Red Hat Society Turns 10; 'Beautiful Bodacious Belles' Celebrate In Royal Style - # - MyPaperNow.com

Your Stories. Your Life.

"Local News With Heart" / Join Us In The Journey ©

Email: linda.MyPaperNow@yahoo.com

Posted by LINDA CHION KENNEY: Six months after their mother, Betty Neal, died, Diana Latham and her sister, Carol Matthews, started the Beautiful Bodacious Belles of Brandon (Florida) chapter of the Red Hat Society. "Mother always instilled in us that friends are forever," Latham said. "She enjoyed having fun." The club was formed April 19, 2005 and had its first "event" that May. The Red Hat Society, from a handful of women going out and having fun, has grown into an international organization of thousands of women. The group's 10th anniversary fell on April 25, 2008. Visit: http://www.redhatsociety.com.

gallery pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 >

< 1 of 51 >

JoAnn Harris, sporting her "derby hat," is a member of the Beautiful Bodacious Belles of Brandon chapter of the Red hat Society. Each member is asked to select a name of royalty that best suits her. Harris' choice? "Princess Free Spirit."

The Beautiful Bodacious Belles of Brandon, with Honorary Mayor of Brandon George T. May IV. May attended the Red Hat Society chapter's meeting April 24 to read a proclamation in honor of both the local chapter and the internaional Red Hat Society. Members in attendance (alphagetically) are: Bonnie Brocksmith, Karen Evans, Carol Grim, JoAnn Harris, Ruthie Humphries, Lou Martindale, Dinah Martinez, Shari Moore, Patty Peters, Noreen Radwancky, Jackie Roberts, Yvonne Robinson, Victoria Snyder and Donna Todd. Not able to attend the April 24 meeting were chapter members: June Evans, Jeannie Frederick, Alice Hillman, Karen Kramer, Carol Matthews, Carolyn Mulligan, Linda Owens, Betty Pease, Leigh Ann Plumley and Linda Walker.

The "Red Hat Society Proclmation" recognizes that on April 25, 1998, the five "tea-drinking women" who met "wearing purple outfits with red hats." The Red Hat Society today, 10 years later, the proclamation notes, boasts a membership of "hundreds of thousands of women in over 30 countries."

The Red Hat Society rules are simple: To chapter "events" you were red hats and purple clothing if you're age 50 or over. Younger members wear pink hats and lavendar clothing. "We don't have 'meetings' becaues we're a disorganization (not an organization)," member Karen Evans said. Added club co-founder Diana Latham: "The one rule is we have no rules."

Diana Latham, the "Queen Mum" of the Bodacious Belles of Brandon chapter of the Red Hat Society. The group met April 24, 2008 to have a good time and to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the internationally known Red Hat Society. Honorary Mayor of Brandon George T. May IV issued a proclamation in the group's honor.

Honorary Mayor George T. May IV dons a red hat for the occasion.

George T. May IV, also known as the Honorary Mayor of Brandon, reads the "Red Hat Society Proclamation" he wrote in honor of the "second women's movement" and it's "growth of friendships second to none."

The Queen Mum, left, Diana Latham, holds the Red Hat Society Proclamation. Seated next to her, from left to right, are Bonine Brocksmith and Jackie Roberts.

In front, from left to right, are Bonnie Brocksmith and Jackie Roberts. In back, from left, are Victoria Snyder and Carol Grim. Roberts wears a pink hat because she's under age 50. The 29-year-old was looking for a club she could join with her mother, Yvonne Robinson. She spotted Lou Martindale, wearing a red hat, at a Brandon restaurant and shouted, "Red Hat lady! Red Hat, lady!" As Roberts explained it: "I ran after her because I wanted to join the Red Hat Society. I wanted to find something fun to do with my mother, where we could go meet nice people and have a good time."

JoAnn Harris, sporting her "derby hat," is a member of the Beautiful Bodacious Belles of Brandon chapter of the Red hat Society. Each member is asked to select a name of royalty that best suits her. Harris' choice? "Princess Free Spirit."

Nikon D40 |

More details: exif |

Original size: 1897x2000 |

Current: 569x600 |

Share photo: links, forums, blogs |

gallery pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 >

< 1 of 51 >

Comments