Monday morning......... after a great weekend at the Great Pepper's Meeting in Irving, TX.   A huge thank-you goes out to the organizing committee, the local Pod volunteers (especially the bartenders), and the Double Tree Hotel staff for a well organized meeting and facility.

The Great Peppers elected the following directors to join the Board:
Richard Knight - Executive Director
Darrin Jester - 3 year term (re-elected)
Robert Schrade - 3 year term (re-elected)
Roger Foltz - 2 year term (re-elected)
Randy Duke - 2 year term

Thanks to all the CASI members that stepped up and ran for the board this year. 

The Board of Directors elected the following officers for the next chili year:
Ed Blair - President
Jim Ezell - Vice President
Darrin Jester - Vice President
Roger Foltz - Secretary
David Sexton - Treasurer

From Cynthia Gill:

We are very sorry to announce today that the hard decision has been made to bring Chili and Charros, San Miguel’s Annual International Cook-Off, to an end. Thanks to our many supporters, the event has grown so large that we have faced an enormous challenge finding a space in town large enough to accommodate the event. Through a donation by a very generous organization, we did find a space large enou

gh; however, the space does not have sufficient facilities for 2,500 to 3,000 people. The costs to bring in the infrastructure that we require, such as bathrooms, parking, groundcover and rodeo facilities, will make the event so expensive that we will not be able to generate profits to benefit San Miguel’s charities in a meaningful way.

We are so proud to end this event on a high note! Chili and Charros has donated more than 150 million pesos over its 6 year history to the charities of San Miguel. We have enjoyed the overwhelming support of the Chili Appreciation Society International for the past 3 years.

Special thanks to the founders, and to all of the individuals and businesses in San Miguel who have provided financial sponsorships and other resources, including everyone who has donated items to Chili & Charro’s auction; to the dozens of local and foreign competitors who brought us great food; to the volunteers who worked so hard every year to bring the event to life (not to mention San Miguel’s amazing Team Sorting organization); to the San Miguel Community Foundation for their steadfast support; and to the thousands of people of San Miguel for supporting the event.

Over its six year life, the event has touched so many lives. Everyone who has participated in this event should be very proud of its legacy!