The spirit of the Red Hat Society forbids rules, per se. You don't have to limit your chapter to any particular size; you don't have to meet on any particular day or do any proscribed activities. In short, you can come up with your own royal titles, your own fun traditions and your own way of doing things within your chapter.

There are, however, some common-sense guidelines that we must insist upon:

• You must be a woman of 50 or over (or you may be a Pink Hatter under 50), and you must attend functions in full regalia, (red hat, purple outfit for women 50 and over, or pink hat and lavender outfit for women under 50).
• And, although we try not to concentrate on it too much, we do have some legalese you need to agree to in order to become a member. (Probably no more than any other group out there and unfortunately necessary.)

Steps to Getting Started

• Register your Chapter and establish a username/password for yourself as chapter queen, in order to make full use of the Red Hat Society website. (Queens are automatically Purple Perks members with their chapter registration / annual renewal fees). Register your chapter now »
• Dress up! Buy a red / pink hat for yourself and/or for someone else. Ladies are strongly encouraged to follow the age/color guidelines, and to not wear purple/red until they have reached THE BIRTHDAY.
• Reach out. Invite other women into your chapter.
  • List your chapter as open to new members on the Red Hat Society website and meet new women from all walks of life right in your immediate neighborhood.
  • Use this web site to meet and get to know other Red Hatters around the world. There is a special bulletin board (The Queen Mother Board) and chat room (Red Hat Chat) accessible to all chapter Queens and Purple Perks members for this very purpose.
• HAVE FUN! (Did we need to say it?) Plan fun events and go out with your chapter in your ensembles (also known as "full regalia"). And watch the magic that ensues!
• Create your chapter roster online and use the features of this website to send emails to your members. If you don't want to do it yourself, have your members sign themselves up online, by phone or by mail, using the Chapter ID# that is on your chapter charter certificate.

Registration Materials
Your registration materials will contain all kinds of information to help you get started, including:

• One Official Red Hat Society collectible Chapter Charter, signed by the Exalted Queen Mother, Sue Ellen Cooper, and the Esteemed Vice Mother, Linda Murphy.
• One Purple Perks full color plastic membership card (included in the chapter cost) printed with your name and individual ID number and a year's Purple Perks benefits for the Chapter Queen.
• One year's chapter website listing on the searchable Red Hat Society Official Chapter list at www.redhatsociety.com. New potential members and other chapters can find your chapter here.
• One Queen's Information Kit. This kit is a comprehensive collection of fun fabulous suggestions to help you off to a royal start. Everything in one handy place that you may take with you everywhere to use over and over again all year. It provides a clear and concise overview of who we are.
  The kit contains:
  • A Membership Guide
  • How it all began
  • How to get started
  • How to stay connected
  • Ways to play
  • Membership explained for your new members
  • Overview of Benefits
  • Our Traditions
  • Other great stuff
• Manage your chapter online at your leisure (you know, in the middle of the night in your PJs. You can renew your chapter, order chapter materials, member pins, update your chapter information, add your members to your online chapter roster, print your roster or send an email to all your chapterettes with just a click of a mouse.

Queen Package - For our Queens
Cost: $46.00 (Value: $69.00)
Chandelle Boa Marabou Fan Fingerless Lace Gloves Kazoo Official Jeweled Queen Pin Rhinestone Queen with Crown Pin Tattoo Logo Car Magnet (Hat Stand not included) Total value of the package is $69.00. As a Queen of the RHS, you get it for only $46.00, a savings of over 33%!!! This package contains nearly everything you could want to get started as Queen or to put new pizzazz in your current regalia. Pair the gorgeous boa with the sassy fingerless lace gloves and carry the flirty marabou fan just for fun. You will look marvelous! One of our favorite items is the beautiful rhinestone Queen with Crown Pin which we know you will wear with pride! Please click the image to see a larger image and full description of the package contents. All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For a limited time shipping is FREE! Order now!

Royal Package - For Red Hat Members
Cost: $46.00 (Value: $69.00)
Chandelle Boa Rhinestone RHS Pin Velvet Fringe Burnout Shawl Tattoo Kazoo Logo Car Magnet Total value of the package is $69.00. As a Member of the RHS, you get it for only $46.00, a savings of over 33%!!! This package includes a fabulous square velvet burnout shawl with long, long fringe. Toss it across a chair, dance with it around your hips, or drape over your shoulders on those cool nights; you'll love the versatility of this piece. It comes in the most perfect shade of red to accent all of your purple regalia. We think you'll also like the RHS pin that spells out our name in rhinestones. It is large enough to see atop your hat and light-weight enough to wear on your shirt or sash. When you’re on the go, don’t forget to take the logo car magnet off the refrigerator and put it on your car as you head off for your next gathering. Of course, we understand that RHS life wouldn’t be complete without a great boa so there's a fluffy one tucked in just for you. (Just the shawl in this package retails for $40.00 so it’s a great deal!) This package is suitable for our Red Hatter members and Queens. Please click the image to see a larger image and full description of the package contents. All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For a limited time shipping is FREE! Order now!

Pinkies Package - For our Pink Hat Ladies-in-Waiting
Cost: $46.00 (Value: $69.00)
Chandelle Boa Velvet Fringe Burnout Shawl Tattoo Pink Hat Car Magnet New Pink Hat Name Badge Kazoo Total value of the package is $69.00. As a RHS Member, you get it for only for $46.00, a savings of over 33%!!! This special package has been selected just for you! Every Lady-in-Waiting needs a bodacious boa in pink so naturally we’ve include it but the core item of this package is a luscious square velvet burnout shawl with long silky fringe. When you are not wearing it or tying it around your hips for a casual look, toss it over a table or drape it on the back of a favorite chair and let it be a feast for the eyes as well. You won't want to hide this piece away in a drawer. With all this pink and lavender, you are sure to shine at your very next event! Please click the image to see a larger image and full description of the package contents. All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For a limited time shipping is FREE! Order now!