Rainbow Girls A Decades-Long Tradition

WAITSBURG

- If

Karen Mohney's math is correct, the Rainbow Girls group has been active in Waitsburg for more than 75 years and about 680 to 700 Waitsburg girls have been part of the organization.

Mohney, the current mother advisor of the Waitsburg group, is no stranger to Rainbow her­self. And there are many other volunteers and board members who have also spent many years of their lives involved in the organization.

The women, older and younger, say they stay with Rainbow because of the lifelong friendships they develop, the confidence it gives them, the volunteer lessons they learn, the faith it promotes and because it gets them ready to be a help­ful and contributing woman in society.

"Rainbow gets you ready for life," Mohney said. "It's worth all of the effort you put into it."

The International Order of the Rainbow Girls "is a non- profit organization that strives to give girls the tools, training, and encouragement to let their individual spirits shine bright," according to the organization's website. "By providing mem­bers with a safe, fun, caring environment where responsible, older girls can interact and men­tor younger girls through family involvement."

The group was created by Masonic Lodge members who wanted a group for their daugh­ters and their friends to belong. The ceremonies and teachings were written by a Christian min­ister named W. Mark Sexson who founded the organization in 1922, according to its web­site. Today the 13 Waitsburg chapter board members, advi­sors and 10 members say the group respects and welcomes all girls from every religion.

There are 850 Rainbow groups across the world that give to charities including Scot­tish Rite Hospitals, the Make- A-Wish Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

Some famous women who have been Rainbow Girls are Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, a NASA astronaut, and Anna Davlantes, an NBC news an­chor.

The Waitsburg group was founded April 18, 1936 and meets twice a month, on the first and third Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Masonic hall above the Waitsburg Grocery store. Members are 11 to 20 years old. It is sponsored by the city's Eastern Star chapter.

The girls pick one member of the Masons to be the Rain­bow Dad. The Rainbow Dad is currently Pastor Bret Moser of the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church.

Mohney became a Rainbow Girl in Waitsburg in 1977, when she was in seventh grade.

"It was the thing to do," Mohney says matter of factly.

Nancy Otterson was her mother advisor. Otterson is also still part of the chapter as a board chairwoman.

In 1977, Mohney said the chapter focused on leadership, responsibility, Christian values and was a service organization.

During meetings, the girls are taught good, basic moral values, learn etiquette, partici­pate in ceremonial readings and plan fundraisers and events.

To join, the girl's mother may be part of Order of the Eastern Star or her father may be part of the Masonic Lodge. Those who don't have masons in their families can be invited into the group by a friend. It used to be that those who were not part of Rainbow, the ma­sons or the Easter Star groups couldn't even come to meet­ings, Mohney said. But now, un-affiliated residents including parents can attend most meet­ings.

Decades ago in the valley, there were strong chapters in Walla Walla, Pasco and Dayton as well. But now, those chapters have dissolved. Despite the neighboring groups ending, Waitsburg remains strong, Mohney said.

When she joined, Mohney said there were 15 to 18 girls in the Waitsburg Rainbow Girls chapter. Now, there are about 10. In the district, Washington and Idaho chapters combined, there were 14,000 Rainbow members in the late 1970s, she said. Now, there are just 500.

"I don't know if fraternal organizations are as strong as they used to be," Mohney said. "In the 1930s there weren't a lot of op­tions for girls," she said.

She believes the Rainbow Girls are still around in Waitsburg because of the incredible support from the masons and Easter Star groups in town.

"Our Masons support us fully," Mohney said.

The Masons even pay the Rainbows' share of the rent, un­like most chapters, she added.

Also, those who join Rainbow really make a lifelong commit­ment to the group, which is dif­ferent than playing basketball or being part of FFA.

"To an extent, you are a member and it is a sisterhood," Mohney said. "You make that choice to belong. They're there for you."

A big part of the members'du­ties has been fundraising for the group and for charities. Mohney remembers in the 1970s having car washes, selling hot dogs at the Days of Real Sport event and selling rosettes.

Every six months, the group selects new officers so many different girls can put their lead­ership skills into use. The newest worthy advisor, kind of like club president, is Nikki Fisher. There was an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party held at the pool and a sleepover party to celebrate the installation on July 21.

Fisher, now age 15 and going to be a sophomore at Waitsburg High School, joined the Waits­burg Rainbow group in seventh grade at age 13.

"I wanted to join because I had friends in there," she said.

She said she was invited by a friend to join and did so because her "dad was on board with it."

Her favorite activities include helping local kids shop for pres­ents at Hometown Christmas because she likes to volunteer in her community.

"We're helping people out and I like to help people," Fisher said.

On her to-do list for her six months in the top position, Fisher said she would like to get a couple of new members and initiate a couple of pledges, local girls who have already expressed interest in joining. Also, she would like to participate in more volunteer projects.

Once a year, some members travel to the Grand Assembly for the district, held in Yakima. A handful of members are chosen to act as liaisons with other states and their chapters.

For the grand assembly, in­stallation of new officers and meetings, everyone must come in a dress. And the higher the girl's ranking and officer title, the more elaborate her dress can be.

"It's just part of being a lady," Mohney said with a laugh.

Kendra Roberts, who is going to be a junior at Waitsburg High School this fall, joined the group at age 11 because her sister Lydia Roberts had been a Rainbow Girl. And because she wanted to wear one of those beautiful dresses.

"I wanted to join because of the dresses mostly at the time," Roberts said with a laugh.

She said the dresses they wear are flowy, poufy and colorful.

Anita Baker, who has been part of Rainbow for 68 years, still dislikes putting on a dress for meetings.

But, she believes so strongly in the teachings of Rainbow and how it can help girls, she contin­ues to serve as a board member and she continues to get dressed up for meetings and installa­tions. She said installation of new officers is her favorite ac­tivity because of the formality.

"They're all on their best behavior and dressed up so pretty in their long dresses," Baker said.

Roberts said she stays in the club because of the friendships she has developed.

"I think that the friendships I've gotten through Rainbow is the part that keeps me coming back," she said.

At Grand Assembly in Ya­kima the second weekend of July, Roberts was selected as the jurisdictional representative to the Rainbow Girls in Hawaii. She's excited to communicate with the girls in Hawaii and she hopes to take a trip there to meet them.

When members age, they can continue to be part of the group as mother advisor, who acts as the group leader and su­pervisor, or as a board member.

It takes a special person to be mother advisor, Mohney said. She was a mother advisor for the Waitsburg chapter one year in her 20s, but she said she wasn't the right fit to be in charge yet.

"I don't think I was mature enough to do that," she said.

Three years ago, the chap­ter's mother advisor was mov­ing out of town and the board members were worried the group would dissolve without strong leadership, Mohney said.

"There was a fear they were going to close," she said.

The board members asked Mohney to step up again as mother advisor and this time she was ready.

"Somebody up there made the opportunity," she said. "I had no desire to be mother advisor."

But, despite not planning on being part of Rainbow again, Mohney said she knew she was called to step up to the plate because of all that Rainbow has given her.

"It has given me a founda­tion when times get rough," she said.

Otterson has been part of Rainbow for the past 60 years. She joined when she was 13 and never found a reason to leave the group.

"It has been a part of my life ever since," she said. "I loved it from the minute I joined."

Otterson was mother advisor for 12 years for the Waitsburg Rainbow Girls and has been on the board "forever."

She remembers her child­hood sweetheart, no husband, Jack Otterson walking her to her chapter meetings.

Because many girls are in Rainbow and a variety of sports, Otterson said the group tries to work around the girls' busy schedules more than ever before. But, the teachings of the group remain the same, she said.

She credits the Waitsburg group's continued presence to the previous mother advisors, board members and quality teens.

"We have good teenagers who recognize the importance of service," Otterson said.

The group is always looking for new members. They host membership parties to meet local teens who might be inter­ested in joining. Mohney said girls can be invited formally by current members, and then they will attend a meeting and get the OK from their parents.

And the skills learned and friendships made stay with the Rainbow Girls for life, Otterson said.

"Whenever we go across the state, we always come across a friend in Rainbow," she said.