2013 National Pepper Association Rules

[Ron Hill]

As the current President of the National Pepper Association, I need to remind all members that their 2013 dues are due as of 12/31/2012. If you wish to keep your Fiefdom in tact, sent you 2013 dues to:

Ron Hill
National Pepper Association
2683 Halladay Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Make your $100 annaul dues check payable to: National Pepper Association.

Rules Meeting for the 2013 Pepper Season is coming up in January and our usual location Needles, California, home of Spike (Snoopy's brother). The National Pepper Association will have a "FREE RIDE", Jimmy Joe Cox will give you a free ride from the Red Dog Bar. At the end of each day's meetings, the Red Dog will be open to all National Pepper Association Members. The NPA will pick up the tab for all members, but you must sign the releases of liability and and agree to be driven to your trailer, as we don't want to have a liability problem because we offer free drinks.

Region 8 has not elected a new Chairman for 2013. Maybe they need a "PEPPER SCHOOL" up there. Or maybe it is just too cold to grow peppers in Minnesota!

See you at the National Meeting January, 19-23, 2013. Meeting is at the Needles Country Club. (Everyone in Needles knows where that is).

[Bunker Hill]

How does a club go about securing funds for officially approved Pepper Association tasting equipment for our school that we are in the process of starting??

[Ron Hill]

Most local clubs should have plenty of money for things like this. But I will check with the Historical Society and see what funds are available. Their cut off date for 2013 funds was probably last January 15th. Again, I'll check for you!

What specific tools do you need? Green Bells are still on Probationary Status, so they don't get points, and don't need inspection. But they can be included inall events and no additional insurance charge!

[Bunker Hill]

I have heard terrible rumors that the NAPA (North American Pepper Association) was also considering, under probationary circumstances, allowing "Hot House" peppers!! What's next!!!??

[russhill]

Ron, why are you having the annual dues sent to you? I am the duly elected treasurer. The Dues should go to me at National Pepper Assn., PO Box 4191, Seal Beach, CA 90740.

Who's handling the Tee shirts this year? We need to place more emphasis on Tee Shirts, and worry less about things like insurance; however I do understand that NAPA (North American Pepper Assn) claims they can get the same coverage we have for less. I'd also like to see the following on the agenda :
• Illegal Foreign (Mexican) peppers,
• Trying to achieve parity with the use of restrictor plates,
• Attract new blood into the organization, and
• The issue of retaining a consulting firm

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Ron, why are you having the annual dues sent to you? I am the duly elected treasurer. The Dues should go to me at National Pepper Assn., PO Box 4191, Seal Beach, CA 90740.

Who's handling the Tee shirts this year? We need to place more emphasis on Tee Shirts, and worry less about things like insurance; however I do understand that NAPA (North American Pepper Assn) claims they can get the same coverage we have for less. I'd also like to see the following on the agenda :
• Illegal Foreign (Mexican) peppers,
• Trying to achieve parity with the use of restrictor plates,
• Attract new blood into the organization, and
• The issue of retaining a consulting firm

BUT...............What are the opportunity's for an affiliation with the NPA by a group from the midwest that have some of the same concerns listed above by illegal horse radish growers, importers, pickers, and also the consulting firm issue. Maybe like the different categories in some boat racing organizations?

I realize that we are talking about two different plants/vegetables? here, but since the area around St. Louis, (primarily on the Illinois side with the shady influence that implies) is full of growers of the product, and it is widely distributed and known for its quality, it would seem there would be shared concerns, especially since both products are used in some of the same ways.

What is required for this type affiliation? Is there any certain number required to cross the road to storage from where grown, and would any records established for the class prior to acceptance be allowed to be canceled so new records could be accepted even though the class was dormant for a time and then came back? This would allow more acceptance into the HRHOF. (HorseRadishHallofFame)

Many questions need answers, but since we have not gotten the funds together to hire the consulting firm you mention, is there any way we could be considered, since both are "hot stuff"?

[Ron Hill]

The trouble as i see it, this grow from the St. Louis area probably out number the PEPPER PEOPLE and if we allowed then membership in the NPA, they could take control I'm sure the Pepper People aren't anxious to give control to a bunch of Horseradish Growers. Maybe, we can let them join, but not allow them to have a vote and the way we do things.

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

The trouble as i see it, this grow from the St. Louis area probably out number the PEPPER PEOPLE and if we allowed then membership in the NPA, they could take control I'm sure the Pepper People aren't anxious to give control to a bunch of Horseradish Growers. Maybe, we can let them join, but not allow them to have a vote and the way we do things.

The way I see it, that would be paying dues with no representation, and that is what that "Tea Party" stuff was all about.

I think I will get Wayne Baldwin involved in this conversation, as he is THE pepper expert as far as I am concerned. I still have a brown spot by my mail box where the lizard dumped after eating some of the ones he sent me a few months ago. Grass will probably never grow there again.

Funny what some vegetables can get started, ain't it??


I think I will just get back in boat racing. Those organizations are a lot more fun!! Only problem about one them is you can't get anybody to talk to you, about ANYTHING, whether you pay dues or not.

[Bunker Hill]

Horseradish!! don't even go there!!
you guys don't seem to remember when we had the wasabi conspiracy of '81!! when those guys added wasabi to alter the chemistry of the pepper entries!

[Bill Van Steenwyk]

Horseradish!! don't even go there!!
you guys don't seem to remember when we had the wasabi conspiracy of '81!! when those guys added wasabi to alter the chemistry of the pepper entries!

What was wasabi?? Any relation to Kemosabi, the masked man's buddy?


I seem to have missed that conspiracy, although in '81 I was still recovering from the '70's.

Tell us MORE, PLEASE! Inquiring minds want to know.