Story of the Chief Mountain Red Hat Southern Belles by Queen Mum Sandy
I had been reading about the Red Hat Society for sometime when I decided it sounded just right for me at this time in my life. The previous summer on a
trip to the states, I had purchased a Red Hat with just that in mind. Talking with my friend Darlene, we decided it was something many of our women friends would enjoy also. After all, most of us were over 50! Some retired, all with families grown. We started talking with our friends to see who might be interested. Meanwhile, I went online to the Red Hat Society website and in no time I had become Queen Mum Sandy of the Chief Mountain Red Hat Southern Belles with Darlene as co-Queen. We had our welcome package within a week, a Chapter ID #58377 along with an official Charter Certificate dated June 3, 2005
It was some time before we could get all these wonderful women dis-organized for an official first gathering held at Our Place Café on Sun. Oct. 23, 2005. Finally we had an official chapter with members! I like to call these girls the “founding members”
as we all had to “find our way” and understand the purpose of the Red Hat Society is simply to “Let the Child in us out to Play”!! I think we have been very successful in doing just that! We started with 11 (and 2 Pink Hatters too!) and swelled to 20 when we chose to close our chapter to new members. Months later, we lost 5 members who simply did not think it was the right time for them. That’s ok, we will welcome them back at anytime, it’s the Red Hat Way! We do remain closed as we feel it’s a good number for us to have in our homes, car pool, telephone, etc. We have formed a lasting bond and what a warm and fuzzy feeling I get as Queen of these wonderful women who just wanna have fun!!
Everyone chose their Royal Titles and Co-Queen Darlene became Vice Queen Edwardina!
