The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

I am a majority member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. I was very active in this group as a teen. I was a local and state officer for several years, participated in the competitive choir and competitive drill team programs, and helped with the Pledge Group, for younger girls. My involvement with this group helped instill in me a grace and poise that I did not previously possess. It truly helped make me the young woman I am today, so I continued to support my local Assembly until I moved. I worked as advisor and choreographer for their drill team, the Spectra, and I encouraged young girls to join and be active. One motto that I heard often as a Rainbow Girl has inspired me in my other activities: "You only get out of Rainbow what you put into it." The common-sense wisdom of these words has helped me put my all into every group with which I am identified. After all, you only get out of life what you put into it, so I try to give it everything I've got!

The Order of the Eastern Star

Since leaving Rainbow, I have been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the sponsoring body for our local Rainbow Assembly. As a sister of the Star, I still support the Youth, but also work for many other charitable causes, including Project Bundle-Up and the County Mental Health Association among others. My mother served as Worthy Matron of Irwin Chapter #400 in 1996-1997. During that year, I was VERY active. I was an officer (Adah) in my Chapter, and was on the planning committee for every major activity throughout the term, including two special luncheons for over 150 people each! I wrote all of my mother's greetings and used my desktop publishing & layout capabilities to create beautiful documents and programs for the many luncheons and meetings she sponsored. I hope to remain very active in this organization, because it allows fellowship and fun while encouraging volunteerism and charitable works.

In an effort to remain active, I have obtained a dual membership between my home chapter and the one I've been attending since moving to Maryland (Irwin #400, Grand Chapter of PA, and Freedom #87, Grand Chapter of MD). I was elected Worthy Matron for 2003-2004 - before age 30! - and served a second term as WM in 2004-2005. I served the state of Maryland as Chairman of the state Membership Committee for 2004-2005 and wrote a book entitled "Renewal and Growth: A Membership Resource Guide for the Order of the Eastern Star" during my term of office. I was a featured speaker at the Maryland Vision Conference in April, 2005, and look forward to helping our order grow and prosper throughout the state in years to come, even though I am no longer state chairman.

As a result of my work as state membership chairman, I was named Grand Representative of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Maryland for 2004 to 2006. This basically means I am an ambassador between NS/PEI and MD for those years. I correspond with my counterpart in Nova Scotia - a delightful 80+ year old man named Jim - and was privileged to travel to New Minas in July of 2005 for their Grand Sessions and official visit of the General Grand Chapter. What a great trip!

Finally, for 2005-2006, I am the new Editor-in-Chief and publisher of the Maryland Star Newsletter that goes out to hundreds of subscribers in Maryland and throughout the world! Once we get a few issues under our belt and archived online, I'll add that link here. Check back!

Return to Dawn's Activities page.