New members can be welcomed with a ceremony where they can be presented with their name-badge and officially be given their Royal name. You may also like to give them a Hatter survival Kit. There are pledges/vows the new member can take as well. These can be tailored to your needs.
For the ceremony, you can call the member forth. You may like to have a red carpet (length of red fabric or scarf/sarong/pashmina), with the chapter members standing along each side to form a walkway. Members can hold (closed) umbrellas/parasols up to form an archway.
The Queen should say some words of greeting to the new member. The 10 Hatter commandments could be read:
- Thou shalt use thy Hatter powers for good deeds (bring joy and laughter to all you meet).
- Thou shalt eat thy favorite foods, including chocolate. After all, diet is just a four letter word.
- Thou shalt be a kindred spirit in your sisterhood. Keep your confidences and friendships strong.
- Thou shalt put on the glitz! Wear purple glory, big red hats, flashy jewellry, and feathers: be a Dame!
- Thou shalt play. Be young in heart and mind and your body will follow – -at least most of the time!
- Thou shalt welcome the curious and explain the wonders of Hatting to all who ask, especially small children and handsome men.
- Thou shalt accept the things you cannot change, big or small. We’re good at rolling with the punches.
- Thou shalt aspire to anything in life at any age. It’s never too late to skydive.
- Thou shalt honour thy age and the need to be a little bad.
- Thou shalt repeat the first nine commandments, over and over and over.
The member should take a pledge/vow (See examples below), which can be in the form of the Queen asking and the member responding (“Do you swear to….” and the “I do” response), or the member can be given the pledge to read from. It is customary for the member to hold their right hand on their hat while making the pledge.
After this the Queen can make an announcement that the new person is now a member of their chapter. Cheering and playing of kazoos may follow.
Pledge Example #1
“I solemnly swear that I will greet middle age with verve, humour and élan.
I will take my silliness seriously as it is the comic relief of life in the spirit of friendship and sisterhood.
I join my Hatter sisters as we go for the gusto together.
And beneath the frivolity we will share a bond of affection, common life experiences and a genuine enthusiasm for life and living.”
Pledge Example #2
“We do solemnly promise on our hats,
That we will do our best to uphold the spirit
Of the ……..(name of the group/chapter) and Hatting.
And proudly wear the colours – purple outfits and red hats, at all our functions.
And never take our hats off, even though it gives us hat hair.”
Pledge Example #3
“I, ……. pledge to have fun, and only fun with the …….. hatter group/chapter.
I offer friendship to my Hatter sisters and respect the ideals of the society.
I will wear my full regalia of purple (lavender) outfit with my red (pink) hat to all chapter gatherings”
Pledge Example #4
“I,…… not solemnly, but with a silly grin, pledge on to uphold the spirit of Hatting and have fun while participating with my Hatter sisters.
I will proudly wear my regalia of purple/lavender outfit with my red/pink hat and will participate and give all that I can with my red heart.”
Pledge Example #5
“I……. pledge to wear my colours proudly, never be ashamed of having fun,
And show my spirit of adventure at dressing up and trying something new.
I will forget the troubles of the outside world and turn back the hand of time and reach inside for the little girl within me.
I will laugh, giggle and enjoy in play and treat all fellow Hatters with hattitude and show honour amongst my Hatter sisters.”
Pledge Example #6
“I… being of somewhat sound mind, and desiring to have more fun in the prime of my life, do solemnly swear to uphold the ideals of the Hatters, as soon as I figure out what they are.”
Pledge Example #7
“I,_____ , not solemnly but with a silly grin, pledge on my red/pink hat to have fun, and only fun, with ________. I will uphold the spirit by proudly wearing to all gatherings the full regalia of a purple/lavender outfit with an accompanying red/pink hat, even if I look horrific in purple/lavender. I promise to never take off my hat at gatherings, even though it gives me hat hair. I will do more than just belong. I will participate and give all that I can with my red heart. I will be more than friendly, I will be a friend in sisterhood to all the Hatters.”
Pledge Example #8
“I vow to embrace this time in my life as the beginning of the best.
I will reserve at least one day of each month for me.
I accept chocolate as a main food group.
I consider dessert as the main course of a meal.
I will do my best not to take life too seriously.
I choose to laugh as often as possible.
I believe that fun is an essential in life.
I welcome the Hatter adventures that await me.
I accept the friendships that are around me.
I will be a dedicated hatter!”
Pledge Example #9
“Do you solemnly promise on your hat, that you will do your best, to uphold the spirit of Hatting and proudly wear the colours at all our functions and never take your hat off, even though it gives you hat hair?
Do you agree to deal with growing more mature with humour and to take our foolishness seriously? Do you promise to speak only of pleasant subjects at <chapter name> gatherings? Do you promise to learn to play your kazoo in the proper manner, or at least learn Happy Birthday? Do you join in the spirit of friendship & sisterhood as we bond together affectionately, by common, been there, done that & with real enthusiasm for whatever comes next?”
Pledge Example #10
“I, _________________________, A royal subject of the of the red hat society, do hereby pledge:
To wear my hatter colours proudly.
To never be ashamed of having fun.
To show my spirit of adventure at dress-ups by trying something new.
To forget the troubles of the “outside” world during dress-ups.
To turn back time and reach for the little girl inside of me.
To giggle, laugh, dress-up, and play.
To treat not only my chapter, but all other chapters with hattitude that shows honor among all my hatter sisters.”
