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Annual membership dues are only $10. You can
give the money to any run leader (e.g., Jim Doyle) at any of
the Club runs. Please include your name, address, phone number,
and email address on the printable membership form here or
on a bar napkin. By so doing, you will be included on the Club
mailing list for the newsletter and other notices from the
Club.
Newsletters are periodically sent to club members,
often prior to important Club events. The email list is used
to keep members up to date on more of the day-to-day events of
the Club. Inquire at a run about how to get onto the e-list when you pay
your dues (or thereafter).
The following club events generally occur
annually.
- HOHA Snowball: This charity dinner/dance with live
music is held at the Elk's Club and usually occurs on a
Saturday night in February.
- HOHA Classic 5 Mile Race: This 5 mile race
and 1 mile fun run start and finish at Pier A Park in Hoboken.
The runs typically occur on Mother's Day in May.
- HOHA Gate Sale: The Hoboken
Harriers help with a charity gate sale held in early October.
- Post NYC Marathon Party: Since many HOHAs run the New York City Marathon,
a post-race party is held at the residence of a club member.
The NYC marathon is the first Sunday in November.
- HOHA-liday
Party: Held at the home of a club member, the holiday party
usually occurs on a Thursday in December.
The formal
name of the Club is the Hoboken Harriers Running Club, which
is explained at greater length below. The less formal name, the
HOHAs, also deserves some explanation. It was seized upon us by
our Club founder and all around expatriate (not to be confused with a
former patriot), brit Paul Peacock, in May of 1988. There is some
dispute as to who uttered the clever sobriquet (two of the people present
at the historic event, Paul and Doug Lindsay, attribute the utterance to
different characters), but there is no question that when Paul decided upon
the formal name he was not merely looking for any plausible word beginning
with the letters "ha" to complete the clever Club nickname, HOHA (Hoboken
Harriers), despite what his jealous detractors may allege. If you are familiar
with the term "harrier," you might question whether our formal name is a
bit redundant. Because of the obvious potential for confusion, we think
not.
If you are unfamiliar with the term "harrier" (it is a bit unusual,
like Paul), the American Heritage Second Edition instructs that it means,
in the following order of preference, (1) one that harries*, (2) any of
various slender, narrow winged hawks of the genus Circus, which prey on
small animals, (3) one of a breed of small hounds originally used in hunting
hares, or (d) a cross-country runner. Cross-country runners run across open
country rather than following tracks or roads. Doesn’t sound like Hoboken,
eh? In case you aren’t familiar with the precise definition of the third
person, present tense of the verb "harry" (see asterisk), it means (1) to
raid, as in war; sack or pillage, or (2) to disturb or annoy as if by constant
attacks; harass. For the purposes of this overall explanation,
I’ll
assume you either know or can look up the definition of sack
and pillage, but be clear that neither word has anything to do
with a canvass or paper bag or a Spanish wine of any sort.
So, who are we
and are we for you? Well, if you are interested in the Club
for the following reasons you may NOT want to join our Club:
- To loot or
rob villages of goods or valuables after its capture;
- To chase
after slender, narrow winged hawks at circuses (sorry Rick);
- To chase after small hounds which are, in turn, chasing after rabbits
of some sort;
- To sit around and disturb or annoy others with constant
attacks and harassment;
- To gather to provide moral support for
the recently unemployed (hint: as slang, the English refer
to being terminated from employment as being sacked.); or
- To sit around and
drink dry, strong Spanish wines.
However, if you are interested
in us for any of the following reasons, you MAY very well want
to join up:
- To lead or chase after slender and not so slender runners for
various distances;
- To train for a marathon with the advice and
company of others;
- To get back into an exercise regime to improve
your health and/or maintain your weight;
- To disturb or annoy
others with constant attacks and harassment during a run
or jog, followed perhaps by sitting around and disturbing or annoying
others with constant attacks and harassment;
- To go to a monthly race (perhaps a cross-country
race) with a group and compete as a team;
- To go for a run or
jog and then, if you choose, sit around afterward and enjoy
a drink, including but not limited to dry, strong Spanish wines;
- To help
support local charities through volunteering at certain annual
social and athletic events; or
- To get to know and occasionally socialize
with some active local people.
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