Origin of the Red Hat Society The Red Hat Society resulted from the giving a birthday gift. In November 1997, Sue Ellen Cooper, (Fullerton, California) presented her dear friend, Linda Murphy, with a red hat and a copy of the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph. The orginial intent was that Linda hang the hat on a hook next to the framed poem, as a decorative reminder to loosen up as she got older. The gift was a hit! Other friends of Sue Ellen expressed an interest in receiving the same gift as they reached their 50th birthdays. On April 25, 1998, dressed in purple and their red hats, the ladies went to a tea room. This was the beginning of our Red Hat Society. RED HAT SOCIETY MISSION STATEMENT "We are a global society of women approaching 50 or beyond that connects and supports women in their pursuit of Fun, Friendship, Freedom and Fulfillment. Fun...to celebrate life at every age.
Friendship...to solidify and expand the bonds of sisterhood.
Freedom...to discover and explore new interests. Fulfillment...to fully realize our personal potential. By maintaining a thriving social community. amd offering a variety of services and group experiences, the RHS encourages it members to get the most out of life." RED HAT PROMISE The Red Hat Society will open doors to a better tomorrow for women of all ages, adding Fun, Friendship, Freedom and Fulfillment to their lives. Each member can expect to be welcomed into our sisterhood and to be treated with diginity and respect. Together, we will extend the hand of friendship to women across the globe."
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CEO:
Marie CarlsonLinks Section
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Supporting Memberships
By now everyone should know about the change in the Red Hat Society, and the requirement that each Red Hatter pay a supporting membership fee and be registered. Everyone's initial reaction was "no way". After some thinking most of us came to realize that virtually all organizations have a membership fee of some sort. There has been much discussion and a lot of dissension over this fee. $20 US sounds like a lot initially but in reality it is less than a toonie or a cup of coffee, a month. Most of us have gotten that amount of enjoyment from the Red Hat Society. I have met many women, made some new friendships and had new experiences thanks to belonging to the RHS. Whether you have decided to remain a Red Hatter, chose to drop out completely or have chosen to join a different group, it all started because of Sue Ellen and her foresight to take it beyond her small circle of friends. For this we should all be thankful. However, no matter which you have chosen, it is your right to make that choice. Each of us will do what we feel is right for ourselves. What we do not have the right to do is be mean spirited and try to sabotage anothers choice. We can remain friends and carry on within our options. I joined the Red Hat Society because I liked what it stood for and the opportunities available by being a member. None of that has changed, all that is different is that the RHS now requires a registration fee to help offset the cost of running a global organization. I still want to be a Red Hatter, still want to wear the "uniform" that is recognized everywhere we go; take part in Red Hat events and avail myself of all the services they offer. I am a Red Hatter, not a Red Hat Wannabee, and wish to remain one. To those who chose to leave I say good bye and good luck in your new adventure. To those who wish to stay, I say hello, welcome. Please let us treat one another with kindness and respect. If any one chooses, at a later date, to reverse a decision they have made please let us all be kind and accepting. Marie
Good food, good friends and presents-what more could one ask for? The Red Hat Barbies hosted Christmas in July this year and did a wonderful job. As we all know Christmas comes at least twice a year for us Red Hatters. This was the fifth time we held this celebration and we hope there will be many more to come.
