Set the Course for New Hampshire

Today, as Kenmore Wellington finally finished unpacking all of the clothes from New Hampshire Rainbow’s Grand Assembly, we reflected on the adventures shared with my sisters in another state. Visiting Grand Assemblies in other states is terrific, because we have never felt more welcomed anywhere else we’ve been (well, okay, the staff in Disney are pretty great too). New Hampshire Rainbow treated my family and me as one of their own, and I am incredibly appreciative of their great hospitality.

Kenmore Wellington had expected that this would be a nerve-wracking experience, because it was the first time visiting an out-of –state Grand Assembly as the mascot of the Grand Worthy Advisor. That meant that all eyes would be on Rebecca as she took her place at the podium to share remarks on behalf of Massachusetts Rainbow Girls. But then I saw something that filled me with confidence and gave my words true meaning. I saw all of the friendly faces of my Massachusetts Rainbow sisters who had also come to see what Grand Assembly was like in another state. It was then that Rebecca and I realized that I was speaking as a representative for my state, and that thought filled me with immense pride.

This weekend, much was learned by watching Jennifer Messina preside over her Grand Assembly for the final time as Grand Worthy Advisor. She did a wonderful job by inspiring her members to have confidence in themselves and “open their stage doors,” which complimented her Broadway theme. Seeing how close Jennifer was with all of her Grand Officers and Grand Representatives was impressionable.

Kenmore Wellington is meeting many friends of the various jurisdictions, which included Connecticut, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Our GWA owners shared the plans they each had made for their own Grand Assembly sessions and discovered that, even though they all came from different places, one thing they shared as leaders of their organizations was that they all had an intense interest in making Grand Assembly special for their officers and members.

This weekend reinforced what I had always considered to be my purpose in becoming a leader: to be a voice for all of my Rainbow sisters who had great ideas for our organization. People aren’t always heard, and their suggestions can go unrecognized. And it is my job to make sure that that doesn’t happen.

By coincidence, we happened to watch “The Princess Diaries” immediately after getting home from New Hampshire. I remember watching this movie for the first time when I was about seven years old, and remember liking it, yet not being overly impressed. Now, though, I have found new meaning in the speech that Mia gives at the very end of the movie. She has been debating whether or not she wants to accept her role as Princess of Genovia, because she has always tried to blend in and focus on her own interests without attracting attention (even if she has something to say). Her best friend Lily, on the other hand, tries without success to lobby for a number of causes. Lily explains that she is very jealous that Mia has the opportunity to affect great change. Yet Mia is conflicted because she doesn’t want the kind of attention that she would receive as a leader. Finally, as she is about to renounce her title, she realizes that her decision cannot be based solely on what she wants for her future. She explains that she only ever thinks about herself, and that this is a terrible way to live. She resolves to be an advocate for others, and takes courage from those who rely on her.

This is what being a leader is all about: not only having a voice, but saying and standing up for what is right for those around you. Kenmore and I learned a lot this weekend, and we are very thankful for the opportunity to travel and learn. We also look forward to attending more Grand Assemblies this year and seeing the great impact that my fellow Grand Worthy Advisors have had on their states.  

My next port of call is Kenmore Wellington’s residence in cabin 18 at Rainbow Camp, so it’s time to re-pack our bags.

What is the tea selection today? Glitter and Gold from David’s Tea!

And in my imagination, we are drinking it with Julie Andrews, a.k.a Queen Clarisse Renaldi of Genovia.

 

Jumping in Feet First

This weekend was a whirlwind of excitement for me. I began what will be a year-long journey as Grand Worthy Advisor in Massachusetts.

For those of you who weren’t there, this past weekend was Massachusetts’ Grand Assembly, which is like a convention that we have every year in Plymouth. It is also the time during which the current Grand Worthy Advisor has her final meeting and the new Grand Worthy Advisor takes office. It is a lot of fun, but also a ton of work for those involved.

This weekend made me think of my first Grand Assembly experience and how dramatically different it was from this year. My favorite memory from that year was driving to Plymouth with my best friend. She had made a mix CD for the ride and brought an impressive amount of junk food. I couldn’t stop laughing at the fact that she had packed for an hour and a half car ride like she was going to be leaving the country for two months. She seriously had enough kettle corn, M and M’s, and Coca-Cola to last that long. The rest of that weekend was spent in the stands at Grand Assembly, watching the Grand Officers and Representatives perform beautiful floor work and listening to the Grand Worthy Advisor’s impressive speech. I remember watching the meetings like I would watch a play, and thinking how lucky these girls were to be a part of something so special. I also remember thinking that I could never do what they were doing, because it looked so complicated.

Now, five years later, I have learned so much more about Rainbow. I understand the ceremonies, how much work goes into learning and performing floor work and speeches, and I can better appreciate everything that I have seen at Grand Assemblies, both in Massachusetts and in other states. At my first Grand Assembly, I remember sitting in the stands and wondering how much longer everything was going to last. Now that I am a part of Grand Assembly, and one of the people speaking on stage, all I can think is that I never want it to end. The Grand Worthy Advisor who came before me, Emma Machado, shared a beautiful message in her final speech that compared our organization to a campfire. I loved that idea, that Rainbow is something that can last forever as long as people keep fanning the flames of interest in it and telling people about it. Emma promoted the fun of Rainbow Camp, and I think that she has done a wonderful job of helping to grow our organization.

I am so grateful for everything that happened this weekend, even if it did seem to fly by. Life moves pretty fast, as Ferris Bueller once told us, but I plan to take the time to stop and look around (with a cup of tea, of course).

My only hope for this year is that I can make it as special as other state officers have made it for me. I have a fantastic group of girls to work with, and I know that each of them is bringing to our organization a different talent that they will use to add to what is an already amazing experience. I can’t wait to see what they will do with this year’s theme, which is “Sailing Along with Massachusetts Rainbow.” I have heard some very creative ideas already, and I think it’s going to be a great year.

This week, I will be traveling to New Hampshire for their Grand Assembly sessions. I can’t wait for my first out-of-state visit as Grand Worthy Advisor and I hope that many of the 2015-2016 ship mates will be able to attend with me!   

What am I drinking today? Golden Monkey Tea from Teavana!

Okay, so I’m not drinking tea in this picture, but I thought it was a really nice picture from Grand Assembly!

Grab a Mug and Join Me!

Do you know what the most popular drink in the world is? The one that is drank more than any other drink for its sheer wonderfulness? Your first guess would probably be water, because it is necessary for survival. And you would be right.

But do you know what the second most popular drink in the world is? In this case, I’m willing to bet that most people would probably think that it is coffee. I can understand that; coffee has a certain unique way of bringing people together. People have important meetings and share big ideas over coffee. Yet, it is not the second most-popular drink in the world. Do you want to know what is? 

Tea.

That’s right; you could say that boiled leaves beat boiled beans. And I for one completely understand this fact. People might have business meetings over a cup of coffee, but they connect with others on a spiritual level over a cup of tea. There is just something so perfect about taking time out of your day to brew a cup of tea and sit to enjoy it, whether by yourself or with a friend.

I have very fond memories of being a little girl and having real “tea parties” with my mom. Every day after lunch, my mom would take out her blue teapot and two tea mugs, and we would sit and just enjoy our quiet moment as we sipped our hot beverages.

As I’ve gotten older, my tastes have changed. I no longer fill my tea with sugar and milk; I let the flavors of the tea leaves take over and I try not to dilute it too much. But the one thing that I don’t think will ever change about me is my appreciation for “tea time,” and my devotion to the serenity that is created by the special ritual of making and enjoying tea.

This feeling is one that I hope to create with my blog “Tea Time with the GWA.” My life is going to become very busy over the next year, and although I intend to enjoy every minute of it, I also look forward to my moments of quiet contemplation when I will be able to write about all of my exciting adventures. For you, my readers, I hope that this blog will create an opportunity for you to grab a cup of your favorite tea and share in my experiences while escaping the busy rush of everyday life. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

What am I drinking today? Irish Breakfast Tea from David’s Tea!