PLEASE READ BELOW WHY WE ARE UNABLE TO CONDUCT THE CHILI-COOK-OFF IN 2023
In 2014 the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad started the wonderful community event “The Chili Cook-Off which they successfully held for six years. Then along came COVID which caused it to be cancelled for the following two years. The rescue squad was unable to recruit the necessary volunteers to continue so The Mathews Rotary Club agreed to continue this great traditional event for the community. In 2022 we held an extraordinarily successful event thanks to the participation of a handful of the great civic groups that support our community. The community supported it, and everyone attending had a wonderful time eating chili and being together.
I am sad to report that this year “The Chili Cook-Off” will be postponed until next year due to the inability of local civic groups’ to support this year’s event. COVID, changing demographics, and other challenges have left many of our community organizations with significantly fewer members.
This year’s shortcoming of civic organizations being able to participate will not deter the Mathews Rotary Club’s efforts to revive this major event in 2024. In fact, I challenge this great community to get involved with all our civic groups in support of their great missions as well as encouraging each of them to become competitors to see who can sell the most tickets, who has the best decorated booth, and most importantly who makes “The Best Chili”! Please mark your calendars for the “Super Bowl Saturday” February 10, 2024.
Mathews Rotary Club appreciates the support each person provides us in helping those in need in our wonderful community and looks forward to seeing you at our upcoming events:
Flags for Heroes – May 25 to July 6, 2023
Party with a Purpose – June 3, 2023
Oyster Roast – October 14, 2023
Rockfish Tournament – December 9-19, 2023
Chili Cook-Off – February 10, 2024
Again, Thank You for your Support,
Wm. E. (Bill) Stearns
Chairman, Mathews Rotary Club 2023 Chili Cook-Off Committee
In 2014 the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad started the wonderful community event “The Chili Cook-Off which they successfully held for six years. Then along came COVID which caused it to be cancelled for the following two years. The rescue squad was unable to recruit the necessary volunteers to continue so The Mathews Rotary Club agreed to continue this great traditional event for the community. In 2022 we held an extraordinarily successful event thanks to the participation of a handful of the great civic groups that support our community. The community supported it, and everyone attending had a wonderful time eating chili and being together.
I am sad to report that this year “The Chili Cook-Off” will be postponed until next year due to the inability of local civic groups’ to support this year’s event. COVID, changing demographics, and other challenges have left many of our community organizations with significantly fewer members.
This year’s shortcoming of civic organizations being able to participate will not deter the Mathews Rotary Club’s efforts to revive this major event in 2024. In fact, I challenge this great community to get involved with all our civic groups in support of their great missions as well as encouraging each of them to become competitors to see who can sell the most tickets, who has the best decorated booth, and most importantly who makes “The Best Chili”! Please mark your calendars for the “Super Bowl Saturday” February 10, 2024.
Mathews Rotary Club appreciates the support each person provides us in helping those in need in our wonderful community and looks forward to seeing you at our upcoming events:
Flags for Heroes – May 25 to July 6, 2023
Party with a Purpose – June 3, 2023
Oyster Roast – October 14, 2023
Rockfish Tournament – December 9-19, 2023
Chili Cook-Off – February 10, 2024
Again, Thank You for your Support,
Wm. E. (Bill) Stearns
Chairman, Mathews Rotary Club 2023 Chili Cook-Off Committee