Budgeting for Non-Food Hashes Last Updated: Jan 22, 2006, 08:28
One of the toughest aspects of planning for a hash is knowing how much the Host should be allowed to spend... which, of course is tied to how much income is estimated.
For the non-food hashes, our price structure has a proven record of breaking even... with a slight bias towards profit:
Normal "Non-Food Hash" charge: = 10kBs for adult males = 5kBs for adult females = 0kBs for children
Over years of analysis and data recording, the following chart was devised to estimate the income for non-food hashes:
The hashes in which we provide food present a whole different problem; hopefully the following article will help provide some guidelines to help in planning for 'food hashes'.
Budgeting for Food Hashes Last Updated: Jan 21, 2006, 01:16
At a food hash we simply charge most people 5kBs more than we do for a 'non-food' hash. The Hosts & smaller children do not pay this amount, but that doesn't change the outcome very much.
Normal "Food Hash" charges: = 15kBs for adult males = 10kBs for adult females = 5kBs for children (10-18); free for under 9
Over years of analysis and data recording, the following chart was devised to estimate the income for food hashes:
It would be simple to just say that the Hash will re-fund 5kBs to the Host for every person who shows up ... but then the Host would get hurt if no one showed up. It is tough to be a Host of a food hash, as you have to prepare enough food & fixings to satisfy an undertermined amount of people. To protect the Host, we have to determine some guarantees. It is thus the job of the HareRaiser (or Hash Cash) to estimate the range of people that can be expected at the hash event, and to relay that information to the Host.
Our food hashes have ranged from 60-80 people and that is a good number to start with; to be adjusted plus or minus for holidays, special event, weather predictions, etc. If a Host agrees to plan for 60-80, the hash will guarantee to re-pay the Host 5kBs per person for the minimum number of the range; thus 300kBs would be guaranteed in this example. The host can spend up to that amount on food with the knowledge that it will get refunded.
The upper number of the range (80 in this case) is what the Host should be prepared to feed. Thus if the Host spends 400,000Bs and 80 people show up, all cost will be refunded. If less than 80 people show up, some food should be held back & either: 1) kept by the host (not charged to the Hash), or 2) Purchased by the hash and frozen for a future event, or 3) Sold to hashers at the event
It is up to the Host to monitor the situation and, with help from committee members, make decisions as to what may need to be held back. Luckily the number of hashers will be known during the first circle, so the Host will have at least 90 minutes to adjust plans.
Many times we have served to much food to too few people and the hash has suffered losses. This guideline will protect the hash group and put more responsibility on the Host. The goal is to not burden the Host too much, as we dearly depend on them for sponsoring events; but we need to ensure some of accountability.
Budgeting for Haberdash Items Last Updated: Jan 20, 2006, 08:41
For those hashes which include a haberdash item, we have the following options:
Sponsored Item:
When we get a sponsor to provide a haberdash item, we assure the sponsor that no individuals will be gaining a benefit from that sponsorship. In the past we have given the items away at a hash, but we have learned that we need to charge a nominal fee, say half the production cost, to keep from getting tons of free-loaders showing up. This way we can also increase the number of items in case the sponsor could not provide enough funds to produce the normal amount.
For Example: for our Halloween Hash we received enough money to buy 70 T-shirts... with the stipulation that they be given way (not sold). We ran short of shirts becasue so many people turned up at the event and people were not happy. In hindsight, we should have invested some hash money to produce 100 shirts, and then increased the hash price by 10kB to cover costs. The sponsor, the hashers and the Hash group would all have come out ahead.
Non-Sponsored Item:
For haberdash items in which there is no sponsor... we need to charge an additional amount at the hash to cover the cost of the item. For any extra items remaining after the hash, a premium should be added to 1) entice people to attend the event and 2) to elp fund any losses which may be incurred by other hashes.
Example 1: An item costs 10kBs to produce. An additional charge of 10kBs would be added to the cost of the hash. Any remaining items would be sold for 15kBs after the hash.
Example 2 (more likely): An item costs 12kBs to produce. An additional charge of 10kBs would be added to the cost of the hash. Any remaining items would be sold for 15kBs after the hash. From past lessons we have learned to set the additional price at a nice even number. If we lose a little money at the hash, with the hope to make it up on future sales, that is acceptable.
Dray - What to Supply at a Hash Event Last Updated: Jan 19, 2006, 01:34
One of the most complicated jobs on the Hash team is the Dray, who is responsible for supplying the drinks. Without knowing how many people will show up, it is hard to plan enough drinks to keep people happy.
To make life easier for the Dray, we have pre-purchased the drink items and have placed them in storage. The following charts show what should be taken from storage for either 'non-food' or 'food' hashes. The goal is to always have more drinks than needed, and to return any leftover items back to storage.
Non-Food Hash Inventory Items: Coolers = 3 Beer = 10 cases (including 1 case of light beer) Note: 6 cases should be iced in coolers & 3 cases pre-chilled Sangria = 3 bottles (1.7L) Water = 3 bottles (5.0L) Soda = 4 Bottles (2L) - Coke, Coke Lite, 7-Up Lite & Orange
Food Hash Inventory Items: Coolers = 3 Beer = 15 cases (including 2 cases of light beer) Note: 8 cases should be iced in coolers and 3 cases pre-chilled Sangria = 4 bottles (1.7L) Water = 4 bottles (5.0L) Soda = 8 Bottles (2L) - Coke, Coke Lite, 7-Up Lite & Orange
Planning Future Hashes Last Updated: Jan 18, 2006, 15:57
Planning future hashes is a constant and ongoing effort. Click here for the latest planning document for future hashes.
If you have any inputs, or if you wish to sponsor a hash, please contact us at : contact@caracashash.com
Information Needed For Announcements Last Updated: Jan 17, 2006, 01:26
The following is a list of the information we need for each hash announcement.
Hash Name: Come up with a 'catchy' title
Hare(s): Who will set the run/walk (usually 2 people)
Host(s):Usually only for a 'food hash' (usually 2 people)
Date: Day of week, Month, Day (ex: Sunday, March 2nd) Time: meeting time and leaving time (ex: 3:00pm for a 3:30pm start) Location: City or Neighborhood (ex: Las Mercedes) Address: Address of meeting place (ex: Res. Quinta Siempre) Directions: Details on how people can find the location (a map will usually be generated by the Webmaster and included in the announcement) Hash Insight: Details on special aspects of the hash (buggy friendly, hilly, tough, beer stop, food afterwards, swimming pool, etc.) Costs: To be supplied by other Committee Member Contact: The phone numbers of the hosts or hares
The easiest thing to do is to 'copy' the above and 'paste' it into an e-mail... editting it to include the required information... and then sending it to: contact@carcashash.com
How To: Set a Hash Last Updated: Jan 26, 2005, 12:31
Rules, Rules, Rules.
It's been said that the only rule of the Hash is that there are no rules. But, of course, to just about every rule, there are exceptions. And we actually do have just a few little rules which help the running of a Hash go smoothly.
When You're On, You're On.
OK. We all know that the Hash begins with the sounding of the horn. And, we also know that this usually results in about 20% of the Hash taking off and running around aimlessly in circles (at least this is the way it appears to the other 80%). Of course this apparent chaos is, in fact, a concerted somewhat unscientific effort by the few, in service to the many, to find the correct trail. If a Hasher finds three consecutive dots of flour along a trail, road, gap, field or whatever, then he is on the right route and, in Hash parlance, this is known as being ON. As long as an additional dot can be found along the same route then he continues to be ON. Now it's the job of the Hares, those unmentionables that set the run, to screw up the runners and keep the whole group together. They may do this by simply taking a turn and hope that you miss it, or they may use a number of weapons in their arsenal.
An Arsenal Of Weapons
The Check. The main purpose of a check is to slow down the front runners (FRBs) and allow the slower Hashers a chance to catch up. Checks, as indicated by a circle of flour with a dot inside, are usually placed at a point along the route where there are intersecting trails or roads.
At this point your trail of dots will cease to exist and it's the job of the Hashers to spread out and find the new route, otherwise known as checking.You may find no dots, one or two dots, or an X. However, only one direction can have 3 or more dots of flour and, of course, this is now ON.
The Back Check.
One of the more frustrating variations on a check is the back check. This is where you have a check but the proper route is behind you rather than in front. At the check, if the FRBs run off checking on various trails but can't find any routes that have 3 dots, chances are you've run into the dreaded back check. Turn around and go back along the trail that led you to the check, count back one or two dots of flour (two seems to be preferable, but one is legal), and then take off on a side track, trail, road, gap, whatever, and begin to look for dots. If you've gone back 2 dots then you only need to find one to be ON, two if you've gone back only one dot.
The False Trail. False trails are marked with an X. It's really only acceptable for the Hare to use an X after a check. So if you find one just along a trail, you may have missed seeing a check. Hashers are not allowed to cross over an X. You must turn around and go back the way you came.
Calling (or Is Anybody Home?) The Hash relies on calling. We have the Hash Horn, whose job is to stay in the middle of the pack and act as a beacon, but the whole thing falls apart if we don't call. Everyone should participate in calling, from the front runner to the last of the bunch.
The Calls Of The Wild
"ARE YOU?" - This is the only call that is a question. And, because we're a somewhat simple-minded group, it's the only question that we ever ask. All other calls are a response to the question, "ARE YOU?"
"ON-ON!" - Music to a Hasher's ear. This is the correct response if you are on the right trail. In addition, when already on the right trail, Hashers should call "On-On!" each and every time they come across an additional dot of flour. It's important that all hashers call the ON - it's our primitive communication system that alerts everyone down the line the proper way to go.
"CHECKING!" - When you approach a check, or if you are checking and have not found any dots, you should call this loud and clear.
"CHECKING ONE!" - Call this when you are checking and you find one dot or if you're checking and someone else calls to you "ARE YOU?" and you've found one dot.
"CHECKING TWO!" - Call this when you are checking and you've found two dots or if you're checking and someone else calls to you "ARE YOU?" and you've found two dots.
"LOOKING!" - If you're looking for flour, but are not at a check, then the proper response if "LOOKING!"
"ON-IN!" - Call this when you see the ON-IN written on the ground.
"YES, R.A!" - This is the proper response to anything our beloved R.A. might ask of you. Penalties for creative answers might range from an ice cold shirt to a free drink. Good luck.
