Cliff and I would like to wish each of you a Happy and Blessed New Year.  May 2012 be a GREAT year for each of you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

From Jennifer Sherfield:

From Ed Blair:
The President's message was not included in the January Trails due to an oversight. So, we are posting it in the Blog. Following it is the 2011 TICC Volunteers List, which will be posted in the February Trails as well, given the importance of thanking everyone.

President’s Message

Happy New Year! The “other” year - not the Chili Year. I hope your holidays were wonderful and your point totals are building.

In this Trails, you will find a list of people that have been reported to me that volunteered at TICC.  Two hundred thirty five people from 15 states and the Virgin Islands volunteered this year to make TICC the success that it was. This doesn’t count CASI Directors or numerous other groups which are mentioned. To everyone - THANK YOU!  Many volunteered multiple times throughout TICC. Now, if you helped and don’t see your name or the name of someone you know helped, please let me know. Given the number of people and numerous areas, I am quite sure we’ve missed some people. It is my intention to list anyone missed in the February Trails. Email me your name, the area in which you volunteered and your home state.

On a different note, I’d like to discuss Novice cookoffs. Please think about who should enter Novice or Local cookoff events. Recently a Novice division event was held, of which the top two placing cooks were also entered in the CASI competition. Is this fair? It’s hard to say because it is possible the two that entered and won were new CASI cooks with little experience.  As it is up to the promoter to set the rules for any side competitions, if there were no restrictions it was legal. Now, these cooks objective might have been to enter as many events as possible to maximize the support to the charity. Regardless, the perception to the novice cook was that CASI cooks are experienced and should not have entered in the Novice category. When we are seeking to gain new cooks for CASI, we sure need to be considerate of their feelings. So, if you are entering a side category at any chili cookoff, think about whether it is appropriate to enter – regardless of the stated rules. I’m not saying don’t enter, just asking you to think about how it would look if you won. You might win over a Novice or Local cook if you don’t enter.  

The 2012 Great Peppers’ Meeting is practically right around the corner. If your Pod has not submitted its opinion on the Friday Night Meal issue, please do so. Send your input to adrienneg@gmail.com as the Committee wants your Pod members’ feedback.

Be safe on the chili trail and good luck,

Ed Blair

The Volunteers that make TICC great!

Below is a list of the volunteers that helped run the numerous CASI events that occurred throughout the week of the 45^th annual Terlingua International Chili Championship. Many of these people volunteered multiple times throughout to help make this week possible. You’ll find an asterisk by their names.

By my count to date, 231 people volunteered from 15 states plus the Virgin Islands.  Now, if you helped and don’t see your name or the name of someone you know that helped, please let me know. Given the number of people and numerous areas, I am quite sure we’ve missed some people. It is my intention to list anyone missed in the February Trails. Email me your name, the area in which you volunteered and your home state.

The count would be far larger if we listed the students and faculty of Terlingua participating Friday morning and the judges for the various events.

A special thank you is always appropriate for Kathy Killingsworth for all of her efforts. A big thank you is also due to all the members of the Terlingua VFD and EMS. We owe you so much for what you do during the week, not only professionally but working our Front Gate.  I’d also like to thank Sheriff Ronny Dodson and his deputies for being on-site and while they are paid to do so, their presence is much appreciated for helping us know when we’ve had enough fun and for keeping us safe from any that weren’t looking for fun in the first place. Then there are the behind the scenes people such as Coach Chance at Sul Ross University for lining up our Sul Ross Rodeo Club volunteers.

Our TICC Volunteer list:

Adams, Kyle *

Allen, Becky

Allen, Brent

Armand, Ken *

Armand, Susan *

Atwood, Natalie *

Atwood, Trent *

Bains, Karen *

Baker, Cherry

Baker, David

Baker, Diane

Barkley, Jean

Barrick, Bud *

Baxter, Beth *

Baxter, Darrell

Bethke, Healani *

Bethke, Russell

Blair, Marolyn "Mayo" *

Boffman, Bob

Bond, Kyle *

Bond, Traci

Bowman, Joel

Brignon, Gary *

Brignon, Kelly *

Brown, Lisa

Bryan, Mike *

Burruss, Janie

Burruss, Larry *

Byrom, Eddie

Caffey, John

Caffey, Sue

Caldwell, Walter

Campbell, Susan

Cardenas, Jeanette *

Caswell, Ginger *

Causey, Annell *

Childers, Vickie *

Childress, Patsy

Christensen, Gary

Clark, Jason

Clark, Melissa

Clark, Pam *

Collier, Connie *

Collier, Tim

Conrad, Donna

Crawford, Everett

Cypher, Chris

Daniels, Blu *

Daniels, John

Davis, Sherrie

Day, Bruce *

Day, Suzie

Dean, Alan *

Dean, Susan *

Dees, Tamara

Dickerson, Donnell *

Dozier, Tom

Draper, Kelly *

Draper, Kim *

Drinkard, Deana

Elliott, Bobby *

Espinoza, James

Fichtl, Ted

FitzHenry, Diane *

FitzHenry, Mel *

Garner, David "Madjack"

Garner, Sandi

Gastaldello, John *

Gillen, Mary Ellen *

Gilpin, Vern

Graves, Terry *

Greenlees, Doris *

Griffin, Spud

Gustafson, Pat

Harris, Jared

Harvey, Vickie

Hatton, Ray

Hay, Dee

Hay, Doug

Hay, Ralph

Hejmancik, Lynn *

Hensel, Ken

Herrin, Barbara *

Hewlett, Ethel *

Hewlett, Nancy *

Hewlett, Richard

Hill Jr, Donnie

Hinds, Janita

Hoffman, Bob

Homesley, Elton

Homesley, Norma *

Hoover, Ted

Hoy, Dianna

Hoy, Don *

Huston, Roy

Hutson, Billy *

Hutson, Kay

Irwin, Richard

Jalowy, Greg

Jester, Tonya *

Johnson, Roylene

Johnson, Virgil

Jones, Honey

Jones, Kenny

Karaff, Keith *

Karnei, Barry

Karnei, Nadine

Kingston, Boomer

Kinnison, Larry "Doc" *

Kitchens, Carol

Klietz, Sabrina *

Knight, Candi

Knight, Carol *

Knight, Kristi

Knight, Richard

Krenek, Pat *

Kroencke, Shelley *

LaLanne, Debra

Lane, Dennis "Sunshine"

Langley, Pat

Lewis, Dianne

Lewis, Robyn

Linnan, Tommye

Livingston, David

Livingston, Elizabeth

Locke, Ryder

Longabaugh, Debbie

Longabaugh, Keith

Lopez, Elaine

Lopez, Margaret

Lundy, Bill

Lundy, Pat

Lusk, Zachary

Manske, David "Budda" *

Margonroth, Susie Maus, Sherry

Mayorga, Michael *

Medlin, Ray

Meyers, Chip

Miller, Taylor

Miller, Teena *

Miner, Brenda

Mulkey, Kathy *

Mulkey, Paul

Nadeau, Margaret *

Netardus, Nancy

Netser, Jeff

Netser, Julie

Nickle, Preston

Olswalt, Renea

Palmer, Dee

Park, Mike *

Parsons, Stephanie

Pate, Leslie

Pate, Melissa *

Pate, Rolland *

Patton, Amy

Pierson, Bill *

Pierson, Cheryl

Pilcheck, Pat

Pinnell, Bruce

Pinnell, Sharon

Pitts, Dave

Plocheck, Cary

Prewitt, Bo

Rameriz, Betty

Reed, Maxine *

Reid, Gary

Remmell, Glenn

Richardson, Dave

Richardson, Mary Ann *

Riordan, Sylvia

Rodd, Ken *

Rogers, Charmaine

Rogers, Clyde

Rose City Pod Members

Ross, Ruby

Roy, Sharon

Rusher, Autumn

Sacra, Sadie

Sanders, D.J.

Sanders, Delores *

Sanders, Vicki

Saunders, Denise *

Sawey, Melinda

Seelig, Bucky *

Seelig, Carolyn

Shands, Donn *

Shaw, Preston

Shaw, Susie

Sherfield, Jennifer

Smith, Coby

Smith, Doyle

Smith, Melodie

Smith, Tim

Spischock, Dorothy

Stateczny, Shirley

Steinle, Bob *

Stewart

Stewart, Bruce *

Stewart, Chris

Stewart, Dru *

Stimson, Dianne

Stone, Lisa

Stuart, Steve *

Sullivan, Johnnie

Sullivan, Frances *

Swart, Ken

Taylor, Taylor *

Thomas, Bill

Thomas, Karen

Thomas, Ken

Trice, Pnut

Trigo, Joe

Truitt, Molly *

Truitt, Noal

Usiak, Mike

Valentine, Cheryl

Velasquez, Larry *

Velz, Bart

Velz, Tiffeny

Waguespack, Jessie *

Washburn, Janna

Weber, Don *

Weber, Suzy *

West, Carol

West, Harvey *

Wiedner, Fred *

Wilkins, Cindy *

Williams, Tom *

Windsor, Jack *

Wood, Jessica

Wooster, Kevin

On behalf of the entire CASI Board we want to thank you all for your dedication and spirit in supporting CASI and its mission. And to all the CASI Board members, I wish to personally thank you for the hours, days and months of hard work throughout the year in getting ready for TICC.

Ed Blair

It is Wednesday and time to post the CCOs for this weekend.

Dec 30, 2011-001 - Kingsland, TX CASI. Just Because CCO American Legion Post 437, 118 Legion Loop, Kingsland, TX. Entry fee is $18. Chili grind only, turn-in 8 PM. Benefits HLP charities. Come join The Highland Lakes Pod and friends celebrate and bring in "The New Year" Thursday December 29th-Sunday January 1st. Plenty of RV parking (NO HOOKUPS), lots of room for day cooks and an abundance of CHILI-CHARITY-FUN. Come early and stay late to sight see, shop, play golf or just to relax and share "TEXAS HOSPITALITY and FELLOWSHIP." Evening menu chili dogs with trimmings. Contact Larry Kinnison drk@tstar.net 830-613-8666.

Dec 30, 2011-002 - Hobbs, TX CASI. SENM CHILI SOCIETY CCO DEC 30, 2011 Hobbs, NM, South Eastern New Mexico Chili Society Pod CCO, American Legion Post 26, 319 E Dunham Hobbs, NM. This is 1 of 3 CCO. Entry Fee $20.00 Turn in 7 PM Mountain Time. Make Checks payable to South Eastern New Mexico Chili Society. Contact paul Mulkey 575-390-6184 OR Jennifer Sherfield 575-631-8344 Plenty of RV parking with no hook ups. CHILI GRIND ONLY. Charity TBA Note: Advertising Probation

Dec 31, 2011-001 - Indianapolis, IN CASI. Hoosier GP's New Year's Eve CCO 2 Cookoffs, 1 Weekend, All indoor! Held at Country Inn and Suites, 5630 Flight School Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46221, 317.821.1100, located at I465S, Exit #8/Kentucky Ave. behind Culver's. CASI chili and show only - $40. Not open for public attendance. CHILI GRIND ONLY. CASI rules apply. Room opens at 6 pm. Turn-in at 10pm. Includes dinner, party favors and adult midnight toasting beverage. Tables and chairs provided. Note, space is very limited for show. Carry-in beverage of choice permitted. Please bring wrapped `acceptable' item for the gift exchange. Special room rate of $79 available for overnight stay. Contact hotel at 317-821- 1100 and be sure to mention "chili" when you make your reservation. If you plan to party, please be safe and responsible. REGISTRATION DEADLINE 12/1/11. Make checks payable to Indiana Pepper Pod. Contact Darin Jester 317-319- 4961, flashoverchili@sbcglobal.net, Tonya Jester 317-319-4962, crazyladychili@sbcglobal.net.  Plan to stay over for the Hoosier Hangover Cookoff on Sunday, January 1st!

Dec 31, 2011-002 - Kingsland, TX CASI. Rusty's CCO American Legion Post 437, 118 Legion Loop, Kingsland, TX. Entry fee $18. Turn-in 1 PM. Chili grind only. Benefits American Legion Post 437. Black eyed peas $5/100% payback turn in time noon. Community breakfast 9 AM. Pot Luck 6:30 PM. Ham furnished. (Check with Carrie for menu list). Let's bring in "The New Year" with ore "TEXAS HOSPITALITY and FELLOWSHIP" games and social time..get comfortable, wear your favorite PJ's and bring your quarters. Contact Larry Kinnison drk@tstar.net, 830-613- 8666.

Dec 31, 2011-003 - Wichita Falls, TX CASI. B and B plus $50 added money. Chili grind only. Contact Kevin Wooster 940-733-7221. Benefits NOB Pod.

Dec 31, 2011-004 - Amarillo, TX CASI. Annual Tall in Texas Pod Cookoff and New Years Eve party. To be held at Campbell's shop, 517 West 47th. Chili grind only. Turn in at 8 pm. Benefits fill the backpack fund. Entry fee is $5, and one jar of peanut butter. Contact Scott Campbell, 806-236- 2368. Bring a snack to share.

Dec 31, 2011-005 - Hobbs, NM CASI. 1st Annual New Mexico New Years Eve Dec 31, 2011 Hobbs, NM. 1st Annual New Mexico New Years Eve CCO. American Legion Post 26, 319 e Dunham, Hobbs, NM. This is a 3 day CCO. Entry fee $20.00. Turn in 2:00 pm Mountain Time. Make checks payable to South Eastern New Mexico Chili Society. Contact Paul Mulkey 573-390-6184 or Jennifer Sheffield 573-631-8344. Entertainment Sat. nite. Ham and Black Eyed Pea Dinner Sat. Plenty of RV parking with no hook- ups. CHILI GRIND ONLY. CASI RULES APPLY. Benefits American Legion Post #26. Note: This cook-off is on Advertising Probation.

Jan 1, 2012-001 - Indianapolis, IN CASI. Hoosier Hangover CCO 2 Cookoffs, 1 Weekend, All Indoor! Held at Country Inn and  Suites, 5630 Flight School Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46221, 317.821.1100, located at I465S, Exit #8/Kentucky Ave. behind Culver's. CASI chili and show only - $20. Turn-in Noon. Not open for public attendance. CHILI GRIND ONLY.CASI rules apply. Bloody Mary competition, $2 entry. Tables and chairs provided. Note, space is very limited for show. Carry-in beverage of choice permitted. Special room rate of $79 available for overnight stay. Contact hotel at 317-821-1100 and be sure to mention "chili" when you make your reservation. If you plan to party, please be safe and responsible. REGISTRATION DEADLINE 12/1/11. Make checks payable to Indiana Pepper Pod. Contact Darin Jester 317-319- 4961 flashoverchili@sbcglobal.net Tonya Jester at 317-319- 4962, crazyladychili@sbcglobal.net. Plan to come on Saturday for the Hoosier GP's New Year's Eve CCO!

Jan 1, 2012-002 - Kingsland, TX CASI. New Years CCO. American Legion Post 437, 118 Legion Loop, Kingsland, TX. Entry fee $18. Chili grind only, turn-in 1 PM. Benefits American Legion Post 437. Community breakfast 9 AM. Contact Larry Kinnison drk@tstar.net  830-613- 8666.

Jan 1, 2012-003 - Lake Monticello, VA CASI. 8th Annual Bearly Chili Cookoff. This is the official Capital Pod Chili Cookoff. Entry fee $20, includes annual membership in the Capital Pod, checks payable to Roger Koltz. Benefits Lake Monticello Fire and Rescue Squad. CHILI GRIND ONLY. Turn-in at 2 P.M. Contact Roger or Jackie Koltz, 53 Ponderosa Lane, Palmyra VA 22963, 434-589-5387. Email Roger Cowboychili@cs.com.

Jan 1, 2012-004 - Hobbs, NM CASI. NEW YEARS DAY CCO Jan 1, 2012 Hobbs, NM. American Legion Post #26, 319 E. Dunham. New Years Day CCO. CASI RULES APPLY. Turn in 12 PM noon Mountain Time. This is a 3 day CCO. Entry fee is $20.00. Benefits Isaiahs Soup Kitchen. Make checks payable to South Eastern New Mexico Chili Society. Contact: Paul Mulkey, 575-390-6184 or Jennifer Sherfield 575-631-8344.