1. Red Hat Society: Vincennes women celebrating years past 50 in style
Vincennes Sun-Commercial (IN) - January 3, 2005
Author/Byline: JENNIFER EARLES, staff writer
Section: News
Veronica Kopp may be over 50, but it's not something she's embarrassed about. In fact, Kopp is celebrating.
Two years ago Kopp co-founded Red Hat Poppie, the local chapter of the Red Hat Society, a national organization geared toward women
over 50. Sparked by a poem by Jenny Joseph, "Warning," the organization encourages silly, outrageous style and fun as women age.
"We thought it would be a fun way for local women to get together," Kopp, who is known as the club's Queen Mother, said. "It's a great
way to travel, go out to eat and meet new people who have the same interests - having a good time."
"Our only requirement is that all women are over 50 and wear their red hats and purple dresses. Otherwise, we have no rules and no set
date to meet."
Kopp and a few friends began the Vincennes chapter on Sept. 20, 2002. The group now has 40 members and is affiliated with the
national association of the Red Hat Society in Fullerton, Calif.
Local officers include Marlene Kimmel, vice-queen mother, Myrna Brown, sergeant in gloves, Bridget Kimmel and Patti Breiman,
hysterians, and Mary Teising, anti-parliamentarian.
The Red Hat Poppies meet locally at any member's suggestion and arrange one major trip each year.
"We've been on trips to Branson, Mo. and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.," Kopp, 62, said. "Next year our group is planning a trip to either
Savannah, Ga., or Memphis, Tenn."
Club members, who affectionately refer to themselves as "Poppettes," sport several different styles of hats and can purchase Red Hat
Society merchandise in a number of local stores.
"We recently had a group of 12 ladies from Santa Claus, Ind. stop in," Kopp said, referring to Scruples, 324 Main St., which Kopp co-owns
and operates with her daughter, Laura Nardine. "We had a great time with a Red Hat fashion show and refreshments."
Scruples is among the local retail establishments selling Red Hat merchandise.
"We have a lot of fun getting together," said Ruth Young, a member for almost two years. "And we always wear our red hats."
Young said she enjoys the group's day trips, holiday dinners and evenings at the Fortnightly club.
Gayla Adams, leads another Vincennes chapter, Foo-Foo Girls. As the activities director for the YMCA senior center, Adams' group
consists of 21 members with an average age of 80.
"We started the group because many of the women who belong to the senior center don't have sisters," Adams said. "For many, this is
their only social outlet."
The Foo-Foo Girls also have three members under age 50, who wear pink hats and lavender dresses to signify their age.
"We meet to have a good time," Adams said. "We are gracefully aging together without the fear of ridicule."
The Foo-Foo Girls meet once a month and have membership in the national association.
The National organization began when Sue Ellen Cooper, now known as exalted queen mother, Fullerton, Calif., bought a bright red,
broad-rimmed hat in an Arizona thrift shop while visiting a friend. Then, in November 1997 Cooper read the poem "Warning" by Jenny
Joseph and an idea began to form. The poem begins, "When I am an old woman?" and depicts the character in purple clothing and a red
hat.
Cooper decided to present Linda Murphy, now the society's vice mother, with a vintage red hat and a copy of the poem for her birthday.
Murphy enjoyed the hat and poem so much, Cooper gave the same gift to another friend, then another, then another.
The Red Hat Society was born and soon their first sibling group was established in Florida.
The "disorganization," as members call it, spread nationwide in June 2001 and now has chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom,

2. Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
"The Red Hat Society began as a result of a few women deciding to greet middle age with verve, humor and élan. We believe silliness is
the comedy relief of life, and since we are all in it together, we might as well join red-gloved hands and go for the gusto together," Cooper
said.
The Red Hat Society has its own theme song by Mike Harline, which states, "All my life, I've done for you. Now it's my turn to do for me."
Cooper, 60, now operates the Fullerton "hatquarters" with a staff of 28, and registers more than 350 new chapters each week. The Red
Hat Society also published its first book in April 2004, "Red Hatter Matters," featuring Cooper's artwork on the cover and will begin
publishing "Red Hat Magazine" in January 2005.
The Red Hat Society's first official convention was 2002 in Chicago, the second was 2003 in Nashville and this year's convention was in
Florida. Next year's convention, The Red Hat Society Big Deal 2005, will be June 26-29 at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
For more information about the Red Hat Society, visit www.redhatsociety.com.
Record: 10CBA8102D1327AF
Copyright: Copyright 2005 Vincennes Sun-Commercial