We have just returned from the Board of Directors meeting in Little Rock, AR. It was a good productive meeting. A big thanks to Bo Prewitt and the CASI members from Arkansas who made us feel at home and provided a great weekend. Also, a big thanks to VFD Post 9095. The meals were great and so was the hospitality.


Fom Moma Sue Caffey:

What a wonderful glorious hot time we had at the American Legion at Bastrop this weekend at the River Runners cook offs. Some of us came in early to bewith DABoyz and got an early start visiting, sipping,chipping, and (always) laughing. We wish to thank all who came, who cooked, who donated, and who worked so hard to make these events successful. We had 45 on Saturday and 25 on Sunday. We wish to thank Head Judge Jeannette Cardenas, Referee John Caffey, Tallymaster Billy Doss, his team of Bucky Seelig, Mike Benold, John, Keith Barkley, and others.Thanks to the judges, monitors Ralph Rogers, Gretchen Martin, Greg Martin, Neal Doss, and our final table monitors both days, Keith Karaff and Sharon Dozier.Thank you, thank you, thank you... One good thing about having Ralph Rogers as your monitor, he is an EMT (and River Runner) and can save you if you choke on chili. :)



And the winners are:

1. Tom Adair (lst time cook) Cedar Park (Imagine that)2. James Bauer Leander
3. Michael Mayorga Seabrook Q'd
4. Bill Dees Bulverde
5. Neal Doss Georgetown
6. Keith Karaff Houston Q'd
7. Sue Caffey Rockdale
8. Tamara Dees Bulverde
9. Beth Neal Cedar Park
10.Barbara Schueler Leander



Show

1. Joe Trigo Bastrop
2. Keith Karaff Houston
3. Sue Caffey Rockdale


With the great Silent Auction, Raffle, and Cake Walk,the event raised $3500.00 for Pink Santa. Sunday we had 25 hearty souls that plowed back into the cooking with a vengeance to beat each other.


1. Sue Caffey Rockdale
2. Keith Karaff Houston
3. Herb Ross Marble Falls
4. Billy Doss Georgetown
5. Barbara Schueler Leander
6. Sharon Dozier Houston
7. Steve Ashman Bastrop
8. Tom Cook Marble Falls
9. Larry Burruss San Marcos
10. Tamara Dees Bulverde


Show
1. Tamara Dees Bulverde
2. Jean Barkley Weimar
3. Keith Karaff Houston


We wish to thank Crystal, Linda, Heather, and Brandy and others from Aux 533 and Commander Guadalupe"Wally" Morales from the Post for making this such a great event along with the folks from Pink Santa. The Aux. furnished us food on Saturday night, a place to sit and drink, pay cards, and join in the "Scary oke singing". A big hug to all the River Runners for feeding us breakfast both Saturday and Sunday and helpingwith everything. Commander Wally is glad to have us,treated us with great dignity, realized that we were putting out a lot of bucks for the events and thanked us many times. We are already gearing up for January,2010. Hope to see you there and I certainly hope you see us there. GOD BLESS US ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA..... Mama Sue Caffey



From Paul Vercontaire:

From Johnye Harriman:

I am very sad to share the news that Russ Harriman will be moving into the Hospice Center at the VA Center in Temple. Russ has been diagnosed with multiple cancers, none of which is curable or treatable at this point. Please remember Russ fondly in your thoughts and prayers. He is one hell of a good man. If you wish to send him a note or card, please use my address: 75 Golden Poppy Loop, Belton, Texas 76513 or rhjhshow@aol.com. Johnye

From Earl "WHO?" Gorham:
Here are the results of the Piney Woods Pod elections
Officers for 2009 /2010 are
Great Pepper Earl Who? Gorhum
Pepper Popper Ed Nesbitt
Secretary Peggy Bocanegra
Treasurer Sherrie Davis
Letter Writer Keith Karaff
Chilicity Nancy Netardus
Pepper at arms Michael Mayorga
Regional Referree Sherrie Davis
Also I wish to announce that Piney Woods Pod will be raffling off two tickets for the Houston Texans vs the Oakland Raiders football game on October 4th 2009 in Houston Texas. The drawing will be held in mid September and tickets will available in July good luck!


From Dale Reinecker:

A budding new star made his first appearance on Sunday morning, June 28th. Marco Dillion Rey came on the set at 7lbs.7oz. with a full compliment of fingers, toes and displaying a remarkable lung capacity. Mom Kendra Rey handled the production duties very well while Dad Aldo Rey was with her directing the scene. A supporting cast of big sister, big brother and nervous grandparents on both sides was on hand to greet Marco and Mom at the wrap party. Grandpa Dale is working with the new star on his first speaking part, “milk, smilt, I want a bowl of red and a bottle of Bud”.

From Donna Conrad:

I would like to Invite everyone to the 3rd. Annual H-E-B Georgetown CASI Chili Cook Off on July 5th 2009. This is a one day cook off held in the parking lot of H-E-B off of I-35 in Georgetown TX. Take exit 262 North or South bound. Turn in time 1:00 PM CHILI GRIND ONLY / ENTRY $18.00. Plenty of room for canopy's. So on your way home from Becker Vineyards and Kim's party (and everyone else) stop by H-E-B for more fun. I will be presenting E.T.( Store Director) with a plague of appreciation for all he and his store does for the Chili World. For more information please call 254-855-4733 or email me @ Dangergail@aol.com . Hope to see everyone there.Donna Conrad

Little by little I will begin summarizing the BOD meeting. Of the 11 members of the board, 10 answered Roll Call. Dorathy Williams was not in attendance. We had about 7 CASI members attending and observing parts of the meeting.

Just a quick summary of some of the facts.

Membership
258 New Members. In the last 6 months the membership has decreased by about 25%, but this is not unusual. Many members do not renew their membership until they have qualified to attend TICC.

Tallymaster Report: (This is a To Date Report)

To Date: Officially Reported CCO's are 375 (9 down from last year)

There has been 11,000 chili's judged (This is an increase over last year. Less CCOs, but more cooks at each)

$900,655 reported to be raised for Charities which is up from last year.

There have been 127 Show Teams qualify compared to 117 at this time Last Year
267 Chili Cooks qualified (242 last year)!

The average number of cooks attending a CCO is 32 which is up from 29.3 at this time last year.

The average number of cooks who qualify each year is 466.

Enough for today. More tomorrow.