A beef about my MBCA Chapter... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 10-25-2003, 01:24 PM

The Greater Washington (DC) section, to be exact.

No "monthly" newsletter since August...and there was an event posted on their website for today with no details...it was one of the rare things that might have appealed to a broad audience.

Belong to several old car clubs, and all do a better job...and NONE have the resources of this Chapter...maybe 1,000 paying members, and 40 new members average each month!

The ad hoc gatherings whipped up on this board do more for me than the local chapter of MBCA does. Have also met more DC area MBers thru this board than through the club.

Oh, and I did volunteer to help out...never heard back.

boomboomman · #2 10-28-2003, 08:44 AM

As one of the Social Chairs for the Greater Washington Section - let me tell you that everyone on the board of this section works very hard to give members a great MB experience.

We hold a wide variety of events throughout the year - Sometimes we do not get them announced really far enough in advance - but always in enought time that members are able to attend them, and they do attend them! We announce everything we do through the newsletter the Tri-Star, an on-line newsletter, and I try to get them on what ever online events fourms there are out there. Sorry that you have missed finding out about them.

Here is a listing of the events GWS has held this year:
Holiday Brunch - in January
Monthly Auto Cross events starting in March through November
Summit Point Driver's Ed in March
Concours Detail Class from Maguires in March
Concours Judging Class with Pete Lessler in April.
Combined Concours with BMW & Porsche in May.
Defensive Driving - MB only Auto Cross in June.
Tech Session at Dent Wizzard in June.
Dine and Drive in June.
Mid-Atlantic Concours & GWS Summer Picnic in July.
Tech Session at ASC in August
Tri-O-Rama in September
MBUSA PrepCenter Tour in October
GWS Annual Members Meeting in October
White Post Tour in October

Here is what we are working on for November
11/2 the last AX in Winchester VA
11/15 Tour of Potomac German Auto - the MB Only Recycling Yard
12/7 New Members Reception at MB of ALX - and chance to talk MB's over some special vintage models
1/11 Holiday Brunch - Brookeville MD
2/28 Tour of Wagonworks Collision in Alexandria VA

This Sept we held a 4 day National Event - Tri-O-Rama - which brought in over 100 members from all over the eastern part of the country. This was no small feat! Since that took up much of our time - of which everyone on the section level is a volunteer - the Tri-Star Newsletter has been held up - but it should be on the street in the next week or so. - I know I miss it too! - I always get multiple copies to hand out to every MB driver I come across!

Sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the section, but I know there are plenty of folks that are quite happy with all that we do. But thanks for the opportunity to post our many GWS events online. It is nice to remember how many we had - and how much fun we had at them.

IF you would like to talk in person about your concerns with the section, you are welcome to contact me in person - my phone number is on the GWS website.

#3 10-28-2003, 09:04 AM

make plans...the last "monthly" newswletter from GWS was in AUGUST. Had a chance to go to the White Post tour at the last minute...even a "new" Benz to drive...but there were no details on the site as to time, cost, itinerary, or other details. The contact phone numbers rang at empty houses.

A print newsletter is at least portable...and was part of the deal we signed up for. If I have to go where my computer is to check out events, I can miss those events entirely.

Look forward to a couple of the events you've mentioned, but this is the first I've read about them.

Still think the BEST GWS event I attended was an informal swap meet the first year...people showed up with stuff from their garages...some just brought cars and schmoozed on a nice Sunday morning. Low key, pleasant.

BTW...best recent MB event was set up thru THIS forum...a get-together for diesels at a Virginia part...it was great...cost nothin'

boomboomman · #4 10-28-2003, 09:21 AM

Sorry you missed the White Post Tour, It had been on the books for over 4 months!

I had people sign up for it back in May - when it was first hinted about on the website.

We had over 80 MBCA members attend from as far away as Southern Virginia and New Jersey. Most were signed up by mid September, but we had a number sign up at the last moment - some just came and got on one of the two tours. It was a great fall day for a drive in the country - and even better with a tour from Billy Thompson, Mr. White Post himself!

And as a diesel driver - we had about 5 of them in the lot for the morning tour!

Sorry you did not leave a message for me - on the day of the event I had all calls fowarded to my cell phone so I would not miss anyone - but with poor cell reception in the country - looks like I did.

Keep an eye on both the newsletter and the website for the upcoming events - they will be good. Send an e-mail to Janet Mcfarland - listed on the GWS website under about - and board members to get on the E-mail newsletter. - She sends out a list of events via e-mail.

We are working on having a Salon for talking about cars every quarter or so next year. Because many members - like yourself said they just want to get together and talk cars, without any orgainzed activity involved.

Wes Bender · #5 10-28-2003, 09:39 AM

Jim B+ and Boomboomman -

Looks like you are on track to correcting communications glitches that may have caused a little discomfort. I wish we had the number of events out here that are available back there.

I'm no longer a member of MBCA, mainly because I got tired of reading about all the political fighting going on between various factions. Our local chapter wasn't very active, but they did try to go somewhere nearly every month. I was mainly a member of MBCA for technical information. When I found this forum and all of the information available (no to mention the great atmosphere on the diesel discussion part) I no longer had any reason to belong to MBCA.

That doesn't mean that I would not rejoin at some point in the future. It just wasn't best for me at the time.

just my $0.02,

Wes Bender

rickg · #6 10-28-2003, 10:36 AM

Glad to hear these pro and con reports on MBCA. I've been trying to decided if I want to join the group out here in Seattle. maybe I'll give 'em a try. I used to belong to a Mopar club about ten years ago, and really enjoyed it, aside form the usual arguements that would always come up at meetings

#7 10-28-2003, 10:44 AM

for local chapter come out of national dues...nothing extra to pay.

need2speed · #8 10-28-2003, 03:33 PM

I have some sympathy for Jim B+ not knowing what his MBCA chapter is up to. My local chapter had a "club within a club" of long-time volunteers who used knowledge as power.

The success of a chapter should be measured by how easy it is to participate, and not view participation as the reward for a connected few.

On the national level, I'm still PO'd that MBCA doesn't allow Canadian's to win in the car raffle but still solicits Canadian members to buy tickets!