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Red Hat Society members gather in Mountain Home
by Brian S. Orban
Mountain Home News
Some came from Mountain Home and communities across the state. Others had made the trek from as far as Chicago and San Francisco.
They all came together last week simply to celebrate and have fun during a gathering that officially began Friday.
More than 170 women came to Mountain Home during the Red Hat Society's regional convention. It was the first time in three years that the city had hosted this type of gathering.
With chapters located across the United States, the Red Hat Society includes women over the age of 50, who gather simply to have fun, according to Pat Eagley, one of the organizers of this year's convention.
They also came to enjoy Mountain Home's small town appeal, Eagley said.
"Most of these women don't get away from the families very often," which is one of the reasons why they enjoy coming to events like this, she added.
During the weekend, airmen from Mountain Home Air Force Base served as escorts for convention goers. Among them was Senior Airman Mykal Tanner from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who heard about the opportunity from his shop supervisor.
Tanner gladly accepted the invitation, adding that it was his way of helping others while getting actively involved in the Mountain Home community.
"I like getting involved in the community and I really like to do things that help others," added Airman 1st Class Preston Naylor. "With all these beautiful ladies, I couldn't pass it up."
This year's convention officially began Friday evening as women gathered at the American Legion Hall for casino night action that allowed them to gamble with "funny money."
Convention action continued on Saturday as participants competed in a Bunco tournament, made bracelets or tried their hand at scrap booking. Others made a trip to Glenns Ferry where they had a chance to sample various wines at The Crossing winery.
Activities culminated Saturday evening as the Elks Lodge hosted the convention banquet.
While many of the women were dressed in telltale red and purple outfits and hats common among society members, others showed up in costume. A few women were dressed as Egyptian queens while others came as noted television personalities, including Lucille Ball and Cher, based on the this year's theme, "Hollywood in Mountain Home."
Ann Bulger was one of six women from Steilacoom, Wash., attending this year's convention. Her society chapter expects to host the next regional convention in 2015, so they used the trip here to gather ideas.
Mary Layman and Cherryl Bernard were among the five women from a chapter in Oklahoma City that made a leisurely, three-day trek to Mountain Home specifically for this year's gathering.
"We've had a wonderful time," Layman said. "It's been a great event that was organized really well with good food and great entertainment."
"We came because it's always a lot of fun," added Jean Bartlett, who came with representatives from the Red Hat Ladies chapter in Rupert, Idaho.
Her favorite moment that weekend was having a chance to be escorted by airmen from the nearby Air Force base.
"I think I died and went to Heaven when I saw all these military guys," said Jean Dunkle, who serves as the queen of the Red Hat Ladies chapter in Sandy, Utah.
Looking back over the weekend, Eagley credited people and businesses across the community for making these women feel welcome.
"Thank you for going out of the way by making them feel at home," she said.
Some businesses went the extra mile by decorating their shops and stores with red and purple decorations. Meanwhile, local residents waved or honked their car horns as they watched the Red Hat Ladies pass by.
People also helped in other ways, Eagley said. For example, 12 carloads of Red Hat members got lost in Mountain Home, and residents stepped forward to help them find their way.
Eagley also credited Jane Hodge, queen of the Purple Gems chapter in Mountain Home, for the convention's success. Hodge spent the past three years making sure everything came together, Eagley said.
This year's convention comes as the national Red Hat Ladies organization prepares to celebrate its 16th anniversary in June.
Mountain Home had its first chapter form six years later during a lunchtime meeting involving Eagley, Hodge and three others. Today, the city has five chapters with the additional chapters based in Glenns Ferry and Grand View.