CHAPTER INFORMATION: CHAPTER ID #: 49081 - Est. January 8, 2005,

MEMBERSHIP: Core of a New Chapter:The Chapter founder is the Queen. The Queen may select a “court” and assign “offices” to members.

Requirements of a Chapter: The first requirement is that each member MUST wear the proper attire denoting her membership at each event. Red and Purple if she is 50 or over and Pink and Lavender if she is under 50. One MUST be female to belong to the Red Hat Society (spouses & S.O’s can be Honorary members) Chapters pay a yearly fee to join the Red Hat Society. This fee covers the Chapter’s annual membership regardless of how many members a Chapter has. Purple Perks membership is an additional option for members and costs $18 per year.

Benefits of Membership: Chapter Queens are issued a Chapter Charter and an annual certificate of membership for her Chapter. Each Chapter member is granted “official” RHS membership status and an invitation to “all Red Hat Society” events and conventions.

Gathering Members & Chapter Size: Queens usually invite friends who in turn invite their friends. It is OK to join more than one Chapter (many snow birds belong to more than one). Our's is an open Chapter.

Chapter Gatherings duties/responsibilities: Ladies bring sandwiches, one brings dessert and the hostess provides the beverage. Disorganized planning is done at informal get-togethers. Everyone must still wear colors (see Mandatory Attire) but can be informal.

Thursdays (3rd) are the monthly Gathering day for the Desert Babes. Any planned activities, group or otherwise, need to be communicated and approved by the Chapter. We can meet more than once a month if planning a big outing and everyone feels it is necessary. Informal, properly attired gatherings at someone’s home or central location are for planning & calendaring – all else are outings, road trips, etc.

Regalia: Those 50 and over MUST wear purple clothing and a red hat. Those under 50 are referred to as Pink Hatters, wear lavender clothing with pink hats. That is ALL that is ABSOLUTELY required in the way of a “uniform”. The entire outfit does not have to be entirely purple or lavender, but the more color the better and that includes shoes and accessories (purses, hosiery, jewelry, boas). Remember have fun but we are ladies (too much skin is a no-no per HatQuarters).

Red Hat Lady Attire: If I am a Red Hat Lady I will wear: Hat – Red; Clothing – Purple; Scarves & Boas -- Red or Purple; Gloves – Red; Purse -- Your choice (red is fabulous); Shoes -- Your choice (red is wonderful) If it's My Birthday Month, my colors reverse: (as decreed by the Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper) Hat – Purple; Clothing - Red

Pink Hat Lady Attire: If I'm a Lady-in-Waiting I will wear: Hat – Pink; Clothing – Lavender; Scarves & Boas -- Lavender or Pink; Gloves -- Lavender or Pink Purse -- Your choice (lavender is beautiful); Shoes -- Your choice (lavender is really sexy!) If it's MY Birthday Month, my colors reverse: (as decreed by the Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper) Hat – Lavender, Clothing – Pink

Attendance: The RHS has a laissez-faire spirit, in keeping with that spirit; there is no roll-call at gatherings. But RSVP is mandatory – yea or nay! Some Chapters charge “fines” for those who miss events, the money collected is used for gatherings and goodies. Our Chapter has a donation Kitty.

Chapter Outings & In-ings: Planning events DOES NOT fall on the Queen alone. Each member is to pick a month and assume responsibility for planning the time and place and notifying fellow members by invitation, phone or email. Members are encouraged to “mind their manners” and RSVP in a timely fashion. When a member decides to plan an activity at a certain restaurant, she will assume the responsibility of making reservations and all the planning that it entails. RHS Chapters prefer to make Public Appearances, but it is a great idea to occasionally plan a potluck or a pajama breakfast at someone’s home. This is a good way to discuss future ideas and keeps everyone in close touch.

Outings: Are you having fun? Remember that is the purpose of the Red Hat Society. Look at where you are going and what you are doing as a chapter....find fun stuff. Teas are OK once in awhile but we need to do a large variety of activities: Bicycling, Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, Culturally Diverse events; Movies; PJ Parties; Philanthropy; Road Trips; Shopping; Game Night; Exercise Group, etc.

Hoots: A “hoot” is a word for an event that is unstructured and extremely informal. All that is required is that one chapter hosts an activity then lets as many other chapters know about it. No effort is usually made to make firm arrangements or reservations – strictly spontaneous. (Ex: Founding chapter decides to shop for antiques on a certain Saturday in another town or city. The founding Chapter gets the word out to other chapters who can then choose to show up in “regalia”. Each Chapter is responsible for transportation & reservations.

Regional Events: HATquarters organizes regional get-togethers in various parts of the country. These are similar to a convention, but might only be a day or two. Information will be posted on RHS website and included in quarterly bulletins. Chapters can choose to organize a regional get-together. Specific policies & guidelines must be followed and HATquarters can assist if we chose to take on such an event.

National Conventions: RHS hosts 1 International convention each year in a different part of the US. ALL members of official Red Hat Society Chapters are invited to attend. They usually run Thursday – Sunday.

Communication: RHS is about sharing the good things in life with each other. It’s about building a vast network of like-minded women who are literally creating a new way to enjoy the later stages of life and sharing multitudes of ideas and activities with each other.

It's Good To Be The Queen

Queens Duties -Essential Information:

The primary duty of the Queen is purely that: to be Queen! Does the Queen have responsibilities? Actually, she’s already fulfilled her primary responsibility by starting a Chapter. Beyond this RHS asks only that the Queen arranges the first event by inviting new members, explain the RHS concept, requirements & privileges of membership, and familiarize the ladies with RHS traditions and policies.

After the first gathering, the Queen’s duty is to trail around in her finery, make pronouncements, pass along general information received from HATquarters and generally watch benevolently over her Chapter.

First Get-Together (official): RHS can’t emphasize enough that each Queen chooses her own path to how she assembles her Chapter. They do suggest that this should involve as “little” actual “work” as possible (NOT TRUE). RHS members DO NOT have meetings. The very word gives us chills! We do hold get-togethers, events and host gatherings. But “meetings” NEVER!

Traditions Red Hat Society Day: The Red Hat Society celebrates its birthday on April 25th, the anniversary of the very first Red Hat Society gathering. Each Chapter decides how they wish to observe the “official” holiday.

Reduations: When a Pink Hatter reaches her 50th birthday, her Chapter may choose to put on a “reduation”, a ceremony of whatever kind the members come up with. During this ceremony she will finally attain her first red hat. Until a member is old enough, she will continue to be “reeducated” by her Chapter on the types of behavior that will be expected of her when she achieves full Red Hat status.

Titles: In the spirit of play, every RHS member is encouraged to dream up a Title for herself. Royal titles are particularly encouraged (request a list) but titles other than the Queen’s are ok.

Red Hat Lingo: Royal Titles, & Job Descriptions Any office you can think of is OK – creativity is strongly encouraged.)

Official Birthday Cake:Twinkies seem to be the cake of choice. Individually wrapped, and everyone likes them.

Official Instrument: The Kazoo! Why? 1. It is an equal-opportunity instrument – anyone can hum and play one 2. It is eminently portable. 3. It is affordable 4. Group concerts are easily arranged

The Wave: The Queenly wave, which comprises the “official” RHS greeting, is performed by cupping the hand, fingers together, and ever-so-gently swiveling the wrist back and forth in the direction of the “adoring throngs”. Very ladylike and refined.

Brim-Brushing: When in regalia it is customary to bid each other hello/goodbye by “mutual shoulder touching & gentle brushing of hat brims. Full hugs are best given by those who are hatless (otherwise hats tend to knock to the ground)

Hollywood Kiss-Kiss: In leiu of Brim-Brushing, some Chapters have adopted the Hollywood Kiss-Kiss. Holding hands and mocking a kiss, each move their heads to the right and left, pretending to plant a kiss.

Birthday suits: Not what you are thinking!!! A red hatter gains special attention by wearing the Red Hat colors in a unique way during her birthday month. She wears a red outfit with a purple hat. We call this tradition “Au Contraire”.

Decorum: As adults and royalty as well, very little needs to be said regarding public manners. However, even though we are a “disorganization without rules” we do wish to remind our ladies that we are highly noticeable when out in public in our colors. Keep in mind that overall, you are representing the Red Hat Society to the public. Raucous, rude behavior is SO not Red Hat!

Charities: If an individual Chapter wishes to participate in charitable events, we encourage them to do so, but in their Chapter name. The RHS as a whole does not see itself as an appropriate forum for fund raising. The RHS is a play group of women, we’re into FUNraising, not fund-raising.

Imperium: Is the online store offering selected products which are designed for the Red Hat Society.

Website Usage: In a nutshell the website may not be used …By members or non-members to sell or promote commercial products - Disseminate information in the name of RHS -Red Hat Society name and Logo, Ruby RedHat is the sole property of the RHS, Inc. (can be used on our website) and much much more (go online for more information)

Logo & Trademark Usage: RHS name and Ruby RedHat are registered trademarks of the Red Hat Society, Inc. and protected under law.