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Ladies Of The Red Hat

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By MEGAN HUSSEY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

DADE CITY - True to their name, the Royal Oak Red Hats meet monthly dressed in festive red hats, dresses and pantsuits in shades of red, purple and other vibrant colors, and fun costume jewelry.

Based at Royal Oak Nursing Center, as many as 50 women gather in a Royal Oak dining area in their red hat finery, enjoying cake, coffee, flavored teas and specially prepared treats such as brownies prepared by the Royal Oak Cooking Club.

Also on the menu are hearty servings of fun, friendship and memories.

"Activities like the Red Hat club make these ladies feel like they're part of the Royal Oak community," Royal Oak administrator Anita Howard said at a Red Hat tea Tuesday. "They look forward to the Red Hat teas monthly, and talk about them for days afterward."

The Royal Oak Red Hats, inspired by the national Red Hat Society social groups for women over age 50, have been making memories for more than 10 years. Ranging in age from 64 to 96, these women decorate their own hats - provided by the nursing center - with a wide assortment of flowers, streamers, scarves, fringe and ribbons.

One of these hats holds special meaning for Nila Premer, activities director of Royal Oak.

The hat Premer wears when hosting the teas once belonged to Sarah Smith, a Royal Oak Red Hat member who died last year.

"She was the sweetest lady," Premer said. "I wear this hat for her."

Friendship is the core of Red Hat activities, Wavellene Kunkel said.

"Red Hat groups provide ambience and comradeship," said Kunkel, who formerly founded and served as Queen Mother of a Red Hat chapter at The Edwinola Retirement Community.

At their monthly teas, the Royal Oak Red Hats sit at elegantly decorated tables and talk about everything from families and friends to favorite books, coffees and teas, and their love for bingo.

Hugs and laughter are doled out in equal measure at those teas, as is light humor; one group at Tuesday's event expressed their need for tea refills by singing a chorus of "How Dry I Am."
Trivia games are another highlight of the teas, as Premer asks questions based on everything from scientific facts to popular culture.

And she hands out door prizes based on the Red Hat theme. At Tuesday's event, the youngest Red Hat member present - 64-year-old Gloria Jackson - received a Red Hat teddy bear. The oldest - 96-year-old Ruberta White - won chocolate roses.

"Tell us your secret," Premer prompted. "How did you make it to 96?"

"The Lord was with me," White answered, drawing applause from the crowd.

According to Premer, the Royal Oak Red Hats group is open to all female Royal Oak residents.

"An occasional man has been known to take part, if he agrees to wear a red hat," she said with a laugh.

Those who reside in the facility's Alzheimer's/dementia unit also are included.

"They can still have tea, coffee and cake with us," Premer said. "We want to include them in everything."

The group occasionally welcomes special guests, such as the Red Hat Country Aire Cuties, a Red Hat group representing Dade City's Country Aire Estates community.

"The ladies of this club enjoy coming to Royal Oaks," said Lilly Zolner, a representative of the Red Hat Cuties. "It's very sociable and we love doing community projects."

The Royal Oak Red Hats club is doing its share of community service work. On Tuesday, the women donated money to the Royal Oak Relay for Life team, which includes Premer. And according to Howard, some of the Red Hat members will tend and cultivate a newly planned garden on the nursing center premises.

According to Premer, camaraderie will always be the central focus of Royal Oak Red Hat activities.

"Most of the ladies from this era love it when company comes," she said. "Our Red Hat teas are both classy and meaningful."

ROYAL OAK RED HATS

SOME BACKGROUND: The Royal Oak Red Hats club is a group inspired by the national Red Hat Society, which according to www.redhatsociety.com, consists of "the women in the red and pink hats. We are the mothers, grandmothers, and daughters of society. Little girls grow up, but they're never too old to play dress-up and have tea parties. ... Our main responsibility is to have fun." Based at Royal Oak Nursing Center in Dade City, the Royal Oak Red Hats group hosts monthly teas that promote friendship and fun. It is coordinated by Nila Premer; Premer's grandmother Sally Watson is a member.

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS: Royal Oak Nursing Center provides a variety of constructive and fun activities for residents, ranging from exercise and music sessions to movie nights, health and nutrition discussions, games, hobby clubs and other activities.

A LITTLE HISTORY: According to www.redhatsociety.com, the original Red Hat Society concept was based on the poem "Warning" by Jenny Joseph, "which depicts an older woman in purple clothing with a red hat."

The Royal Oak Red Hats have met for at least 10 years. The group's latest meeting was Tuesday, at which Premer was assisted by volunteer Linda Wable.

GET INVOLVED: To learn more about the Red Hat Society, visit www.redhatsociety.com. To learn more about Royal Oak Nursing Center, call (352) 567-3122.

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