At The Wheel – From the President
Julie Bruggner
Strategic Challenges
The dust hasn’t settled yet after the Fall National Board Meeting in Dallas-Fort Worth, but that doesn’t mean that I have been sitting still. My travels have been in high gear as I start my engagement with the members I have come to appreciate and respect so much for their loyalty to the Mercedes-Benz Club of America and willingness to share their cars with other club members. I’m asked all the time about my own car, an SL550 that I love dearly, and a few members have asked me what my favorite Mercedes is … the car I would definitely have if cost were no object. I haven’t decided what my one “favorite” Mercedes-Benz is, although my current SL is my favorite to date. That’s not to say that I won’t love the next one equally, if not more.
You see, I consider myself a modern, independent woman who loves her car. I love to drive fast, drive on the track, and go on long road trips in my beloved SLs. I love the conveniences that come with the new cars and am amazed at how advanced each model refresh is when compared with its predecessor. The technological change that characterizes the evolution of modern Mercedes-Benz vehicles is simply amazing. In fact, these changes are quite the necessity now. As many of you will soon find out, I am quite directionally challenged, so integrated GPS is not an option, but a necessity.
As we look strategically at the challenges facing the MBCA, we definitely need to figure out new ways to cater to both audiences, the vintage and the modern. From my perspective, it is so important to host events and engage with vintage enthusiasts and honor the history of the brand, the club, and the very people who shaped the progress of this club over the past six memorable decades. At the same time, we have to host events, write articles, offer technical resources and really shift our club model to meet the needs of the next generation, a group that is technology driven and perhaps looking for an altogether different experience from MBCA membership.
There’s no right or wrong answer here. We need to work better together and help the club pivot to a model that serves both audiences. That means hosting local, regional and national events that any Mercedes-Benz enthusiast finds exciting – not just catering to a specific persona.
It’s going to be a journey with our eyes looking forward; as you plan spring and summer events, please keep in mind the need to evolve the way the ownership base has evolved. Host events that are compelling for any enthusiast. As you see new faces, or if you are a new face, remember that we are all friends; any member has the potential to enjoy and serve the club, so be social. And when you plan these events, keep me posted. I’d love to join you and meet your members. Whether they are vintage car buffs or the new generation of owners with AMGs, I will enjoy the conversation and the friendship.