Queens' Council Minutes
or whatever I thought went down! sigh...
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Minutes from the Queens’ Council Meeting Tamworth NH May 1, 2011The spring meeting was hosted by the Dashing Darlings of Lochmere, Queens Marge Bonneville and Eileen Brunell and held at the Remick Farm Museum in Tamworth NH.
Disclaimer: I, Queen Katella Dulmage, Hats On!, took notes to the best of my ability. (at least, with minimum interference in the fun I was having with my Red Hat Sister Queens and just what I heard)
In attendance Royalty from the following chapters:
The Dashing Darlings of Lochmere; Merry Milton Milners; 9-5 Red Hatters; Purple Starletts; Funseekers; Red Hat Ding-a-lings; Dazzling Divas of the Lakes Region; Red Hat Divas of Rochester; AGCHC of Dover; Sassy Lassies; Hats On! ( Old Bats in Red Hats attended the gathering day on Saturday April 30th and brought their chapter).
We received a gracious greeting from the Remick Museum staff and were ushered into a lovely room set with antiques and Red Hat decorations. Queens Marge and Eileen started the meeting with a warm welcome while we helped ourselves to coffee and orange juice.
The 10am brunch was delicious: frittatas; hash browns; bacon; cinnamon rolls; maple syrup. Eggs, bacon and maple syrup produced right at the farm. Erica is the chief chef as I recall and she did an excellent job. Plenty of food, well-prepared, graciously served and eaten all up! The attention to detail…warm local REAL maple syrup…was greatly appreciated.
Reports
The Merry Milners of Milton
Suggest the Clipper Merchant Tea House in Limerick ME. This chapter headed by Queen Linda Simco and Vice Queen Jeanie Wiggin is a very active group! Thanks ladies for the suggestion. VQ Jeanie says they play Bonco til their sides ache at their gatherings. This Chapter will host the Fall Queens' Council meeting... details TBA.
9-5 Red Hatters
Queen Vi Resnick and Vice Queen Linda Fitts report their chapter is alive and well. If you need any suggestions on restaurants, these gals can help you out!
Red Hat Divas of Rochester
Queen Joanne Beaulieu is planning a bus trip to NYC…watch for details. I believe it may be open to any chapters who want to join in the adventure. Vice Queen Pat Catalfo reported an event in Hilton Park…I do not know where Hilton Park is…but it will be a picnic with games. Not sure if it is open to all…contact Queen Jo if interested
Dazzling Divas of the Lakes Region
Queens Joan Eppich and Lillian Kurowski are planning their annual Red Hat Golf Tournament, 2nd Saturday in Sept. They would like to see a region-wide tournament … contact them if interested.
AGCHC Red Ladies
Queen Donna Bernier reports her chapter enjoys game nights. This was Pink Queen Donna's first Queens' Council Meeting! We were so glad to have her!
Dashing Darlings of Lochmere
Our Hostesses Queens Eileen Brunelle and Marge Bonneville report having a delightful time in the gardens of their chapter. A real Garden Party. Outside with flowers growing is an annual event for them. They also suggest the “Food for Thought Café” which is run by the Technical College students in Belmont NH. They are planning a trip to the Kennedy Center…not clear if this is open to other chapters…Also recommend having a gold selling chapter gathering…we have many hatters who buy your old gold for CA$H, a percentage of the proceeds goes to the chapter. Queen Marge suggested we all take part in the National Red Hat Hoot Day being declared by Sue Ellen Cooper. The date is June 25th, this year and VQ Brenda Leighton of the Purple Starlets has volunteered to organize our REGION … inviting all of New England! We are hoping for Prescott Park in Portsmouth. Watch for details.
Sassy Lassies
Queen Nancy McDonough and Vice Queen Jackie Bast were warmly welcomed for the first time at the Queens’ Council. They are planning a River Tour in Essex MA. Again apologies for not knowing if this is an open event. Also planned is a picnic on the New Castle Commons.
Red Hat Ding-A-Lings
Queen Doris Drew and VQ Joan Lemlin seek new members as they have many requests to perform but only 9 members! 12 are needed to ring a song. If buses are needed for a trip, Doris suggests CJ; Boston Express and Geo Don. A cost of $11/rt to Boston was mentioned for travelers over 65. Contact Doris for more details as I really wasn’t paying attention.
(we should get more organized…sigh)
Purple Starlets
Queen Lana Stearns recommends the Cobwebs Consignment shop in Salem NH. They have a back room for Tea Parties, by apptmt. $12/hat. Open Wed thru Sun. VQ Brenda says Queen Lana runs Avalon Tours and may be contacted for trip arrangements.
Fun Seekers
Well, they are always havin’ fun. Queen Kathy Persinger is planning their multi-chapter event “SECOND annual Harvest Hoot” Sat/Sep 17th at the Crowne Plaza in Nashua. See web site for all details and registration form.
Hats On!
Queen Katella Dulmage reports the NH Red Hat web site is alive and well. Queen Marge Bonneville opened a Facebook Page for NH Red Hats as well. Check that out. Hit LIKE and you will be able to post comments. BUT please if you want an event announced, don’t forget to let Katella know so she can post it for all on the web site.
RAFFLES
Our hostesses provided many opportunities to return home with fun prizes!
Finally, we were OUTSIDE in the lovely sunshine and cool fresh mountain air. With Mt Chocurua in the background we toured the farm. Beef cattle, turkeys, chickens, goats, a mini-horse, sheep, pig, geese, and horses all on the hillside surrounding the museum. We rode in the wagon over to Dr. Remick’s house and were given a grand tour.
The museum staff introduced us to Scandinavian Baker Betty, a Red Hatter from New Orleans. She demonstrated making Krumkake. We had a lovely tea of scones, lavender lemonade and lemon curdle.
There were goodie bags with hand crafted chenille rings and pens that looked like flowers in the vases for each attendant to take home as souvenirs of the day. Thank you Eileen and Marge!
Back once again at the Museum, we tried our hands at felting with Kathleen and bracelet making too. After posing for a group photo, Queen Nancy of the Sassy Lassies won the Scandinavian baking basket and The Merry Milners of Milton volunteered to host the fall Queens’ Council Meeting.
The Spring Council Meeting was a huge success! New ideas, networking, outdoor sunshine, great food, clean mountain air, history, new friends, new stuff… we had it all! Thanks to Queens Eileen and Marge of the Dazzling Darlings of Lochmere!
Minutes of New Hampshire Queens’ Council (NHQC) of October 3, 2010
Meeting Place: Steele Hill Resorts’ Banquet Hall, Sanbornton NH
We were well met with greeting balloons at Rte 3 and Bay Rd and all along the way! It was exceedingly charming. Brought a smile to my heart and face to see the balloons!
At the banquet hall, the Dazzling Divas of the Lakes Region greeted us with name tags and table selection. Our tables were in a glassed-in porch-like area with a fantastic view of lake and mountains. The five tables were filled with Red and Purple Clad Queens, Vice Queens, Co Queens and Queen Mums! In attendance were the following chapters, in no particular order: Searles’ Girls WindhamRed Hat Fun SeekersNashua
Searles’ Girls WindhamRed Hat Fun SeekersNashuaHannah’s Happy Hatters PenacookRed Hat Divas of RochesterRed Hat Ding-a-LingsNashuaPurple Starlets LondonderryRoyal Elegant Diamonds & Furs DerryRed Hat Water Babes Merrimack9-5 Red Hatters NorthfieldDazzling Divas Lakes RegionRoyal Red Hats of PelhamRuby Red Sisters of ManchesterDashing Darlings of LochmereHats On! Londonderry & Web (hopefully I have not left anyone off…I have terrible retention…retain only water) It was sadly noted that a great Lady and Queen from Portsmouth NH’s Scarlett O’Hatters has passed away: Queen Barbara Puma. We send our thoughts and prayers to her family at this time of great loss. Queen Barbara and her Scarlett O’Hatters ran the annual Garden Party which started out in Portsmouth but then moved to the Granite Rose in Hampstead. It was always a most wonderful affair with entertainment, vendors, prizes, and a fashion show. Queen Barbara gave us all cherished memories of Red Hat sisterhood.
As we settled into our seats, we were surprised and delighted to find a Red Hat bag with many goodies inside it, complements of the Dazzling Divas, Queen Joan and Queen Lillian. The tables were set with Red and Purple items and lovely apple baskets filled with apples.
As we waited for all registrants to arrive, we chatted and introduced ourselves one to the other. Last to arrive were Queen Jo and Vice Queen Pat from Rochester. I believe they logged the most miles to attend. Don’t always rely on your GPS!
The buffet was all inclusive … both breakfast and lunch. All of it was delicious and several trips had to be made to the
over-laden tables to sample all that was offered… of course the desserts were scrumptious. A beautifully presented and generously offered Buffet! Thank you Steele Hill!
Business discussed: What to do with the NH Queens’ Council?
Queen Katella Dulmage of Hats On!, Londonderry, led the discussion.
Why we are NH Queens only: established in 2004 by then Queen Gail Gold of the Happenstance Hatters and several other Queens around the state of NH, the Council was to gather together all chapters and have a cohesive arena for the many ideas that all these type A personalities were generating. In 2004, there were over 100 chapters in the state. It was decided at that time that the Queens would plan and hold a Red Hat Rubilee. They did and many of you attended in October of 2005 at Waterville Valley. Today’s NHQC has a listing of some 90 or so ladies representing 52 chapters…
Why can’t we include Queens from neighboring states? ME MA VT etc: again as above, NHQC was established by NH Queens for NH Queens. There is a group called Queens of the East, in Andover MA. This group embraces any Red Hat chapter “East of the Mississippi”, and was founded by Queen Chris Lang.
OPTIONS for NHQC:
1.Open our group to any and all chapters regardless of geography, and be in direct competition with the Queens of the East (QoE).
Open our group to any and all chapters regardless of geography, and be in direct competition with the Queens of the East (QoE).2.Merge with QoE and be under the direction of the founding Massachusetts’ chapter.
Merge with QoE and be under the direction of the founding Massachusetts’ chapter.3.Maintain our integrity and carry on within our borders.
Maintain our integrity and carry on within our borders. 4.Dissolve NHQC. With a one-vote-per-chapter vote of 2/3 of the chapters in attendance at any given meeting of the NHQC, we may dissolve and all go our own way.
Dissolve NHQC. With a one-vote-per-chapter vote of 2/3 of the chapters in attendance at any given meeting of the NHQC, we may dissolve and all go our own way. Resolution:
After due consideration of the aforementioned options, it was concluded NHQC would maintain integrity and carry on. Queens are always free to also join Queens of the East.
Proposal:
Vice Queen Marie Monroe of the Diamonds and Furs of Derry NH, proposed an event given by the NHQC inviting all Queens. This would be in addition to our two yearly meetings. No one stepped forward to form a committee for this event.
NHQC Spring Meeting 2011:
New member chapter Dashing Darlings of Lochmere stepped forward and offered to host the next meeting of NHQC. It was rapidly discussed and proposed for late March early April on a Sunday. Details will be available on our website as soon as the hostesses find place etc. Thank you ladies.
The Co-Queens, Marjorie and Eileen asked if you could please hold on to your ID tags so graciously given us by the Dazzling Divas today. The name tags today were very well-done and that should not be a problem.
Other news of note:
Jeanie Wiggin of the Chapeau Rouge Shop in Dover NH is having a Red Hat sale of 40% off. Call before driving over to Dover as like all of us, Jeanie’s schedule is ever evolving.
Queen Lana Stearns announced the closing of her shop in Londonderry. It was a gift-consignment-antique-Red Hat Shop. Plans for the future are on hold. We wish you luck in all your endeavors Queen Lana.
Group Photo!
Two lovely ladies agreed to use our many cameras to take a picture of NHQC on the porch of the banquet facility. The setting was splendiferous with mums and cornstalks and RED AND PURPLE Ladies! (P.S.: Splendiferous is actually a word. Listed in several dictionaries and even on Wikipedia! Used by such authors as AA Milne, this word is acceptable in English speaking societies!)
Minutes from the Queens' Council Meeting in Manchester NH Oct 16, 2011In attendance: Queen Terri and VQ Maureen from the Ladies of the Rouges Chapeaux;
Queen Vi and VQ Linda from the 9-5 Red Hatters Queen Connie and VQs Fran and Pauline of the Ruby Red Sisters
Queen Betty, VQ Carole, Founding Queen Mum Irene of the Red Hat Water Babes Queen Joanne and VQ Pat of the Red Hat DivasQueen Judith of the Colliston Classics Queens (in Co - ness) Linda and Susan of the Diamonds and FursQueen Rita and VQ Simone of the Scarlet O'Hatters of Kingston Queen Joanne and VQ Mary of the Old Bats in Red Hats Queen Lana and VQ Brenda of the Purple Starlets Queen Kathy of the Red Hat Funseekers Queen Katella of Hats On! (moi) Queen Linda and Lady-in-Waiting Pat, our hostesses for the day, Milton's Merry Millinersour sympathies go out to VQ Jeanie who suffered a loss in her family and was unable to attend but who aided in the preparation and planning of the event.
The room was cozy and decorated in lovely red and purple. The table settings were welcoming and pleasant. There were fruit, cheese and crackers to munch while we gathered and chatted. Once we were all seated, we did the go around chat with each of the Royals sharing ideas on what their chapters have been doing and what they plan to do.
After two very successful Harvest Hoots, Queen Kathy Persinger reports that she is ready to hand off the Hoot to whomever would like to host in the fall of 2012. She is willing to share her contacts and planning strategy over coffee with whomever ... but she will not be involved next year. Someone step up or there will be no Sept Hoot! Yikes!
The plans for Christmas were varied and fun. The ideas just kept coming.... Yankee swops seem to be a thumbs down activity this year...BUT...
Bring a gift for the Food Pantries, or Battered Women and children shelters, coats, hats, mittens.Dress up to the Nines! and have a Ball, literally make it a "prom night". A Progressive dinner party with the talented chapterettes performing original dances and songs.A Christmas PJ party, bring a toy for Toys for Tots. maybe the Marines will come!Trudie Young was our guest speaker. A unique addition to the Council meeting which tied in well with many of the topics up for discussion and the favors on the table. Trudie spoke of the teachings in the book Simple Abundance.
She suggested we use the red journals and purple flowered pens that were our favors for the day, to write down a daily list of things for which we are grateful. This simple exercise can keep us from losing sight of the good things that life has to offer. She also touched on the friendships we form throughout our lives and the varying types of people who become our friends. These ideas of gratitude and friendship sparked many lively comments from our Council.
We thank Queen Linda for bringing Trudie and these ideas to our meeting.
We all agreed we are grateful for the opportunity to meet so many Red Hat Sisters and form friendships with ladies we
otherwise would never have met! So go back to the main page and sign up for another event... and make some new friends, reconnect with "old" ones and just be grateful we can still eat dessert first!
click the Q to see more photos
from Oct 16th
