Flipside: Institutions--Rainbow Girls

Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year.

The prompt for week # 18 is Institutions.

I checked Webster's and found that an institution is defined as a society or organization founded for a religious, educational, social or similar purpose. I have been a member of several institutions of my years and decided to blog about my high school years in Rainbow Girls.

My family moved to a new house in 1961 ending over a decade in my childhood home. And, that meant, introvert Linda, leaving my lifelong school and neighborhood friends and beginning high school in new surroundings. Talk about anxious.

Slowly through church and school clubs I began to fit in. The major turning point was when my high school BFF moved into the neighborhood. She had been in the school system since Kindergarten and my circle of friends enlarged greatly.

I had never heard of Rainbow Girls; however, I found that several of my new closer friends were members. My Dad had been a Mason for years so there was no parent blocking my request to join.

Their mission statement: "The International Order of the Rainbow Girls prepares girls for responsible and purposeful adulthood through character and leadership development, encouraging unselfish service and higher ideals in life, and promoting teamwork and effective interpersonal communications."

Mom and I drove to the North Side area of Pittsburgh to shop for the required long white dress. Carlisle's was the place to go in Pittsburgh. In fact, my wedding dress was purchased there seven years later in 1969.

Looking back at the various pieces of printed memorabilia Mom saved of my Rainbow days, I was surprised at just how many of my friends were members.

I attended meetings and activities until I graduated from high school in 1965. I was active; however, did not add many bars to my pin for three years of service--underachiever. 😇

The small yellow square pin was earned when I held the office as yellow representing nature in the bow. There was a short memorized speech that I had to present at an installation meeting. I do remember my Mom was extremely disappointed that she was not allowed to attend the meeting to hear me "perform" as she was not a member of a Masonic organization. Readers may remember my Mom was quite the actress in local productions. My Dad did attend.

My Rainbow Girls activity ended when I left home for college; however, I did receive a Majority Certificate in 1968. It is a card that I was retired in good standing and could be used if I ever desired to attend a meeting of the Order of Eastern Star.

I did not continue on with Eastern Star. I enjoyed my years as a Rainbow Girl; however, for me it was an extension of social activities with my high school friend group.

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