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Red Hatters Swap Fashions

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LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: November 18, 2008

Updated:

One woman's same old purple sweater or red hat is another woman's treasure.

Members of the Purple Butterflies Chapter of the Red Hat Society, swapped fashions during a "Red and Purple" swap recently at Community Hall.

Barbara Nightingale, the vice president for the SCC club, traded in her fashions for a purple cowboy shirt, red hat, scarf and pin.

"I got a whole bag of things," said Nightingale, who joined the club six years ago.

"When I moved here I knew no one," she said. "I joined the club and I've met so many wonderful friends."

Carmen Miller of SCC looked at holiday decorations including a decorated barber shop cane.

"They are all congenial people," Miller said. "When you go to a function alone you are not alone."

Betsy Feldman of SCC said she has been a member for 10 years. She first read about a California Red Hat Society. When she heard about one forming in Florida, she immediately joined.

Feldman said she bought a pink hat for her daughter, Becky Deener, who is a member of a pink and lavender group in Indiana.

Elaine Massaro, the president or Madame Butterfly, said the purpose of the group is to bring women together for social activities.

"As you get older you don't want to fit into the woodwork anymore," Massaro said.

Paula Lickfeldt, the second vice president in charge of the Red and Purple Swap, characterized the event as a garage sale for red hat things.

"Anything you are tired of looking at they are bringing in and other people are buying them," said Lickfeldt, adding the flamboyant feather boas were quickly bought up.

"We play dress up," she said. "I always tell my friends there are three rules. You have to have a red hat, a purple outfit and a smile on your face."

Lickfeldt said the purpose of the group is not to raise money for charity although many of the women also belong to charitable organizations.

"We figure we have all paid our dues," she said. "We have all been Sunday School teachers, scout leaders, room mothers."

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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