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.
