VIDALIA, La. &045; The Miss-Lou’s newest Red Hat Society chapter will have no rules &045; and you don’t even have to be a Democrat.

Although many of the members met each other through their work with the Democratic party, the Magnolia Ya-Ya Y’All chapter is all about having fun.

&uot;That’s what this is about,&uot; said Audrey Seale, the &uot;queen mother&uot; for the group, as they gathered Thursday for their inaugural meeting at Comfort Suites in Vidalia. &uot;This is just for us.&uot;

&uot;We’re going in a different direction now,&uot; Thelma Angelethy said. &uot;We’re just going to play now.&uot;

Red Hat Societies have sprung up around the country, with the national organization sponsoring conventions, merchandise and publications. The society’s name is based on the poem &uot;Warning,&uot; by Jenny Joseph, which begins, &uot;When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go Š&uot;

Most Red Hat Society chapters simply allow a group of women friends to get together for meals, concerts or other outings. The groups have no bylaws.

&uot;In other words, this is a disorganization,&uot; Seale said. &uot;The Red Hat Society is fond of saying that.&uot;

&uot;We have no secretary, no president, no nothing Š we just have a queen mother,&uot; Angelethy said.

Seale said her only real responsibility was to register the chapter and name it.

Now responsibility for planning the group’s meetings will rotate among the members.

&uot;Each one will pick a month,&uot; she said, then, turning to the group, added, &uot;Oh, in the (Red Hat Society) magazine, they’ve got a special on a cruise, y’all!&uot;

Seale’s sister actually convinced her to consider starting a chapter, and when she told a few friends, they were ready to join.