It happens every year when a new GM (General Manager) gets elected to run the various Hash chapters around the world. Here in Chiang Mai we have 5 total chapters and each of them has their own GM. The position is largely ceremonial because it's not like we have an ideology or anything like that. Mostly it is just a position where you will be expected to speak at each event so normally the person who gets elected is someone that isn't shy because the introverts wouldn't ever want this position.
While men are, at times, allowed to participate in Bunny events, the leadership is entirely driven by the women who run it. If they say men can't go, well that's the end of the conversation. However, since most of our local bunnies are actually in relationships with male Hashers, they often will extend the invitation to their larger events to include the men as well. I have been to a couple of them and they make you feel really silly with the bunny ears and skirts, but this is all part of the fun.
Our new GM is a woman whose Hash Name is "Doesn't get it" and her name has a wonderful history because she earned her name because when she was new to the Chiang Mai Hash and the Hash House Harriers in general, she frequently was confused because of her then, limited English speaking skills. Just like a foreigner will often say "mai ko jai" which means "I don't understand" she did the reverse in English but always said "I don't get it."
She was trying to speak colloquially or with a bit of slang but the frequency in which she would say this earned her a very G-rated Hash name that actually suits her character.
She definitely "gets it" now though, because she has gone from someone that was always confused about what the heck is going on around her to someone that is extremely well-versed in Hashing to the point where she is now the head of an entire chapter.
It is customary to have a mildly formal passing of the torch from one leader to the next, and that is exactly what they did at our local Hashing bar in downtown Chiang Mai. The outgoing GM's Hash name is "Hot Nipple" and well, I don't know the history behind that and am relatively certain I don't want to.
The Bunny Hash of 2024 is going to be difficult to surpass because they had a lot of events including hosting an international event that had a sold out attendance.
There isn't a huge amount of pressure placed on the GM in any of the local Hashes, but I am certain that "Doesn't Get It" will be an excellent replacement and will do a fine job of leading the women and some men that attend their 50 or so events a year.
As I have mentioned in the past, the Bunny Hashes tend to be a bit more upmarket than anything the men are in charge of and they always seem to have a heavy focus on actually having something to eat at these things which is is stark contrast to the men who think it is a good idea to drink a bunch of beer on an empty stomach after running 5-7 kilometers in the jungle.
In many ways I think they do a better job of it but then again, it is a commonly held belief that women in a general sense are much more sensible when it comes to most things, especially when beer is involved.
Congratulations to "Doesn't get It" on her election and I am certain a fine year of performance is ahead for the Bunny Hash of Chiang Mai
On On!
