WHEREAS, The Red Hat Society was founded in 1998 by Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, California, as a social "disorganization" for women 50 years and older; and
     WHEREAS, Sue Ellen Cooper 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, Members of The Red Hat Society who are 50 years or older wear a red hat and purple attire and members younger than 50 wear pink hats and lavender clothing until their "Reduation"; 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, Leaders of individual chapters obtain the title "Queen Mum" and the members are referred to as "Red Hatters"; and
     WHEREAS, March 1st is Red Hat Day at the legislature;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate celebrate Red Hat Day and that its members celebrate womanhood by having fun; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Washington State Senate and the Lakewood and Puyallup chapters of The Red Hat Society.