Desert 100 canceled, nominations open

ODESSA – The Odessa Chamber of Commerce met via Zoom on January 12 to nominate officers for the coming year and discuss other business. Present via the Zoom feed were President Zach Schafer, Larissa Zeiler, Jeff Huiras, Norm Ott, Laura Estes, Terrie Schmidt-Crosby and Matt Roberson (briefly, until he got busy at his store). The nominations from those attending were:

President: Jeff Huiras

Vice Pres .: Norm Ott

Secretary: Terrie Schmidt-Crosby

Treasurer: Larissa Zeiler

At-large board members (2): Matt Roberson, Michelle Melgren

Biergarten chair: Kory Kolterman

Nominations are still open and will remain open up to and including the time of the next Chamber meeting Feb. 9. Chamber members wishing to nominate additional candidates or to volunteer to become a candidate are welcome to do so up until nominations are closed at that meeting. Once nominations are closed on Feb. 9, the election will take place (once again most likely via Zoom).

Official word has been received that the Desert 100 has once again been canceled this year by the Stumpjumpers Motorcycle Club. Club officials report that they will be working hard to finally put on the 50th Desert 100 in the spring of 2022. The Odessa Chamber has provided a hospitality tent at this event for several years, and it has become a major fundraising opportunity for some local businesses in addition to the Chamber itself.

The Chamber voted in November to make membership dues “by donation” this year due to the economic ramifications of Covid-19. Businesses and individuals are requested to pay whatever they are able to, and Zach Schafer will send a letter to that effect to members very soon.

Laura Estes of the kitchen committee reported that events using the kitchen are tentatively scheduled for March, April and May, depending on health-related concerns. Estes also reported that the Quilt Show put on by the Odessa Quilt Club would be held in some form or other as contingency plans proceed. The Quilt Show is held the last Fri./Sat. in April.

Chamber members voted to present $800 scholarships to each of the members of Odessa’s Royalty. Even though the young ladies were unable to fulfill their duties due to the pandemic, it was no fault of their own. Miss Odessa Maddie Scrupps and Princesses Kaya Kuchenbuch and Alyssa Iverson will each receive the scholarship at graduation in June.

Members also voted to send a $250 donation in the name of the late Kelly Korpinen to Adams County Pet Rescue, an organization near and dear to Kelly’s heart.