FULLERTON, Calif., April 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Red Hatters -- ages 50 and up -- and Pink Hatters -- ages under 50 -- believe silliness is the comedy relief of life, as do Governors and city officials it seems. New Jersey's Acting Governor Richard J. Codey proclaimed April 25, 2005 as Red Hat Society Day for the entire state. In the organization's founding town of Fullerton, California, Mayor Shawn Nelson made the same proclamation. Commemorating the spontaneous gathering of five women who ventured out to tea wearing red hats and purple dresses on April 25, 1998, the Red Hat Society has proliferated far and wide to include more than 40,000 chapters, in more than 30 countries, and about one million members.
"When members asked us to proclaim a Red Hat Society Day, we thought the first-ever tea seemed to be the appropriate date," says founder and Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper. "We made the day official by doing what we always do -- proclaiming it Red Hat Society Day ourselves!"
From tea parties to mall crawls, each Red Hat Society chapter chooses how they want to celebrate Red Hat Society Day. Underneath the frivolity, Red Hat Society members share a bond of affection forged by common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for wherever life takes them. The organization's overwhelming response has led to the publication of inspirational books, national and regional conventions, and official Red Hat Society merchandise that furthers the society's commitment to women.
Sue Ellen Cooper's second book, The Red Hat Society's Laugh Lines: Tales of Inspiration and Hattitude (Warner Books), was released on April 11, 2005. Her first book, The Red Hat Society: Fun and Friendship After Fifty (Warner Books, April 2004), shot to No. 1 on the New York Times best seller's list (Advice category). Designer Scrapbooks the Red Hat Society Way (Sterling/Chapelle) is due June 2005.
The Fourth Annual Red Hat Society Convention will be held June 24-29, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With more than 5,000 Red Hatters registered, this will be the largest event in Red Hat Society history. As demand for regional conferences skyrockets, a "Tea Party" will be held Aug. 25-28 in Boston, MA.
Partnerships with 28 licensees have produced a number of Red Hat Society brand products that go beyond the traditional red hat to include clothing, stationery, jewelry, scrapbooking, and even a magazine!
To interview Red Hat Society Founder and Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper, or a chapter in your area, call Kerry Towner at (714) 738-0001. For more information, visit www.redhatsociety.com. Photographs and additional press materials are also available.
The Red Hat Society, Inc. logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=846