The Plumerix Chronicles - April 2026 Edition

News & Notes — April 2026

A message from the Red Hat Society for our month of joy, friendship, and fearless celebration.

Whenever I think about April, I immediately think of laughter — not just any laughter, but that kind of untamable, full-body, wipe-your-eyes-and-catch-your-breath laughter that only happens when you're with your people. The kind that bubbles out unexpectedly and transforms a normal afternoon into a cherished memory. The kind that feels like sunshine breaking through clouds.

The kind that immediately makes someone turn and say, "That must be the Red Hatters." I have always believed that laughter is our Society's unofficial international language.

This month's theme, "Laughter Heard 'Round the World," couldn't be more fitting for 2026. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and reflect on the growing global reach of the Red Hat Society — and as we joyfully mark our 28th birthday as a Society built on friendship, fun, and fearless joy — I have never been more aware of how laughter connects us across oceans, cultures, time zones, and generations.

One of the most powerful memories I have from my early years as a member happened at an international gathering. There were women from Canada, the UK, New Zealand, and across the U.S. We had different accents, different phrases, different styles of hats — but once the first joke landed, everyone was laughing the same laugh.

I remember looking around the room and thinking, This is unity. Not the political kind, but the joyful kind… the kind that rises above language and age and geography and settles directly into the heart.

Every time I hear Hatters laugh together, it reminds me of spring — the call of a single bird, answered by another, then another, until the whole sky feels alive. Laughter works the same way. One giggle, one snort, one cackle and suddenly the whole room is filled with it.

And my goodness, do Red Hatters know how to laugh.

In fact, I'm convinced that if you placed Hatters in every corner of the globe and simply told them a funny story at the same time, the resulting sound would wrap around the planet like a ribbon of joy circling the world in one bright burst of color.

This month, as chapters gather to celebrate spring, I want you to think about the power of your laughter. Not just its volume (though many of you could rival a marching band), but its meaning. Laughter is a sign of resilience. Of healing. Of letting go. Of trust. If you can belly-laugh with someone, you have found safety and belonging. And that is something women don't always get in other spaces.

I've witnessed moments where laughter softened grief, eased loneliness, or broke through walls of fear. I've watched Hatters who felt shy or uncertain at the start of a luncheon end the day laughing so hard they had to hold onto their hats. Laughter brings us back to ourselves.

And this month, especially, I want to honor the ways our sisters around the world carry joy in their communities. The way UK Hatters turn tea time into stand-up comedy. The way Canadian Hatters laugh even when it's snowing sideways. The way Southern Hatters can turn one funny hat mishap into a 45-minute story. The way our chapters in small towns and large cities alike know how to take an ordinary afternoon and fill it with sparkle.

In a year dedicated to independence and history, let's celebrate the kind of joy that transcends history. The kind that brings women together. The kind that echoes through generations.

Let's make April the month where laughter becomes our anthem — the sound that unites us. Because when we laugh, the world hears us. And when the world hears us, it remembers that joy is courageous.

Let's laugh loudly, boldly, and unapologetically this month. Let's let the world know that Red Hatters are here — hats high, spirits bright, and laughter ready to carry across continents.

Let's make April a celebration of joy.

With Love,

Michelle Lee, Queen Plumerix President of the Red Hat Society We are Stronger Together