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Save the Dates (For Details see Local Events) Jan 9-11, 2009 Chapter Regional Event Landmark Hotel Myrtle Beach, SC What's Happening? Queens - send your chapter events to the Webmistress (listed below) if you'd like them posted on the web site. |
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Regional Coordinator:
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Webmistress:
Sharon Relford
RED HAT SOCIETY SCQC PURPLELICIOUS SOUTHERN DIVAS DIAMONDS IN THE PLUFF SWEET MAGNOLIAS FLOWERS FLOOZIES VISIT CHARLESTON
Queen to Queen
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October 3, 2008
Your Majesties,
CLARIFICATION - PURPOSE OF THIS BROADCAST
This broadcast is the primary vehicle for communication between all of you Queens and Hatquarters. Since we sent the first one, in November, 2005, it has been the place to share everything that's going on with the Red Hat Society. As our local leaders, you should be the first to receive all vital information; and we count on you to pass it along to your chapterettes.
But we don't want to just talk at you; we want to talk with you. We welcome your suggestions, questions, ideas, stories, and anything else you care to share. Please use the email this broadcast emanates from to do that. We want no thoughts or concerns to go unanswered. And we know that the RHS gets stronger when we all collaborate.
OPEN SHARING
Wouldn't it be terrific if all of us Queens could take seats around one (huge) round table, every month, and chat? We would like this broadcast to become as much like that as it can possibly be. So we are going to do a lot more quoting of your emails -- that's as close as we can come to having you stand up and speak to the group. Please be aware that anything you send to us may possibly be featured (perhaps literally quoted) on a subsequent Queen to Queens broadcast.
We'd like to get back to our former practice of sharing some of your emails each time. We particularly welcome advice on successfully leading a chapter -- keeping it fun and fresh - and stories about your group in general. This will be less a place to ask basic questions than a place to really share.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Of course there still needs to be a place to ask questions. But, over the years, certain questions have popped up again and again. Because we knew that there were always a good number of new Queens, we answered many of those questions repeatedly.
But, now that we have a history of answers, we are compiling a thorough FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page just for Queens. Every question that has come up with any frequency will be answered there, leaving this broadcast to concentrate on new subjects and ideas, both from Queens and from Hatquarters. In other words, no more re-runs!
Until this page is up, you will still receive emailed answers to your questions. We don't want to leave anyone hanging. Of course, this will still be the place to ask (and receive the answers to) new questions.
RECIPE FOR LEMONS
On occasion we receive criticism, usually mild, occasionally harsh. Don't worry; we can take it! Any criticism that is respectfully stated and offered with the intention of making the RHS better is welcome. We know we are not perfect and we can tell when a Queen has honest concerns. You know the saying: When you're given lemons, make lemonade! We even go that one better if we can -- we make lemon meringue pie!
If this sort of criticism leads to improvements we will be happy to credit the Queen who offered it, and we will be sincerely grateful to her for having the courage to speak up to help keep the RHS on course.
From now on, those (blessedly rare) harsh or mean-spirited criticisms we receive will be ignored. Life is just too short -- for all of us - to squander attention on such things. There is so much negative in the world! Frankly, those who insist on finding fault without offering solutions do not belong in the RHS. The Queen to Queens broadcast is going to be the place we dwell on the good stuff! If that makes us Pollyannas, so be it. The Red Hat Society is the place for positive women who are determined to enjoy life and make each other, as well as the world, better.
Queens, we hope this helps you deal with these types of people right where you are -- possibly within your chapters. Please don't waste your time trying to please people who refuse to be pleased! Spend your time and effort on those who, like you, choose to adopt a positive outlook and behave with kindness.
WHAT KIND OF DIVA ARE YOU?
We're having fun with a little quiz we've come up with to help all of us determine what sort of "diva" each of us is. (I'm a Western Diva, myself.) You can have fun with this quiz too. Simply visit our homepage and click on "Diva Quiz" in the section relating to our Dallas "Divas Wear Diamonds" event.
HERE'S TO HEALTH!
We Red Hatters are committed to enjoying our stage of life. We believe in accepting those things we can't change (like our ages), but we know we aren't helpless to improve our futures. We know that the better we take care of our health, the brighter the future ahead. A healthy person certainly finds it easier to get all there is to get out of life!
We have added two pages on our website, devoted exclusively to helping each member evaluate her own health and -- if necessary -- take the steps necessary to improve it.
How much do you know about bone health? The more you know about maintenance, the better your future will be. Please keep a sharp eye on our website. We will soon be adding the "Boniva Health Challenge" in order to help you "bone up" on the subject!
When you've done that, don't forget to enter the sweepstakes for prizes!
How about your fitness level in general? Aetna has prepared a Virtual Health Fair for Red Hatters. They know how much we want to have fun; they're doing their part to help us!
We know that those chapters who participated in Ruby's Step & Stride (our walking program in conjunction with AARP) dropped pounds and gained stamina (as well as deeper friendships) by getting out and walking together. Why not get your members to take these tests and perhaps form some sort of a buddy system to motivate each other to get in better shape? There's a lot of power in any sort of group accountability. (Besides, if you decide to do whatever it takes, it's nice to share the challenges with friends.) One of the best things about the RHS is the way we band together to get things done -- whether it's having fun or getting healthy!
QUEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT
We'd like you to meet Queen Bettye Barnes (Scarlet Flooscies, Corryton, Tennessee). Bettye first became a Red Hatter when she joined The Nonpareils, in nearby Knoxville. Because the chapter's membership had grown into the hundreds, Bettye and a few of her friends started a second chapter, vowing to keep the membership small, so that they could make spontaneous plans without fuss. They also retained their membership in the Nonpareils. According to Bettye, "We like to go to the big ‘Ta-Das', like their annual Halloween party."
For the past 18 years, Bettye's husband, Stanley, a retired band instructor, has been involved in recruiting high school bands from all over the U.S. to participate in the annual New Year's Day Parade in London (the biggest of its kind in the world). Every year, the Barnes travel to London to help with logistics. A few years ago, inspired by a contingent of marching librarians, Bettye proposed to the parade's Executive Director that the Red Hat Society be invited to participate. (Only those invited may participate.) She also wrote to Queen Elizabeth, inviting her to be an honorary member of the RHS -- and received a lovely acceptance from her Lady in Waiting! The following year, about 60 Red Hatters from various locales in the U.S. marched in the parade! Last year, the RHS took over from the Barnes, who had graciously coordinated this fabulously fun activity as volunteers. (Thank you, Bettye and Stanley!) Bettye invites all of you to join her in London at the end of December!
Now retired, Bettye taught second grade at the same school for 32 years! She and Stanley have been married for 42 years and live on the farm that has been in Bettye's family for nearly 100 years. They met "cute": they used to pass each other on the way to their respective schools every morning -- each of them in a unique sports car. Stanley went to the city hall and tracked her down through her license plate!
Her vast, unique collection of spiders and webs began when she admired the way spider webs glitter ("like diamonds") with dew in the sun. Thirty-five years ago she received a spider web Christmas ornament from a close friend; now her home is filled with spiders and webs, and she owns countless spider pins. The crown jewel of her collection is a 4 ½ foot metal spider, forged by a blacksmith, which she bought right off the side of a barn in Dollywood! It now crawls up the side of her house!
About five years ago, Bettye acquired a life-size plastic skeleton, which she perched on a swing in her entryway, garbed in a red hat and a purple shawl. "Anna Rexia," as she has come to be known, remains in Bettye's home full time, although she moves from room to room. Bettye and her friend, Peggy, plan to bring Anna Rexia with them to the HallowQueen Ball during our Hoots Haunts and Hats event in Savannah next month. Anna will ride to Savannah, with her hat on, in the back seat of their car. Bettye comments, "I hope she doesn't cause any accidents!"
So, Queen, what's your story? We'd love to hear about you!
NEED NEW MEMBERS?
If your chapter is actively seeking new members, don't forget that many women looking for chapters to join attend larger events they learn about on our website's Event Calendar. You can find them there -- and they will be happy to meet you!
GOING, GOING, GONE!
Until the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2008, the Red Hat Society will continue to celebrate its tenth birthday! A great many parties have already been held, all over the world, and some of them have yet to take place (including the upcoming "Hoots, Haunts and Hats" in Savannah, coming up this month).
Reminder: we have a lot of special 10th birthday RHS products still available. These items are certain to become collectibles. If you think you might like to have one of these keepsakes, check out our online store. Once they're gone there will be no more!
In friendship,
Sue Ellen, Debra and the Hatquarters Staff
