Half-Mind Rant

Bashing Mismanagement

by Wo Wo

 

 

- Everything costs money

- MisManagement types are working to provide the best

- Any Hashing event is extraneous, if you don't like it, don't register

It is often said that "ensuring a Hash appears to flow without any direction takes a lot of work". I believe this is true, but the good times that are enjoyed by a majority of those that attend generally make it worth the effort. But because this is a rant, I'm going to take issue with a few parts of the Hash Community. It is not my intention to dissuade you from volunteering to run an event, but perhaps give a little slack to those that give their time and energy to planning your good time.

Hashers love to talk about hashing being an accepting group where pretty much anything goes and most is forgiven; why is this not extended to the MisManagement types that work hard to provide entertainment for all? Most recently I have been associated with the Red Dress Run in Washington DC. I have also served in the MisManagements of several local kennels and thrown a large number of "event" hashes. I say this in an effort to provide some credibility to this rant.

As a member of the RDR MM I have received some positive feed back for my efforts, and the efforts of the scores of volunteers that an event such as RDR requires, but most often I hear from those that are dissatisfied for some reason. I understand that everyone wants to feel that they got what was expected, but the reality is that you can never make everyone happy.

Things that work out for most of the group, may not be acceptable to another, I understand. The issue is that quite often the most vocal complaints come from those that never step forward to run anything themselves. As an arm chair planner, many people have many ideas, but they never step up and actually get involved. Red Dress in DC in particular is a massive event that requires excessive amounts of planning and money. Money seems to be the cornerstone of many complaints that I receive, keep in mind that I too, pay for my event registration.

When I have received complaints about the pricing issue I always ask the individual what can be done to reduce costs and quite often I invite them to volunteer for the MisManagement. No one has ever stepped forward to provide less expensive alternatives or even their time to run down options. I endeavor to keep pricing for Hash events as low as possible, but there are costs. Venues, food, give aways, and beer all cost money. When buying enough of the above for 500 people, there is a large cash outlay. Many of these costs need to be contracted and secured with a cash deposit months in advance of the event (as I write this rant 10 months from the event, last year's venue has already been booked up for the entire month of October). These costs must be accounted for with funds collected in the prior year or out of the pocket of the organizers. Hashers seem to be under the notion that there is a central Hash Banking system that will cover costs and over runs in the event of a problem. This is not true.

In the event that I miscalculate something, or fail to budget for a required item, I am personally liable for the costs. Many people tell me that a "kegger" can be thrown to cover the costs if this scenario where to befall the event. I appreciate the idea, but throwing a kegger to cover the costs of an event this size is not practical and even if it were it still means that a personal outlay of cash will be required; I do not think this is fair to me, or anyone running a hashing event.

I find it particularly interesting that so many Hashers are willing to allow MisManagement to accept this financial burden while at the same time demand so much for the financial risk of a single registration. Most Hashers are unwilling to take the responsibility to volunteer to Hare a trail, why is it expected that the MisManagement is to take financial responsibility so that any Hasher may or may not attend an event?

Another issue that is groused about is that people want the event to be "open to everyone" and even become indignant when an event has an attendance limit. The Verizon Center, Shea Stadium, or Candlestick Park can absorb a lack of attendance for a single event over the course of a season. They also have the luxury of being backed by a billion dollar system. Hashing does not have the same billion dollar support frame.

When people wait for the "day of" or even the last few days to sign up, a small outfit, like the RDR, is not pliable enough to react. Shirts take time to order/print, food needs to be prepared/bought, and a myriad of other issues arise. There is no identical event where these items can be absorbed. By having a set number of attendees, much of the planning, and ultimately financial issues are mitigated. At the DC Red Dress the initial pricing value is the cost of the event. This is done in an attempt to get people to sign up quickly, so that all the long lead issues can be dealt with up front. When shirts are ordered, to custom sizes, last minute exchanges and cancellations become a problem.

On a related point, if you have a loved one that is sick, or even just old, do not sign up for a hashing event. As the MisManagement rep for registration, the final week prior to the event brings with it a series of emails from people who sustain "deaths" in the family and absolutely need a refund and can not find anyone to purchase their rego from them. In honesty, I know of a couple of people that have had this happen to them and I have happily refunded their money with my sincere condolences. But the vast number of "deaths" that are reported far outpace statistical possibility. I have even returned registration costs to someone who had gotten pregnant. When I suggested that she could still attend and simply not drink beer while she enjoys being with her friends, I was chided as if I had no idea what Hashing is about.

At the RDR in DC we will transfer regos, even while regular registration is still open. Each transfer causes MisManagement more administrative work, and results in less capital available for the event, but we wish to accommodate those that have issue arise. I have seen people trying to sell regos for more than they paid for them, all the while claiming that they are passing the rego on at cost, while any dealing with the event MisManagement is treated with distrust. The reality is that the extent of financial risk for most people that attend a Hashing event is the cost of their registration. The extent that people will go to ensure that they do not forfeit even this minor cost is amazing, especially when I know the cost of the whole event and I realize that any money not accounted for in registration fees will be supplemented personally.

Although I want the event to be attainable for any fun hasher that has the time to spend the day with us the bottom line for any Hash event is that it is simply a day of entertainment. If the cost is too much for some, than they can spend their day doing anything else, nonattendance is not catastrophic.

I have been accosted on 2 continents and in 3 countries by one individual that has an issue with the DC RDR and seemingly, me personally. I understand that he thinks the cost is excessive and does not want to attend as a result. Each time I have seen him, I have thanked him for his opinion and invited him to not attend the event.

Is it such an issue that I can not enjoy my time at other Kennel's events without being treated poorly by a certain hasher? Why is the Hashing "openness" unavailable to myself and those on MisManagements for all of the events that we attend? I will be passing the RDR MM on to someone in the near future. Perhaps they will lower the price, perhaps they will raise it, but I know that whatever the outcome, they are doing the best the can for the most amount of people.

Is this my unique experience? No, I have gotten sullen phone calls and emails from people running other events asking questions and trading stories. No matter what, their intentions have always been for the best. Why are they attacked for their good faith efforts?

Sometimes things do not work out as planned, vendors go back on their word, merchandise is not delivered on time, it happens. One person even complained that they felt "cheated" because they didn't have as much fun as the expected to have at the event. Is that the goal, to surpass every individual's expectations, while on a tight budget? Everyone works hard so that problems do not impact the event, but they do happen, so keep that in mind the next time you want to criticize those that have worked so hard so that you can be entertained.

ON-ON
Wo. Wo.
White House H3