Presidents Message
I want to open these remarks by thanking Bob Turznik for hosting our 28th annual bus trip to the Chicago Auto Show, and by thanking Frank & Cathy Lubinski for hosting our March 16th Fish Fry and New Member Appreciation Event. Read more about both events elsewhere in this newsletter.
Survey Results
During the last month your Board of Directors conducted a survey of our membership to help determine what you want our Section to do for you. The initial results of that survey appear in this newsletter; and thank you to board member Andrew Opicka for preparing and managing the survey. Your feedback has helped the board plan and improve future events. For instance, upcoming tech sessions will focus more on older Mercedes, rather than new models, and we will try and incorporate more car collection tours in our Drive-2-Dine events. And we have two outings to Road America planned for this year. We are also working on holding events outside of the Milwaukee metro area. For instance, we have a Drive-2-Dine in Green Bay planned for June 9th, and we’re working on a Drive-2-Dine with a visit to a car museum in the Madison – Janesville – Beloit area. We are also exploring the possibility of joining the Chicago Section on a fall color tour to the Galena Illinois area. Another new item for this newsletter is a direct response to your survey input. Beginning with this issue the Badger Star will have a “For Sale/Wanted to Buy” section. See the first example on page 9. This is the spot to place your ad to clean out your garage of your old Mercedes parts, or to let your fellow members know there is something Mercedes related you want to buy. Ads can only be placed by Wisconsin Section members, and are limited to Mercedes-Benz items. Space may be limited. Send your information to John Ledbury, and contact John or myself for details. Two last thoughts about the survey. First, the survey will remain open until April 30, so please take it if you haven’t already done so. You can take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TDJFXXT Second, if you were one of those who responded “no” to helping plan an event, remember that working on an event doesn’t mean a lot of work, and it’s a great way to get to know your fellow members better, and to get more out of your MBCA membership. If you live outside the Milwaukee metro area it’s also a good way to help us hold an event closer to your home. Remember, a board member is always willing to help you plan and stage your event!
Tell Us Your Story
Do you have a story to tell about how you got your beloved Mercedes? Did you travel across the continent to find the perfect Benz for you, or find it sitting a barn, awaiting a new home? Whether it happened last week or a decade ago, if you have an interesting story about “the journey,” how you acquired your favorite Mercedes-Benz, we want to publish it. Contact our newsletter liaison John Ledbury with your story.
Upcoming Events
Our next event is Saturday, April 28, the 13th Annual Spring Tech Session, hosted by Black Forest. Black Forest always does an outstanding job, and it’s late enough in the spring that you can take your baby out of storage for the drive to Glendale. The full calendar of upcoming events appears on page 5 of this newsletter. Note that we already have two events planned outside of the Milwaukee metro area: June 9th in Green Bay and August 25th in Waupaca. Other events are being planned as I write this. As much as we would like to have the full year’s calendar of events ready by the February/March issue, that’s not always possible as some places are closed in the winter, and some ideas don’t hatch until warm weather gets closer. That’s why I always close my remarks on upcoming events by saying…
If you have a suggestion for a Drive-to-Dine venue or an idea for an event, please contact myself or one of our other board members. We are always looking for feedback and opinions from our members.
Track Time for Your Mercedes?
Would anyone be interested in an event where you got to take your Mercedes out on a race track? Think Road America or Blackhawk Farms. If you have any interest in something like this please contact me
Bruce Hamilton