From Dana Plocheck:
I would like to thank everyone for their positive feedback on the Trails. I try very hard to keep it interesting and relevant but it takes all of us to make it a success so I would like to thank those who continually submit pictures and articles. I would also like to take this opportunity to ask everyone else for their input. The Trails belongs to the entire CASI membership and we invite your participation. If you would like to share the success of your recent cookoff or have an announcement, an interesting story, picture(s), joke/cartoon or anything else you believe would be of interest to the CASI community send it to danap903@comcast.net.  

Ladies, send pictures of your Tequila Rose toasts. Let me know the date and place of the cookoff. Before long we’ll have Tequila Rose pictures from all over the US.

Also, “Ask Melba” is back. If anyone has a question for Melba please send it to me by the 15th so I can get it to Melba and get an answer back before the Trails goes to print.

I can’t guarantee everything you send will make the Trails but I will do my best. Thanks for all your help.

NOTES:

If you are submitting somebody to be considered for Great Pepper of the Year, this needs to be sent to me by August 15.

Proposed Rule Changes need to be submitted on the correct form (there is one in the Resouce Center on the Web page (www.chili.org) and sent to me by August 15.

If you plan on presenting a business item, etc at the Great Pepper's Meeting, please let me know by August 15 so that it can be included in the Agenda.  Also, any back up material needs to be sent so that it will be copied and included in the Great Pepper's Packet.

Once again, a reminder that if you (Pods) are currently sponsoring an ROC, that application needs to be sent to me by August 15.  It will then be sent to the Events Committee for their consideration and a recommendation will be presented for a vote during the New Business at the Great Pepper's Meeting.  A motion from the floor is not according to the rules, so please get those to me as soon as possible.

I had a call from Ken Rodd and he already has several entries in the Pod Newsletter Contest.  You can send in a submission now and then send the final 2 editions in before the deadline, September 20th.  Below you will find the Rules:

The contest rules are as follows:

1. A POD may submit from one to three newsletters published during 2011. The deadline for entries is September 20th.

2. Entries will be sent to Ken Rodd either by email - casihotrodd@aol.com or postal mail to: Ken Rodd, 7009 S IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

3. The newsletters will be judged by 6 judges from various parts of the USA. Judges do not know who the other judges are.

It is Wednesday and here are the CCOs for this weekend!

Aug 13, 2011-002 - Buda, TX CASI. 2nd Annual US National Open Chili Championship. Automatic Qualifier for TICC. Held at 15570 IH 35, at Cabela's Charity TBA. Entry fee $35 turn-in 1 PM. CHILI GRIND ONLY. Goody bag if post marked by August 1st. Contact Larry Burruss 1003 Crepe Myrtle, San Marcos TX 78666. 512- 353-8895. Make check payable to US National Chili Cookoff.

Aug 13, 2011-003 - McGregor, TX CASI. McGregor VFD 1st Annual Chili Cook-off held at fire dept. Chili $18.00 turn in 2 pm, chili grind only. Beans $10.00 50/00 turn in noon. Lots of rv parking no hook-up, silent aution-raffle lot of other stuff. Hwy 317 there will be signs to show where to turn come on out and help these boys out there are good about coming to other cook-off and judge and help out where they can. Contact Mavis Nelson 254-486- 2487.

Aug 13, 2011-004 - Wills Point, TX CASI. 2nd Annual Ponderosa Resort Cookoff Held at 32891 Hwy 64, 2.7 miles from Hwy 64 & I-20 on the left. RSVP for RV parking 903-865-1104. Chili grind only. Beans $5, TOP-3 turn-in Noon. Chili entry $20 turn-in 1 PM. Benefits Food Bank of Canton. Contact Cindy 903-865- 1104  ponderosaresort@yahoo.com.  Larry roadwrkcb@aol.com  903-450- 5541.

Aug 13, 2011-005 - Golden, CO CASI. Colorado Chili Pod and JC 4H Clubs Annual Colorado Chili Pod Cookoff and the Jefferson County 4H Clubs. held at Jefferson County Fair Grounds. Setup 8 am at the picnic pavillion, cooks meeting at 9 am and turn in 1 pm. Entry fee $15. CASI Red Chili and Green Chili competitions. Make checks payable to Colorado Chili Pod and send to John Montgomery,1670 Broadway, Suite 3000, Denver, CO 80202.

Aug 13, 2011-006 - Denton, TX CASI. Denton Chili Cookoff. At Denton Regional Professional Building Parking Lot, 3535 S I-35E. Entry fee $20 turn-in 2 PM. Chili Grind Only. Benefit Car Show begins at 10 AM. Contact Alyssa.Laney@hcahealthcare.com  Alyssa Laney 940-384-3975. Benefit of the United Way of Denton County

Aug 13, 2011-007 - Tombstone, AZ CASI. Tombstone Vigilante Days CCO. Located on Allen Street in front of the OK Corral. Charity is Tombstone Vigilantes, turn-in 1 p.m. Entry fee $20. Make checks payable to High Desert Pod. For info, contact Greg Monger, 520- 417-9948 or mongo9@cox.net  Cooks party the night before at Vigilante Hall. Bring a canopy as we're cooking on the street. Gunfights, costume contests, and lots of tourist attractions in the area, come spend a weekend in the Town Too Tough To Die.

Aug 13, 2011-001 - San Angelo, TX CASI. Albertson on the Strip Details to follow. Sammie Plant.

Aug 14, 2011-001 - Buda, TX CASI. Next Day Cookoff at Cabela's. Held at Cabela's, 15570 IH 35. Charity TBA. Entry fee $18 turn in 1 PM. CHILI GRIND ONLY. Info Larry Burruss 512-353-8895. See US National Open Championship on previous day.

Aug 14, 2011-002 - McGregor, TX CASI. McGregor VFD CCO. McGregor VFD. Chili $18.00 turn in 1 pm. Chili grind only. Lots of rv parking no hook-ups, day after the 13th cook-off so come and be there on sat where there is lots of things going on. Info Mavis Nelson 254-486-2487.

Aug 14, 2011-003 - Wills Point, TX CASI. Sunday Ponderosa Resort CCO. Held at 32891 Hwy 64, 2.7 miles from Hwy 64 & I-20 on the left. RSVP for RV parking 903-865-1104. Chili grind only. Chili entry $20 turn-in Noon. Charity TBD. Contact Cindy 903-865-1104  ponderosaresort@yahoo.com.  Larry Wampler roadwrkcb@aol.com  903-450- 5541.