Spotlight On: Team RHO
by CountEdmondDante, HSM videographer
Editor’s foreword: Team RHO is very well-known within the Home community. They’re one of the oldest Home groups around. And what they dedicate themselves to, just as the name suggests, is recreation. Parties. Fun.
Home is a wonderful virtual world, but it is the community which makes it a lively and entertaining place to return to. While there are groups in Home whose purpose for existence is in poor or questionable taste at best, there can be no doubt that RHO has actively supported and enhanced the Home experience for many of its citizens.
It was Team RHO that organized and hosted the recent HSM anniversary party in Home. I have no idea how to do such a thing. All I knew is that when I showed up, the party had already spilled into a second server and Red Bull Beach looked like Armada when Armin Van Buuren rolls into Ibiza. The place was happenin’.
I asked Ed to write a bit about RHO; for those of you reading this who are not yet familiar with them, they are a very impressive Home group. And if you’re already familiar with them, then much of this article will be a wonderful, smile-filled trip down memory lane. I want to personally thank RHO — not just for what they recently did for HomeStation, but for all they’ve done for Home.
Norse
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ORIGINS:
RHO is the acronym for Recreational Home Organization. RHO was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Lochwood in early 2009, shortly after open beta in Home began.
PURPOSE:
The original purpose of RHO was to support Sony and the TOS (Sony Terms of Service), but also to come up with ways to have fun in Home. At the start there were two founding members: the Lochwoods. Within a few months, that number had grown to about thirty people. Most of the people who were attracted to RHO were individuals (age 20-plus) with a heavy interest in parties and events. That has remained true to this day.
Team RHO Weekly Update Party
EVENTS:
The first RHO event was in June 2009. The purpose of the event was to show solidarity with the moderation staff. Not only did the event attract the RHO members, but also some of the SCEA Mods such as CydoniaX, Chickenfoot18, Eefinem, Allojal, and, of course, Ogeidnas to name a few. At this event there was much dancing, talking and laughter amongst everyone spread all over Home. There was even dancing on the saucer pond with the Mods. The popularity of the event led to the scheduling of more events such as Weekly Forum Parties every Friday from 7pm EST to 8pm EST, at various public spaces in Home. For these events, most people wear whatever they want, except for the Homelings who often show up in uniform. The exception being MOD Day and Spread the RED events where everyone was encouraged to wear at least one red item. This was to show support for the Sony Staffers who, when seen, are often wearing their RED staff jackets.
MEMBERS:
The number of registered members in RHO has now reached 160 people. At a typical event, approximately 50-60 people show up. What makes the RHO events so popular is, of course, the Lochwoods, who are quite well known. But it’s the fun we have and the RHO members and leaders who are so well known and liked that draw in so many to fill our ranks.
LEADERS:
At the present time the decisions on what events to schedule and other RHO business items are made by Mr. and Mrs. Lochwood, the first sub leaders Bears87, Reaper1182, CountEdmondDante, Your_Blocked2, and Upgrayed-d, with the help of our second Sub leaders, Lakshay_Soccer1, KZEl33t, Guitar_Hero_Grrl, XxDark_WaynexX, and GreenEyedBeauty.
STRUCTURE:
Team RHO is made up of five clubs (in order from oldest to newest) RHO HQ, DELTA HQ, TAU HQ, THETA HQ, and PHI HQ. Each club is owned by Mr and Mrs Lochwood, with one first sub at the head of each and a second sub to assist them. We leaders often talk about the Teams in which we lead – such as “Go Team Delta” – but we are all RHO; no one club is more or less important than any other. There is also a Leader club ALPHA HQ where we hold weekly leadership meetings and plan our various events and keep each other up to date on the current events within Home.
A Word From RHO’s Leardership
The stories from the leadership tend go a little like this: “I never was really into the whole club thing on Home until I realized how much fun the RHO events were and could be.”
Team RHO Leaders after leader meeting
For example, in the words of KZEL33T, “In my case, my first club was with some guys whose names I can’t even remember, but they were very active in the forums and on Home. Then I started to pay more attention to Mr Lochwood’s club thread, and one day I noticed he was looking for people to fill the newly opened PHI. So I applied and was given the spot. I’m sure Mr. Lochwood knew I was the right guy for the spot. Every event or party that I have attended and helped support has been a success. It’s hard for another club to compete with a group like this: great people, good times, and never a dull moment – I couldn’t have asked for a better team to be with! My enthusiasm for RHO is shared by most of the other members.”
Reaper1182 says, “I joined RHO in June of 2010. I think what RHO means to me is it’s a group of people working hard to serve the community that we love so much. It’s about being a positive influence in the community and showing [both] new users and old the great opportunities Home has to offer.”
Upgrayed-d says, “I joined RHO about a week after E3 last year – early April, I think. The reason I joined RHO was because I knew it was a good way to get some fast networking done to get me some votes for The Tester 2 tryouts. After a few weeks, I realized Team RHO is made up of people who are just here to have a good time, which can sometimes be a rarity in Home.”
GHG says, “I’m guitar_hero_grrl, or GHG for convenience’s sake. I’m the THETA subleader under reaper1182 (I’m the Navi to his Link, as he’ll most likely tell you). Often confused with Star from the first season of The Tester, I once tipped a valet driver with a chicken McNugget. I’m a nerd, magical kitchen wizard, candy/chocoholic, and straight-edge tomboy all in one! I enjoy an hilarious view on life. I can tickle a gnarly electric slide guitar – a REAL one mind you! I love video games – playing them, holding them, breaking them, and sometimes even licking them! And I swear I’m really a girl! Honest! If I had time to create a fake female avatar, I’d be Snooki from Jersey Shore. Anywho, that’s me! Less PMS, more PMA all day! See y’all on Home!”
Line up of RHO leaders
And, for me personally, it was soon after Closed Beta ended when I ran across the Lochwoods sitting on a bench in CP by sheer chance (or maybe providence). I decided to join them, and we quickly became good friends, so when they offered me a place within RHO I was quite happy to accept. Shortly after that I was given a Leadership position within RHO and have been serving both the interests of RHO and my dear friends the Lochwoods ever since. It has now been about two years since those early days, and RHO has become something like a family to me; a place where all my closest friends work hard for the benefit and enjoyment of everyone. Every day I reaffirm my commitment to seeing Home truly become a more fun and enjoyable place for all.
What RHO means to me
I think RHO represents what the true potential of this [Home] social network can be, when used properly and effectively. It’s so awesome to see people from literally across the country – and to some, across the world – be able to gather in one spot and hang out in a unique way that only can really be done via Home. It’s crazy to think that this wasn’t possible a mere decade or so ago. It’s a small world after all, and RHO shows us the possibilities of bridging people from all walks of life with simple get-togethers and parties and events. I had my initial doubts about Home because it’s the Internet, and it can definitely be lawless and frightening to some, but I’m glad I met the folks at RHO. They prove that not everyone out there in the tubes are trolls and pervs!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: (website address, person to contact, where to go, etc.)
www.sites.google.com/site/clubteamrho/home
on twitter- @team_RHO
and Facebook- Jane RHO
Or contact any sub leader
TO JOIN RHO: The procedure for becoming a member of RHO is contact any of the sub leaders to discuss joining. Unfortunately, our ranks are a bit full at the moment, but new spots do open up so contact any sub leader – especially Reaper1182, our recruitment officer – for details on joining.
May 27th, 2011 by CountEdmondDante | 3 comments
CountEdmondDante is the First Sub-Leader for RHO Team Delta, as well as the moderator of Team RHO's forums. He has appeared on podcasts for both GamerIndepth and HomeStation Magazine.
Great first article Ed! I knew it would be. I have had the privilege of being friends with the Lochwoods and RHO for a few months now, and I agree with their attitudes toward Home and the people in it. This can be a wonderful place if you choose to let it be. RHO symbolizes what it should be, a fun place where people from all walks of life and all places can come together in harmony and get to know each other. I hope that this article combined with the one I wrote a few months ago about the Lochwoods helps to bring that message to people all over Home, and make it a better place, which should be the goal for all of us. Great job!
I’ve always enjoyed the weekly RHO Parties in various public spaces. I called them Friday Night Happy Hour Parties! I would log in after getting home from a long week at work, and get many invites from my Homeling friends to join RHOs’ party of the week.
The HSM Anniversary party was extreme!! Two servers full of well-wishers and partiers. Good times and another one for the books
Thank you to RHO and to HSM for all they give to the Home Community!
I want to give to my Home hours a reason…I would like to join a club to talk and just have fun with friends! I´m a real noob in terms of PS3 Home, but if there´s space with you, I would be glad to join!