I hope that each and every one of our members and friends had a wonderful holiday season and are started on a great New Year.  I want to look back just long enough to thank a few of our members. In no particular order; Mike Vasile for acting as chef d' cuisine at the COTY dinner, Mike Macri, CCC for doing a great job at the Alzheimer's Dinner and Dave DiNapoli for his work on the Stockpot. Thanks to all those who hosted a chapter event from the Convention Center in January to Cobblestone Country Club last November.  Thanks to our Chef of the Year, Lisa Cunfiffe, CEC for hosting all the Board of Director's meetings. A LARGE thank-you to all those who served on that Board.

As a chapter we had a mixed year. We hosted some wonderful events. We had planned on others that did not happen. We had a good year financially but did not grow our numbers even though we gained several new members. We were represented at the regional conference and National convention but could have had a larger group in attendance.  I hope Toronto and Philadelphia are close enough to allow for many members to attend. We were honored to be visited by our regional Vice-president, Mark Wright, CEC, AAC and will be again this month at the joint meeting with the NYSRA Rochester Chapter on January 9.

A few housekeeping duties to report. Kevin Toole, CEC has stepped down from the Board. Brad Yearwood has been appointed to become our Sergeant at Arms and will serve till a February special election. Dave DiNapoli has asked that someone else step up and take over as editor of the Stockpot. This is an opportunity to help your chapter. Most of the work can be done over the Internet. Call me or e-mail to president@ACFRochester.org We will also be looking for help with the Golf Tournament and the Chef of the Year dinner. Both of these important events need a location and a committee to make them a success.

Remember that it is your chapter and your newsletter. If you have done some research on a cooking related subject, or want to show off your talent, let our VP Van Laughlin know you can do a demonstration at a meeting. Got something to brag about? Send it to stockpot@acfrochester.org.

A copy of the 2006 chapter calendar is now available online. A copy will also be in this issue of the Stockpot. Please make note of our meeting dates and make plans to attend as many as possible.

We are trying to join forces with the last chapter of the VFW in Rochester. They have some financial woes and we are in a position to help. We will use their building for our meetings, again putting us in one location all year, and help them keep their lease. The membership of the VFW in Rochester is now older and they deserve our help. We may be doing a dinner with them as a joint fundraiser. They are holding the date of Sunday February 26, 2006. I need a commitment from at least four chapter members to make this work. Please e-mail me at president@ACFRochester.org if you can help. It will be a four course dinner we will be in and out in one day. Top number we can serve is 150. It is always fun when we can get together and cook.

Chef Paul

"Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie."  Jim Davis, "Garfield"