Discussions from the CASI Rules Committee

A MESSAGE FROM CASI’S RULES COMMITTEE -
The Rules Committee is frequently called upon to review conduct of cookoffs that is not covered in the CASI Rules Book. We will discuss these situations and render an opinion based on our experience and the overall intent of our rules as a whole. Here are the results of a couple of these discussions.


A recommendation for what to do when a CCO includes homestyle chili, green chili, beans, salsa, etc.          
Some cookoffs have secondary competitions in homestyle chili, green chili, beans, salsa, etc. CASI has no rules governing these cookoffs, other than CASI Rules must be followed for the CASI chili must have separate judging and turn-in. It is advisable that the CASI judging cup be distinguishable from the other category cups. There are a number of ways to accomplish this. 
CASI cups may not be marked, but the cups for other categories may be marked to designate the event. Different size cups could be used. Different colored tape could be used for the cup ticket. We just want the cups turned in for the correct judging category.
Should there be a rule for this? We don't think so, just a little common sense should be adequate. If you have any input on a cookoff's judging cups, please advise them to make the cups distinguishable from CASI cups.



How to clear up confusion on Pod Cookoffs.
Until the rule granting Pod Cookoffs an automatic qualifier was adopted in 2014, before only the CASI Executive Director was concerned about Pod Cookoffs, as part of the credentials process. Now, with the addition of that rule, the Upcomings Coordinator and TallyMaster are directly affected by that rule. Also the Rules Committee. Over the last year and a half, the Rules Committee has devoted considerable time to interpreting and defining this rule. VII.E.1g. 
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One problem we noted was that some Pods have multiple cookoffs, all name the "(Pod name) Pod Cookoff." And then, there were some Pods who called their Pod Cookoff something else. This caused a lot of problems for the Upcomings Coordinator and the TallyMaster. So much so, that the Senior Referee now maintains a list of which Pod Cookoffs are eligible for the automatic qualifier. This is also very misleading to the chili cooking public.
This could be solved so very easily. Name only the cookoff delegated as the automatic qualifying pod cookoff as, "The (Pod name) Pod Cookoff." Any other cookoff your Pod is involved with should have a different name. It will make a couple of ladies who do an awful lot of work for CASI, happy.