and I helped pass out programs and prayer rocks. I enjoyed attending an OES installation and I enjoyed seeing everyone at Quantico again. The weather had the power out in a few places and I’m glad Quantico wasn’t one of them.

In Rainbow Love and Service,
Zoey

On March 10th, we arrived at the Lodge shortly after 1pm.  We brought in our food and got changed for the Installation.  It was really nice since Mom Jean was installed as Worthy Matron this year and she has always been so helpful to our Assembly.  Dad Tom was supposed to be installed as Worthy Patron, but he couldn’t be there.  This year Mom Jean is honoring women and her charity is blood drives and she talked about the importance of donating blood.  After the Installation closed, Dad Joe Grist and Vanessa did a flag tribute. Then some of the Rainbow Girls paired up with their Eastern Star Mothers and performed a Ribbon Ceremony for Mom Jean.  Once the Ribbon Ceremony was over, the Prince William Chapter for DeMolay added beads to the ribbons with their own ceremony.  Then there were pictures and a reception in the dining hall.  The Rainbow Girls that were there included:  Katie, Dalanie, Zoey, Vanessa, M’Balu, JoElla, Maribel, Sami, Jazmyn, Batu, Gigi, Abigail, Emma and myself.  The adults and parents from Rainbow who were there included:  Mom J, Mom Jean, Mom Robin, Mom Barbara, Mom Darcy, Mom Paula, Mom Louisa, Dad Clancy, Mom Deborah, Mom Joanne, Dad Wyatt, Mom Debbie, Dad Carl, Mom Deborah, and Mom Joanne.

In Rainbow Love & Service,

Isabella