MONDAY - December 31, 2007

Bill "Gumby" Donovan

Dear Fellow Chiliheads,
First of all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of the cards, calls and emails that are filled with love, prayers and support for Bill and me. It has been truly overwhelming and much appreciated.
Our nightmare began on December 13th when I took Bill to the ER. He had been batteling severe flu like symtoms for over a month and was misdiagnosed by our family doctor twice in that month.One blood test and one hour later he was diagnosed with AML. Acute Myloid Leukemia and immediately admitted to the hosptial for at least a 30 day initial treatment for this agressive bone marrow cancer.Bill bravely endoured 15 chemo treatments in 6 days. He was barely able to speak. Too many other treatments and tests to mention them all but you can never imagine usless you or your loved one has experienced it. It is now day 19 of his treatment and a second bone biopsy has come back "clean". The road ahead is going to be long but at least we have some hope that we have a road to travel on.
He will be having more intense chemo over the next 4-6 months so please do not stop the prayers and cards. We dearly love our chili family and we hope to see you on the chili trail soon.
Take Care and don't forget to "Get The Party Started" for us!
Gail & Bill "Gumby"

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HAPPY NEW YEAR

We would like to wish all of the chili cooks good luck cooking chili in 2008. May you have good weather and lots of fun. And to all who volunteer and judge may you have an endless supply of ROLAIDS.

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Capt. Jim & Willma Maehl

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Winterfreeze Chili Cookoff

To all the chiliheads out there looking for something to do on January 20th.

The annual Winterfreeze Chili Cookoff and Salsa contest is scheduled for Sunday January 20th in Springfield Illinois. This cookoff is back to back with the Great Forsyth Cookoff that is to be held on Jan. 19th. We feature Red, Verde, and Salsa contests with up to $2,000 in cash and trophies. Tables and chairs are provided. This cookoff is held in the beautiful K of C banquet hall and this year we will have the band "Still Kickin". Casey's Sports bar is part of the facility and will have the NFL conference championship games on. We expect huge crowds all day. There is an admission fee for the public and all proceeds go to St. Judes Children's hospital. Space is limited and I just wanted to remind everyone to register before we fill up. Don't be shutout.

Several hotels are nearby.Feel free to contact me for more information.

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Chilliexperience@insightbb.com

Larry Eastep
3920 Surry Place
Springfield IL 62711

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SUNDAY - December 30, 2007

Laughlin Regional & Nevada State

Hi Chili Heads
It's Laughlin & Nevada State time again Our date is Jan 5 & 6.
Make your Reservations at the Golden Nugget .

The Phone # is 1 800-950-7700.

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Patty wanted to have a little extra fun this year by having
an American Idol but this one would be Chili Idol contest.
Our Chili Idol Contest will be on Saturday, with the finals & winner
to be announced on Sunday. Patty has found a Karaoke expert
with all the songs & equipment needed. We hope you all will
take advantage of the extra fun the Bragging Rights of the 1st
Chili Idol for the year.
Don't forget our Slot machine contest on Friday night Jan 4th
at 7 PM

& Oh Yea, our BACK 2 BACK Chili Cook Off's on the week end.
If you have any questions please call or e mail .
775-727-9790 Chilidesertdawn@hotmail.com.

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NO PEOPLES CHOICE CHILI
The health Dept says any body handing out Chili will have to comply to the rules posted. .As Fred would say the chili is for the JUDGES. I'm sure you know the rest of the story.

We won't have Peoples choice Chili
Thanks
Big G & Desert Dawn

Hope you had a Very Merry Christmas & Plan on A Great New Year!!!!!!!!.

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The 2008 New England Regional Chili Cookoff

Dear Friends,

The 2nd Annual NERCC is just a short 4 months away! While it promises to be bigger and better for all the cooks...we need you to sign up on the ICS site!

Please go to http://www.chilicookoff.com/event/Event_Display.asp?EventID=2160

to sign up directly for all of the ICS categories! The only category you can't sign up for there is the new "Jim Heywood Youth Division". Jim Heywood is an icon in the Chili World and we felt it was time to show our love and respect to a chili cook that has always tried to help the kids! So we decided to change the yute division name to honor him! So get those under 18 year old kids to cook!

We have great sponsors this year. Most notably is Rockville Bank as our major sponsor. Coming back for their 2nd year as sponsors,we have to thank TSI Harley Davidson, CostCo, Minute Man Press, and The Crowne Plaza Hotel. All are listed with links on http://www.chilict.com/ . Please take a look at "Our Friends" too....The Country Diner where you can get some great home cooking and Alan Lanouette (our chief Wrangler) and Kariden Electric just to mention some of our friends!

As you may already know, we have a new location for the NERCC. You can get directions at http://www.chilict.com/ . Pleasant View is a great place that will enable us to have cooks park their vehicles near their cooking site. If you'd like, there is also limited camping there the night before. There is water nearby to clean your cooking gear with and it is a truly beautiful location! We'll be cooking on a football field, at a golf driving range so you know there will be plenty of room!
Our governor has already Officially Proclaimed May 3rd to be New England Regional Chili Cookoff Day in CT! We anticipate even more going on for the cooks....as Kat and I are cooks ourselves,we want the NERCC to be the most cook friendly cookoff we can make it! If you need anything or want anything, please let me know....(within reason)!

We have the Crowne Plaza as our host hotel again this year and I will let you all know ASAP what the Chili Cookoff rate will be!

We plan to have a cooks get together on 5-2 and I will keep you posted on where that will be.

We're fortunate to have Dave Lorenz as our Chief Judge and Audrey Falkowski as our Chief Scorekeeper and Jerry Buma,the 2007 ICS WCCC Champ as a guest Judge!

We look forward to a fun filled day of great music provided by Acoustic Rick and his gang, a car show, great Chili and good friends cooking the BEST Chili in the world!

We look forward to seeing you on May 3rd,2008!
Have a happy and safe New Year!
Kat and Michael

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PS: Could you please mention to all the Chili Cooks that The 2008 New England Regional Chili Cookoff has a brand new web site?
If they go to http://www.chilict.com/ they will see our new and improved site!

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============================

If you have articles for posting to Dicks Chili World BLOG, they can be emailed to GWTWChili@aol.com

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Tell your other Chilihead Friends about the BLOG and how it works.