The historic Union Pacific station formed a backdrop for the Peppers on the Plaza cookoff in Cheyenne.

RESULTS and UPCOMINGS

Please mark your calendars with a reminder to join us at Becker Vineyards for the third annual All American Chili Cookoff on Saturday, July 4. The emphasis for this popular cookoff is fun. Live music, loads of public, goodie bags, wine tasting, and plenty of foolishness with your fellow cooks.

Please bring throwdown for the public. We are raising money for Habitat For Humanity and their volunteers will be selling tasting kits this year. Their tasting kits will include a ballot to vote for their favorite chili. The cook team with the most ballots will win the People’s Choice Award, so be prepared to beg, cajole, or trick them into giving their ballot to you.

This is a day trip only cookoff. There is no room at the winery for motorhomes but the Peachtree RV Park is just down the road. Call them at 830-644-2233 for reservations. They have 30/50 amp hookups and they honor Good Sam and TACO discounts.

We will plan a cooks’ get together on Friday evening at the Fredericksburg Brewery. Details will follow.

Any questions, please call me at 512-567-2835. Alan

EDITORIALS & LETTERS

“I always enjoy your blog and I was both surprised and happy to see you reach out to your readers regarding the current state of CASI and encourage constructive discussions in an effort to better our organization. I make an effort to stay out of the petty politics of CASI – which I agree with you – can COMPLETELY ruin a perfectly good cook off! However, I am compelled to comment to you regarding the below statement issued by the Board concerning Dorathy Williams and the on again/off again Special Election for her position. The last sentence of the Board’s explanation sums up CASI’s problems in one sentence: “This issue has been laid to rest and no further discussion will be conducted.” The Board, in my opinion, continues to separate itself from its members – who are the lifeblood of this organization. Without the cooks, you don’t have cook offs. It doesn’t matter how many charities and sponsors CASI has – if you don’t have cooks to cook chili, then you don’t have anything. You can always recruit new cooks – but how are you going to keep them if you shut them down every time things get sticky and the opinion of many outweighs the opinions of the Board. Why not go ahead and hold the Special Election – and let Dorathy run against those who want the job? Why can’t there be any further discussion? How is CASI ever going to evolve if you don’t tackle the tough, uncomfortable subjects? I think that it is great that the Board is made up of diverse people with their own talents. But when you sacrifice each of those diverse opinions in the name of rigidity (and a false sense of solidarity), what do you accomplish? Again – this is just my opinion, and if you would like to post this in an effort to prompt a discussion about the current state of CASI, I’m all for it. I think that CASI has become stagnant and as long as this “old guard” mentality reigns supreme, then I think CASI will suffer and not grow its membership as it desperately needs to do. However, I feel that fresh opinions and ideas will be what allow CASI to continue to grow and thrive and maybe it’s time to start listening to some diverse opinions in order to gain a fresh perspective on the issues that face this wonderful organization. Again – this is just my two cents and I appreciate the opportunity to voice it to you.” Kelly Brignon

POTPOURRI

Happy Birthday to Mike Barber.

“Psychiatry enables us to correct our faults by confessing our parents' shortcomings.” - Laurence J. Peter

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