Proclamations

Ladies of the Ruby Belles Court

Queen LindyLou Proclaims
The Ruby Belles is not 'My' Chapter
It is 'Our' Chapter

The title is usual for whoever starts a Red Hat Chapter

Please always think of me first as Linda 

I will always sign my name
Linda Queen LindyLou

Friends ~ We are aware that we have a number of ladies who enjoy being part of the Ruby Belles but are unable to join us at many of our Dinners or Events

Linda Queen LindyLou feels it’s unfair that we have Belles who pay full membership but for numerous reasons can rarely join us

We value all our members and always sorry when ladies decide to leave we do however feel  that our new Friends Membership will encourage ladies who do not get out to play too often to stay with us

Friends will remain on our e-mail list and receive The Chimes each month so they can keep up to date with all our forthcoming events

Conditions Apply ~ We would expect ladies who join or renew as A Friend of the Ruby Belles to be those ladies who attend no more than 6 events during the year                          (excluding the Christmas Dinner)

Members of Sister Chapters ~  We  offer an open invitation to members of other Chapters who may at anytime come along and join us for lunch, dinner and participate in our events. We do hope whilst enjoying the benefits of such an active Chapter as the Ruby Belles they would like to show their support for us by becoming Friends of the Ruby Belles of Witham

They too will then also receive a copy of The Chimes each month and be added to our e-mail list

We Can Never Have Enough Friends

So many of you tell me the Ruby Belles have changed your lives and in so many different ways and I can’t tell you  how good that makes me feel, thank you for your kind sentiments

It is good to have a friend to share the good and the less good times with and to know others care. Often the most confident of us can feel a sense of loneliness and the lonely a lack of confidence, some find it difficult to trust others whilst some wear their hearts on  their sleeves

What we all need  is a safe haven , a circle of friendship and if that is what you are finding within the Ruby Belles then we are achieving the true meaning of Red Hatting

I would like each of you to look at our lists of Founder Members and Courtiers and think to yourselves ‘Do I know who each lady is?’ and ponder upon the names and  think ‘Have we chatted yet?’  ‘Does she know who I am?’’ Have we ever really had a conversation?.  You see  many of us come along to events with our friends, we  naturally sit with the ladies we have found  friendship with either before  Red Hatting or since joining the Ruby Belles , so it is easy to forget the ladies who do come along alone, yes they sit near us at Dinners and no one is left out of conversations  but often  without us even realizing someone who most needs our friendship may be left on the edge . I would  really like you all to think  ‘Out of the Hat’ and  go into our second year  not  always choosing the ‘safe’ option of sitting with your trusted friends  but as often as possible  making a conscious individual decision  to sit with a lady you have not previously had chance to get to know better  Linda, Queen LindyLou

The Red Hat Society is different to other ladies groups, it's not about committee's or recording and approving minutes

However the monthly dinner dates are a good forum to bring matters and reminder's to your attention, I try my best to keep these announcements to a minimum

Please remember whilst many of you may feel I'm repeating the content of my e-mails, please do remember that we do have ladies in our chapter who have no access to the Internet at all. They rely on my making such announcements at our Gatherings
 
As you know I am quite softly spoken and I obviously do not wish to be raising my voice, with respect may I ask for your patience and request a refrain from chatting whilst I am making such announcements

The quicker I am able to deal with the business side the quicker we can all get back to chatting and enjoying our gatherings

With Thanks Linda, Queen LindyLou

Announcement November 2008

Currently there are three levels of Membership

1) Queen $39 ~ this is the Registration Fee that 'we' pay in 'my' name to officially register our Chapter

I (we) receive a Chapter Charter quarterly Newsletters (which are now electronic so I have to download & print at my own expense) and the entitlement for me to be Queen of an Official RHS Chapter and use all boards on their website, plus the use of the RHS name and logo also use of a Purple Perks Discount Shopping Card (valid only in the USA)

2) Purple Perks Member $20 ~ this entitles members to wider use of the RHS website plus the Discount Card (valid only in the USA). Plus the use of the RHS Name & Logo

3) Free Membership via inclusion on the Queen's Chapter Rosta

Use of the RHS Name & Logo

From 1 December there is NO Free Membership

Queen's Chapter Registration Membership will remain the same

New Supporting Membership is $20 

Your Alternatives Are:

1) Be A Supporting Member of the Red Hat Society
This Means...........

A) You Continue to be a member of the Ruby Belles, whilst at the same time (having paid your $20 fee) you are an official supporting member of the Red Hat Society

B) This entitles you to ......
(i) Attend and join in with all official Red Hat Society organised events such as Conventions whether in the U K or Abroad   
(ii) Visit other Red Hat Society Chapters in an official capacity as a Supporting Member in the UK and Abroad
(iii) Receive digital quarterly Newsleters, Friday Broadcasts, discounts on original RHS products
(iv) Gain access to the RHS website including the Queen Mother Board, Events Calendar and all other new and ongoing features 
(V)Wear Purple and Red and display official RHS logo's and badges, eg. anything that the RHS holds a trademarks for
(vi) You will receive a Red Hat Society Membership / Discount Card ( valid only in the USA)

2) Be a Member of The Ruby Belles of Witham only
This means.........

A) You now become a member of The Ruby Belles of Witham, and do not pay any membership fees to the Red Hat Society

B) You may NOT represent yourself as a member of the Red Hat Society, ONLY as a member of The Ruby Belles of Witham
(i) You may attend any events organised by The Ruby Belles of Witham
(ii) You may attend British Red Hatters Conventions unless the organisor states delagates are required to be Supporting Members
(iii) You may attend Meet and Greets, Events organised by other Chapters unless the organisor states participants are required to be Supporting Members
(iv) You may wear Red and Purple as before 
(v)  You may wear items bearing the official Red Hat Society trademarked logo's and badges purchased prior to 1/12/2008
(as part of the cost you paid when purchasing the item is to cover the licence fee the manafacture/wholesaler and/or retailer has already paid to the Red Hat Society in order they may use the trademark when supplying the item)
(vi) After 1/12/2008 You may not purchase and wear official Red Hat Society trademarked logo's and badges that either the Wholesaler or Retailer has stipulated the items are for sale to  Full and Supporting Members of the Red Hat Society Only

Please feel free to choose your own option 

Linda, Queen LindyLou 

Purple On The Shoulder and Red On The Head

I am so pleased that we are entering the second year of the Ruby Belles together

As we do so I have found that for the harmony and continued long life of our Chapter I must issue  a Royal Request that with respect I ask you all to take heed of

The novelty of the Red Hat Society is there are no rules and  regulations that ’every’ chapter must adhere too, we can and do ‘Do Our Own Thing’, after all it would be boring if we all play & dress exactly in the same way!    
We are the Red Hat Society!

Our Red Hats or Headwear define our organization!

Recently there has been many comments passed about the dress code, to me and directly by members to members, this has caused me great distress as it has done to those involved

               THIS MUST STOP HERE AND NOW!

Many U S A, Canadian and Aussies do dress ALL in purple 

The ‘Official’ line is ‘Purple on the Shoulder and Red on the Head’

We are the ‘Ruby Belles’ and I am your Queen and no longer  prepared to tolerate any member comparing us or suggesting we should follow any other Queen’s or Chapters U K or Worldwide          

                     WE DO OUR OWN THING!

None of the Ladies of the Ruby Belles are ever ‘over dressed’

The ladies who have found the confidence to embrace whole heartedly the ‘Colours’ all look Fabulous!

The more reserved amongst us all look equally Fabulous too

My Dear Ruby Belles

As the world enters a new Decade and the Ruby Belles go forward together into 2010 and beyond  
I wish you all Friendship, Joy, Health & Wealth
May our dreams always come true and if they don't then I am sure we will be there to support each other

I look forward to sharing another year of fun & frivolity with you all and hope ladies who have not had chance to join us so often in 2009 will be back amongst us in 2010

I also hope to welcome new members, overseas Red Hatters at Meet & Greets and spend more time with ladies from other local Red Hat Chapters

Love & Hugs Linda

Queen LindyLou

As we enter 2009 my hope is that the Ruby Belles can go from strength to strength, enjoying more fun times together, experiencing new adventures, stretching ourselves and our minds with fun & frivolity, uniting in colourful wave of purple and red with smiles in our hearts and bringing smiles to all we meet along the way  

Our popularity  is a sign that we are enjoying each others company and getting to know each other better and forging new friendships

I think of us all as individual petals on a very special species of flower, the beautiful Ruby Belle, each petal keeping  the whole blooming, we have lost a few of our petals over 2008, and we will miss those ladies but all have left because of other commitments rather than just dropped off for lack of nourishment and we continue to gather new petals, each making the flower fuller and more glorious  and they refresh us with their company

We continue to Meet and Greet Red Hatters from other parts of the UK and Overseas, these are always fun events, alongside this we have Regional & National Events to attend which give us more chances to meet and enjoy the company of other Red Hatters

The fun we enjoy with  Margaret Queen Millsy and the Purple Pearls is much appreciated 

Our own website has been a run away success with almost 15,000 hits in the first three months, being viewed worldwide as you send the link to all your family and friends. I know  the ladies in our twin Chapters, Dallas Fort Worth Red Hats USA, Red Hat Mommas Bribie Island Queensland and Caboolture Shangri-lars Queensland are enjoying keeping up with our activities

Please remember if your travelling abroad and wish to meet sister Red Hatter’s let me know and I will try & find you contacts

The recent financial troubles within the Red Hat Society continue, though measures have been taken in order that they become more financially sound in the future. The disagreements in respect of the ‘Supporting Members ‘ issues continue however the furore they initially caused has now mostly disappeared with most Queens respecting each other’s choices on the issue

We Are The Ruby Belles
Together We Are Strong
2009 Awaits Us All!