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 Queen's/Membership Guide (Full of information to your Red Hat with ease) It contains:
    • 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.

RHS Car Package
Cost: $29.99
Total retail value of this package is $40.00 As a Supporting Member of the RHS, you get it for only $29.99, a savings of 25%! NEW! Our first RHS Car package, just for you! You can't find this package anywhere else. Looking to show off your Red Hat Society pride? Looking to attract new members? Want to stand out in the crowd without standing in the crowd? This is the package for you. 2 RHS car flags, RHS License Plate, 2 RHS car logo magnets. Your car will be so happy! All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For orders shipped outside of the US. International shipping charges may apply. Price(s)include all applicable sales tax.

Queen's Package Sale
Cost: $39.99
Total retail value of this package is $60.00. As a Member of the RHS, you get it for only $39.99, a savings of 33%! We have redesigned our RHS Queen's package, just for you! You can't find this package anywhere else. The Queen should have the right to dress up. With this exclusive Red/Puprle/Lurex Boa,RHS Crown Pin and Oversized Clear Stone Bracelet and of course the official Queen's pin. You will be the Belle of the ball or you can go out and about. You have made an excellent choice. The sky is the limit and it's all about Fun, Friendship, Freedom and Fulfillment. All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For orders shipped outside of the US. International shipping charges may apply. Price(s)include all applicable sales tax.

Member Package Sale
Cost: $39.99
Total retail value of this package is $60.00. As a Member of the RHS, you get it for only $39.99, a savings of 33%! We have redesigned our RHS Supporting Membership package, just for you! You can't find this package anywhere else. It comes with a beautiful oversized Red/Purple Bracelet, RHS Rhinestone Pin and RHS everyday Initial Pin. If that wasn't enough you can parade proudly with the RHS Hand-Held Logo Flag and Iron-On Patch. Wow! You made the right choice in ordering this one. All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For orders shipped outside of the US. International shipping charges may apply.

RHS Logo Package
Cost: $24.99
Total retail value of this package is $33.00. As a Supporting Member of the RHS, you get it for only $24.99, a savings of 25%! We have redesigned our RHS Logo package to include NEW items you can't find anywhere else! Our newly redesigned ECO bag is a wonderful way to carry your Red Hat items around town while wearing the RHS Iron-On Patch and Initial Pin proudly. Adorn your refrigerator with the RHS Logo Magnet and make your chapterettes green with envy. This package also includes 1 RHS Hand Held Flag to for you to parade around in style. You can't go wrong with this package! All products and colors are subject to change with availability. For orders shipped outside of the US. International shipping charges may apply