Since the founding of the Red Hat Society in 1997, more than 40,000 chapters have developed internationally. As a result of this groups gain in popularity and recognition, the Queen Mother planned the first Red Hat Society Convention in April of 2002 so that members of the society could dress in red hats and purple outfits and meet and bond with Red Hatters across the globe.

Their first convention was held in Chicago, and more than 400 Red Hatters attended this spirited event.  It was such a success that in May of 2003, a second convention held in Nashville, and this time more than 2,000 Red Hatters attended. Queen Mother Sue Ellen then planned the third convention in Dallas, which drew in 2,500 jovial Red Hat sisters. The annual convention is five days long and some of the events on the typical agenda include a Rodeo, BBQ, Pajama Breakfast and Formal Banquet, and the dress code at all of these events is of course red hats with purple outfits. The Queen Mother communicates to the now massive amount of members about convention and other important business by way of her "Weekly Friday Broadcast," and Quarterly Newsletter entitled "Red Hatter Matters."

The Red Hat Society's annual convention is a five day celebration of the ideals that Red Hatters live by, and a tribute to the not so serious lifestyle which they strive to abide by. Red Hat Society women look forward to the annual convention all year because it offers the opportunity for them to connect with like-minded women who love to have fun!

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