Kathy Bee & Sue Ellen Cooper

In 1997, Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, Calif., presented the poem and a vintage red fedora to a friend as a 55th birthday gift.
Five months later, Cooper and five friends decided to wear red hats and purple dresses to afternoon tea in honor of the poem. As more and more women joined these outings, Cooper encouraged them to start their own groups. A phenomenon -- and for-profit business -- was born.

Stats:

• Nearly 40,000 chapters exist in the U.S. in all 50 states and in 30 foreign countries.
• It is estimated that each chapter averages about 20-25 members.
• Membership is primarily women 50 years and older. Their full regalia include red hats and purple clothing. Women younger than 50 are identified as Pink Hatters and wear pink hats and lavender outfits.
• Red Hat Society is made up of a diverse network of women including working women and retirees, grandmothers, golfers, attorneys, teachers, Olympians and entertainers.
• The Red Hat Society has licensing agreements with a dozen companies to produce quality merchandise available at the Red Hat Society Store and select retail stores throughout the United States. Product is identifiable by a tag bearing the official Red Hat Society logo.

Fun Facts:

• Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper reaches more than 125,000 Red Hatters each week through the Friday Broadcast, a personal e-mail updating members with news from Hatquarters and escapades of Red Hat Society members around the world.
• Sue Ellen Cooper also sends a personal monthly broadcast to all Queens entitled Queen To Queen. This is a communique for all queens to share ideas, plans and ask questions.
• HATS! The Musical For The Rest Of Your Life premiered October 11, 2006 at the New Denver Civic Theatre and is touring other cities for limited engagements. The current schedule includes New Orleans, January 25 – April 22, 2007; Chicago, April 29 – June 10, 2007; with more engagements to come.
• Red Hat Society Travel has also launched a "Cruise on Us" Program, designed to help our members cruise for free! To participate, a member gathers a group of 15 Red Hatters, family or friends for a cruise. As a reward, the self-made cruise director cruises for free!
• The official Red Hat Society Day is celebrated April 25th by official chapters worldwide.

Many of the society's thousands of members have gathered for special occasions. They are very easy to spot in their puple attire sporting red hats.

Kathy Sang Her "Red Hat Mamma" Song For The Founders Of The Red Hat Society In Fullerton, CA
& The Victorian Red Htters Of Lavern, CA with Queen Josie Silva.