Kenmore,
like any good Boston Terrier, shows his gratitude with a wave of his paw, a wag
of his tail, and a little ‘woof!’ to show his friends that he appreciates them.
It is very apparent to us when we have pleased our furry friends, but what
about when we do something nice for each other? How do people show their gratitude?
Last
Saturday, Kenmore and I had the great joy of spending the day with our whole
crew at Grand Officers’ Night. The day began when the Grand Officers had their
first “fun drill” rehearsal and showed how talented and creative they all are
by contributing their ideas for this year’s drill. I had a bit of special help
by Rebecca J., who helped me get everyone’s attention by serving as my “loud
voice” (I discovered this past Founder’s Day that my loud voice isn’t actually
that loud, while Rebecca J. could be heard across the entire camp, so I was
happy she was there to help). Then the Grand Officers demonstrated their
professionalism and hard work by rehearsing for our initiation. Kenmore and I
are very familiar with these long rehearsals and we felt that it could not have
gone better. These girls are one group of people who Kenmore and I would like
to thank for such an incredible day.
After
rehearsing, Kenmore and I sat down to dinner with all of our friends. We were
reminded, in that moment, of how lucky we were to be surrounded by such kind
and sincere people as our fellow Rainbow Girls. We were served dinner by
Plymouth Assembly and could see how much hard work they put into making the
banquet a success. They are another group of people who Kenmore and I would
like to thank.
When
we returned to the assembly room, we watched with pride as the Grand
Representatives performed their first drill with their new jurisdictional
flags. They did a fantastic job and we can’t wait to see what they do with the
help of the Director of Grand Representatives! We feel incredibly fortunate
that the Order of the Eastern Star has donated these flags. They make our Grand
Representatives look like the proud delegates and brave explorers that they
truly are and we can’t wait to see their work presented at Grand Chapter, the
May Grand Officers’ Night, and Grand Assembly! Kenmore and I would like to
thank the Director of Grand Representatives, the Grand Representatives who have
worked so hard this year, and our friends from Eastern Star for this wonderful
opportunity!
Throughout
the meeting, Kenmore and I never felt alone in the East. When small matters
came up (such as not having the list needed to give the count at the end of the
meeting), we had friends who stepped in and helped us run a smooth meeting. We
were fortunate that two members of Plymouth Assembly stepped in and served as
our “courtesy candidates,” which allowed the Grand Officers to showcase their
floor work and ritual. Kenmore and I would like to thank all of our friends who
helped us throughout the meeting.
This
weekend, we held our first-ever Rainbow University, which included classes in
life skills such as changing a tire, public speaking, choosing a career, and
sewing. We didn’t know how many girls would be arriving for Rainbow University,
and actually ran out of diplomas! Three girls will be receiving their RU
degrees by mail. Mom Merriman and Nana Louise discovered that teaching girls to
sew a drawstring bag takes a little bit longer than 30 minutes, but all of the
teachers did a wonderful job accommodating the altered schedule and we couldn’t
have been happier with the results of the day! Kenmore and I would like to
thank all of the teachers who dedicated their time and skills to Rainbow
University and want each of them to remember what a difference their
contribution has made to a group of girls who will now feel empowered to face
the world and use their new skills!
Kenmore
and I have thanked many people throughout this post. The truth is, however,
that none of these people has been waiting for us to say ‘thank you’; they have
done their good and kind deeds without looking for anything in return, and this
is what we appreciate the most. We would like to thank our Rainbow friends for
stepping in so selflessly and helping us when we needed it. It is heartwarming
to belong to an organization that takes care of its members. Those who receive
a ‘thank you’ this year might not realize it, but when others see their good
and kind deeds, they are not just helping one person (or one Boston Terrier).
Instead, they are inspiring a generation of goodness and kindness by
contributing to the belief that there are selfless people in the world, which
makes it a great place to be.
Kenmore says:
“Shout out to Mom
Perry! Tazo Passion Tea
tastes better in an
Anchor mug!”
