NEWS

Last week, minutes of the recent CASI Board of Directors meeting were distributed to Great Peppers. If you haven’t seen them, and wish to see a copy, please send me a note at pepperdean@ctesc.net and I’ll happily email a copy to you. Alan

“Suzie was released from Baylor Irving yesterday. Two of her arteries are 100% blocked, at this time they will treat with medications. Also at this time they can not do a bypass or stints due to the damage, big words I will learn in the future I am sure. Anyway, between 2 heart attacks, diabetes, and her stroke back in 2000 everything has brought us to this.

As we find out more I will try to keep everyone up to date. Thanks for the e mail and calls. I know I am not giving out much information, but this is what I have for now.” David Manske

“The August issue of the Terlingua Trails is now available on line at www.chili.org” Bucky Seelig

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

“Aug 15, 2009-001 - Middlefield MA CASI. Massachusetts State Championship First EVER Massachusetts State Championship to be held in conjunction with the Middlefield Fair at the Highland Ag Society's grounds,7 Bell Road. Come join us at a beautiful country setting for a down home country fair! Activities to include pie baking contests, skillet pitching contest for the women and chainsaw tossing contest for the men, Country Western bands to entertain all day long, tractor and OX pull, Clydesdales will be on hand too! Cows, horses, and all sorts of farm animals for the kids and much much more... CASI Red turn-in 2 PM, fee $20. CASI Juniors turn-in 3 PM, fee $5 Camping and hotel info to follow or check www.chili-mac.com for updates. For you chili cooks looking to add another "title" to your repertoire this is the one you have been waiting for! Contact Jen Windsor jennwindsor@gmail.com 443-878-7999. Benefits Highland Agricultural Society. Make checks payable to Middlefield Fair. This is an automatic qualifier for TICC..........BTW I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK JENN WINDSON FOR ALL HER HELP TO MAKE THIS A GREAT COOK OFF THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH” JAMES BASILE

EDITORIALS & LETTERS


I’m going to introduce a new subject for discussion today. However, we’ll also continue the discussion about pods for those who have additional comments or suggestions.

CASI Committees:

A little more than a year ago, CASI adopted a typical corporate committee structure. In part, this was to help assure that each Director should apply themselves to critical obligations and responsibilities. These were detailed as:

“DIRECT CASI in the best interests of its members.
PROTECT the interests of the CASI’s members.
RESPECT the members by listening, communicating, and understanding their interests..
REFLECT on CASI’s performance as an organization.
SELECT talented people to lead the organization in the implementation of jobs and initiatives.
EXPECT top performance from each Director.
INSPECT the officers’ performance.”

Reports from these committees were detailed in the minutes of the recent Board meeting.

Over the years, there has clearly been sentiment that the CASI Board did care about or respond sufficiently to the needs and desires of the cooks and members of the organization. Whether this is perception or reality, it is something that a healthy organization needs to address. For this purpose, a corporate Governance Committee was formed. The description of their duties is detailed in the CASI Bylaws:

“Governance Committee – Monitor the relationship of CASI to its members; Make certain CASI’s actions are transparent and accountable; Assure members that they get a fair return on their investment; Secure and motivate leadership on the Board of Directors and pod level.”

What does it say about this issue when the minutes of their recent Board meeting say: “Governance Committee: Tim Collier reported the members are Douglas Seelig and Richard Knight. There was no Committee report.”

It makes me feel that they don’t care much about accountability. What do you think?

Pods

“Lots of discussion about Pod membership requirements these days. The New Mexico Chili Society is a very small pod. If it weren't for our friends in Texas we probably would not exist and if we did, we would struggle to attract a sufficient of cooks to conduct sanctioned CCOs.

The New Mexico Chili Society has completed our credentials for this year's GP meeting and on behalf of our Great Pepper I am proud to report that we have 32 paid members. All but two of these members live within 100 miles of our primary area of operation.” Bud Barrick

POTPOURRI

Happy Birthday to Kevin Foley, Carol Gibbs, Jim Luhn, and Bernie Stout.

“Think of what would happen to us in America if there were no humorists; life would be one long Congressional Record.” - Tom Masson

News items and pictures for the CHN can be emailed to pepperdean@ctesc.net