BIG TEXAS THANK YOU!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFCC80" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c8e8e3.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="03e95810.gif" border=0 width="149" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FF9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d00c82dwnjbj.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGIONAL CHILI AND SALSA COOK OFF</B></FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>   |     <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGIONAL CHILI AND SAL"><U>home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="world cook off pix"><U><IMG SRC="03f0c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>     <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Padre Vs South Padre Island"><U><IMG SRC="0410c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>       <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="12" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="12">   <A HREF="index1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RIO GRANDE VALLEY REGIONAL CHILI AND SAL"><U><IMG SRC="0420c0c0.gif" border=0 width="12" height="12" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> BIG TEXAS THANK YOU!</div> <div> Special Thanks to the Executive Director of the</div> <div> <B>International Chili Society</B> Carol Hancock, Dave </div> <div> Hancock, the Stewart's and Truit Airhart and all other </div> <div> ICS officials for coming from San Juan Capistrano, CA. </div> <div> to initiate our maiden regional cook off and for all of their help with judging, details and general support of this event.  </div> <bR> <div> Also we would like to thank Jerry and Jean Simmons our chief judge and score keeper. They came to help all the way from Florissant Mo. </div> <bR> <div> I would also like to thank John Davis and Susie Towers of Laguna Heights for all their help in selling tickets, shirts and tallying the people's choice tickets. They kept me out of getting in trouble. </div> <bR> <div> Thank you folks.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Cash contributors are in alphabetical order as</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>follows:</B></div> <div> American Pawn of San Benito </div> <div> Coral Reef Lounge----------Thank you Barb & Chris Kobel </div> <div> Designer Window Films---------------Thank you Solar Bob</div> <div> Dolphin Cove Oyster Bar </div> <div> ----------------------------Thank you Joe & MaryJo Buck</div> <div> Island Flyer Distributors---------Thank you MaryJo Buck</div> <div> Island Services/Paradise Reality-----------------Thank you Bob Pinkerton</div> <div> Mc Innis-Wagoner Real Estate----Thank you Suzanne & Rex</div> <div> Marti Miller and her crew on the fine </div> <div> T-shirts, aprons, tote bags and beautiful trophies </div> <div> they supplied us with. So here it is---Thank you </div> <div> Marti Miller & ABC Custom Advertising in Mc Allen for </div> <div> a great job.</div> <div> South Padre Bank--------------------Thank you Jim Green</div> <div> Tropical Enterprises Water Treatment of Harlingen</div> <div> <B>Service support & special rates came from the following which is also in alphabetical order:</B></div> <div> Ben's Liquor------------------------------Thank you Ben Khajeh and crew</div> <div> Best Western Hotel-----------------Thank you Rob Meyers</div> <div> The Coastal Current Newspaper------Thank you Jim Goller</div> <div> Comfort Inn Suites-----------------Thank you Mike Jones,</div> <div> K-Tex Radio-------------Thank you Billy Santiago, Patchman and JoJo and Crew</div> <bR> <div> KZSP Love-Smooth Jazz------Thank you Logan Hawks, Jim Wilson & Jerry Wilson and Crew</div> <div> Microtel Hotel------------Thank you Tom & Bill Gautreau </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.sopadrerentals.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.sopadrerentals.com/"><U><U>South Padre Beach Houses and Rentals</U></U></A><U>--------</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Thank you </FONT><U>Denise</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > and the entire staff</FONT></div> <div> Southwest Airlines--------Thank you Jr. Gonzalez & Crew</div> <div> Travelodge Hotel----------------Thank you Billy Schrank</div> <div> Valley Morning Star Newspaper--Thank you Bruce Smith for the great article in the Rio Sun!</div> <bR> <div> Valley wide we had 19 businesses that believed in us </div> <div> and backed us for this first time event and we thank you all. </div> <div> We will be bigger & better in 2004. We hope our first</div> <div> year has convinced more of the area businesses to </div> <div> support and contribute to this event. Our goal is to </div> <div> have the largest Regional International Chili Cook Off </div> <div> in North America. There will only be one larger and </div> <div> that will be the world competition in Reno, NV where </div> <div> the winner of our Rio Grande Valley cook off will be </div> <div> representing us. </div> <bR> <div> We need a lot of support to not only help us fulfill our vision but to also fill this island with business. </div> <bR> <div> All payments for merchandise can be made direct from our website. We have a secured page and are set up to except entry fees and/or contributions with PayPal. Any major credit card is applicable.</div> <bR> <div> Thank You </div> <bR> <div> <U>Dennis M. Bortko</U></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>