WHEREAS, The Red Hat Society was founded in 1998 by Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, California, who was inspired by "Warning," a poem by Jenny Joseph that opens with the line, "When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat that doesn't go and doesn't suit me"; and
     WHEREAS, The Red Hat Society was created as a social outlet for women at least 50 years old; and
     WHEREAS, The motto of The Red Hat Society is "Red Hatters Matter," to promote the value of older women in society and reshape the way they are viewed in today's culture; and
     WHEREAS, Women of The Red Hat Society are from all areas of life: Mothers, grandmothers, homemakers, entrepreneurs, teachers, retirees, and senators, as well as women who are single, married, or widowed; and
     WHEREAS, There are more than one million members of The Red Hat Society worldwide; and
     WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate recognizes the value provided by the social support given by the organization; and
     WHEREAS, The Senate also recognizes that men need the same support and social interaction or perhaps even more than the fairer sex; and
     WHEREAS, The legislature strives in its activities to be inclusive of all individuals from all walks of life, including men;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That in celebrating the womanhood of our State Senators, we also celebrate the maturity and graceful aging of our male colleagues 50 years and older through admission into our society of blossoming through shared suffering; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That admission into this exclusive society is reserved to a basis of temporary trial pending good behavior and high spirits; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That male members of the society must wear both cowboy hats and red ties as a symbol of their commitment to solidarity and support of their colleagues; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate shall celebrate Red Hat - or Tie - Day and that its members celebrate by having fun; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Washington State Senate and to the Federal Way, Shades of Ruby, chapter of the Red Hat Society.