What an awesome time we've had over our first year, and how pleased we all are about the seeds we've planted in our community! Looking ahead to our second year is exciting and there are many many fun things planned.

We're firming up the 2007 Event Calendar and will have it posted shortly!

While Red Hatters are encouraged to be free of rules and regulations in most Chapters, due to the ever-growing numbers of wonderful ladies in our group, it has become necessary to address the lack of Royal Responsibilities of our Most Royal Red Hat Members and to establish certain expectations of our members.

Most importantly, it appears that most members of the Royal Court of the Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters have neglected to choose a Royal Title for themselves. Remember Ladies, we are women of royal birth... our Father is King of Heaven and Earth!

Rhonda and I as Co-Queen Sow and Sews and Leaders take full responsibility for not ensuring that this aspect of membership was not pursued fully as of this date. However, this is serious neglect since we are obliged to participate in the Royal Silliness of all Red Hatters worldwide. So, we urge you all to consider your interests, your hobbies, your special talents, your personalities and choose an appropriate Title for yourself. You can choose anything except Queen, there can only be one Queen or two in our case!!!

Here are some suggestions: Her Royal Highness of Memories, The Countess Fashionista, Dame So & So, Grande Dame Snow Bird, Princess …. , Lady ….. , Duchess …. , Empress, High Priestess of …. , Baronness … You get the idea!

CORONATION

Coronation along with the formal recognition of your Title and Status in the Royal Court will take place on our Anniversary in November 2006 along with a very special Reduation of our precious Pink Hatter, Candy Eiferd. This is an important and solemn event – well not solemn...jovial is better! Specific membership requirements include paid up dues and your committment to our vision for this chapter... namely Sowing Seeds of Faith, Family, Friendship and Fun! So, for those who want to join us and those of you who want to renew your vows and meet the membership requirements, get your titles ready because you are about to become ROYALTY!

MEMBERSHIP in Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters

Membership brings many rewards – the opportunity to dress up and play, to keep company with other incredible women and to develop lasting friendships with kindred spirits. Membership in our Chapter also has responsibilities... which includes our love of service and generosity of our time, talents and love. After reviewing the structure of many other Red Hat Chapters across the country, we have created our own Membership Guidelines that will ensure a smooth-running chapter. The membership form is available on our Web Page.

The most important change going into our second year is the necessity to collect membership dues of $20.00 from each member to cover miscellaneous costs (chapter renewal of 35.00 – which is due and payable by me on November 11th as well as ceremonial costs, printing, mailing, birthday favors, and other incidentals). Our Calender year will be from November through November – or 12 months .... WHAT A DEAL!!! If a member has been invited to join or not renewed by October 31, she will be dropped from the membership, assuming that she no longer wishes to participate at this time.

FUN FUND

One way to build a ‘fun fund’ is to have a raffle drawing each event.... and this sounds like fun! I can assure you that the items that will be raffled off will be things that everyone will want, so please come prepared to buy raffle tickets and cross your fingers that your number will be drawn! If you would like to donate items for the raffle, please let us know. All items should be new and things that our members would enjoy ... or not... tee hee...

Another way to build our fund is to collect ‘penalty’ fees! Yes, if you do not wear a red or pink hat to our events, you will be asked to stand and sing "I'm a little tea pot" and will be charged – $2.00... not much, of course, but then again, I am sure most of you will not have to worry about that! As we get our “Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters Queen’s Court” set up, there will be more light-hearted penalties to help with our Fun Fund.

BIRTHDAYS

Birthdays are also an especially important event for Red Hatters. It is the Red Hat tradition that in the month of your birthday, you REVERSE your colors (red clothes and purple hat / pink clothes and lavender hat) so that the entire Royal Court will recognize your Special Distinction. All members of the Royal Court will give special recognition to our sister members who are celebrating birthdays.

REDUATION

For Pink Hatters (Ladies in Waiting) to celebrate the Big 5-0, that is... we will have a special “Reduation”, a ceremony to acknowledge the entry into official Red Hat status.

THE RED HAT SOW AND SEW SISTERS ROYAL COURT

All members of The Royal Court are required to participate in the making of merriment and in keeping the Royal Court of the Red Hat Sow and Sew Sisters as an escape from day to day reality. Your Co-Queens would love to endow a Special Title or Status to members who wish to join the Queen’s Court. THESE ARE ALL STRICTLY VOLUNTARY POSITIONS OF FUN, AND IN TIME IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE EACH POSITION FILLED. In addition to your own self appointed title, we have these additional positions available:

Merry Maid of Mist You:
Sends out cards to those who need were not able to attend for a valid reason.

Baroness of Birthdays: Jo Munyer
Sends out Myrthday Cards to members. Makes sure that birthdays are known, celebrated and listed.

The Keeper of the Crown Jewels: Br>Creates & updates our memory / photo album.

Lady Sergeant of Gloves:
makes sure that all members maintain the Red Hat decorum and display proper behavior – if we could figure out what that is. Also asks for silence when the Queen Sow and Sew's are giving announcements by saying "The Queen's doth speak!"

Damsels of Dialing:
Assists in making phone calls to members when necessary. Organizes special ceremonial events for the chapter.

Mistress of Melody:
Leads the Royal Court in song, kazooing, etc.

The Royal Court Jester:
Shares a joke or cartoon, a word of wisdom and brings humor to each of our meetings.

Mistress of Cheeremony:
Leads the “Hip Hips Away” cheers as appropriate … or anytime the mood strikes.

Baroness of "Bored" Meetings:
This position rotates each month between members and she organizes our monthly lunch / dinner outings.

Lady Shutterbug:
Brings camera to all events and makes sure to give copies to the Keeper of the Crown Jewels.

Of course, if there are more appointments that could make our life easier, more fun, we are happy to consider all requests.

Our Chapter Song...

JESUS LOVES ME!

Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in him.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go.
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He's begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with other's the extra mile.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

I love Jesus, does he know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love him every day.

YES, JESUS LOVES ME... YES, JESUS LOVES ME...
YES. JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Author Unknown

"Bored" Meetings!

Hosting a Red Hat Sow and Sew Society "Bored" Meeting can be a lot of fun! It requires you to pick a date and time for the month you've chosen, decide a place to have it, reserve the space, announce your meeting, handle the RSVPs, and of course, attend the meeting to make sure everything goes well.

Queen Sow and Sews have a sign-up sheet for 2007 "Bored" Meetings Calendar. The month before your event, bring flyers to announce your event. For example, if your event is in Febraury, you should bring flyers about your meeting to the January event. You must also notify Queen Sow and Sew of the details so we can put it in the montly newsletter and on the Web Site.

Here are some lessons we've learned about hosting a meeting as well as some ideas from other Red Hat Chapters

1. Pick a venue and reserve space
· See if the restaurant will split checks
· Make sure the venue is wheelchair accessible
· Try to pick places that have their own parking
· Try to pick places that are easy to get to
· Try to find a place that is ours exclusively like a banquet room or reserved picnic area

2. Make flyers so that members can have reminders about the next meeting and have the information to RSVP-includng a date to RSVP by. Include a map if possible and directions if possible.

3. Try to make sure that the meeting does not fall near a holiday or near school breaks

4. Have people RSVP to the meeting so you have a total head count. Give this final count to the restaurant/venue before the event so they can plan accordingly

These "Bored" Meetings can be a casual or as extravagant as you would like them to be! You can plan a theme and have games to play or they can be a simple trip to see a movie. If you can think of it, we can find a way to do it.

Ideas:

A Sow and Sew Bee at your home or at a local shop or quilt show
Lunch, Brunch, Tea
Movies, Theater, Theme Parties
Volunteer or Community work
Playing games (cards, bingo, bunco)
Attend lectures or Charity Events
Shopping adventures
Caravan in Cars or Short Bus or Train Trips
Show and Tell or Arts and Craft Hour

The Queens will be available to help with anything you need, from coming up with ideas, to making the flyers and mailing them out.