You are hereMinutes of Mismanagement Meeting
Minutes of Mismanagement Meeting
1. As announced at the last Hash, a mismanagement meeting was held at the Chicken Shack Thursday evening (8 April) at 1830. Purpose of the meeting was to discuss and decide on next steps to improve the Tirana Hash.
2. The following people were in attendance:
Mikel K.
Ingrid S.
Albi P.
Miranda J.
Evis B.
Michael S.
Mike S.
Flutura V.
Elira S.
3. Topics discussed and/or agreed were:
a. Leadership – The Hash needs a Hash Master, Religious Advisor (also Deputy Hash Master), Hare Raiser, Hash Finance Manager (Hash Cash, attendance list, etc.), Logistics Master (beer, drinks, transport, food/snacks, etc), and a Hash Scribe (internet site, weekly report of Hash experiences/events, etc.) as a minimum. Beer Bitch on a rotating basis was also deemed necessary. It was agreed that volunteers would be sought for these positions and an election would be conducted to select a Hash Master and fill as many positions as possible at Saturday’s (10 April) Hash.
b. Hash tradition – A hash should include beer, walking/running, and a circle at the end of the Hash. All agreed it was necessary to reinforce Hash tradition and begin applying Hash tradition and culture to the Tirana Hash. This includes announcing the location of the next Hash during the Circle ceremony. Also that every member of the Hash should be willing to be a Hare and set the trail at least once during the year. With someone acting as Hare Raiser, a schedule can be kept and people would know well in advance when they would be the Hare.
c. Hash Cash – The group generally agreed that we should start charging a few hundred leke for attendance at the Hash. The money would be used to purchase beer/snacks, and perhaps sandwiches.
d. Start time – There was some discussion of starting the Hash earlier during the summer months. This will be put to a vote at the next Mismanagement Meeting after getting input from Hash members.
e. Llogara Hash – The group discussed the possibility of an overnight Hash in Llogara in May. All agreed we should have it. There are options for camping/cabins near the beach, and hotels are available nearby. Details to be worked at next Mismanagement Meeting.
f. Transportation – Some concern was expressed that people without makinas are sometimes left behind due to lack of transport. Hash cash should solve this problem as we can then obtain a minibus at the last minute prior to departing France 98 for the Hash.
g. Hash Bash – Some members miss having an annual Hash Bash. This will be pursued during future Mismanagement Meetings. Also to be discussed will be overnight trips to other locations in and outside of Albania, and cooperative hashes with the Macedonia Hash and others.
h. Hash Trail - It was generally agreed that the length of the Hash should be about 1 ½ hours. Distance would vary, if trail is flat, then it could be up to 10 kms, if hilly, less. All agreed there should be a walking trail and a running trail set by the Hare(s). This would depend on the terrain, but all agreed it was desirable if possible. As we have a mixed group of Hashers, the Hare needs to be sensitive to the needs of the various member (children, athletes/runners, older persons, etc.)
i. Hash Safety – There is a need to have a first aid kit available for each Hash, and a head count at the end of the Hash to make sure everyone is present and/or accounted for.
j. Hash Rules – For the Tirana Hash, most people agreed that we need to publish a set of rules/guidelines. This will be discussed in more detail at the next Mismanagement Meeting.
k. Chicken Shack – All agreed that the Chicken Shack was an ideal place to gather after the Hash for those interested in doing so.
Mike S.
Zoti Raki
Webwimp's note: Please do use the comments section below to discuss about these points.
Hi everybody!
I remember we have discussed the topic of money some two years ago, and decided, at the time, it would be better not to have a "mandatory participation fee". Perhaps the time has come to review that decision. Since I'm abroad, here's my two cents on the discussion:
I am very much in favour of not having a fixed payment, but publishing a list of prices and letting people pay for what they consume. I have no reason to believe that Tirana hashers are a cheating bunch, and I have seen this system work very well in every office here in Germany, completely unattended.
Whatever the decision is, it has to take into account the "first time guest" to the hash, the many students who visit us, and also the psychological implications of "honor system" vs "mandatory payment".
With a mandatory payment system people would feel entitled to their share of drinks and snacks, which means there must be an extra fund to serve as a buffer for very popular hashes (since we cannot know the attendance in advance). With an honor/"pay as you consume" system people would be just as thirsty, but they would not feel disappointed if they do not get to drink as much as they want.
On on!
Webwimp.
UPDATE: Story of how an economist is actually making a living by accepting payments in the "honor system": http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/06/magazine/what-the-bagel-man-saw.html
Completely agree with Webwimp and Helmuth. The "pay-as-you-drink" system was just fine before and it seemed to satisfy the different "thirst-level" of different hashers; while a "mandatory participation fee" proved to be discouraging for many hashers (....for many reasons!!).
It has become almost a custom now that after hashing many people like to drink beer while having a proper lunch, and lots of us like to go to the Chicken Shack and share a group meal/drinks, while the others want to head home and eat well. So the idea for sandwiches at the hash is just old fashion and not appealing to most of us. As for Transportation – 'some concern was expressed that people without makinas are sometimes left behind due to lack of transport'- well, that is not often the case and when it has been, the hashers have been willing to pay for their own transport. However, quite sometimes...we have seen people with makinas appearing at the hash sites and not at France 98 - our meeting/departing station; some hashers have got a ride ...packed on the cars' trunks while some BIG cars have left with just 2 people on the back. Thus, what the Hash is lacking(?!): higher socializing-spirit and more discipline - I suppose!
I very much agree with Webwimp's comments. The "pay-as-you-drink" system worked well in the past and generated a surplus of around 20,000 lek by the time Beerskuller left and handed over the cash to a fellow hasher. Would that not be a good basis to get started again?
Everybody knows that I am the security freak of the hash most of time, you already have your head counter with medipack included. Also Mr.Beerskuller left a medical assistance backpack before going so if I am not in hash every time somebody with 1st aid experience and not scared of dealing with a wound can do the trick. ( hopefully will never need to use it ).
About the hash trail I dont think we can charge it all on the hash master or hares, most of the time many people want smth exiting some want just to walk, anyone who wants to run in thorny bushes is welcome but the only thing the hare or hash master can do in this case is give you a google map so you wont get lost no madder what the magnitude of the hash will hit the ground that Saturday. By personal experience hashers should become a good boyscout when it comes to individuals that cant make the track or are unable to keep the rhythm of the track with others, in small grouping hashes that happens but when more than 30 of us hit the track that does not and that's a thing even a head counter cant face by his own. " Shortly " keep an eye on your hash mates be useful to the group dont leave anyone behind, Hashers are beer smugglers and pirates to the society but not to each other ;).
Rules about newcomers, children, and people who are unable to keep the heart bit with the group already exist in this website and already known by most of more than 1 year old hashers who know their responsibilities on bringing new comers or children etc. My experience in hashing in Berlin was that children where not allowed at all, not saying that we should do the same but have an eye on your kids while hashing, and ask the hare about track difficulty before engaging in it.
Where have ended our code of honor ? !!! lets bring it back, where is the beer Bitch ?
About transportation,??? we obviously need a logistics officer, people with experience in logistics easily can calculate and estimate transport needs by the website reading rates . Also Webwimp made a very cool tool for the transport need time ago but no body used it. the web page its an awesome spotter for the transport statistics and anyone who ever been in hash more than 12 times can do an approximate calculation like: This post right now have 24 reads in total, registered members with a hash name in our website are 111 dont know how much users dont have a hash name but web wimp can provide that statistic on how much users, approximately a huge hash convoy on an average really wanted hash may go over 40 hashers but average hashers that do come are 34. So now the only thing you need now is a guy really good at math that will make you a statistic sheet that will give you nearly exact amount of money needed for additional transport, transport vehicles( usually a 5 person max load cars )
and also we need to have a treasure secretary if the new hashmaster needs help to deal with everything at the same time.
hey think we solved quite more than half of the up written issues, nice, SO ! who is the hash master ?
On on everybody,
PS: qualified lately as a latitant sinner hope next hash has water in it. :PPP
Hi everyone,
While I agree that it is the parents' responsibility to decide whether their child can successfully complete a certain trail or not, this should not cause the hares - or everyone of us for that matter - to skip on trying to make a child-friendly hash trail whenever possible. It seems to me that Pilot's position is "do the hash and let them come if they want". My position is "Do the hash in such a way that they will want to come". If we do not actively try to make the hash child-friendly, we will see parents in doubt deciding it's rather better to leave children at home, or not to come at all to the hash.
I have been in a non-family hash, and it was not remotely so nice as what we have. The Tirana Hash is a marvellous opportunity for children, especially our foreign friends' children, to experience nature and interact with international people in a friendly and informal climate. I have seen the glow in their eyes, the confidence gained through all the difficult trails. Our hash has long meant "sport and socialization through exploring, and then celebrating with a beer". Let's not turn it into "running and socialization fuelled by sweat and beer". Let's keep giving children that opportunity.
On on,
Webwimp.
I totally agree on that, there is nothing more beautiful that watching the spark of happiness in those kids eyes and none of us might say the contrary, hashes with children and families have followed with really happy times and all the house of harriers over here in Tirana looked like a big family, but yet there is no wildness professional guide or hare that can secure safety during the hike. There so many Harrier houses abroad ( even pushed by the laws of the country about child safety, social services etc ) have not completely banished the idea of the presence of kids during hash but left the choice and responsibility to their parents.
Laws do interact with citizens of foreign countries even when they are abroad, and kids are a delicate madder everywhere.
A possible solution for my me would be to rate the hash, meaning so as I have seen it made on other webs about hiking and nature in categories as: Easy, ( F1= easy but long trail), medium, ( M2= medium but long ), hard, ( H3= hard and straining ).
The hare will have as experienced before the track to give instruction or to write down on the post, about the difficulty level a short description of terrain condition, and add for this specific occasion ( CHILD FRIENDLY ) with capitals at the top of the post. Most of the hashes I experienced are for real Child Friendly especially in this season where the coastline hashes are the preferred of the group to go. But also experienced one that I had to make search and rescue and do 5 miles on a river bad to bring back lady and child and the situation was not really Child Friendly where the women freaked out more than the kid did.
In conclusion my good friend, Im totally pro kids in hash ( they give to the hash a family sound and everybody begin to focus on them and they make everybody express deliberate happiness ) but if points like level of difficulty, Child Friendly assurance from hare group parents will think more than twice, being a parent is hard and most of the time parents especially need assurance of it.
Anyway mainly I dont think that we miss kids into hashes because of this topics at all, their parents do work on Saturdays or they are just too tired to head for a hash on a Saturday morning after a long week of tiring work and also keep an eye on super moving kids on a wild environment. Some kids have done hashes like H3 really hard and straining but it was their parents choice and full trust on the hashmaster and hares and also strict supervision and continuous support.
Everybody help the kids during the hash but yet my friend we cannot go against a mother or father instinct of protection when it comes to child safety.
My last thought about a Total child friendly hash is to insist on the second track for the runners which I think is more friendly than the usual one, cause they have to run and not get stuck into thorn bushes or down-climb a cliff most of the track, so there it goes that families can do with the kids the same runners track which is safer in some way.
Hope I helped on this issue,I agree too.
Let's keep giving children that opportunity.
Question: anyone taking care about the logistics calculations, webwimp should we do an algorithm to approximately calculate on previous web data from last year and now days date + margin of error about how much need of transport will the hashers have, or we can just put the Need transport poll again on every Saturday post. That is needed but mainly never been used.
PS: I would like to make my congratulations and most sincere welcome to the new Hashmaster, really sorry to have missed this Saturday hash but be sure you have your medical assistance officer and head counter for next time sir.
Free to contact me on any issue about accurate mapping and navigation.
On on
Pilot :) out