Chamber has new officers, needs advertising chair for Fest

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce met Tuesday at noon at Any Occasion Banquet Hall, its first meeting since electing new officers.

Marlon Schafer returns as president for a fifth term, Marcus Horak takes over as vice president, Lise Ott is the new secretary, Larissa Zeiler continues as the treasurer and the remaining board members are Dejay Buck (Biergarten chairman), Vicky Iverson and Justin Parr. New members of the board were introduced at the annual banquet held on March 16. Schafer said he was disappointed at the level of support for the banquet by the business community. Plans are being discussed for a possible different type of event for next year.

A vote was taken to approve spending the money to repair the outdoor freezer prior to this year’s Fest.

A major need for this year’s Fest is an advertising chairperson. Korianne Scheller, who did a superb job in that capacity for the past couple of years, has resigned citing lack of time. Any volunteers in the community who might have a flair for deciding how to spend the Chamber’s advertising dollars are asked to contact Marlon Schafer right away. Now is the time that the community begins gearing up for Fest and placing advertising in various publications and other media.

Several other changes in chairmanships have taken place over the past year or two. The food committee is now headed by Rachel Buck, indoor/outdoor music by Andrew Holman, street fair/flea market by Terri King, yard sales Clarene Haynie, parade Bank of America personnel, Finney Field camping/parking by Chris Luiten at school, the horseshoe exhibition by Kathy Ratkowski and the Fun Run by the Cub Scouts under pack leader Peggy DeWulf. We will endeavor to provide an updated list with phone numbers in time for next week’s issue of the paper.

The local Girl Scout troop has taken over the planning and serving of the Friday morning breakfast in the Biergarten. Danielle Scrupps is in charge of arrangements for the scouts.

Upcoming events

At the Chamber meeting on April 23, a business coach will visit Odessa to speak to members and guests. He offers online support in the form of a one-year program designed to help business people improve the business model, streamline workflows and increase the bottom line.

This Saturday, March 30, the Chamber will hold a workday to complete the framing for the community kitchen remodel. The concrete floor has been poured and “looks great,” according to project manager Lindsy Starkel. The framing work will begin right after the conclusion of the Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt at Reiman Park. Please bring your own nailguns and other tools.

Stumpjumpers

In case you missed it, the Stumpjumpers were indeed in town this past weekend, here to participate in the White Knuckle and Frostbite motorcycle-riding events on Saturday and Sunday. Since the Stumpjumper events are separated by Easter weekend this year, there was no attempt by the Chamber to hold a “Bike Week” as was tried for the past few years. There were also no special dinners planned for the site, so it is hoped that Odessa businesses were helped by the influx of people to our area.

Schafer reported seven calls to the EMTs during the weekend, so the hospital certainly saw an increase in business.

The Desert 100 motorcycle endurance race will take place April 6 and 7 at the same location owned by Wes and Faye King at State Route 28 and Irby Road. The Chamber-sponsored hospitality tent will be set up and various Odessa businesses will serve food at the site again this year. The fire department will run its “by donation” shuttle bus to ferry folks into town and back to the site.