The Newsletter of the Southwest Florida Section, MBCA · alty Rewards Program, 15% discount on parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Discounts at Brooks Brothers, Sears, MedJet

Sunshine STAR - Southwest Florida Section MBCA January- February, 2013 1

The Newsletter of the Southwest Florida Section, MBCA No. 1 January/February 2013

Monthly Breakfast Meetings

Ft. Myers area... Mimi’s Café 2nd Saturday of most months. Next Meetings - January 12, February 9

� �� Naples area... Perkins on Pine Ridge 4th Saturday of most months. Next meetings - January 26, February 23

*(Ceramic mugs available from MBCA.org Store)

SWFL Section President Tom Harruff, shown here with Anne, his delightful wife and our Secretary, asked that our newsletter begin to

incorporate the MBCA style guidelines and standards, helping to give consistency among the many Sections, and nationally.

To that end, you will start to see colors, type font stan-dards, paid advertising and more. We hope you find the slightly tweaked Sunshine STAR as enjoyable as always. Your comments are welcomed, of course!

Breakfast Meeting at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers,

November 10, 2012

Mario Puente’s 1986 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth SWFL

Section at Mimi’s Breakfast, Ft. Myers, 10/13/2012

Peter and Sandy Blackford’s 1978 450SL and SWFL members, breakfast at Perkins in Naples, 11/24/12

Harruff says “Fiddle with it”

Inside This IssueInside This IssueInside This Issue:::

Breakfast Meetings 1

Officer Listing 2

President’s Column 2

Musical, 9 to 5 3

StarTech 2013 3

Ladies Tea at the Ritz 5

April M-B Car Show 5

MBCA Info 7

New & Renewing Members 7

2012 Holiday Party 8

Calendar of Events 10


Questions? Call your Section Officer at 239-591-8049, or our National Business Office at 1-800-637-2360 M-F 8am-5pm MT. Or visit www.mbca.org

President Tom Harruff’s Column January 2012

Greetings to all and welcome our new members, 2012 was a good year for our SWFL Section but 2013 will be even better!

Our Section membership currently stands at 293 members (as of 12-28-12). Our Section has had 62 new members so far in 2012. Please keep up the good work and renew your individual efforts to bring in a new member. If you are happy with your Section, our Section activities, and the benefits of Club mem-bership, you will be the best spokesman for recruiting new Club members. Membership applications are available at each Section event and by Email if you desire. 2013 brings about a number of changes including the format of our newsletter, The Sunshine STAR. Thanks to Section member Jerry Kinderman for all of his work in changing our newsletter. Our thanks to our advertisers who want to serve our members. We also want to thank Section member Peter Black-ford for working with MBCA to establish a SWFL Sec-tion Web Site at: www.southwestflorida.mbca.org. Check us out! Finally we also want to thank Section Member Mario Puente for establishing our very own Facebook Page. Log into Facebook and search for SW Florida Mer-cedes Benz to find our page. Like us and you will be notified of any updates. All of these things are new and are growing in content as we learn how to best utilize their capabilities for the benefit of our members. Volunteer yourself like these members have done to help improve our Sec-tion experience for all of our members. We have a list of six or seven proposed events that have been offered by various members at our break-fast meetings that we are trying to work into our schedule for 2013. We will keep this list as a running list of proposed future events that you want to have considered. We solicit your input to these changes as well as into our calendar of events. Most months we will have at least three events planned including our two break-fast meetings. Tom Harruff, President, SWFL Section MBCA

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:

President: Tom Harruff

239-591-8049 [email protected]

Vice President/Treasurer: Glen Sholl


Secretary: Anne Harruff


Membership Chair: Tom Harruff 239-591-8049 [email protected]

Section Directors:

The Officers Named Above, and Chet Young


Southeast Regional Director: Scott Suits


Sunshine STAR Publisher: Tom Harruff

1943 Empress Ct., Naples, FL 34110


Newsletter Editor: Jerry Kinderman


Webmaster: Peter Blackford


Facebook: Mario Puente

Southwest Florida Section MBCA Now On The Web!

http://southwestflorida.mbca.org/

And....

There are so many reasons to become a member of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. For a nominal member-ship fee of $49 a year (U.S.) or $59 a year (Canada and International countries), Club members receive an im-pressive return on their annual investment.

Some Member Benefits: The Star Magazine, Discounts on parts, service & ac-cessories at participating Mercedes-Benz dealers, Loy-alty Rewards Program, 15% discount on parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Discounts at Brooks Brothers, Sears, MedJet Assist, Forums and Interest groups on the MBCA website, and... this great newsletter from your own Section!

Call your Section Officer at 239-591-8049, or our National Business Office at 1-800-637-2360 M-F

8am-5pm MT. Or visit www.mbca.org

Sunshine STAR Newsletter design, Jerry Kinderman, 1/1/2013


WORKING 9 TO 5, WHAT A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING

SWFL VP Glen and Linda Sholl w/ guests

John and Bobbie Nack

Chet Young- Bob Heinrich and Guests

“Tumble outta bed, And stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition, Yawnin’, stretchin’, try to come to life . . . “. Music and lyrics by Dolly

Parton, a great cast and choreography, 9 to 5, the

Musical came to life at the Broadway Palm Dinner

Theater, Saturday evening, November 17th.

Thirty SWFL Section members and guests attended the final performance of the musical at this location. The included dinner was diner’s choice of served or buffet, either one a great option. Thanks to Tom and Loretta Starrett of Toucan Travel for arranging this event.

Tom and Anne Harruff and Friends Peter and Sandy Blackford and friends

DON’T MISS MBCA’s Next National Event — StarTech

® 2013. Join us in Birmingham, Alabama

May 18-22 for VIP tours of Mercedes-Benz US In-ternational — the only U.S. factory that produces every ML, GL and R class for the entire world. Meet and learn from nationally-known experts in the art of restoration, modification, maintenance & repair inside MBUSI’s on-site training center. Drive laps around Barber Motorsports’ 17-turn road course; tour the U.S. Space & Rocket Center; ex-

plore the rarely-seen restoration area inside Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum. Dozens of unique, non-tech events also scheduled. See the Novem-ber issue of The Star

® or contact Liz Roberson at

[email protected] or 205-822-8460.

The local Hilton number is 205-967-2700. The special Hilton MBCA web page shows the special rate for May 18-21 of $111.00 for the Standard room. The Hilton said that the same rate also should apply to Friday and Tuesday nights when you complete your reservation. ~

STARTECH® May 18 - 22, 2013



Southwest Florida Section, Mercedes-Benz Club of America

Annual Car Show for Mercedes-Benz Automobiles

Classic (1987 and prior) and Special Interest (Newer) M-B Automobiles

Show your favorite Mercedes at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Myers

15461 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL. Dealership phone number 1-800-493-3940

Saturday, April 6, 2013 - 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. - Lunch provided by Mercedes-Benz of Ft. Myers

All Section Members and their guests are invited to join us at the show whether or not you are showing a car. This is a chance meet other Section Members, see these Mercedes-Benz automobiles, and maybe meet someone with a Mercedes of the same model as yours. At last year’s show we had 20 classic and special interest Mercedes automobiles on display. Come, support your club, meet some new friends, have fun, and join us for lunch. You might win a trophy! It will also give you an opportunity to meet the sales and service staff at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Myers and to see the latest new models in their showroom and on the lot.

All registration fees shall be donated to charity (Salvation Army, American Red Cross, your choice)

Trophies in Multiple Award Categories: Best Looking Mercedes – Not Silver Best Looking Silver Mercedes Oldest Mercedes in the Show People’s Choice Award Drove Furthest to get to the Show Highest Mileage on the Odometer Dealership Choice Award Registration: Southwest Florida Section, MBCA, Annual Car Show at Mercedes-Benz of Ft Myers Saturday, April 6, 2013 – 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

All show registration fees will go to charity; Salvation Army or American Red Cross, your choice.

Name(s) of those attending: __________________________________________________________________________

Contact address and phone number: ___________________________________________________________________

Year(s) and Model(s) of Mercedes to be shown: __________________________________________________________

Pre-Registration fee before event @ $10.00 per car shown: ________Cars X $10.00 =___________

Contact: Tom Harruff, Home 239-591-8049, Cell 239-398-8578, Email: [email protected] Registration checks to be made out to: (Selected Charity) and mailed not later than April 2nd, to:

Tom Harruff, 1943 Empress Ct, Naples, FL, 34110 Show car registration the day of the show will be $20.00 per car

The Southwest Florida Section

Mercedes-Benz Club of America Proudly Announces a

SWFL Ladies of Mercedes Event – Tea Time at the Ritz

On Saturday February 16th, 2013 we invite you to an event at the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort, Naples, FL, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, for Afternoon Tea in their Lobby Lounge especially for the Ladies of our Section and their friends. The Afternoon Tea is an event that has been one of the traditions of the Ritz- Carlton Naples Beach Resort since they opened over 25 years ago. It is an event that is steeped in tradition, one that all will enjoy, and take with them as a treasured memory. The Lobby Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort in Naples will be the location of our Afternoon Tea at 2:30 - 4:30 Saturday February 16, 2013. Gentlemen are invited to attend with their Lady and will have lunch at the Ritz-Carlton’s Pool Side Cafe.

The cost for this event is: Afternoon Tea, Royal Classic - $56.70 including tax and service charge

To be charged to your credit card using the enclosed form -- bring the completed form to the Tea with you.

Complimentary Parking – Mention the Ladies of Mercedes Tea Please contact Anne Harruff at 239-591-8049 or by Email to [email protected] to confirm reservations as soon as possible so that we can confirm our date and numbers to attend the Afternoon Tea. Final date for receipt of Afternoon Tea reservations is February 6, 2013.



Welcome! New Members and Associates, to the Southwest Florida Section, MBCA

Larry Bock, Stephanie Borden, Guy and Joan Burgess, Chris and Ann-Marie Ciceri, William Flack, Joachim Kan-tenwein, Karen Maxwell, Michael Middelmann, Barbara Nolan, and Michael Thompson and Laura Abbate, David

Kasper, Stuart and Deborah McCulloch, Roger Borg, and Linda and Roy Higgens.

- and Thank You! to our 18 Renewed Members for your continuing MBCA membership. It is easier to keep a member than recruit a new member, especially if your Section leadership continues to respond to the members with events of interest.

We are now at 293 SWFL Section members as of 12/28/12, including 33 members with dual section memberships. Our Section is continuing to grow but You are our most important recruiter. Your positive experience with the MBCA and the SWFL Section makes you our front line membership recruiter. Help us in 2013 to further expand our Section by each of you recruiting an additional member. Let’s double our new member growth in 2013.

Contact a neighbor or a friend to join MBCA.

SWFL Section Members at the Naples Museum of Art

exhibit “Out Of This World” costume display 12/15/12

PERFECTION

You appreciate it in your automobile, that’s why

you drive a Mercedes-Benz.

We strive for it with every trip or vacation we

arrange for our clients.

Whether a cruise, tour, airline ticket, hotel or

car, we promise to provide the best service,

value, and price for you, our valued client.

TOUCAN TRAVEL

Trips, Ships, Tickets, & Tours

2825 Tamiami Trail

Suite B1

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

941-347-7119

Tom & Loretta Starrett, Owners and proud members of the

MBCA Southwest Florida Chapter!!

March 8-10, 2013

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida

The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach

Classified:

For Sale: 1978 Mercedes 450 SL Mint, 59,500 original miles, one owner family. Showroom condition, Interested parties please contact Dennis Kacy 239-649-8159 or 248-496-7097c


On Sunday, December 2nd, seventy nine Section members and guests attended our annual Holiday Party at the Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples. The food was excellent, the conversation stimulating, the decora-tions festive, and every couple went home with at least one gift. Mike Cozza, Service Director of Mer-cedes-Benz of Naples won the draw-ing for the SWFL Section provided gift basket. We heard lots of positive comments about the evening includ-ing the vocal entertainment by one of

our newest SWFL members, Stepha-nie Borden.

Tom and Loretta Starrett were named SWFL Section Members of the Year for their active SWFL Sec-tion participation this past year in planning and hosting the Car Show at Punta Gorda’s Oktoberfest and the Broadway Palms Dinner Theatre pro-duction of the musical 9 to 5. Con-gratulations to both Tom and Loretta Starrett and thank you for

your support of the SWFL Section.

The Southwest Florida Section Sun-shine Star newsletter is published on odd-numbered months. It is mailed electronically or via post to all members of the Section and appropriate mem-bers of other Sections and MBCA ex-ecutives.

All copy for inclusion should be re-ceived no later than the first of any even-numbered month.

Any technical tips, automotive experi-ences or interesting items relating to Mercedes-Benz are encouraged and welcome.

Members may advertise to buy or sell, free of charge, any personal Mercedes-Benz auto, part or accessory. All inser-tions in the Sunshine Star are the opin-ions and statements of the writers, ad-vertisers, etc., and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this Section or MBCA. Call concerning commercial advertising rates .

No authentication is given or implied as to the validity of any expressed opinion or statement.

SWFL SSWFL SSWFL SECTIONECTIONECTION 2012 H 2012 H 2012 HOLIDAYOLIDAYOLIDAY P P PARTYARTYARTY



Please update your Email addresses! Since the club and our Section use electronic communications and we are now sending electronic newsletters, please let the NBO know of

any changes to your email address to ensure up to date information with both the NBO and your section Newsletter editor. Email changes

to [email protected] or call 1-800-637-2360.

Calendar of Upcoming Events of Interest to Our Members

Southwest Florida Section, Mercedes-Benz Club of America

DATE EVENT CONTACT

Jan 12 SWFL Section Breakfast at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

Jan 26 SWFL Section Breakfast at Perkins Naples 239-591-8049

Feb 9 SWFL Section Breakfast at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

Feb 16 Cars on Fifth FCA-Naples

Feb 16 Ladies of Mercedes Afternoon Tea, Ritz Carlton Naples 239-591-8049

Feb 23 SWFL Section Breakfast at Perkins Naples 239-591-8049

Mar 9 SWFL Section Breakfast at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

Mar 16 AACA Naples Depot Show AACA Naples-Marco Island

April 6 Annual Mercedes-Benz Car Show, Mercedes-Benz, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

Mar 23 SWFL Section Breakfast at Perkins Naples 239-591-8049

Apr 13 SWFL Section Breakfast at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

Apr 27 SWFL Section Breakfast at Perkins Naples 239-591-8049

May 11 SWFL Section Breakfast at Mimi’s Café, Ft. Myers 239-591-8049

May 18-22 StarTech® Birmingham, AL 205-822-5460

Mike and Linda Cozza and Linda Sholl. The Cozzas won the annual gift basket at this year’s Holiday Party

MMMOREOREORE P P PICTURESICTURESICTURES FROMFROMFROM THETHETHE SWFL S SWFL S SWFL SECTIONECTIONECTION 2012 H 2012 H 2012 HOLIDAYOLIDAYOLIDAY P P PARTYARTYARTY


This form has been created for the members of The Mercedes Benz Club of America to allow you to have

a third party, The Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort charge Afternoon Tea to your credit card. Please pro-

vide all the information requested below to ensure prompt processing of your application.

We ask you to please sign and date the form before submission.

Please bring the completed form to The Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort on February 16, 2013.

Cardholder Information

Restaurant Charges

I certify that all information is complete and accurate. I hereby authorize THE RITZ-CARLTON,

NAPLES to collect payment for all charges as indicated in the Rate Information and Approved Charges

section of this form by processing a charge to the credit card listed above.

Charges must not exceed **$56.70 ** for Afternoon Tea.

I certify that I am the authorized signer of the credit card listed above.

Name as it appears on the credit card:

Card type: Visa

MC

Amex

Diners/CB

Discover

JCB

Account type: Individual (personal credit card)

Corporate Company Name:

Account number: Exp. date:

Address: (where statement is mailed)

City, State and Zip:

Phone number: Fax or alternate number:

Mercedes

Benz

Club

February 16

at

2:30 p.m.

Royal Classic

Tea

$45.00

Service

Charge

20%

Sales

Tax

6%

Total: $56.70

per person

Please call Laura Crawford at 239-598-3300 Ext 5767

to inform us of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Cardholder name: (Printed)

Cardholder signature: Date:

Documents

The Newsletter of the Southwest Florida Section, MBCA · alty Rewards Program, 15% discount on parts from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, Discounts at Brooks Brothers, Sears, MedJet