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How to Start a Cookoff
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The International Chili Society is very proud
to say that we sanction over 300 cookoffs a year throughout the World and
have helped raise over 60 million dollars for charities and non-profit
organizations.
Get Cookin'! - Click here to sign up to hold your own cookoff!
If you are interested in holding an event we will provide you with the
necessary information, sanctioning application, forms, banners, supplies and
administrative help. The forms may only be used for Sanctioned cookoffs as we
hold the copyright on all our rules and regulations and any unauthorized
use would constitute an infringement. When you have read all the materials, and
have selected a date, please call our office to confirm that the date is open,
complete the official application form and return it to our office for review
and approval.
Your event would be sanctioned, as determined by the ICS, as either a District, State or Regional Championship.
The winner of one District Cookoff will qualify for the Last Chance Cookoff with no entry fee. If they win two Districts
they will qualify for the World's Championship. The winners from all State and Regional Cookoffs will represent that State
or Region at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff.
For all qualifying Cookoffs, the ICS charges a $350 sanctioning fee per
cookoff. A deposit of $50 (non-refundable) is payable at the time the application is submitted
for approval. This will hold the date requested and get it posted on the website. The remainder
must be paid no later than two weeks prior to the cookoff. All contestants must be ICS members as of the date of your
event. They may join through your event or directly with the ICS office. The
membership fee is $42.00 per year.
The ICS Official Newspaper is available for you to publicize
your event prior to the cookoff, and give much deserved coverage of winners,
cookoff staff and supporters who helped make your event possible. We must rely
on each of you to provide us with stories, photos, etc., before and after the
cookoff, for newspaper coverage. The following dates are deadlines for newspaper
stories, photos, flyers, etc.
COPY DEADLINES (Subject to change):
- Spring
Edition - March 14th;
- Summer
Edition - June 13th;
- Fall
Edition - September 12th;
- Winter
Edition - November 14th.
We hope you will take advantage of the paper. For anyone
holding a sanctioned cookoff, we do not charge for running your 1/4 page
Ad or story to promote your event. Whole page & half page Ads are
available for an additional cost on a per-issue basis. The Web site listing is
included along with the newspaper and is updated every two weeks. If your date is
close to a newspaper deadline, you would have to be in the preceeding issue to
insure coverage.
Beer Companies and Micro-Breweries have proven to be a major source of
sponsorship for chili cookoffs. We have no restrictions regarding what beer
company sponsors your event. It is up to you to negotiate your own beer deal.
This is done, in most cases, with local distributors. If any beer company or
micro-brewery promotes or advertises (banners, posters, media, print, etc) at
any sanctioned event a $250 advertising fee must be paid to the ICS.
Chili cookoffs have become major events in the United States and several
foreign countries, thanks to the efforts of all Cookoff Chairpersons. The
camaraderie, fun and most of all contributions made to charities and non-profit
organizations, is something we can all be proud to be a part of.
If you're ready to hold a cookoff, give us a call, e-mail us or click here. We'll
get a package of information off to you immediately.
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