President’s Message      

On the Brink

We are on the brink of a new spring season and eager to enjoy the cars that our club is named after – the Mercedes-Club of America. The winter was challenging, to say the least, and rarely allowed the perfect weather for car shows or other outdoor events geared toward celebrating our vehicles.

Despite winter’s inclement weather, we can report that two significant concours events were held in Florida. In January, the South Florida Section held its seventh-annual Concours d’Elegance at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. As shown on pages 75-79, it was an outstanding success. In February, the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance was also a resounding success. At that concours, Mercedes-Benz USA President and CEO Dietmar Exler received the National Automotive Manufacturer Lifetime Achievement Award. The MBCA had a manned-tent display where the benefits of club membership were presented to visitors; we don’t have a count on new-member signups yet.

And the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is just ahead. If you have never attended this event, now is the time. Many refer to Amelia Island as the “East Coast Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance;” I think it’s even better. The venue is beautiful and the vehicles, many of which have been shown at Pebble Beach, California, are fantastic. Mercedes-Benz USA is a major sponsor of the event and is very prominent on the showgrounds and at its special display areas. Our club is also maintains a prominent presence with members from sections from coast to coast in attendance. The MBCA also participates in a free-to-see Cars & Coffee display on the main showfield on Saturday before the Sunday concours. The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance d’Elegance is scheduled March 7-9; you might still have time to attend, but The Star will be covering the event in case you’re limited to experiencing the concours on these pages.  

And two specific points I’d like to make: though more than half of all Mercedes-Benzes sold in America are classified as trucks or SUVs they, too, fit in perfectly with in the activities we enjoy; everyone will be welcomed warmly.

As the year progresses, there will be many exciting activities taking place around the country. A good source of information about these events is at the MBCA website, www.mbca.org. Please remember: All club members throughout the country are invited to attend any section event. As an example, an event to consider, the South Central Region is hosting the Red River Concours d’Elegance, May 17-19, which will be held in Fort Worth, Texas; cars will be judged utilizing MBCA concours rules. Participants are expected from at least five states in the region. The headquarter hotel and event location will be the Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club at Champions Circle. More information is available at mbca.com.

On the business side, MBCA officers are working to grow and improve the member experience as we move forward, continually refining committees’ duties to best meet our responsibilities to the club and to assure the best experiences possible. The Membership Committee is working closely with section leadership on the front line to grow membership and improve retention. A new MBCA group being developed is the Nomination Committee, an entity designed to identify and develop potential candidates for opportunities as they arise on the National Board. We have also established a Strategic Planning Committee, which is responsible for staying abreast of changes that may affect the club, as well as analyzing club operations to assure the MBCA is on the right track for the future.  

We have received ideas and suggestions from some of our members, which are always welcome; we look forward to your opinions and ideas, too.

For myself, I am planning to visit as many sectional, regional and national events and to meeting as many of you as possible this year.

Gene Jurick