{"id":100412,"date":"2022-08-24T12:28:24","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T19:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmu.aan.mybluehost.me\/?page_id=100412"},"modified":"2026-01-05T13:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T21:38:05","slug":"starting-your-chapter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/starting-your-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting Your Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row us_custom_4224a222 height_small\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_middle type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-4 vc_col-lg-2 wpb_column vc_column_container purple-bg-circle-left stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_image us_custom_649a9330 as_circle has_ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2337\" src=\"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/7.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/><div style=\"padding-bottom:100%\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-8 vc_col-lg-10 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h1 class=\"w-text\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Starting Your Chapter<\/span><\/span><\/h1><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row us_custom_5fb9c346 height_medium with_shape\" id=\"info-for-members\"><div class=\"l-section-shape type_custom pos_top\" style=\"height:15vw;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"3300\" height=\"697\" viewBox=\"0 0 3300 697\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n  <defs>\n    <style>\n      .cls-2 {\n        fill: #a12348;\n        fill-rule: evenodd;\n      }\n    <\/style>\n  <\/defs>\n  <path class=\"cls-2\" d=\"M9960,2831s-2533.89,56.11-3310-640v697H9963Z\" transform=\"translate(-6654 -2191)\"\/>\n<\/svg><\/div><div class=\"l-section-shape type_custom pos_bottom\" style=\"height:10vw;\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"3300\" height=\"157\" viewBox=\"0 0 3300 157\">\n  <defs>\n    <style>\n      .cls-1 {\n        fill: #c41230;\n        fill-rule: evenodd;\n      }\n    <\/style>\n  <\/defs>\n  <path id=\"Rounded_Bottom\" data-name=\"Rounded Bottom\" class=\"cls-1\" d=\"M3058,5936H6386v27s-828.29,130-1658.43,130C3893.72,6093,3058,5963,3058,5963v-27Z\" transform=\"translate(-3072 -5936)\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/div><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default reversed stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-9 wpb_column vc_column_container has_text_color\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_6df4bc3a\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">When you are ready to start your chapter, click on <b>Chapter<\/b> in the top navigation bar. Under <b>Chapters<\/b>, click on <b>Create Chapter<\/b>. Fill in the request completely and click on <b>Request Chapter Creation<\/b>.\u00a0 You will be contacted by Hatquarters staff.\u00a0 Advice: The name of your chapter may reflect your location, personalities or interests of the group. Have fun with this!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h3>Your First Get-Together<\/h3>\n<p>The goal of your first get-together is to kick off the start of your new chapter and to identify those ladies interested in being part of the adventure. First:<\/p>\n<h3>Your Role as Queen<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The woman who starts the chapter is the Queen as long as the chapter is in good-standing and until she wishes to step down to turn it over to a new Queen. (Queen changes are done by RHS Hatquarters.)<\/li>\n<li>You are the chapter\u2019s only administrator. Use the RHS website to manage the chapter records, communicate with your members, and help keep their memberships current.<\/li>\n<li>You have permission to post multi-chapter events on the RHS Online Event Calendar.<\/li>\n<li>You may appoint a Vice Queen (or two!) to assist you.<\/li>\n<li>Responding to messages &#8211; You will receive messages from women through the RHS website who are RHS members asking to join your chapter (or to invite you to an event or just to get to know you.) Responding promptly to member messages is an important part of your role as an RHS Queen. When someone reaches out to you, please answer promptly. If they request to join your chapter; email, call, meet in person or invite her to your next event. Let her know the personality of your chapter including when you meet, etc. You\u2019ll both decide together if it is a good fit.<\/li>\n<li>Invite interested women you meet to come visit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-3 wpb_column vc_column_container stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_c2887fcb\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-image us_custom_4e4a0b73 align_right\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"626\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-626x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-626x1024.png 626w, https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-184x300.png 184w, https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-245x400.png 245w, https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-489x800.png 489w, https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown-600x981.png 600w, https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Michelle-holding-a-crown.png 734w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-3 vc_col-md-4 wpb_column vc_column_container stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner type_sticky\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-separator size_huge\"><\/div><div class=\"w-image purple-bg-circle-left style_circle has_ratio align_none\"><div class=\"w-image-h\"><div style=\"padding-bottom:100%\"><\/div><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_col-sm-9 vc_col-md-8 wpb_column vc_column_container stretched\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner us_custom_c1b890ce\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"w-separator size_huge\"><\/div><div class=\"w-text us_custom_4b97a204 background-text has_text_color\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">it&#8217;s time for fun<\/span><\/span><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"wpb_text_column us_custom_4bd22793\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h3>Topics to discuss as a chapter:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>What is your chapter\u2019s personality?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The most active and successful chapters gather members together who have fun in the same way. Do your ladies love to travel, dance, do lunch or are they a crafty bunch?\u00a0 It\u2019s okay to be yourselves.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>How large do you want to grow the chapter?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Experience tells us that about twenty members is just the right size for most venues, but it\u2019s up to you to decide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>When will you gather and how often?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Most chapters meet at least once per month but many meet much more often with their own chapters and other chapters, too.\u00a0 Will you gather on the weekends?\u00a0 Every Tuesday for lunch?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Where and what do you want to do together as a chapter? <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggest making a wish list of the kinds of future events you like to attend, or to hold, have a member for each month pick an event to hostess. Smart Queens share the responsibility for events; less real work for you and more fun for them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public demeaner.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 When donning RHS regalia in public, you are representing the RHS. Coach your members to be kind, polite and tip accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Choose Royal Nick Names.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Let them start thinking about choosing royal nick names to bestow upon themselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Does a new member need a hat?<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Arrange a group online shopping party (and save on shipping!) or an excursion to a local store to buy the perfect hat and purple top to get her started. Red Hat Society Store (10% members discount), <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Hat Society Marketplace, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Royal Splendor<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Trading cards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that include their pictures is always fun to pass out to interested women.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Red Hat Society is a membership organization.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 All members pay dues to RHS Hatquarters. Women become members of the society and are automatically added to the Official Red Hat Society chapter. Immediately, they belong. Then, they may align with a chapter, if available, in their area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Decide in advance how the chapter possessions will be handled if there are changes within the chapter.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 For example, who gets the banner used in parades (I know, fun, huh?!), or the chapter scrapbook? <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Another way to grow your chapter<\/b> is to suggest that your members invite someone who they think will enhance the group dynamics and who has fun the same way the group does.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of your best resources to tap into when starting and maintaining your chapter is OTHER QUEENS.\u00a0 We have collectively over 100,000 years\u2019 worth of red and pink hat Queen wisdom ready and at your disposal.\u00a0 Meet the Queens on the RHS website <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Official Queen Group<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good luck and happy hatting!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row us_custom_76f052d9 height_small width_full\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols vc_row via_flex valign_top type_default stacking_default\"><div class=\"vc_col-sm-12 wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h2 class=\"w-text us_custom_6236dac4\"><span class=\"w-text-h\"><span class=\"w-text-value\">Your Team at Hatquarters<\/span><\/span><\/h2><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Questions?\u00a0 Have a peek at our FAQs or email us at <\/span><a href=\"memberservices@redhatsociety.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">memberservices@redhatsociety.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<br \/>\nRHS Hatquarters office hours are Monday \u2013 Thursday, 8 AM \u2013 5 PM. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"w-separator size_small\"><\/div><div class=\"w-hwrapper valign_top align_center\"><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_center\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1\" href=\"\/faq\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">See Our FAQs<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"w-btn-wrapper align_center\"><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_2\" href=\"\/contact-us\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Contact Us<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Starting Your Chapter When you are ready to start your chapter, click on Chapter in the top navigation bar. Under Chapters, click on Create Chapter....","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":119445,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-100412","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/100412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/100412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redhatsociety.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}