We are very fortunate to have as one of our members one of the founding fathers of the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI), Mr. Ray King.  We also have in our midst some of the original members of Classic Chili, which later turned in to the Classic CASI Pod.  I hope you enjoy reading about how the Classic CASI Pod and the CASI organization became what it is today!

I recently had the pleasure of spending a little time with one of the original members of Classic ChiI, Mickey "Mom" Roth.  Oh, the stories she can tell!  She showed me pictures of the first chili cook off that the Classic Chili group attended, and many others that followed after that.  The original members were: Pete Armstrong, Randy Fischer, Vernon "Pop" & Mickey "Mom" Roth, Mel & Rikki Burton and Pete's sister, Eileen Armstrong.  In 1979, Pete and Randy came home from a chili cook off they attended, and plopped down on the Roth's bed and said "Pop, do have a deal for you!"  The Classic Chili group was formed, and the fun began!!  I hope to have pictures soon, and wait until you see them!  I am sure that some of you will be in the pictures, and you will fondly remember these events.  Randy also wrote a little story about the beginning, and I should have that soon also.  I have been told that I will get to sit down with some of these early members soon, and get more details.  Stay tuned!