Red Hat Society

sageofages · #1 03-03-2008, 07:37 PM

*this is a colossal bump*

My mom is very active in the Red Hat Society and she loves it. I have encouraged her as I have seen it as a great sorority.

So today she calls me to ask questions about why she can't find Red Hat stickers etc anywhere and asked "are they licensing this". I did some quick online research and sure enough, they do. I can understand this as there is a need to protect Image, Brand etc.

A little more RESEARCH and now I am being bothered by what I am finding. RHS is NOT a non-for-profit organization. It was founded by two friends and it is a HUGE privately held corporation with one helluva marketing plan. They do NOT reveal their revenues and there is "national membership fees". There is no membership governance...and the worst part to me "the founder is the Queen Bee Mother". ::shiver::

Editted to add: I forgot to mention....they pay NO royalties to Jennifer Joseph the author of the poem that their "society is founded upon and Jennifer Joseph will not let them publish the poem in anyway. She detests the RHS and regrets her poem now.

I am not going to tell my mom about this because I think it would just frost her behind to no end to realize this.

I recently became acquainted with the "Blue Thong Society" for younger, hip women (who thing RHS is old fogey) until I realized VERY QUICKLY (before learning RHS is for-profit) that it was to the benefit of the three founders.

How do you all feel about such organizations? They start out fulfilling a altruistic need for comradery and socializing, but end up making their "founders" quite wealthy all in the guise of "social fun" without really mentioning the "private" for-profit part of it.

bejazd · #2 03-04-2008, 11:54 AM

I saw the founders of the Blue Thong thing on a local news/lifestyle program here maybe two years ago. I don't have a problem with what they are doing per se, but you bring up a good point about how important it can be to check out whatever organization you might want to get involved with.

Do you have to pay dues or a membership fee to these groups? If all you want to do is go out and have a girls night out or a lunch date with some girlfriends I say go have fun (just don't drink and drive!)

It'll be interesting to see what kind of lasting value these orgs have.

sageofages · #3 03-19-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejazd

I saw the founders of the Blue Thong thing on a local news/lifestyle program here maybe two years ago. I don't have a problem with what they are doing per se, but you bring up a good point about how important it can be to check out whatever organization you might want to get involved with.

Do you have to pay dues or a membership fee to these groups? If all you want to do is go out and have a girls night out or a lunch date with some girlfriends I say go have fun (just don't drink and drive!)

It'll be interesting to see what kind of lasting value these orgs have.

I emailed one of the founders of the Blue Thong Society and recieved this response from their corporate attorney.

“In response to your questions regarding the corporate status of Blue Thong Society, Inc., here is the information that should help you. Blue Thong Society, Inc. is a privately owned corporation that is operated on a “for profit” basis. It is not a 501(c) charitable organization. The Board of Directors are elected by the shareholders who are the owners of the company. I hope this answers your questions.”

In other words, we are in the business to make our founders very wealthy women.

I quit.

Blacksocialite · #4 03-19-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sageofages

I emailed one of the founders of the Blue Thong Society and recieved this response from their corporate attorney.

“In response to your questions regarding the corporate status of Blue Thong Society, Inc., here is the information that should help you. Blue Thong Society, Inc. is a privately owned corporation that is operated on a “for profit” basis. It is not a 501(c) charitable organization. The Board of Directors are elected by the shareholders who are the owners of the company. I hope this answers your questions.”

In other words, we are in the business to make our founders very wealthy women.

I quit.

Oh my...

I know a few ladies who are Red Hatters and they seem to have a really good time.

ThetaPrincess24 · #5 03-19-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sageofages

I emailed one of the founders of the Blue Thong Society and recieved this response from their corporate attorney.

“In response to your questions regarding the corporate status of Blue Thong Society, Inc., here is the information that should help you. Blue Thong Society, Inc. is a privately owned corporation that is operated on a “for profit” basis. It is not a 501(c) charitable organization. The Board of Directors are elected by the shareholders who are the owners of the company. I hope this answers your questions.”

In other words, we are in the business to make our founders very wealthy women.

I quit.

Never heard of the Blue Thong society. After reading through both of these threads and searching for myself, I've opted not to join the Red Hat Society when I get older as previously planned for myself. I'll contirbute my time and money elsewhere.

BetteDavisEyes · #6 03-19-2008, 10:08 PM

Mike & I were having dinner at a local pub a few weeks ago and saw a large gathering of the Red Hat Society there eating. I thought they looked adorable and they were really nice to us.

Senusret I · #7 04-07-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sageofages

*this is a colossal bump*

My mom is very active in the Red Hat Society and she loves it. I have encouraged her as I have seen it as a great sorority.

So today she calls me to ask questions about why she can't find Red Hat stickers etc anywhere and asked "are they licensing this". I did some quick online research and sure enough, they do. I can understand this as there is a need to protect Image, Brand etc.

A little more RESEARCH and now I am being bothered by what I am finding. RHS is NOT a non-for-profit organization. It was founded by two friends and it is a HUGE privately held corporation with one helluva marketing plan. They do NOT reveal their revenues and there is "national membership fees". There is no membership governance...and the worst part to me "the founder is the Queen Bee Mother". ::shiver::

Editted to add: I forgot to mention....they pay NO royalties to Jennifer Joseph the author of the poem that their "society is founded upon and Jennifer Joseph will not let them publish the poem in anyway. She detests the RHS and regrets her poem now.

I am not going to tell my mom about this because I think it would just frost her behind to no end to realize this.

I recently became acquainted with the "Blue Thong Society" for younger, hip women (who thing RHS is old fogey) until I realized VERY QUICKLY (before learning RHS is for-profit) that it was to the benefit of the three founders.

How do you all feel about such organizations? They start out fulfilling a altruistic need for comradery and socializing, but end up making their "founders" quite wealthy all in the guise of "social fun" without really mentioning the "private" for-profit part of it.

I am bumping this because I knew I read it on GC and I was bothered to read that the Red Hats are being seen as equal to legitimate women's organizations in another thread.

lovespink88 · #8 04-07-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sageofages

*this is a colossal bump*

My mom is very active in the Red Hat Society and she loves it. I have encouraged her as I have seen it as a great sorority.

So today she calls me to ask questions about why she can't find Red Hat stickers etc anywhere and asked "are they licensing this". I did some quick online research and sure enough, they do. I can understand this as there is a need to protect Image, Brand etc.

A little more RESEARCH and now I am being bothered by what I am finding. RHS is NOT a non-for-profit organization. It was founded by two friends and it is a HUGE privately held corporation with one helluva marketing plan. They do NOT reveal their revenues and there is "national membership fees". There is no membership governance...and the worst part to me "the founder is the Queen Bee Mother". ::shiver::

Editted to add: I forgot to mention....they pay NO royalties to Jennifer Joseph the author of the poem that their "society is founded upon and Jennifer Joseph will not let them publish the poem in anyway. She detests the RHS and regrets her poem now.

I am not going to tell my mom about this because I think it would just frost her behind to no end to realize this.

I recently became acquainted with the "Blue Thong Society" for younger, hip women (who thing RHS is old fogey) until I realized VERY QUICKLY (before learning RHS is for-profit) that it was to the benefit of the three founders.

How do you all feel about such organizations? They start out fulfilling a altruistic need for comradery and socializing, but end up making their "founders" quite wealthy all in the guise of "social fun" without really mentioning the "private" for-profit part of it.

Ohh, this makes me sad.