Pinkettes: Our chapter will host Pinkette events a few times a year. These events will be open to our youngest Pink Hatters who are under the age of twelve. Proper Pink Hat attire is recommended. Pinkettes may be children, grandchildren, relatives or friends. These occasions will offer us an opportunity to show the young ones what we are about and the proper behavior (if we can figure out what proper behavior is) for ladies of our station in life. Silliness is allowed - unlady-like behavior is not. Pinkettes need not pay dues. �Kitty� donations for these events are welcomed.
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 other chapters know about it. Usually no effort is made to make firm arrangements or reservations � strictly spontaneous. (Ex: A chapter decides to shop for antiques on a certain Saturday in another town or city. The 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 one 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.
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 (if we can figure out what that behavior might be.
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) and those who cannot or do not assign themselves a title will have one assigned by the Queen. Hmmm - want to look at that list again??
Red Hat Lingo: Royal Titles, & Job Descriptions Any office you can think of is OK � creativity is strongly encouraged.
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 fort 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)
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!
Ode to RHS Photos Royal Court Special Credits This 'n' That