IORG FAQ:
What is the International Order of the Rainbow for girls (IORG) -
IORG is the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, a youth organization for young women ages 11-20 years old. You may have heard of the group by its more common name, Rainbow Girls.
What do you do?
IORG is a character building program which emphasizes public speaking, community service and event planning.
How do you achieve this?
Through a local group – called an Assembly – the young women take on the responsibility of planning events and running their meetings. The adult advisors do just that, advise the girls and help them gain the skills they need to take on increasing responsibilities as leaders.
Tell me more about the public speaking. Do they have to write speeches?
Sometimes they do write and deliver speeches. The public speaking skills are acquired, however, through the memorization and recitation of ceremonies.
What sort of ceremonies?
Our ceremonies are centered on solid values such as honoring your parents, giving service to others, and being a good citizen.
Is IORG a religious group?
No. But we do encourage our members to belong to the church of their choice. We welcome girls from all religions and believe they will find universal truths – regardless of religious affiliation– in the ceremonies.
Where and when do you meet?
We meet twice a month at the Bellevue Masonic Center, 16229 Northup Way.
From what areas does your Assembly have members?
We are Bellevue Assembly #120 and we have members from throughout the eastside. There are Assemblies in many communities throughout the state of Washington and around the world.
Who would I contact for more information?
For more information, contact Barbara Ulrich.
We serve communities on the east side of Lake Washington, including: Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Fall City and Renton.
There are Assemblies throughout the States of Washington and Idaho, the United States, and the world.
WA/ID website
Supreme Assembly of the IORG
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History of Bellevue Assembly #120
Bellevue Assembly was started in 1947 and has been an active Rainbow Assembly ever since. In one early proceedings book it is listed as Lakeside #120 – the same as the Masonic and OES chapters. For whatever reason, perhaps because it would be confusing to have three groups all named Lakeside, it was changed to Bellevue and has been such ever since.
I first became aware of Bellevue as a Rainbow Girl from another Assembly. And let me tell you, the Bellevue Girls were always impressive. From the time the Assembly started and into the late 1970’s, the Assembly boasted a membership of between 60 and 80 members. In the 1970’s, Bellevue consistently earned top honors for their impressive ceremonial work at Official Visits. In fact, they were named as one of the top ten Official Visits of the Grand Worthy Advisor a whopping five times from 1974 through 1979 and took the top award once, in 1975.
This was also an era in which Bellevue was one of the larger Assemblies in the state, having the third and fourth largest number of members in 1977 and in 1978. In 1978 they also had the most number of initiates with 24 girls joining them that year.
Years in the top ten in the Jurisdiction for Membership:
1973 – 7th largest Assembly (76)
1974 – 6th largest Assembly (80)
1975 - 10th largest Assembly (68)
1976 – 9th largest Assembly (72)
1977 – 3rd largest Assembly (74)
1978 – 4th largest Assembly (66)
1979 – 7th largest Assembly (52)
When Ritual competition was started in the early 1990’s, Bellevue – as a member assembly in District 8 – began a tradition of being one of the top three winners consistently at Grand Assembly.
2004 - First Place 10 person team
2005 - First Place 10 person team
First Place 20 person team *(First year as a competition)
First Place 7 Bow lecture - Stephanie
Second Place 14 & Under, Patriotism/Gavel Ceremony - Madeline
2006 - First Place 10 person team
First Place 20 person team
First Place 15 & Over, Charity/Ceremony of Color - Stephanie
Third Place 14 & Under, Love/Gavel Ceremony - Ashley
2007 - First Place 10 person team
First Place 11 person team
First Place 15 & Over, Installation parts - Stephanie
First Place 14 & Under, Patriotism/Gavel Ceremony - Elizabeth
First Place 14 & Under, Chaplain Prayers - Michelle
First Place 7 Bow lecture - Julia
Were you a member of Bellevue and remember some history you’d like to share? If so, contact me.
~Barbara Ulrich, Mother Advisor
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