Finding Members: There are many ways to find members for your new chapter. The best place to start is with the women you know. Do you have any friends who might be interested in joining the new chapter? Maybe there are some potential Red Hatters at your office, book club, or library. Putting up a few flyers never hurts. One Queen even put a sign in her car window; within a week, she had a full chapter! Just get dressed up in your red and purple and go out—interested women will find you. It's OK to get creative. Also, be aware that when new Supporting Members in your area use the chapter search on our website, they will see your chapter on the Official Chapter Listings, and may contact you that way.

Planning Activities: It's often a good idea to spend your first gathering talking about what kinds of things you want to do as a chapter. Is there a new restaurant in town that you've been dying to try? Perhaps one of your chapterettes has always wanted to go miniature golfing, or wine-tasting, or sky-diving! Consider making a list of all the activities that the group shows an interest in. You don't have to do all of them, but get an idea of what everyone wants to do. Make space on your calendar. Those activities requiring more planning than others should be scheduled a few months in advance in order to allow time to do them right.

Regardless of the activity, remember to think ahead. Will the place you're going require reservations in advance? Will you need to carpool? If so, who will drive? Will the others chip in for gas money? It's best to tackle these questions in advance so the outing goes as smoothly as possible. But remember that the Queen is not supposed to do everything by herself. Many chapters ask a chapterette or two to plan each event, so no one person has to plan everything.

Connecting with Other Queens: Many Queens like to connect with other Queens in their area to swap stories and trade advice. To connect with other Queens in your area, log on to the RHS website with your username and password. Then click on "I'm Ready," under the heading My Account; then select Contact Chapters. You can search for chapters by zip code, city and state/province, or country. Once you've found some chapters in the area you're searching, just click on the Contact This Chapter link on the right side of the webpage. This will pull up a new window. (If a new window doesn't open, check your pop-up blocker.) Fill out the contact form on the new window, and click send—this will send a message to the Queen of the chapter that you are interested in.

Another good way to get in touch with other Queens is through our online communities, the Queen Mother Board and QMB2. The Queen Mother Board is an online forum, where Queens and Supporting Members can post messages. The QMB2 is an online community where Queens and Supporting Members can build profile pages, start discussion groups, leave notes for each other, and post messages. Both communities are listed on the main site; login to access either board under My Account.

We have lots of resources to help you locate other chapters in your area!

Chapter contact: Log in to the website, click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, then select Contact Chapters. When you click on the button, you will see a new page, with three ways to search. Please note: you can use only one method at a time: i.e., if you enter a state, and then enter a zip code, the system will still search only by state.

To search by state: Select your state or province from the drop-down menu, and click Search. From the row of letters shown, select the first letter of the city you are looking for. For example, to find chapters in Chicago, select Illinois from the menu, click Continue, then select “C” from the list of letters. Scroll down the list of cities beginning with C until you see Chicago.

To search by country: Select the country, and hit Search. From the row of letters shown, select the city you are looking for. For instance, to find chapters in Glasgow, Scotland, select Scotland from the menu, and hit Search. This should bring up a listing of cities in Scotland with active chapters.

To search by Zip code: Please note: this search method is available only for United States and Canada zip/postal codes. Enter the zip code, and how many miles out you are willing to travel. For instance, to find chapters in the 92831 area, just enter the zip code, select 5 miles (if you enter 0 miles, it will bring up all chapters listed directly in that zip code), and hit Search. You should see a page with the chapter listings for all chapters within 5 miles of the 92831 zip code.

Once you have the chapter listings for the area you want, you should see information about each chapter.

You should see the chapter name, the Queen’s first name, the chapter location, and a few notes about the chapter.

Just to the right of the chapter information, you should see a link that says Contact This Chapter. When you click that, you should see a small window pop up. If the window does not pop up, your computer may be blocking it. Check your pop-up preferences on your web browser.

In the new window, you should see your name and contact information, and several messages that you can send to the chapter, as well as a space in which to type your own message. You can also select the way in which you would prefer to be contacted. Once you have the information filled out, just click Send, and your message will be sent to the chapter!

The Queen Mother Board (QMB) and QMB 2:  Despite its name, the Queen Mother Board is not just for Queens: all Supporting Members are strongly encouraged to participate in the QMB Communities!

Queen Mother Board(QMB): Log on to the website, click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, then select Queen Mother Board. This should bring up a new window. There are a few good places to post if you are looking for a chapter. On the first page, you should see a forum titled Help Me Find A Chapter, under Member Communications. Click on the name of the forum, and when the next page comes up, click on the pink folder at the top middle of the page to make a post of your own!

Another good spot is on the State Forums. At the top left of the main QMB page, you should see a little drop-down menu, that says Change Category Groups. Click on that menu and select Red Hat Society State Forums. This will bring up a list of the state forums. Find your state, and click on the forum name to enter. You can post on any of the existing topics, or start your own by clicking the pink folder at the middle top of the page!

QMB2:  The QMB2 is the place to go to tell us all about yourself! When you click on the QMB2 link, you will be directed to a new page: click on Sign Up Now. This will walk you through the process, and show you how to set up your own profile page. Once you are set up on the QMB2, visit the Hatquarters Forum to talk to other members and get in touch with chapters!

The Online Event Calendar. The calendar is an excellent way to meet local Red Hatters. Check the calendar for events in your area, and meet up with local Hatters! For detailed instructions see question 5.

The RHS website is your resource for connecting with other Hatters, announcing events, and managing your chapter information.

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of logging in as soon as you get to the website: you must be a Queen or Supporting Member to log in. You will see a little box with your name in the top left of the website. To access all of the great pages available to you as a Supporting Member, click “I’m Ready” under My Account. Here’s what you’ll see:

Renew Now: We try to make your membership as easy and convenient as possible; you can do just about everything right there from your own computer, including renewing your membership! Log in to the RHS website with your username and password; in the purple box at the top left of the screen, you should see a link that says Renew Membership. Just click this link, and verify your information. If everything is correct, click on the big Renew button at the bottom of the screen. This should bring up a page of new materials that you can order. Even if you don’t need to order anything, be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on Continue. If you do place an order, just select the payment method, fill in any requested information, and click Process Payment!

Buy Gift Membership: Know someone who needs the gift of Red Hatting? Click this button to find out more about giving the gift of Hatting.

Update Profile: Have you moved? Changed email addresses? You’ll need to update your record! Just click on Update Profile; this will bring up the information we have listed for you.

For Queens: You should see the chapter information at the top of the screen. You can use this screen to change the chapter name, location, website, and whether the chapter is open or closed to new members. Below the chapter information is your personal information; you can change your address, phone number, email, username, password, or security question from here.

Please note: You cannot change Queens on this page. If you are passing the scepter to a new Queen, please see the information under Changing Queens. See Question 27 for further information

For Supporting Members: At the top you should see your chapter information. If you need to change chapters, just give us a call at 866-386-2850 and we’ll be happy to change that information for you.

Be sure to click on Update, and your information will be updated!

Upgrade to Queen (Supporting Members only): If you are already a Supporting Member, but want to become a Queen, this is the spot for you!

Order Member Materials: You know those lovely packages and pins that you can order when you renew? Well, you can also order any of those during the rest of the year! Just click Order Member Materials, and select the items you want and how many of each you want, and click Add to Cart. This will take you to the payment page!

Order Queen Materials (Queens only): Fantastic Queens-only merchandise! Just click Order Queen Materials, and select the items you want and how many of each you want, and click Add to Cart. This will take you to the payment page!

Renew Your Chapter (Queens only): The quick and easy way to renew! Just click this button, verify your information, and select a payment method!

Add Members to Chapter (Queens only): You can add a new Supporting Member to your chapter at any time here! If your new chapterette is already a Supporting Member, just give her your chapter number, and have her contact Hatquarters, so we can move her Membership into your chapter roster.

Chapter Roster: Click to view the list of all the Members in your chapter.

Contact Chapters: This is one way that you can use to contact other chapters. When you click on the link, you will see a new page, with three ways to search. Please note: you can use only one method at a time: i.e., if you enter a state, and then enter a zip code, the system will still search only by state. Click here for detailed instructions.

QMB: This is a link to the Queen Mother Board, our original Member forum. Just click here and start exploring the forums: create a post and introduce yourself!

QMB2: The QMB2 is our newest Member forum; all Members can create their own pages and forums, post videos, pictures, and music, and chat with Hatters from all over the world. Click on the button to get started!

Attend Official RHS Event: You can sign up to join hundreds of your Red Hat sisters at an official RHS event or find information on upcoming events, past event photos, and more!

Ruby’s Ramblings: Every month, our busy little mascot posts an email about her latest adventures. Click on this button to read the latest message!

Friday Broadcast: The Friday Broadcast is an email sent out to all Queens and Members every Friday; it’s full of stories, opportunities, and ideas. Click on this button to read the current Broadcast, or look through the Broadcast archives.

Event Calendar: The Online Event Calendar is the perfect place to find out about events in your area and post your own events for others to see. When you select Event Calendar from the menu, you’ll see a new window with new options. To enter your own event, select Submit An Event Request. To find events in your area, click on Event Search. Below the miniature calendar on the main page, you may see a link that says You Have New Invitations! This means that someone in your area is hosting an event, and has invited you! Just click the link to read all about it.

Past Event Photos: If you’d like to get the flavor of an Official RHS Event, just take a look at some of these past photos! Red Hatters really know how to have fun, and these pictures prove it!

Print Calling Card: A great way to explain Red Hatting to the curious! Many Members like to have a stack of these cards ready when they go out on the town; when someone asks who they are and why they are wearing red hats, the Member can simply hand them a card.

Access Member Benefits. Here’s a list of all of the discounts and benefits available to Supporting Members. You’ll see the discount and benefit categories listed here. You receive discounts on RHS events and store merchandise, travel discounts, and password-protected communications. You are also a part of the Super Saver program with Entertainment, Inc. Just click on the link that says Super Savers, and enter your city and state, or zip code, to see the local discounts available! This is also great for traveling: just enter the city and state you’ll be visiting, and take a look at the opportunities there!

Add Members to Chapter: The place to add new members to your chapter roster. Just click the link, then select which type of member you’re going to add. You’ll see a box with your chapter information—this is to confirm that you’re adding the member to the correct chapter; if all the information is correct, select Confirm. You can then enter the new member’s name, address, and contact information. Click “Add to List of Members;” you will see a new page with the member’s name in a box. To add more than one member, click Add Another Member and repeat the process. If the name is incorrect, click Remove From List to remove the name, or Edit to change the name and information. Once your list is complete, click Continue. (Please note: the members will not be added to your roster if you do not click Continue.) If you are adding new Supporting Members, you will be asked for payment information at the end of the process. You may select Pay by Credit Card or Pay by Check.

Chapter Roster: This will show you all the members of the chapter that we have listed. If you don’t see a member listed, you can add her in at any time! (see Add Members to Chapter) add link If you need to remove a member, or modify her information, simply click the Modify button next to her name. Make the needed changes, and click on Update (Please note: you will not be able to change the information of Supporting Members, as they have access to update their own information.)

You can manage your chapter information right from the RHS website. Just log in with your username and password, and click on “I’m Ready” under My Account.

Add Members to Chapter: You can add new members to your chapter roster here. Just click the link, then select which type of member you’re going to add. See question 3 for further details.

Chapter Roster: This will show you all the members of the chapter that we have listed. If you don’t see a member listed, you can add her in at any time! (see Add Members to Chapter) add link to 2 If you need to remove a member, or modify her information, simply click the Modify button next to her name. Make the needed changes, and click on Update. See question 3 for further details.

Update Your Profile: Have you moved or changed email addresses? Maybe you just need to add or change information about your chapter. You’ll need to update your record! Just click on Update Your Profile; this will bring up the information we have listed for you. See question 3 for further details.

As a Queen or Supporting Member, you have access to a multitude of fabulous discounts! There are three main categories of deals and discounts.

RHS Store: Queens and Supporting Members receive a 10% discount on all orders. Click here for more info about the RHS Store.

RHS Events: Current Queens and Supporting Members receive a 10% discount off Hatquarters-sponsored events. (Supporting Membership is included in event registration for those who are not currently Members.) Remember to enter your Member number on the registration page when you are signing up for an event, and your discount will be automatically applied. Click here for more information about RHS Events.

Super Savers: Super Savers is a special discount program, sponsored by Entertainment, Inc. It’s your best resource for local deals and discounts. See Question 47 for further details/

The Red Hat Society hosts several events a year, and members are highly encouraged to attend. These events are a great way to meet Red Hatters from all over the world.

In addition to the international events, Queens and Supporting Members have access to the Online Event Calendar, an excellent way to find out about events in your area and post your own events for others to see.

Below the miniature calendar on the main page, you may see a link that says You Have New Invitations! This means that someone in your area is hosting an event, and has invited you! Just click the link to see the event.

To search for specific chapter-hosted events in your area, log in to the RHS website, and click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, then click the button that says “Event Calendar.” Select Event Search: this will pull up a little lavender box, with several options.

State: If you just want to see all events within your state/province, select your state/province from the list, and click Search. This will display all events listed within your state.

Country: If you want to see all events listed in your country, simply select your country from the drop-down list, and click Search.

Zip/postal code: Please note: this search works for both US and Canadian postal codes. Enter your zip code, and select how many miles out you want to search (5, 10, 20, etc) and click Search. This will bring up all events in that area.

Date range: If you want to search for an event during a specific time period, just enter a date range. For instance, if you want to find an event between October 13th and 25th, enter 10/13/2009 in the first box, and 10/25/2009 in the second. Click search to find all events in that date range. You can use this in conjunction with any of the other searches, if you just want to find events in one area in a specific date range.

If you know that an event is happening, but want to find the listing, you can also search by chapter name or contact name.

Once you’ve pulled up a list of events, click on one that you are interested in to bring up the Event Details page. You can flag the event, RSVP for it, or email it to a friend, by using the links at the bottom of the event details page.

You can use the website to send you a reminder about events you are interested in! Select Member Event Settings, and select how many days in advance you want the reminders. We will automatically send a reminder to your email for you. In order to get the reminders, you will need to flag the event.

RSVP: Many events require an RSVP, and provide a link at the bottom of the events page. If you see an event you would like to attend, just click on the RSVP link at the bottom of the events page; this will pull up a pop-up window, which will let you send a message to the host. (If the pop-up window does not appear, your computer may be blocking it. Check the settings on your internet browser)

Emailing: At the bottom of the event details page, there should be a link that says “Email This Event to a Friend.” This will pull up a pop-up window, which will allow you to type in your friend’s email address, and send the invitation to her.

Still having trouble? Please feel free to email eventcalendar@redhatsociety.com or call us toll-free at 866-386-2850 (US only) or 714-738-0001.

When you select Event Calendar from the My Account page (you must be logged in,) you’ll see a new window with 6 options.

To enter your own event, select Submit An Event Request. When we receive the event, we will review it, and post it on the calendar. Please allow 1 week for review.

Step 1: Terms & Conditions
Read and agree to Terms & Conditions.   Please be sure you have read and agree with Terms and Conditions before continuing.   Click "CONTINUE"

Step 2: Event Request Form
Fill in all fields with the details of your event. The event start date cannot be less than three weeks from the date it is submitted, due to the time needed for approval and sending invitations

Max Attendees:  Enter the maximum number of people your event can handle.  (If over 500, your event will be considered a “regional” event and will require Calendar Admin assistance.)

Event Cost:  Enter the cost of the event as xx.xx (no dollar sign).  Please enter a base price for the event; if you have different pricings based on activities, (1 day, 2 day, hotel / transportation, etc.) please detail them in “Event Description”.

RSVP/Contact Name / Number :  Enter the name and phone number of the person to be contacted by those interested in the event.

RSVP/Contact Email : This defaults to YOUR email. If the contact email is different, please enter the correct information.

Event Description: Please include full event details in your description:  hosting chapter or chapters, hotel accommodations, contact and cost, local transportation, schedule of activities, entertainment, menus, etc.

Invitation Examples:
{Your chapter name – RHS chapter} is attending / planning / hosting {whatever the event is} – please join us!

3rd Annual {event}; hosted by {RHS chapter/s}

We’re going to {HOOT}!  Come out to play with the {your chapter name - RHS chapter}.

Attention Red/Pink Hatters -- Please join {your chapter name – RHS chapter} For {EVENT} at {LOCATION}

Event Addresses/Directions:  Please enter the address/location of event, and directions as needed. Include city and state/province (country.)

Will you have Vendors at your event?  Please answer as applicable.

When done, click "CONTINUE"

STEP 3: Event Details Preview page.
Preview your event.  If all is correct, click CONTINUE.  If not, click EDIT DETAILS to go back and edit / review the invitation.   Click CONTINUE when done.

STEP 4: Are you sending invitations? Do you want to send invitations?
Using our Invitation Search feature, you can easily invite other Queens, and Supporting Members within a certain region to attend the event. Members will see their invitations when they login on our website.

Individual invitations cannot be sent to the entire RHS membership, or to multiple regions / states. Event invitations can only be sent once. After that, a member may flag an event and send reminders to herself. New information/updates about the event may be communicated via email to those members who RSVP/contact you about the event.

Click Yes if you wish to do an invitation search and send (includes Calendar submission).  Click No if you only want to submit your event to the Calendar ONLY.

STEP 5: Invitation Search Criteria
When would you like to send the invitation to your event? (mm/dd/yyyy)
Enter a date far enough in advance of the event to allow members plenty of time to view their invitations and respond to you. This date must be a minimum of three weeks before the event.

Select your search criteria.  For large "regional" events, please specify your invitation search criteria: cities, states/provinces, or give the event location zip/postal code and mile radius. The Calendar Admin will contact you if additional information is needed.

The system will return the number of members found / number of invitations that can be sent.  If this number is acceptable, click "CONTINUE" to submit and send.  If this number is not acceptable, please refine / narrow your search criteria and click SEARCH to re-do it. Click "CONTINUE" to submit / finish.

Log in to the RHS website, and click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, then click the button that says “Event Calendar.” From the Event Calendar page, select “View Your Own Events.”

You should see a purple box with your event(s) listed in it. On the right side of the event listing are 3 options:

View your event: Click here to see how your event looks on the site.

Cancel: Have to cancel your event for some reason? This is where you take care of that. Just click the link

Sold out: Be careful about this button, it’s a little sensitive! If your event has reached its maximum number of attendees, just click here to mark it as Sold Out.

Still having trouble? Please feel free to email eventcalendar@redhatsociety.com or call us toll-free at 866-386-2850.

If you take too long entering the information on the Event Request page, the system may time out, and you will need to start over.

Here’s how to prevent the time out from occurring:

Gather all of your information before you get started.  Compose the majority of your details and destination information in a text or Word document and save it so you don’t lose the information.  Then you can copy/paste from that document into the Calendar Description/Destination boxes.

Have the following information handy before you start:

• Event name - "Red Hat Spring Zing"; "'your chapter name' Hootenany," etc.
• Event location: City, state, zip/postal code, country
• Event date(s): beginning and ending, (mm/dd/yyyy) format
• Maximum number of attendees
• Event cost: base price in US Dollars. 0 if it's free, or non-US currency—if it is non-US currency, please put the cost in the Event Details
• Hotel costs as applicable (if separate from event costs)
• The time the event starts and ends
• Transportation / Bus pickup location and times as applicable
• RSVP deadline date
• RSVP Contact name, phone number and email
• Other contact information if attendees need to make their own reservations

We usually have several events each year. Click here to see the current list of upcoming events. If you'd like to see pictures of past events, click here!

We try to make each event as unique as possible, but events often include activities like dancing, a banquet evening, and our popular Playshops. The main focus of events is on having fun with your Red Hat sisters. Check out our past events photos here and be sure to take a look at the posted agenda for each upcoming event.

You can register by clicking on the Registration link on any convention information page, or you can call Hatquarters to register by phone. Please do take the time to study the convention information and decide which package you want before signing up, as this will make the registration experience easier for you.

Registering for the convention is easy with our online registration process. You have the option to pay by credit card or by check, but registrations paid by check are not processed until the check is received. If you register for someone else online, be ready to provide that person's contact information (e-mail address; phone number, etc.) so they can receive a confirmation and updates as the event approaches.

The convention fee covers all activities listed on the event agenda, as well as the meals listed on the agenda.

If an Extra Day package is offered, purchasing the Extra Day package at registration will entitle you to attend all Extra Day activities. If you do not choose to purchase the Extra Day option, you will not be able to participate in any Extra Day events, but you will be entitled to attend all events listed on the event agenda for the basic convention.

Registrations may be cancelled up to a certain point, minus a $50 processing fee. After that date (which varies for each event), cancellation fees are increased. Please read our registration and cancellation policies in the Convention Pricing section of the convention you are interested in.

The Red Hat Society is not responsible for refunds of any fees or expenses outside of the convention registration fee. Refunds for hotel reservations need to be handled through the hotel and are subject to those hotels’ refund policies. All other refunds are subject to the refund policies of the companies involved, including but not limited to airfare, transportation, car rentals, etc.

No; however, they may certainly stay in the hotel and spend time with you when you are not at convention events.

There are two Membership levels in Red Hat Society:

• Queen: lead a local chapter ($39 annually)
• Supporting Member: full membership ($20 annually)

You can participate as you wish: leading a local chapter as a Queen, being part of a local chapter as a Supporting Member, or simply Hatting as an individual Supporting Member and participating in events when your schedule allows.

The Red Hat Society celebrates life through sisterhood. Many Hatters gather in local chapters small and large to have fun and support one another, though some Hatters chose to remain individual Members and participate in activities as their schedule allows. Activities include sharing meals, playing games, going to shows, traveling on excursions and to RHS conventions, and other fun forms of socializing.

Most chapters meet once or twice a month. It is up to each chapter to set their activity schedule. Participation in activities and events is always optional.

We only ask our Hatters to:

• Keep us up to date on your contact information.
• Have fun with Red Hat Society.
• Get to know and care for your Sisters.
• Support our cause to raise the visibility of aging women everywhere.
• Wear your purple and red at RHS events (or lavender and pink for our younger Sisters under 50).

As a Supporting Member you will enjoy full access to our exclusive website where you can connect with new sisters by searching for and contacting chapters in your area, viewing the event calendar, and reading discussion boards. For more information on contacting chapters, see question 46 for further details to learn more about using the Online Event Calendar, see question 5 for further details.

It is vital to have a username and password set up; these are yours keys to unlock many of the benefits of your membership! Even if you don’t have an email address, you may be able to access the website from a friend or family member’s computer, or even at the local library.

To protect our members’ privacy, most of our communications and information are password-protected. Without a username and password, you are out of contact with your Red Hatted sisters, and we wouldn’t want that!

When signing up for membership online, you’ll be prompted to enter a username and password: if you did not enter a username or password, or if you signed up by mail, you will need to call us to set up your login information. You can reach us toll-free (within the United States) at 866-386-2850, or at 714-738-0001 if calling from outside the US.

Many Queens gather friends old and new to join them in Red Hat Society. They find new friends at local RHS events (which they’ve learned about on our website’s Event Calendar), national conventions, and through the online discussion boards. Also, if your chapter is open to accepting new Members, we’ll let you know when a new Supporting Member in your area is interested in meeting your group. For more ideas, see question 1 for further details

Yes. Members can join your group only when: 1) your chapter is open to accepting new Members; and 2) you provide your chapter ID number to a new Member, thereby providing your approval for that Member to join your chapter.

Absolutely! Just contact us any time to change upgrade your membership. The cost to upgrade from Supporting Member to Queen is just $19; for detailed information, see question 25 for further details.

No. Red Hat Society chapters come in every shape and size! Some chapters like to be open to everyone. Other chapters prefer to remain as a small group of close friends. Also, there are Queens who enjoy all the extra benefits of being Queen (not to mention the royal title) and don't have any Members in their chapter at all. It’s up to you whether your chapter is open or closed to accepting Members, and you can change your option at any time.

You’re already a member, but you can also become a Queen of your very own chapter! This is how you do it:

Log in to the website, and click on “I’m Ready,” under My Account. Click on Upgrade To Queen (top right side of the page), and it will pull up a chapter registration form with all of your information already entered. Just choose a chapter name and location, and check the two boxes at the bottom of the page. Click continue, see if there are any items you’d like to order, and click Continue again.

The chapter upgrade is $19, since you already have your $20 membership. Please note: the chapter will have the same expiration date as your Supporting Member card. If your card is getting close to renewal, it is best to renew first, then upgrade. Enter your payment information, and click Process! Congratulations, you are now our newest Queen! Doesn’t it feel terrific?

We try to make your membership as easy and convenient as possible; you can do just about everything right there from your own computer, including renewing your membership! Just log in to the RHS website and click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, and select Renew Membership! For more detailed information, see question 3 for further details.

While we all know that being Queen is great, sometimes a Queen may choose to step down for any number of reasons.

In order for us to make the Queen change official, we need the current Queen of record to contact us and verify that she is resigning as Queen. She can contact us via email, or telephone. If it is via email, the email must come from the address that we have on file for her. She can call us toll-free at 866-3862850 (if outside the US, the number is 714-738-0001).

It is highly recommended that changes are made just prior to chapter renewals, so that we can send the renewal materials to the new Queen. If changes are made mid-year, the new Queen will be required to have a Supporting Membership ($20), as the Membership is non-transferable.

One of the most important things about being a Red Hatter is staying connected! The Queen-to-Queen (Q2Q) Broadcast is there to help you do just that:

Every month, Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen sends out an email to all current Queens. This email has stories about great chapters, advice from other Queens, and some words from Sue Ellen on a topic that's been buzzing around lately, whether that's difficult members, activity planning, or just keeping up with everything that's going on.

The Q2Q is a resource for all of our Queens, and we send it out to you in the hopes that it keeps your spirits high, your heart warm, and your hat Red!

Have you ever opened an email from a good friend and been delighted to find pictures attached? That's how we feel every time we get pictures and stories from you! We regret that we cannot use all of them in our Broadcasts and Red Hatter Matters, but we will use as many as possible. In any case, we do love to see and hear about what you're doing!

The best way to submit photos and stories is to email them to us. Just attach the story or photo to an email, and send it to: stories@redhatsociety.com

If you have trouble emailing the materials, just stick them in an envelope and mail to:

RHS Editor
431 S. Acacia Ave.
Fullerton, CA 92831

We regret that we cannot return photos, so if you mail them in, we recommend that you make duplicates for yourself.

Red Hat chapters come in every shape and size! Some chapters like to be open to everyone; some chapters prefer to remain as a small group of close friends. Some will grow to the point that they decide they are big enough and then close. This decision is completely up to the chapter; whatever is best for your group is fine!

Chapters that are open are listed in alphabetical order on the online chapter listings to make it easier for prospective members to find an open chapter.

If you want to change your chapter's listing, just click on Update Profile, then select how you want the chapter to be listed, and click on Update.

Everyone likes to brag about how wonderful their chapter is, and this is your place to do just that! The Royal Notes appear in each chapter's information on our online chapter listings. It's one of the first things that prospective members see, so it's a good place to mention a little about what your chapter does, and what makes your lovely ladies so special! The space is limited though, so just a sentence or two is enough.

If you are on the roster of an active chapter, you should receive the Broadcast every week. If you are not getting the Broadcast, there are several things you can do. First, make sure that Hatquarters has your correct email address.  Second, add the addresses RedHatNews@hatquarters.com and memberservices@redhatsociety.com to your email address book. Third, contact your email provider, and see if they’ve been blocking emails from us.

For a Supporting Member, chapters are optional. Many Supporting Members choose to participate in our online community, or participate in events without affiliating with a local chapter. If you would like to be involved with a local chapter, and are having difficulty contacting one, please let us know, and we will be happy to help you get connected. You can also upgrade your Supporting Membership to Queen, and start a chapter of your own!

Queens and Supporting Members have access to our Online Event Calendar. If you are a Queen or Supporting Member, log on to the RHS website, and click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, and select Event Calendar. For more detailed information, see question 5.

Only Queens and Supporting Members have username and password access to the RHS website. If you are a Queen or Supporting Member, you can retrieve your username and password on the website. Go to www.redhatsociety.com; in the upper left corner, you should see the login box. At the bottom of the box, you will see the links to private reminders of your username and password. If you have any trouble retrieving these from the website, please contact Hatquarters, and we will be happy to look up your information for you.

Just log in to the website with your username and password, and click Add Members to Chapter. You can add multiple members at a time; be sure to click Continue to confirm the members and add them to the roster. You will see a confirmation page and receive a confirmation email when the members have been added. For more detailed instructions, see question 3.

This means that the Member is a Supporting Member. You should also see an expiration date—this is when your chapterette is due to renew her Membership.

Queen and Supporting Member are the two Membership options in the RHS. Each includes access to the RHS website, online communities, special communications, and discounts. Click here to see the list of benefits for each Membership option.

We prefer to take orders online, and our site is very secure and easy to use. If you are unable to place your order online, or have questions that are not answered on the site, you can call us at 1-866-386-2850 (in U.S.) or 1-714-738-0001 (international). We also take mail orders: go to www.redhatsocietystore.com and click on Order Form at the top of the screen to download a printable order form. Please be aware: mail orders take longer to process than online orders.

We are happy to take international orders! Simply place your order through the website. Please be aware—international shipping varies by weight of the package. Select the International Shipping option. We will contact you with the shipping charge, once your order is weighed, for your approval.

Queens and Supporting Members receive a 10% discount on all orders from the RHS Online Store. We also occasionally send out emails with coupon codes to be entered on the Store site for extra discounts.

We do not have gift cards available; however, we are happy to ship your order to anyone. If an order is being shipped to any name other than the billing name, we will put a gift receipt in the box. At this time, we do not offer gift-wrapping.

Yes! Enter your billing information first, then you can add a different shipping address on the next page. If an order is being shipped to any name other than the billing name, we will put a gift receipt in the box. At this time, we do not offer gift-wrapping.

The Red Hat Society, like virtually every entity, has valuable intellectual property including trademarks and copyrights which must be protected to be preserved. There are many who would like to utilize this intellectual property for their own commercial purposes. The appropriate way to do this is through an agreement (such as a license) which permits the use of this intellectual property. Anyone who fails to follow this approach infringes upon the rights of the Red Hat Society, which is illegal.

This does not mean that other commercial entities cannot produce and sell products which are red and purple. It simply means that they cannot use RHS intellectual property in doing so and create confusion in the mind of the public as to whether what they are doing is related to RHS. They must determine whether they would be violating the rights of the RHS in what they do, and make sure that they don't.

RHS encourages legitimate product by others which appeals to our membership. There is a substantial amount of such product on the market, and we hope our members will enjoy it.

It’s a good idea to get in the habit of logging in as soon as you get to the website. This ensures that all your options are available to you from the very first! When you have logged in, you’ll see a box with your name in the top left of the website. Once you’ve logged in, click on “I’m Ready” under My Account. For detailed instructions... See question 3.

First of all, log in to the website, click on “I’m Ready” under My Account, then select “Access Member Benefits.” On that page, you should see a link for Super Savers; click that link, then click on the button labeled “Click here to search for Specific Discounts”.  This will pull up a new window.  If the window doesn’t pop up, you might need to check the settings on your internet browser.

In the new window, enter your city, state/province, or zip/postal code, then click on Start Saving!
The new screen will have a listing of the nearest discounts; be sure to take a look at those!
At the left of the screen, you’ll see a list, in red letters, of different categories: Dining, Shopping, Travel, Events & Attractions, Movie Tickets, and Top Web Deals. You can click any of these categories to see the listings.

There are two main kinds of discounts: repeat savings, and premium discounts. You get 50 premium discounts per year.  These are printable coupons that you can present for special savings. The repeatable discounts are good any time: just show the Entertainment logo on your card (it’s that little crown inside the diamond shape). Once you print a coupon, you have 14 days to use it before it expires.

Please note: the Movie Tickets section is a little different from the others. Select which movie theater you want tickets for, and select the quantity of tickets. The tickets will be mailed to you for a small shipping fee; you can order up to 12 from any theater. The tickets are passes that can be used for most movies.  (You may want to check with the local box office for specifics.)
The Top Web Deals section will show you online stores that give great discounts: you can find perfume, send flowers, order clothes, just to name a few. Just click on the deal that interests you, then select Get Discount, and start shopping!

One of the best things about the card is that it is good anywhere in North America! Visiting a friend in Florida? Taking a road trip down Route 66? Just enter your destination into the site, and find out what discounts you can use, either on your way or when you arrive. You might even find a great deal on a hotel room or a rental car!

Just to give you an idea of how you can benefit from Super Savers, here’s what would happen if Ruby RedHat wants to find out about the discounts available in Dallas, Texas. She enters Dallas, Texas on the address screen and clicks on Start Saving. This pulls up the main Super Saver page. If she wants to check out the dining options, she clicks on the red link on the left that says “Dining.” The menu expands, and Ruby sees a selection of the various cuisines available: in Dallas, there are options for American, Asian, Cajun, Indian, and Mexican food, just to name a few! She can select any type of cuisine, or just click on All Cuisines to see all available options. At the bottom of that list, she can select discounts by price range: fast food, casual dining, or fine dining.

Ruby is in the mood for Indian food, so she clicks on that link: a whole page of Indian restaurants comes up! Now Ruby has to decide which restaurant she wants to try: she can go for one that offers a premium discount, or she can try the one with repeatable savings. Ruby likes the premium discount best (for this restaurant, it’s a two-for-one dinner deal, so she can bring a friend along!) so she clicks on that discount.

The restaurant screen tells her a little bit about the place, offers a link to find a map to the location, and has a button saying Print, so she can print off her coupon.

Ruby decides to make it a real night on the town, and checks for other discounts. Under Shopping, she discovers that she can get 20% off a facial, and under Events, she finds a 50% off coupon for a local theatre!  She prints off her coupons, grabs her purse, and heads out the door to paint the town red!

When she comes home after a wonderful night out, she feels like doing a little shopping online. She logs back into Super Savers, and selects Top Web Deals, where she finds great deals at some of her favorite sites, and places her orders.

Having trouble? Scroll to the bottom of the main Super Savers page, and click on Contact. (It’s that little red link on the right).  Fill out the requested information, and describe your problem. Click on Send, and one of the Entertainment representatives will contact you soon!