Welcoming a New Member

Welcoming a New Member

New members can be welcomed with a ceremony where they can be presented with their name-badge and officially be given their Royal name.  You may also like to give them a Red Hatter survival kit.  There are pledges/vows the new member can take as well.  These can be tailored to your needs.

For the ceremony, you can call the member forth.  You may like to have a red carpet (length of red fabric or scarf/sarong/pashmina), with the chapter members standing along each side to form a walkway.  Members can hold (closed) umbrellas/parasols up to form an archway.

The Queen should say some words of greeting to the new member.

 The 10 Red Hatter commandments could be read:

1. Thou shalt use they Red Hat powers for good deeds (bring joy and laughter to all you meet).

2. Thou shalt eat thy favorite foods, including chocolate.  After all, diet is just a four letter word.

3. Thou shalt be a kindred spirit in your sisterhood.  Keep your confidences and friendships strong.

4. Thou shalt put on the glitz!  Wear purple glory, big red hats, flashy jewelry, and feathers:  be a Dame!

5. Thou shalt play.  Be young in heart and mind and your body will follow – at least most of the time!

6. Thou shalt welcome the curious and explain the wonders of Red Hat to all who ask, especially small children and handsome men.

7. Thou shalt accept the things you cannot change, big or small.  We’re good at rolling with the punches.

8. Thou shalt aspire to anything in life at any age.  It’s never too late to skydive.

9. Thou shalt honour they age and the need to be a little bad.

10. Thous shalt repeat the first nine commandments, over and over and over.

The member should take a pledge/vow (see examples below), which can be in the form of the Queen asking and the member responding (“Do you swear to …” and the “I do” response), or the member can be given the pledge to read from.  It is customary for the member to hold their right hand on their hat while making the pledge.

After this the Queen can make an announcement that the new person is now a member of their chapter.  Cheering and playing the kazoos may follow.

Pledge example #1

“I solemnly swear that I will greet middle age with verve, humour and elan.  I will take my silliness seriously as it is the comic relief of life in the spirit of friendship and sisterhood.  Join my red/pink hat sisters as we go for the gusto together.  And beneath the frivolity we will share a bond of affection, common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for life and living.”

Pledge example #2

We do solemnly promise on our red hats, that we will do the best to uphold the spirit of the ………(name of the group/chapter) and Red hatting.  And proudly wear the colours – purple outfits (lavender) and red (pink) hats, at all our functions.  And never take our hats off, even though it gives us hat hair.”

Pledge example #3

“I ………, pledge to have fun, and only fun with the ……..Red Hat group/chapter.  I offer friendship to my Red Hat sisters and respect the ideals of the Society.  I will wear my full regalia of purple (lavender) outfit with my red (pink) hat to all chapter gatherings”

Pledge example #4

“I …….., not solemnly, but with a silly grin, pledge to uphold the spirit of Red hatting and have fun while participating with my Red Hat sisters.  I will proudly wear my regalia of purple/lavender outfit with my red/pink hat and will participate and give all that I can with my red heart.”

Pledge example #5

“I ………., pledge to wear my colours proudly, never be ashamed of having fun, and show my spirit of adventure at dressing up and trying something new.  I will forget the troubles of the outside world and turn back the hand of time and reach inside for the little girl within me.  I will laugh, giggle and enjoy in play and treat all fellow Red hatters with hattitude and show honour amongst my hatter sisters.”

Pledge example #6

” ………, being of somewhat sound mind, and desiring to have more fun in the prime of my life, do solemnly swear to uphold the ideals of the RHS, as soon as I figure out what they are.”

Pledge example #7

“I ………, not solemnly but with a silly grin, pledge on my red/pink hat to have fun, and only fun, with ……………  I will uphold the spirit by proudly wearing to all gatherings the full regalia of a purple/lavender outfit with an accompanying red/pink hat, even if I look horrific in purple/lavender.  I promise to never take off my hat at gatherings, even though it gives me hat hair.  I will do more than just belong.  I will participate and give all that I can with my red heart.  I will be more than friendly, I will be a friend in sisterhood to all the Hatters.”

Pledge example #8

I vow to embrace this time in my life as the beginning of the best.  I will reserve at least one day of each month for me.  Accept chocolate as a main food group.  Consider dessert as the main course of a meal.  I will do my best not to take life too seriously.  I choose to laugh as often as possible.  I believe that fun is an essential in life.  I welcome the Red Hat adventures that await me.  I accept the friendships that are around me.  I will be a dedicated Red hatter!”

Pledge example #9

“Do you solemnly promise on your red hat, that you will do your best, to uphold the spirit of ………. and the Red Hat Society and proudly wear the colours at all our functions and never take your hat off, even though it gives you hat hair?

Do you agree to deal with growing more mature with humour and to take our foolishness seriously?  Do you promise to speak only of pleasant subjects at The Grateful Reds gatherings?  Do you join in the spirit of friendship and sisterhood as we bond together affectionately, by common, been there, done that and with real enthusiasm for whatever comes next?”

Pledge example #10

“I …………, a royal subject of the Red Hat Society, do hereby pledge:

To wear my red hat colours proudly.  To never be ashamed of having fun.  To show my spirit of adventure at dress-ups by trying something new.  To forget the troubles of the “outside” world during dress-ups.  To turn back time and reach for the little girl inside of me.  To giggle, laugh, dress-up, and play.  To treat not only my chapter, but all other chapters of the Red Hat Society with hattitude that shows honor among all my hatter sisters.”

A Red Hat Invitation

This is a heartfelt invitation

Made especially to you

The Red Hat Society wants you

To become a member too.

We want you in this chapter

Because you are a women of the world.

You now can do and think things

You couldn’t as a girl.

As a group we all love our

“Dis-organization”

To think of “us” and just have fun

Is a completely new sensation!

The only rule is that there are no rules

To qualify your fun

Come on in and join us now

The fun has just begun.

Always wear your purple ensemble

And an outrageous red hat too

We make a statement in our full regalia

That some other clubs don’t do

Like come on in and find friendship

On almost every face.

Our group is based on sisterhood

Not fame or wealth or race.

And when you are a red hat

You’ll never be lonely again

Cause no matter where you go

You can find a red hat friend.