Desert 100 only weeks away

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce is seeking community help in setting up and manning the hospitality tent at the site of the Desert 100 which will soon be upon us. This year the race will be held the first weekend in April, with poker runs and youth races on Saturday, April 2, and the huge endurance race, the Desert 100, on Sunday, April 3.

There has been concern among some Chamber members because participation in this event by Odessa food vendors has declined in the past couple of years. The weather can often be chilly and windy, and the dust can be uncomfortable, but the opportunity for Odessa businesses and non-profit groups to have successful sales at the site should not be overlooked.

Zach Schafer of Rocky Coulee Brewing Co. and his father Tom before him have long worked as a liaisons between the Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club and the Odessa community to provide mutual benefits to all participants in the event. Schafer recently told members of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce that the exclusive right of Odessa vendors to provide food and beverage services at the event has had to be revised, as interest on the part of Odessa providers has waned. Schafer has been forced to find vendors from outside of Odessa to fill the demand for the past two years.

Several thousand people attend the event as either participants, supporters or spectators, many bringing their entire families. The members of the Stumpjumpers club have from the very beginning expressed their appreciation for the welcome they have received from the Odessa community, not just through words but also through monetary donations to various local organizations.

Former Chamber president Marlon Schafer has organized the setup and staffing of the hospitality tent for several years. This year, he has had to step down, as his duties in establishing wi-fi links at the site require too much of his attention prior to and during the event. Susan Jensen has volunteered to oversee planning and execution of the Chamber-sponsored hospitality tent at the site this year, and she has been busy recruiting helpers to carry out the various jobs in order to ensure a successful event.

Many volunteers are needed to serve as bartenders, cashiers, setup workers and the like. Supplies have been ordered, and much legwork has been done already. But many workers will be needed for setting up equipment inside the tent, staffing the bar, checking ID and so forth. Maybe this will be the year of warm temperatures and lots of sunshine for the event.

More information will be forthcoming over the next two weeks.