Winding Down

It seems like yesterday that I accepted the helm of the ship of fools known as the Reading Hash House Harriers.

At that time it seemed like I had forever to accomplish the things I wanted to. That idea was as foolish applied to my Grandmastership as it is applied to life itself. Time flies by. Ask any old person on their death bed and many will question where their life has gone.

My two years has flown by and I have completed some of my goals and others have been unaccomplished. The main uncompleted goal was to grow the hash and have consistent numbers.

While consistent numbers WOULD be a good thing as it makes the hares job a lot easier, I have accepted that we do not have to have large numbers to have a great hash. Some of our best trails have been ones that had only a handful of people in attendance.

The last hash that a GM hares has always been a shindig - a large affair that sometimes has lasted all weekend. After the 600th campout (a great time) found only 1 or 2 Reading hashers staying while the other 20 were out of towners, I decided that mine would be a smaller affair.

The 700th (Sat May 31st 2008) is basically going to be a regular hash with the 2nd Rubber Duckie Regatta and a fun apres. No regos other than just send me an email if you can so i can plan the food. Im saving my energy for the AGM and the summer and the PA INTERHASH.

I am excited for the new GM to come into office and apply a fresh energy. Its time.

OE

HASH #699

Unlike most kennels who have an AGM annually (or some that never have a mismanagement change) - Reading has always flushed away its mismanagement every 50 trails.

That equates to about 2 years per empire. Thats a good amount of time - long enough that everyone should have the hang of things but not too long as to overstay their welcome.

In some ways it is very hard to believe that tomorrow is the last regular hash of my Grandmastership. In some ways its gone amazingly fast and in others its been excruciatingly slow.

After I pass the crown to the next fool, uhh, I mean the new Grandmaster, I will probably post some reflections on my reign.

But right now two things that pop into my head are:

• I didnt achieve a significantly larger base of ACTIVE hashers. Our numbers are about the same as they were 2yrs ago - even though the faces are a lot different
• And I just dont get the attitude that EAGER BEAVER has towards Reading. When she got into a girly pissing contest with someone from outside RH3 we, as a kennel, pretty much rallied the wagons and protected her - not based so much on who was right or wrong - but almost solely on the fact that she was from here and we take care of our own first. Then she moves away and seemingly does everything in her power to exhibit not even the slightest appreciation. I have heard on several occasions that she talks smack and now has issued an edict that she doesnt want any non-H5 trails to be posted to their website. This creates a completely pointless "us vs. them" mentality. I dont buy into that. I love publishing ALL the local hashes on readinghash.com I encourage everyone in Reading to travel to local and distant hashes. If they chose to or not to - thats beyond my power - but I want them to know that there are all sorts of excellent hash events. EAGER, tell me why you feel slighted and maybe there is something I can do to alleviate that. But please dont backstab and undermine - thats just not right.

OE

PA INTERHASH: Reading Beer, Things Moving Along!

HASHERS:

Greetings!

Just back from a meeting with Scott Baver (Reading Beer) and J-WALKER (PAIH Guru) and I am happy to announce that we have found a kindred spirit.

Reading Beer is fully onboard as the official beer of the PA INTERHASH 2008. Scott has some great ideas and his support and input will be in invaluable.

Details will be upcoming.

Get your rego in now. http://www.painterhash.com/

OVEREXPOSED

SANTA F'S THE HASH

Hey Hashers.....

My laptop, the control center of my life, has taken a dump.

It was quickly replaced but I still do not have a copy of FRONTPAGE to do website updates.

This is a reminder that Santa F's The Hash is SATURDAY December 15th 2007 at 2:30PM

I know the BANNER at www.readinghash.com says the 16th. I will fix it as soon as I can.

Get full info at: http://www.readinghash.com/HashSchedule.htm

Thanks to KY for getting me a copy of OFFICE 2003 which inc FRONTPAGE.

Technology...once it has you by the balls, it has you by the balls.

So, get thyself out to SFTH - its quite possibly the dumbest and best day of the year.

OE

HASHERS:

Greetings wanks.

Here is the latest RH3 update:

• PA Interhash Meeting - Thursday at 6PM at Champions in Shillington. We will be meeting with J-WALKER to finalize the location and date of the PAIH. After we book these details we will start on committee work. Everyone is welcome and your input is needed.
• Anthracite Absurdity - It's back - hashing in coal country. Live music, catered food and as always your comfort is the hares primary concern. JUSTRICK will be named at this hash and its a doozy.
• Reading's Halloweenie Hash - Sunday Oct 28th at 2PM. Cornwall Elementary School. Costumes highly recommended.
• OE's Veterans Day Weekend Hash - November 10/11 or 12. One of those days or nights. Watch the hash schedule.
• Kilted social with Lancaster505.com - Wed November 14th 2007 at 5:30PM ish. The Tilted Kilt in Mt Joy. We had a great time with these loveable drunks when we were there in June. Good food. Plenty of time to order a kilt if you don't have one.
• Lehigh Valley's Black Friday Hash - Fri Nov 23rd.
• BLAWB LAWB LAWB Hares - Sunday Nov 25th. Her first haring I think.
• Santa F*ck's The Hash - Sat Dec 15th 2007 - He ALWAYS Fs the pack. Sometime after 3PM.

That wraps up the year. 2008 dates will soon be posted and hares are always needed. Details for all the trails above go online as soon as the info is decided.
Come hashing, bring a virgin or three.

ONON,
OVEREXPOSED

PA INTERHASH Moving Along

The 2008 PA Interhash, hosted by the Reading HHH, is moving along as GrandGuru J-WALKER has narrowed the hotel list down to three.

Reading has turned out to be a utterly incompetent city when it comes to event planning and making it easy on groups who want to bring business into town.

I guess we are best at food, beer and violence.

Our next meeting is Thursday October 18th 2007 at 6PM. Location TBA.

As soon as we book the location and date we can start working on details and promotion.

Reading Beer has declared they are firmly behind us and will probably be the primary sponsor.
That works fine for me as I like that beer a lot, its got the perfect name and the office manager is hot enough to make an Eskimo by a popsicle.

So, try to make the meeting. Nothing is cast in stone so if you have any ideas please bring them along.

See you there and big props to J-WALKER for his continued diligence in getting this thing started.

OE

Reading Hash Business Cards

For some time we have said we needed a cheap and easy hand out to give to the cheap and easy people we encounter. People who might be good hashers.

Telling someone in a bar about hashing is great but 9/10 times they won't remember squat when they get home.

I had a bunch of cheap business cards made and will start giving them out to our wankers at the next trail.

Just take a few and stick some in your wallet or flask holder or glovebox. They might even add a bit of validity to your drunken ramblings about the group you belong to that runs and drinks beer and drinks beer.