For those ladies over 50

[Elizellen]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Well I attended my first meeting this afternoon and enjoyed it immensely.

My chapter is called the Scarlet Belles of Bournemouth and have a website here http://www.scarletbelles.blogspot.com/

We met at a local community centre five minutes walk away from our shop, so I set off down the road wearing one of my red hats to be welcomed by a lovely group of ladies of all ages over 50, who were very friendly and enthusiastic.

The chapter has been up and running for 6 months and were meeting to discuss plans for the next few months and the air was full of ideas such as going to the Xmas panto, an organ recital, a skittles/bowling trip as well as a Christmas dinner at a local hotel!

I only hope the events are on a day I can make it - they are to be daytime activities as most of the members are retired and free during the day rather than the evenings.

I sat next to another new member who had a familiar face but I couldnt remember where I had met her before, and during the conversation she asked me if I had travelled far to get to the meeting.

When I mentioned that I have the stained glass shop at the end of the road she said: "I know the lady who used to run that, do you know what she is doing now?". When I replied: "I still have the shop!" she had a hard time realising that I had lost so much weight that I was unrecognisable!!

I suppose I have got used to the 'new' me and forget just how different I used to be!!

Anyway I joined up on the spot and am now waiting to hear what dates the various activities are to be held and looking forward to joining in!

[dreamof145]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Oh, It sounds like you had such a wonderful time!! You really lucked out with it being so close to your shop! And to have the lady talk to you and not even realize that you are the same one who she'd met before.....I know that had to make your day!!

I hope you get to go to the Holiday parties. I like the name of your chapter! Thats neat and I love the website. I just know you are going to have a great time and make a lot of new friends. I can't wait to join my group and get active with it. Thanks for sharing your first meeting with me. I'll be sure to tell all about mine when it happens!

[Analog6]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Isn't it fun! I had another call yesterday and hopefully we are in the 'Social column' of the local paper again tomorrow - must remember to buy it.

[dreamof145]

Re: For those ladies over 50

I got a call today and they said they will have a meeting the 3rd week of October. She said she'd call and let me know time and place. Gosh....I have another 3 weeks to wait! At least I know when they do have the meeting, I'll be able to join!

[Elizellen]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Well at least you are one step closer now Becky!!

[Analog6]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Woohoo! We had 16 ladies to our second monthly get together! And some of the original ones were not there (told me they'd be away) and there are several more who are coming next month. Talk about hitting the ground running. This is great. I'll post some pics on my Photobucket site, there is a Red Hats sub-album. It is analog6 there too, just enter that in the search slot at the top of the page.

Next stop the Murwillumbah Racecourses Melbourne Cup day on 7th November.

[sallyseachange]

Re: For those ladies over 50

This is such a lovely bubbly thread! It's great to read about ladies having such fun. I'd never heard about the RHS before.

Congrats Odille on setting up your own branch!
Elizellen... glad your first outing was a success!

If I were in the UK, I'd join up for sure! What fun!

[Analog6]

Re: For those ladies over 50

You could start your own and have the first Italian Red Hat chapter!

[dreamof145]

Re: For those ladies over 50

WOW Odille, You really did hit on a good thing with your chapter! I'm so happy you have been able to organize such a wonderful group of women!

I'm still not a RED HAT, but I will be. Our meeting was cancelled for Oct, so I'm hoping that November will be my big month.

[sallyseachange]

Re: For those ladies over 50

You could start your own and have the first Italian Red Hat chapter!

Now there's a thought!

[Desertthorn]

Re: For those ladies over 50

I have a girlfriend who told me about the Red Hats years and when I read this thread I always think of her and her club, because the are over 50 and also sit on the curb and do their own thing. They are all clowns or wanna be clowns. Instead of wearing red hats, they go out to lunch and wear those glasses with the nose and mustash, or silly hats and the one meeting I went to they had the whole restaurant laughing. I came home with sore stomach muscles from laughing so hard.
When I was in Iraq they sent me a box of red noses, and silly joke stuff that the troops absolutely had a ball with.
Unfortunately they are in Calif and I am in Washington so I can't join but I think of them fondly.

Anyway Dream, there is no reason that you can't start your own group, thats the joy of it. Ask the ladies that you know, and they will ask a few and soon you'll have your own little group. Its easy and fun.
Looks like we have the starting of one on line group right here. LOL

[Analog6]

Re: For those ladies over 50

It just took off so fast and I have made some good friends. Wherever you go people come up and ask about it - both men and women. And the beauty is that if you are a memeber and you are travelling to a new area, you can go to the REd Hat website and email chapters where you are going that you are a visitor and often meet people that way as well. And it is such fun, somehow wearing clothes that are different and being with a group of people all doing it is very liberating - you feel somehow 'released'! Sorry, it's hard top explain.

I'm so glad I took the plunge to start it up. The day before the last meeting 4 of us went to the local Regional Art Gallery to see the Archibald exhibition (an annual national portrait competition, very prestigious, run in Sydney). While we were ther a lady came up to us and she was Vice Queen (don't you love THAT title!) of one of the Gold Coast groups, so they have emailed me and we are going to get together for big group activities.

It is all such fun. Becky, why not think of starting your own group. Cost is USD $25 (I think, I know it cost me AUD$53). I then prepared a media release and sent it by email to all the local papers, TV channels and radio stations (addresses easily obtainable over the net). I got 12-13 calls/emails from that, sent in a report and photo of our first meeting which was published in 5 sources that I know of, and the rest, as they say, is history. It is now growing from word of mouth.

And when people see us at the Melbourne Cup do I'm sure we'll garner new members. I made a web page too (www.noworriezoz.biz/tvredhatters.html) but you don't have to do that, many chapters have no web page.

[dreamof145]

Re: For those ladies over 50

WHOOOPPPPPEEEE, I got my phone call. I go to the RED HAT meeting this Friday night at the local Mexican Resturant!!!!! I bought a new purple pant suit and I have my red hat and I'm ready!!!!! I can't wait!!!! I'll tell you all about it when I get back.

[sallyseachange]

Re: For those ladies over 50

WOO HOO!! I'm sure you'll have a ball Becky!

[Elizellen]

Re: For those ladies over 50

Woohoo, Becky!!

I am sure you will have a great time and meet many new friends.