From Elton Homesly:

Friday I took the first official steps to restart the two chili cookoffs in Marathon. I submitted requests for sanctioning and listing in Upcomings.

The dates will be June 30th, 2012 and July 1st, 2012.

Please look at your calendars and start making plans for that weekend.

Norma and I are so pleased that Betty Ramirez [our close friend in Marathon] will be in charge this year. We hope that many of you will come out and support her and be of help when you get here.

This year the charities will be:

Saturday - The Marathon Foundation - see www.themarathonfoundation.org and

www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/us/06ttschools.html?pagewanted=all

Sunday - The local food bank.

A special thanks and congratulations to Betty!


From Mel Fitzhenry:

  

Mark your calendars for the Southwest Open.  It will be held May 25-27,2012.  It will be held in Durant Oklahoma at the Choctaw Casino.

The 29th Annual Southwest Open Chili Championship has been moved to a bigger and better location.  The Choctaw Casino in Durant, Okla.will host this years event to be held on May 26, 2012.  The cookoff location will be at the Choctaw/KOA RV Park on the grounds of the Choctaw Casino.  The Casino is located just across the Texas/Oklahoma border, North of the Dallas/Ft Worth area on US Hwy 75.

Entry fee: $25, Turn-in 2PM, Chili Grind Only. Top 3 chilis and 1st Place Show are automatic qualifiers for TICC.  Travel money for top winners in chili and show. Last year top 5 chilis were qualified.

Friday nite 42 Tournament

Contact: Kevin Wooster-940-733-9221, Terry Graves-940-733-6446  or Nancy Graves-940-733-0625 or  teamatic96@sbcglobal.net.

Send entry to: Nancy Graves, PO Box 1129, Wichita Falls, Tx. 76307-- 940-733-0625

Hotel Info for SWO

All hotels have shuttle service to the RV Park and Casino.

Comfort Inn and Suites

580-924-8881

Chili cook rate: $79

Hampton Inn and Suites

580-924-0300

Chili Cook rate: $89

Holiday Inn and Suites

580-924-9777

Chili Cook rate: $99

Magnuson Hotel and Suites, Formally the Microtel

580-924-5100

Chili Cook rates: $55-65-75


From Ken Rodd:

I would like to ask the CASI members to think seriously about the position of CASI Executive Director.  This is an extremely important job and one that takes many hours of hands on work.  It is a position for a dedicated CASI member, a position that requires a high level of energy and is the most visible position on the Board.  This position involves at least 30 hours a week of VOLUNTEER work.  It is a position that interacts with the CASI board members, the CASI membership, and certainly many non CASI members; such as cookoff promoters, potential sponsors, the media and more.  It is a position that will give a person a great feeling of accomplishment.  With this in mind, may the best people step forward and run for this “job”.  I have a lot of admiration for our CASI EDs since I became a CASI member from Mr. Hut Brown to our current ED, Janice Miller. I have probably had differences with all of them over something – but the issues were resolved in a satisfactory manner and in the best interest of CASI. 

From the ED's Desk:  In West Texas, we had a beautiful warm day to cook Chili on Saturday and then Sunday the high was 32 with wind.  Before the CCO was over, we had snow!!!  Enough to cover the ground.  Today, it is suppose to get to 66.  If you live out here, you got love change!!!