MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Board Meeting Agenda – November 6, 2009
St. Louis, MO

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• Business plan implementation in progress
• Fund raising plan implementation in progress
• Donor recognition; donors were contacted and thanked for their generosity
• Board member search; 3-4 additional board members are being sought and the focus is on individuals with corporate experience and/or foundation fund raising experience

TREASURER’S REPORT
Doug Dees, Treasurer

• Financial report and statement balance; current account balance is $86,952
• Donations; $3,229 in donations and interest (Jan. – Sept. 2009)

DISCUSSION ITEMS

• Auto Restoration Funding Request: CT/West Chester Section – Werner to investigate the request, the budget for the project and the ability of the local section to provide technical support for the project. Werner to report back to the EF board by end of November.
• Discussion with new MBCA Executive Director concerning the Star back issues and the MBCA 50th Anniversary books; Joe Wozney to discuss with Doug Truitt
• MBCA Educational Foundation elections for new officers: tentative date for the next election prior to February 1, 2010.
• Doug Truitt has filed the paperwork with the state of Colorado to become the registered agent of the EF to replace the outgoing agent.
• Driver’s education initiatives and the Street Survival
  - Program challenges with respect to facilities, manpower and insurance
  - Involvement of other trainers currently in the business
• Fund raising – outsourcing firms
• Discuss resources
• Member contact: Pacific Gas & Electric Company sponsors an annual “Campaign for the Community” which allows employees to donate to 501(c)3 organizations through payroll deduction. Information was provided to include the EF as a possible charitable organization.
• Proxy provision: approved by Member in May 2009 and incorporated into current EF bylaws
• Member approved the maximum number of EF board members up to eleven (11)
• Administrative support and office operations
• MBCA membership application: we understand the MBCA is including our requested updates for the next printing. Copy of our proposed revisions sent to the NBO.
• PR and marketing
• Re-address the advertisement in the Star magazine as well as classified ads, which have been submitted for the next issue.
• Next EF meeting to be determined once additional board candidates have been identified (within 60-90 days)

Legendary Motor Sports Photographer Receives Mercedes-Benz Star Driver Award as the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance Celebrates 75th Anniversary of the Silver Arrows

Montvale, NJ – Mercedes-Benz celebrates the accomplishments of renowned motorsports photographer, Jesse Alexander, by honoring him as the “Star Driver” at this year’s Pebble Beach Gala on Friday, August 14, 2009.

Alexander’s career behind the lens of a camera began in the early 1950s with the birth of the sports car movement in the United States at tracks in Pebble Beach and Palm Springs. His work is an important part of history, documenting motorsports and its legends like Phil Hill during an era of renegade adventures, dangerous courses, and technological breakthroughs, which many car enthusiasts never experienced.

As a young man, Alexander followed an intimate group of fearless racecar drivers from the Grand Prix of Europe to the famous Mille Miglia, capturing their heroic wins and narrow defeats. While in France in July 1954, Alexander was in Reims shooting the French Grand Prix and documenting the debut of the victorious Mercedes-Benz W 196 R, in the hands of Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and Hans Herrmann.

“Jesse’s images remain some of the most memorable in Mercedes-Benz racing heritage and his dedication to documenting motorsports legends in an era that most of us didn’t witness is invaluable,” said Mike Kunz, manager of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California. “It is Mercedes-Benz honor to recognize Jesse’s work and Pebble Beach is the perfect setting along with our celebration of 75th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows.”

Mercedes-Benz will feature several original Silver Arrow vehicles including the W 25 from the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart at its Star Lounge on the 3rd fairway during the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance weekend August 13-16, 2009.

Alexander is the fifth individual to receive the Star Driver designation, joining the ranks of notable icons Sir Stirling Moss, John Fitch, Jochen Mass and Denise McCluggage. The Star Driver award recognizes individuals who have made great contributions to motorsports and the automobile industry.

More information on Jesse Alexander can be found at www.jessealexander.com.

In May, Mercedes-Benz Cars delivered 97,300 Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach brand vehicles (May 2008: 111,100) to customers worldwide (minus 12 percent). The Mercedes-Benz brand sold 86,300 passenger vehicles worldwide (minus 12 percent) in May (May 2008: 98,100 units). Despite the fact that many markets are still in a difficult situation, Mercedes-Benz succeeded in markedly improving sales compared to the previous month (April 2009: 80,700). Factors that contributed to this improvement included the successful

market launch of the new E-Class and the positive sales development in Germany and the Asia-Pacific region.

In Germany, Mercedes-Benz sold 25,600 vehicles in May (May 2008: 23,100) and increased sales by 11 percent. In addition to the boost from the new E-Class, the A- and B-Class also contributed to the growth in sales. Around 5,300 customers bought an A-Class vehicle in Germany in May (May 2008: 3,400), representing an increase of 54 percent. Deliveries of B-Class vehicles rose by 27 percent to 3,900 units (May 2008: 3,000). Sales in the A- and B-Class segment totaled 18,900 units worldwide, remaining largely unchanged from the same month last year (May 2008: 19,000). The smart fortwo posted a sales increase of 26 percent in Germany with 3,200 units sold in May (May 2008: 2,600). Since the beginning of the year, customers have bought 50,100 units of the innovative two-seater worldwide (January-May 2008: 55,500, minus 10 percent). The smart fortwo is now in the third year of its lifecycle. Mercedes-Benz in May was able to gain market shares in key Western European markets, such as Spain, France and the UK.

“The new E-Class has met with an outstanding customer response,” says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. “We expect sales to receive a further boost in the coming months from the introduction of the new E-Class to other important markets such as China and the U.S., as well as from the launch of the new E-Class coupe and the face lifted S-Class.” As was the case in April, the first month after the vehicle’s launch, the new E-Class was once again the market leader in Germany in May. “The new S 400 HYBRID has also gotten off to a great start,” says Maier. “In fact, around 15 percent of S-Class customers have opted for the hybrid version even before it officially hits showrooms on June 26.” In May, the S-Class was once again the world’s best-selling luxury sedan.

In China, Mercedes-Benz posted another sales record in May. At 5,200 units (May 2008: 3,300), vehicle sales were up by 59 percent. As a result, Mercedes-Benz continues to grow fastest. In Brazil, sales of Mercedes-Benz have risen by 39 percent since the beginning of the year, to 1,900 units (January–May 2008: 1,300). Mercedes-Benz continues to surge ahead in Canada as well. In the first five months of the year, the brand posted record sales of 9,400 units (January-May 2008: 8,100), representing an increase of 17 percent.

MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Board Meeting Agenda – March 30, 2009
Herndon, Virginia

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• Business plan implementation
• Fund raising plan implementation
• Donor recognition
• Board member search

TREASURER’S REPORT

• Financial report and statement balance
• Investment account
• Donations
• Sale of Star magazines (back issues)
• NBO sales of the EF purchased 50th anniversary books

DISCUSSION ITEMS

• Driver’s education initiatives
• Street Survival: program involvement to date
• Training of instructors
• Fund raising – outsourcing firms
• Discuss resources
• Member contact: Pacific Gas & Electric Company sponsors an annual “Campaign for the Community” which allows employees to donate to 501(c)3 organizations through payroll deduction. Information was provided to include the EF as a possible charitable organization.
• Proxy provision: draft prepared for Member approval
• Administrative support and office operations
• MBCA EF brochures: the board has determined not to replace or produce printed brochures.
• MBCA membership application: we understand the MBCA is including our requested updates for the next printing. Copy of our proposed revisions sent to the NBO.
• PR and marketing
• Advertisement in the Star magazine as well as classified ads, which have been submitted for the July/Aug. issue.
• Proposal for potential funding from FIA Motor Sport Safety Dev. fund. Proposal to the EF board prior to our next meeting.

A full board report will be presented in Indianapolis on April 30, 2009, in conjunction with the MBCA national board meeting.

Presenting the check to EF board member and Regional Director, Werner Fehlauer, is Lou Granato, Treasurer of the South Jersey Section.

The MBCA Educational Foundation would like to express our appreciation for this fabulous donation from the MBCA South Jersey Section and the Tri-O-Rama participants & sponsors.

As you know the MBCA Educational Foundation is working with the Tire Rack Street Survival.  Tire Rack Street Survival has been nominated for consideration for the American Express Members Project!

Whether a cardmember or not, everyone is invited to participate by commenting on and nominating their favorite projects online.  You can help Street Survival secure much needed funding by spending just one painless minute at the Members Project website.

If we get enough support we could qualify for funding – the top project will receive $1.5 million, the second place project will receive $500,000, the third place project will receive $300,000 and two additional projects in the Top Five will receive $100,000 in funding.

Once the submission phase closes on August 19, American Express will work with an Advisory Panel of experts to review the projects and announce the Top 25 submissions on September 9. It’s up to Cardmembers to ultimately choose which projects American Express will fund. Cardmembers can make a collective difference by casting their vote, showing their support for their favorite projects, and narrowing down to the Top Five projects starting September 30.

The winning projects will be those with the most Cardmember votes, announced October 14.    

This is the first round –please take action now and nominate Street Survival. You do not need to be an AmEx cardmember to nominate the project, but you will need to be one to vote should Street Survival make it to the top 25:

http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/GN1G22

Chuck Landenberger has published additional information on the MBCA Forum. The vehicle information can be viewed at eBay here: MBCA Education Foundation Automobile Auction (eBay Item #270251637883).

Again, all proceeds benefit the Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation – good luck!

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group.

Ask any parent who has just added a kid to the family’s insurance policy and they’ll tell you how expensive it is to have a teen behind the wheel. But the overall cost of teen driving is as tragic as it is staggering. According to a recent report from AAA, car accidents involving drivers 15 to 17 cost society more than $34 billion in medical expenses, property damage and related costs in 2006.

This massive figure includes $9.8 billion related to fatal crashes, and double that amount ($20.5 billion), connected with non-fatal crashes, while property damage losses made up the remaining $4.1 billion. But there are, of course, more heartbreaking and incalculable losses behind these numbers….

According to an analysis conducted for AAA, in 2006 drivers ages 15 to 17 were involved in approximately 974,000 crashes that injured 406,427 people and killed 2,541.

The rest of the MSN article can be found here, The Staggering Cost of Teen Driving.

Now that you are aware of the problem, are you ready to do something about it? The MBCA Educational Foundation is involved with the Tire Rack Street Survival program; a successful program designed to save lives – teen lives – through driving education. Get involved – save a life. Contact us here and we’ll help you get involved.

If you would prefer to make a financial contribution, that’s available also. Please use the donation button in the right sidebar, which will process your financial contribution to MBCA Educational Foundation (any amount, takes less than 5-minutes). However you may get involved, your contribution is appreciated.

I am Vice President of the MBCA Educational Foundation and have recently been named chair for the Teen Driving Program for the Educational Foundation. Teenage traffic fatalities are at an all time high in our neighborhoods and across our country. Teens are not bad drivers; they just need more experience behind the wheel to know what to do when an unsafe situation occurs. That is exactly what BMW CCA Foundation’s Street Survival Schools do for teens.

Street Survival School is a one day classroom and hands-on course sponsored by Tire Rack that creates a group of exercises that replicate adverse conditions and circumstances encountered in daily driving. Street Survival provides students a safe environment in which to learn and practice proper responses.

MBCA’s Educational Foundation has partnered with BMW CCA and SCCA and will be offering our help with the Street Survival Schools across the United States. MBCAEF would like to invite you to get involved. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL. Help will be needed in registration, tech inspection, picking up cones and instructing students. MBCA members and others interested in volunteering his or her time at any of the following schools, please contact Mary Alice Cozza or call 330-222-1106.

Please share this information and encourage others to help save a life. Thank you.

APRIL

• Jupiter, FL. 4/19
• South Bend, IN. 4/19
• Dallas, TX 4/19
• Milford, Oh 4/19
• Daytona, Fl 4/19
• Gypsum, Co 4/26
• Knoxville, TN 4/26

MAY

• Champaign, IL. 5/3 or 10
• Madison, IL. 5/10
• Independence, MO. 5/10
• Loudon, NH. 5/11
• Aurora, CO. 5/17
• Wilkesboro, NC. 5/17
• Richmond,VA 5/31

JUNE

• Loudon, NH 6/21
• South Bend, IN 6/21
• Zionsville, IN 6/21
• Topeka, KS 6/28

JULY

• North Charleston, SC. 7/12
• Rosemount, MN. 7/19
• South Bend, IN. 7/19

AUGUST

• Lexington, KY 8/3
• Jupiter, FL 8/9
• Waterloo, IA 8/9
• South Bend, IN 8/16

SEPTEMBER

• Norfolk, VA. ?
• St. Louis, MO. ?
• Aurora, CO. 9/6
• Fresno, CA. 9/6
• Louisville, KY. 9/14 & 9/15
• Rosemount, MN. 9/20
• Loudon, NH. 9/21

OCTOBER

• Reno, NV 10/4 & 10/5
• Dallas, TX 10/4

Schools have been held at the following locations during 2007; however, not all schools for the list below have been confirmed for 2008:

• Simsbury, CT
• Ft. Wayne, IN
• Dulles, VA
• Watkins Glenn, NY
• San Francisco, CA
• Sykesville, MD
• Plymouth, MI. Runnels, IA
• Puunene, HI. Holmdel, NJ
• West Allis, WI. Milford, OH
• Rochester, NY. Denver, CO
• Edison, NJ. Houston, TX
• Blue Bell, PA. Ridley Park, PA
• Lawrenceville, GA. Chattanooga, TN
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Uniondale, NY

Thank you for your support,
Mary Alice Cozza
V.P. MBCAEF