Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Howdy one and all,

In this email, I will discuss:

Ronald McDonald House
Chapter Elections
Upcoming Chapter Events
The Chapter Online
IDOS Memberships and Chapter Dues

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Ronald McDonald House

Debbie Hair is volunteering her time this New Year's Eve (Monday, 31 Dec) to serve dinner to about 40 people at the Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City. I'm hoping some of the chapter will be able to help. Dinner is to be served at 6:00... allowing plenty of time for those that want to celebrate later.

Debbie Hair and Cindy Ayres are making the main dish... Mondo Meat Balls. They need people to help cook and / or donate food for the rest of the meal. They need desserts, dinner rolls, green salads, drinks, etc. Debbie hopes that at least the main dish and desserts will be made on site.

If anyone is interested in helping or donating, contact Debbie at debDhair@yahoo.com. Or you can call her at 484-6966 (home) or 585-3296 (work with voice mail).

Debbie has signed up for this event under the name of Storm Mountain... making this a chapter event.

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Chapter Elections

My first DOG event was at Falcon Park with Storm Mountain in the fall of 2006. My second DOG event was Feb 2007 where Scott asked if I would be the chapter assistant director. I think we may have had somewhere between 10 and 20 families with the chapter at the time. My current chapter list has 52 names!! I'd say it was a great year for the chapter!

It's time for the chapter to elect their officers for 2008. I'm not really sure how to go about the whole process, but I would like to have an event in January or February where the chapter can voice their opinions, concerns, complaints, etc... make any suggestions to help improve the chapter... and vote on next year's officers. I have thought about having this event at a restaurant so we can all socialize instead of stressing over cooking and cleaning. Otherwise, the event will probably be at a church where we can cook outside and eat inside. I'm open to suggestions.

If anyone has any interest in running for office, or wants to help the chapter in any way, please contact me.

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Upcoming Chapter events

So far, I don't have many firm dates for events next year, but there are already a lot of events being discussed and planned. On the bottom of the Chapter DOG events main page, I have a table that lists the months and the chapter activities that are being discussed and planned. I am listing these events so we can plan around cook-offs and other Dutch Oven events. If you would like to host, or help plan a DOG event, Demos, or cook-offs, feel free to contact me. We are in need of some locations for the upcoming months.

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The Chapter online

As most of you are aware (like I give anyone the chance to forget), I think communication is very important. Because of this, I try to keep the Storm Mountain Chapter website up to date. On this website, I keep a list of the past DOG events and past Cook-Offs. I try to maintain a calendar of ANY Dutch Oven Event for Utah (and a few from Idaho). And, I have a web photo album that contains pictures from our events. One or two of you know about the Chapter Blog site that I created a month or so ago. Okay... only one person has really hit the blog site (thanks Ted). The blog site will be where I post these chapter emails... so those that aren't on the chapter list can get the same information and so new members can see what we have been doing. It's not a site that needs to be visited on regular occasions, but it can be a site that you can offer your friends that are interested in what we are doing... or instead of fowarding these emails, you can just offer a link to the blog site.

This past week, I was granted access to update our Chapter page on the IDOS site . I spent a little time today playing around with the page... maybe a little too much time... but I think it looks pretty good. Earlier this year, Clyde was nice enough to point the links on the IDOS page to our chapter website. I think it's better to maintain consistency within the IDOS site and changed those links to point back to the IDOS chapter page. Of course, I've loaded that page with links to our website! =0)

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IDOS Memberships and Chapter Dues

Of the 52 names I have on the chapter list, there are six or seven families that have lapsed with IDOS, or never signed up. I only bring this up in case a few of you may have forgotten. If you think your membership maybe have lapsed, feel free to contact me and I'll help you renew. You have to be an active IDOS member to be eligible to vote for chapter officers.

As most of you know, the Storm Mountain Chapter doesn't charge a fee or have dues anymore... though you are supposed to be current with IDOS. Because we no longer charge fees, we have been relying on selling items at our chapter events to support the chapter. Next year, I would like to keep a few standard Dutch Oven items to offer to the chapter and to the public that visits our events (Dutch Ovens, Cook-Books, Trivets, etc). And, I am thinking of offering a 'kitty jar' at our DOG events for donations... unless there are any objections.

A few people have mentioned having a fund raising event for the chapter... like possibly a Thanksgiving event were the chapter members will demo the menu items for a Thanksgiving meal... then offer the food as a complete meal. I think this would be a great opportunity for some of us novices to do our first Demo with some pros behind us to help us out. And, it would be a great social event for the chapter. If anyone is interested in helping... or planning... such an event, please contact me.

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Many thanks,

Ranes

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Chapter Cook-Off and DOG event ~ 17 November

Wow... where do I begin? Do I start with how beautiful today was? Do I detail how great the cook-off was today? Do I talk about the wonderful DOG event after the cook-off?

To start with... many thanks to Debbie Hair for finding the location for today's event. The Pioneer Craft house is central to most chapter members. Including Omar and Dian from Idaho... and Terry Lewis from Tabiona, UT... AND, there was a truck driver that read about our event online and drove over a thousand miles just to hang out with us today. That's dedication.

The sun was shining for most of the day. The temperature was great for a November day. There was little to no wind. There were one or two teams concerned about their dough rising, but I thought every one's bread was great. It was a great day for a cook-off.

We had six teams show up for today's Chapter cook-off. Five of the six teams competed at the Lehi Rodeo Cook-Off back in June. Each of the teams did a great job on their dishes and I am sure the judges had a hard time judging. I had three judges for the desserts, three for the breads, and three for the main dishes. Jack Wallace was our field judge, and there were three different 'cutters' to assist the judges. I have to admit that I feel this was a well organized cook-off and I think all the teams enjoyed it. At least I hope they all enjoyed it.

The prizes for the event were a 14" Hard Anodized Aluminum Dutch Oven from GSI (Thanks GSI), a Camp Chef grill box (Thanks Terry), two dinners for two from Rodizio (Thanks Eduardo!), and two $50 gift certificates from Sportsmans Warehouse (Thanks Jon). I really do appreciate the generosity of all our sponsors. (And I'll be hitting all of them up in the next couple of months for more prizes for the Lehi Rodeo Cook-Off next June!)

Right after the judges were done, I invited all the teams and chapter members to taste all of the presented dishes. I think it really helps a team to taste the dishes presented by other competing teams... and I like having the chapter members get this same chance by tasting the dishes after the judges and teams were done.

After the judges were done with the main dishes, I asked all the chapter members that cooked for the DOG event to place their dishes on the same table as the presented main dishes. All the teams and all the chapter members... as well as a few guests from the Pioneer House... got the chance to taste the six amazing main dishes and some very good dishes made by the other chapter members. I have to admit that I sort of expected the teams to be tired and want to take off after cooking. I was very pleased to see all the teams and all the chapter members sitting around, chatting, and enjoying the food. This has to be the best attended DOG event this year. I really think that everyone enjoyed the afternoon.

Congrats to Debbie and Mindy Hair for winning first place and qualifying for the 2008 WCCO.

Congrats to Damon Faust and Cyd Horne for winning second place... and being nominated to represent the Storm Mountain Chapter for the 2008 WCCO.

Tim and Amanda Watt came in third place.

Ted and Dallin Cromer came in fourth place.

Erik and Kris Hansen came in fifth.

Mary Allen and Julie Dwire came in sixth.

Of course I am going to include some links!!!

I have added pictures to the Teams on the chapter website...
http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/cook_offs/Chapter_07/index.htm#teams

I have the recipes from the cook-off online as a PDF file...
http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/cook_offs/Chapter_07/files/Recipe_Book.pdf

I have pictures on the chapter website... and I will probably be adding pictures over the next few days...
http://picasaweb.google.com/stormmtn/2007StormMountainChapterCookOffDOGEvent

Many thanks to all the teams, all the judges, and all the people that brought food for the DOG. Thanks to all the chapter members and friends that showed up to help us enjoy such a wonder November day!

At the event, we signed up THREE new members to IDOS, and a chapter member renewed his membership with IDOS. I have the Storm Mountain / IDOS sign up and renewal from on the last page of the cook-off cookbook... so we might have a few more people joining up soon. I'd say it was a great day for IDOS as well!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Chapter Updates ~ 5 November 2007

Howdy one and all,

First... I'd like to welcome all the new members to Storm Mountain. There are a few names I've added to the list that were in the IDOS database as Storm Mountain Chapter members that I just now found out about. And, we have had a few more people sign up recently. All of the chapter members are listed on the Contacts page of the Storm Mountain Chapter website: http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/contacts.htm

On the bottom of the Contacts Page, I have added a Google map that has icons of chapter members and their locations. None of these icons point to the actual home address of any members but they are near the city location for that member. The exception is for Trikke SLC. The pin does point to their location because it is a business. Chapter members icons are green, chapter cook-off icons are yellow.

And, there are a few members with IDOS membership renewals coming up... and a few (7) that have exipred IDOS memberships. You can pay me at the next event, send me a check payable to IDOS, or I have a paypal account set up for the chapter. Or, if you send your payments directly to IDOS, let me know so I can update our records.

I guess with all that said, I should include that if you don't want to be a member of Storm Mountain, let me know and I'll remove your name from the mailing list. But who wouldn't want to belong to such an awesome chapter??

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Next... The Storm Mountain Chapter Cook-Off / DOG event is only 12 days away. This is a chapter only cook-off to qualify a team and nominate a team for next year's WCCO. Because of this, all teams need to be members of the chapter and currently active with IDOS. IDOS rules will apply. Contact me with any questions before the event.

I don't really need recipes until the week of the event... let's say Wednesday, 14 November. Feel free to send them any time you'd like, but they aren't required until that Wednesday. I will print these to hand out to others. For those cooking for the DOG event, I can include your recipes if you want.

The entry fee for this cook-off is $10, payable the morning of the event. What isn't used to cover costs of the cook-off will be given to the chapter.

I have a few prizes, but I'm not contacting too many people for gift items for this event. I want to save my begging for the Lehi cook-off next year. If anyone wants to donate items for prizes, I'll gladly accept them. Thanks to Terry for donating an item already. Instead of saying "this item is for first place, this item is for second"... I'm going to let the first place team pick and item, then the second place team pick an item, etc until we run out. This might blow up in my face, but I'll try it for this event.

Here is the webpage that details this event... http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/cook_offs/Chapter_07/index.htm

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As of right now, the chapter cook-off / DOG event is the last planned event until next year. I didn't think anyone would be that interested in doing a DOG event in December, but if anyone wants to plan one, I'll promote it.

A few of you have contacted me with ideas for DOG events for next year. I wouldn't mind getting these events planned and scheduled. I would really like to be able to announce an upcoming DOG event at all of our cook-offs and DOG events. And, I think it would be cool to have a couple of themed DOG events... Mexican, Asian, chili, etc.

Kent Mayberry has mentioned doing a breakfast DOG. I think this is an awesome idea. Maybe a camping DOG the night before? Those that don't want to camp can show up for breakfast? Possibly in the early spring? Awesome idea.

Terry Lewis has mentioned we can have a DOG event on his family's property in Tabiona, UT. It would be nice to step away from the cities and head east for an event.

I am going to contact someone from Oquirrh Mountain and see if we can join them for one of their monthly DOG events. I like combining these DOG events and getting to know our neighbors.

There is the Camp Chef DOG event... usually in June I think. And, I will have a DOG in Lehi a week or two before the Lehi Rodeo Round Up Cook-Off. The Cook-Off will be on 28 June.

Shawn Conlin will put on his annual FEKA DOG event later in the fall.

Kent has mentioned doing a Thanksgiving DOG event next year. The idea is to have chapter members do a demo for the different dishes for Thanksgiving... and offer a dinner to help raise money for the chapter. A few can demo desserts, a few can demo potatoes, side dishes, breads, etc, and a few can demo cooking a Dutch Oven Turkey. If we are good with our scheduling, all these dishes will be done by a specific time and the general public will be able to purchase these Thanksgiving meals. What a great way to promote Dutch Oven cooking, teaching the public our tips and tricks, and raising money for the chapter at the same time. Great idea! I know Colleen Sloan does a Turkey Demo every year on National Turkey Day at the General Army Navy Store in SLC... maybe we can join up with them?

If anyone knows of any indoor locations for the upcoming winter months, I'd be interested in hearing about them!

I'm not sure if the annual Klondike is in the works for next January, but it might be nice to support it.

So... We already have many DOG events in the works. If anyone wants to host a DOG event, or has any suggestions for locations, feel free to contact me so we can start planning these things!

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If you have or know of ANY cook-offs, Demos, DO Classes, or DOG events scheduled for next year, PLEASE let me know so we can start getting them posted, published, advertised, promoted, etc. I would very much like to see the chapter support more Demos next year. I know that Kristen is working on getting a list of all the upcoming cook-offs for 2008. I would like to help her in any way I can.

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If you've read this far down... thanks!

Monday, October 29, 2007

Chapter Cook-Off / Dutch Oven Gathering

Now that Cedar City and the Sunset Farm cook-offs are done, I want to start pushing the chapter cook-off / DOG event. I would love for everyone in the chapter to show up and support the teams and cook for the DOG event.

The date is:
Saturday, 17 November 2007

The location is:
Pioneer Craft House
3271 South 500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
( Google Map)


For the cook-off:
Setup from 8:00 to 9:30Cook's Meeting at 9:30 Start cooking at 10:00Dessert due at 1:00Bread due at 2:00Main Dish due at 3:00Winners announced at 4:00ish
IDOS rules apply.. no pre-anything, cook over coals in Dutch Ovens, etc, etc. Contact me with any questions.

You WILL need to bring your own tables and chairs. If you don't have a table, contact me and I'll find some. There is a paved porch like area for cooking but I'm not sure it will hold seven teams or more. If you have a shade tent, please bring it just in case.

Recipes can be sent anytime... up to a few days before the event. Let's say 14 November?

Is everyone okay with a $10 entry fee to cover some costs? The excess money will go to the chapter.

So far, I have about seven teams that are interested:

Debbie and Mindy Hair
Ted and Dallin Cromer
Mary Allen Dwire and Julie Dwire
Damon Faust (and Gus?)
Tim and Amanda Watt
Mike "Red" and Becky Jensen
Ron Smith (and wife?)

So far, I have had a few people that have said they would judge and/or help with the cook-off:
Dian Mayfield
Jared Cahoon
Shawn Conlin
I'm sure Scott and David will help and/or judge
I think Terry Lewis said he would help and/or judge?
Maybe Kent Mayberry?Maybe Roger B?
Maybe Jack can be the field judge... or maybe he should compete!!
Todd ~ are you interested in competing and/or judging?Now that the Blogett's have taken second at Cedar City, are you interested in judging?
Any other past champs or past/current qualifiers interested?

All chapter members are welcome to sample the dishes after the judges are done.

For the DOG:
Items should be ready by 4:00... the dinner bell will ring right after the winner's are announced. Feel free to come early and sample the foods of the cook-off after the judges are done.

You will need to bring your own tables and chairs. Most of the area near the porch has pavers on the ground and there is a lot of tree cover, but a shade tent might not hurt. I'll try to have a few tables for serving the foods.

Of course, any and all help is always appreciated. I wouldn't mind one or two more people taking photos during the event.

Sunset Farm Festival Cook-Off

This past Saturday, 27 October 2007, a few of us got together for a cook-off in Kaysville, UT. The teams that showed up were Ted and Connie Cromer, Dallin Cromer and Jamie Butterfield, and Ranes Carter (me) and Shawn Conlin.

All of us have competed against each other in past cook-offs and all of us are members of the Storm Mountain Chapter. In every competition I have been in with Ted, we have been very close. It is reassuring to me that we our dishes have been so close. I have always been impressed with Ted's cooking... and if his food is that good, and we are always close in scoring... then my food must be pretty good, too! I have to be honest and say I think Ted is the better Dutch Oven cook. I think he is more comfortable cooking with Dutch Ovens than I am.

This weekend, Shawn and I took first place... Ted and Connie took second. But, technically we tied. I'm not really sure how the judges were able to determine who's on first and who's on second, but I know I'm glad I was not a judge. All three main dishes were excellent! Dallin (Ted's son) teamed up with his fiance and did an excellent job.

I have pictures of the event on the chapter web photo album, and I have the recipe book posted on the chapter website. A link to the cook-book can be found on this page.

All in all, I would say this was a good cook-off. I was very impressed with all of the dishes that were presented... and I am honored that we took first place. We all had to be very close in scores!

Thursday, October 11, 2007

First Blog

Storm Mountain has its own website, its own email address, its own photogallery... might as well have a blog site as well.

I was doing a little research on hosting a blog on the StormMtn.phpnet.us website... but after reading the marksblackpot.blogspot.com website, I figured I might as well use blogspot, too.

So far, it's all pretty user friendly. Let's hope the site gets some use.