Several members of the Red Hat Society Crowned Jewels Queens Court received a proclamation form Lewes Mayor James Ford III in celebration of the 16th birthday of the international woman’s organization known as the Red Hat Society.

Gathered at Lewes Town Hall for the proclamation are (l-r) Royal Queen Mother BJ Young, Crowned Jewels Queens Chapter; Royal Vice Queen Mother Ruth deRoberts, Crowned Jewels Queens Chapter;  Ford; Queen Connie Devan, events coordinator for the Crowned Jewels Queens Chapter; and Queen Pat Sandy, treasurer for the Crowned Jewels Queens Chapter. Not pictured is Queen Joyce Holland, councilor to the Royal Crown.

Founded in Fullerton, Calif., in 1998, the Red Hat Society concept was embraced by women of the East Coast about 1998. The Red Hats were brought to lower Sussex County in 1999 by Queen Edie Lotzer of Lewes. The Red Hat Society is the largest social organization in the world. The members who are over 50 dress in purple with red hats. Those who are 21 years old to 49 wear the more muted colors of lavender with pink hats until they “Reduate” into the bolder colors on their 50th birthdays.

New chapters are opening up all the time, and many existing chapters all over Delaware are looking for new members. For more information about the Red Hat Society go to www.redhatsociety.com or contact Ambassador BJ Young at bjy324@verizon.net.