THURSDAY - January 24, 2008

Bill Donovan update

Greetings!
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Talked to Bill Donovan tonight at home directly for about 45 minutes. He sounds a lot better. He is upbeat and definitely appreciates all the cards and letters we have sent. He can't receive food or flowers, due to possible infections. Gail has been by his side since the beginning and is having stress related effects that are being treated by her doctors. Tomorrow, he gets results back from his doctors regarding his remission status. That will be critical and will determine his next step of treatment. Either way, the road will be long and hard. Nothing like many of us have ever travelled or will travel, except for a very few. I am praying for both Bill and Gail. This is taking an incredible toll and weighs very heavily on me, and I'm sure you as well. For those of you who are "prayer warriors", I ask your support in praying for Bill and Gail. You know who you are. God has a plan and He is the one who is in control. All I can do is pray and trust, because it's not about us. I hope you do the same.
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God bless.
Jim Stoddard

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Maria Austin latest update 1-23-08

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To all of our loving and caring Fam-Lee and friends. Your prayers are helping, keep them up.

Maria is still in the Critical Care Unit, she is still being ventilated. Heart is just not strong enough yet to pull it's weight yet. They have her oxy levels good, her potasium level is getting better, her bloodpressure is stablizing fine. They may unvent her tomorrow, we'll see. She is driving everyone nuts, wanting some Pepsi or at least some Ice. She rested better last nite. She is not out of trouble yet, she did have a bad heart attack. Now I have to cook chili for the ER crew as well as the CCU crew and the Operating room team. I love them. The cards are flowing in each day and I'm reading them to Maria. I hope she remembers. I am putting all your e-mails in a file. And your cards will be going to her rehab room. Thank you all. I love her very much and I know how much this means to her. She is a blessed person.

Love You All

Mike and Fam-Lee

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Charlie & Barbara WARD

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a.k.a. "Travelin' Chiliheads"
We now have a new e-mail address:
travelinwards@q.com
Please do NOT use the juno e-mail address any longer.

Thanks

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Delaware Valley Regional Chili Cookoff

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Country music artist Sara Evans has been signed for the 3^rd Annual Delaware Valley Regional Chili Cookoff. The day will be filled with country music from 11:00AM until around 7:00PM. Sara Evans will take the stage around 5:15 following the chili cookoff announcements. All cooks are invited to attend the concert following the cookoff. Please visit www.delvalchilicookoff.com for more information. The first 50 cooks that sign up and pay receive a free tee shirt.

David A. Lorenz * 427 Commerce Lane, #7 * West Berlin, NJ 08091

856.768.8700 * 609.744.4775 * 856.768.8282 * chilihead1@verizon.net

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TUESDAY - January 22, 2008

JALISCO STATE AND MEXICAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Time is rapidly approaching for the Jalisco State and Mexican National Championships in Ajijic, Mexico. It is imperative that those of you who are going please contact Ann Whiting at acorona_mx@hotmail.com as soon as possible. Presently, there are only 7 red and 6 verde cooks signed up. There will be a salsa competiton if there are 7 cooks. Salsa ingredients can be bought locally. It appears this may be the last year that this event will be held. I am working with several others to try and keep it alive. Your participation, therefore, is vital. Good chances of a win.........
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The schedule;
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14 Feb (Thursday) PM: cooks registration and gathering at Nuevo Posada (Tequila and margarita tastings). Great place to have dinner.
15 Feb (Friday): Jalisco State Verde
16 Feb (Saturday): Jalisco State Red
17 Feb (Sunday): Mexican National Red
Probably a salsa competition if we get 7 cooks
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Most cooks plan on an early afternoon arrival Thursday and leave Monday. Some extend their stay and travel to Puerto Vallarta for some r & r. Get you airline tickets NOW! Remember....a passport is REQUIRED.
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Jim Stoddard

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MONDAY - January 21, 2008

The Greater Forsyth Regional

Sat. Jan. 19

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The beautiful Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth, IL. was again the setting for the 3rd annual Greater Forsyth Regional ICS Championship Chili Cookoff.

The cookoff his held in the rotunda of the mall and is a perfect setting for an indoor winter cookoff. Especially when the temperature outside was 6 degrees above zero with a wind-chill of -10 degrees.

This did not stop the public nor the contestants from coming to the cookoff. With record numbers of chili entrants and public sampling it was a perfect day for chili.

Along with plenty of Salsa, Verde, and Chili it was also a record for the funds raised for the 2 charities that the cookoff raises funds for. The charities were the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities. Well, over $2,000 was raised for these Organizations.

All of this would not be possible without the direction of the Mayor of Forsyth, "Hap" Gilbert and also his very able assistant, Village Clerk, Kathy Miser. What a terrific job these people do!

This also could not be possible without the More than 40 contestants (another record) that came to help support the charities, along with Jay and Rex Nicole of Ray's Chilli as a sponsor.

Over $2,000 was awarded in prize monies for the Salsa, Verde, and Chili contestants and with such a growing interest in this cookoff and the Winterfreeze Cookoff held the next day in Springfield, IL.

"Hap" Gilbert (Chairman) Has promised even more awards and prizes for next year. (Stay tuned for this one)

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Salsa 14 contestants

11 judges

3rd = Scott Barrett 9 pts. (Willow Springs, IL.)

2nd = Charlie Ward 12 pts. (Mountain Home, ID.)

1st = Linda Carroll 14 pts. (Taylorville, IL.)

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VERDE 21 contestants

20 judges

3rd = Gail Kyle 11 pts. (Dearborn, MI.)

2nd = Paul Wessing 13 pts. (Farmersville, IL.)

1st = Lynn Virant 14 pts. (Omaha, NE.)

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CHILI 40 contestants

33 judges

3rd = Gary Ballweg 12 pts. (Springfield, IL.)

2nd = Gail Kyle 12 pts. (Dearborn, MI.)

1st = Julie Netser 12 pts. (Seymour, IN.)

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After breaking the 3 way tie for 1st, this was the results. All very good chili !!

This was the day for the lady contestants with Linda, Lynn, and Julie all besting their male competitors.

Julie actually took away the win from last years winner, who was her husband Jeff.

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Congratulations too all the contestants......They are all winners

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Winterfreeze Chili Cook-off Results

Sunday Jan 20, 2008

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The weather certainly fit the theme for Winterfreeze Chili cookoff on Sunday Jan. 20th, as the day started off at -6 F- coldest day of the year so far. Hugh crowds all day came to watch the cooks, listen to central Illinois' most popular band, Still Kick'in, and watch football. The cookoff was in the Knights of Columbus #364 banquet hall and the cooks did not have to venture out. St. Judes Children's Hospital was the real winner since over $2,200 was raised for their benefit., The results of the cookoff were:

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Salsa (17 entries/ eleven judges)

1. Charlie Ward, Idaho

2. Dave Schmitt, Springfield IL

3. Aldo Klinghammer, Taylorville

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Verde (20 entries/ eleven judges)

1. Kelly Wessing, Farmersville

2. Bob, Kyle, Michigan

3. Julie Netser, Indiana

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Red (40 cooks/ 28 judges)

1. Debbie Fulbright, Little Rock, AR

2. Linda Carroll, Taylorville, IL

3. Steve Tomasek, Colorado

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Larry Eastep,

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BILL DONOVAN FUNDRAISER

Thanks for putting the fundraising flyer out on your blog.

It is difficult to see the details. If anyone would like to send a donation here is the information.

Thanks a lot.

Bill's son Carl

Local 3412 Fire Fighter Benefit Fund

(Memo line of check: William Donovan Fund)

431 Ohio Pike Suite 153 South

Cincinnati, Ohio 45255

If anyone need further assistance they can call me, Carl.

I am Bill's son. 513-564-8189

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The 2nd Annual New England Regional Chili Cookoff

Dear Chili Cook,

As we are in the coldest time of the year, we wanted to forward info to you for The 2nd Annual New England Regional Chili Cookoff!
We are very fortunate to have Steve Falkowski (WCCC 97 Red Champ) as our chief judge and Audrey Falkowski as our Chief Scorekeeper. We'll also have Jerry Buma (WCCC 07 Red Champ) as a guest judge! We will have the very hotly contested "Jim Heywood Youth Division" in honor of (Ret.) Senior Professor Jim Heywood.

We hope that we've anticipated all of your needs. We are Chili Cooks with 20 + years experience ...so we understand what cooks might need. If you go to http://www.chilict.com/ you'll find all the information you might need including but not limited to water at the event,camping at the event site,hotels,flight info, grocery stores, ICS/NERCC forms and yes....even chair massage.

If you go here you can sign up as well.

http://www.chilicookoff.com/event/Event_Map_Search.asp?StateID=7

We hope to see you May 3,2008 for a beautiful spring weekend in picturesque New England.

Warmly,

Kat and Michael "Mad Mike" Freedman

Co-Chairs NERCC

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SUNDAY - January 20, 2008

AVI SPRING BACK-to-BACK REGIONALS

Set your dates now for the Spring Back-to-Back Regionals at the Avi Casino in Laughlin, Nevada. On Saturday, April 5, 2008, I am pleased to Chair the Tri-State Regional with Chief Judge Steve Porter, and Chief Scorekeeper Donnie Gordon. On Sunday, April 6, 2008, I am please to Chair the Avi Regional, with Chief Judge Jim Maehl and Chief Scorekeeper Donnie Gordon. For discounted room rates, call 800-284-2946 and ask for the Chili 08 rate.

See you there!

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Ref. Susan Burt Baumberger
2312 West Ave. L-1
Lancaster, CA 93536
661-714-6234

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Happy Birthday, Bill

Hello to all of our chili friends across the land.

Bill Ray will celebrate his 75th birthday on February 1st. What fun it would be if he could get a zillion birthday cards in the mail! If you're so inclined, please send him a birthday card by snail mail to

Bill Ray,

5740 Brockton Avenue,

Riverside CA 92506.

Bill does not use the computer, so please do not send ecards.

Thanks in advance

Hope that this finds all of you well and prosperous.

To those of you who have ailments, we wish a speedy and full recovery.

Karen Ray

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