Thursday, June 16, 2011

How It Started


Oh, Yes!  We are “Cool Cats,” or so we think!

“The Georgia Girls Red Hatters”  was first organized as “The Mad Hatters” as a chapter of the National Red Hat Society. We are located in the Pembroke-Ellabell areas of Georgia; and we are open to new members. Ladies of all ages are welcome.  Those who are 50 years of age or older wear red hats and purple attire; and ladies under 50 wear pink and lavender.  The only Rules of the Red Hatters are:  “There are no Rules!”  Red Hatters are ladies who have learned to handle aging with grace and anticipation of fun and excitement rather than to avoid it.  Therefore, we all dress up in our red hats and purple outfits and GO FOR THE FUN !!

How It All Started

The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with vivacity, humor, and impetuous ardor.  We believe silliness is the comedy relief of life; and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together. Underneath the frivolity, we share a bond of affection, forged by common life experiences, and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes us next.

A Red Hatters chapter is often referred to fondly as a "dis-organization," though we have been forced to impart a degree of order to our operations.


Our group was begun on April 14, 2005, by Marsha Clark and Sue Cliett in Bryan County, Georgia, when they met at the Pembroke Library with eight friends and took inspiration from a popular poem entitled "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, which begins "When I am an old woman...."   Since the poem mentions wearing a red hat and purple attire, they and their friends formed a group that met monthly to participate in some form of entertainment in their red hats and purple dresses—in public, of course! 


Marsha Clark was elected Queen Mother; Sue Cliett became our Historian/ Scrapbook Creator; and Gloria Carter was appointed News Article Writer/Scrapbook Narrator.  Marsha organized our group of ten members, then fondly named The Mad Hatters.  We became Official Charter Members of The National Red Hat Society on August 6, 2005.  Marsha led the Chapter for five years, then resigned as Queen Mother in 2010.

Upon Marsha’s resignation, Gloria Carter was elected Queen Mother in 2010: 


Also in 2010, the Mad Hatters voted to rename their Chapter, the “Georgia Girls Red Hatters.”  Today the Georgia Girls consist of eight members and continue to meet monthly in various local places on fourth Thursday nights of each month.  We are still active, still having FUN, and still wearing PURPLE and RED!

Gloria Carter
Queen Mother

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