Founded last spring, the Rotaract Club of Greater New Haven was sponsored by the North Haven Rotary Club and includes young professionals between 24 and 32 years of age. The secretary of the fledgling service organization, Lauren DiNorscia, recently approached the Rotary club regarding her group’s first annual Chili Cook- Off. The upcoming fundraiser is set for Saturday, May 11, with an entry fee of only $25 and six quarts of your favorite chili delivered to their host site, the High Lane Club in North Haven. While expressing her group’s genuine enthusiasm, she said that the event will primarily benefit the Connecticut Food Bank, and the winner will receive a cash prize. Rotary President Michael Hallahan praised the Rotaract Club for their active role in the community while encouraging everyone to take part in the contest.
DiNorscia said that her club is seeking at least ten contestants to enter their homemade chili, adding that the rules preclude any commercial or canned chili, and all entries must be prepared by the contestant and served from a crock pot. The judging will begin at 1:00 pm, and the winner will be announced at 3:30. An individual donation from the public of $5 plus a canned good for the Food Bank, or $8 without a canned good, allows entry into the High Lane Club that day where participants will judge in a blind tasting which recipe is the best. In addition, there will be raffles throughout the event for various prizes, as well as a 50/50 raffle. The enterprising representative said that she hopes that there is a great turnout to support both Rotaract and its very worthwhile charity. Applicants must be registered by April 27, 2013. For more information, please contact Elyssa Getz at (860) 371- 8087 or elyssag@gmail.com.
