Member-of-the-Year and Officer-of-the-Year Awards

Each year the NBO of the Mercedes Benz Club of America prepares two awards for presentation to key members in recognition of outstanding talent and contribution to the operation of their Region's / Section's Clubs. These members often devote many hours of their personal time for the benefit and enjoyment of all members, or the growth and maintenance of the Section, and their efforts are officially recognized by these awards. As of 2006, the MBCA is comprised of 86 sections assigned to 11 Regions each supported by a Regional Director.

Each Regional Director submits to the NBO the names of two individuals whose significant contributions throughout the year are worthy of recognition. Recognition is awarded by receipt of the Member-of-the-Year or Officer-of-the-Year award for their Section.

Member of the Year: The recipient of this award is chosen by the Section from amongst the Section Officers, Directors, or general membership. The member selected must be a current member of the Club and an individual who most deserves recognition for outstanding services rendered to the Section during the course of the year.

Officer of the Year: The recipient of this award is chosen by the Section from amongst its Officers, (i.e., President, Vice President, Secretar, or Treasurer), and is one who by his/her personality, enthusiasm and outstanding efforts has been instrumental in maintaining or increasing participation by the members of the Section.

We congratulate and thank the Members of the Northeast Region's Minuteman Section whose contributions earned them the coveted award of Member or Officer of the Year.

Section of the Year & Public Service Awards

Section of the Year Award is an annual award presented at StarFest, StarTech, or a National Board Meeting. Selection is based on growth, general improvement or maintenance of high standards of activities, meetings, Section managementand newsletters, and meeting the objectives and ideals of MBCA.

Public Service Award is designed to encourage sections to hold at least one charity event a year and to promote members' community involvement.

Mercedes-Benz Club of America Educational Foundation

A separte 501(c)3 organization, founded in 1997, is active with scholorships and archive development to preserve the history of the club and Mercedez-Benz, and to support and promote goodwill for the cars among enthusiasts and the public. The foundation's archive of technical and historic information includes material from members' libraries and memorabilia collections.

The foundation created the Nitske-King Award in November 2000, a scholarship to provide financial assistance for students attending McPherson College's two-year Auto Restoration Technology curriculum leading to an Associate in Technology degree. This program was the first of its kind in the United Sates and was initially funded by local Kansas entrepreneur Gaines H. Billue through the donation of his antique and classic car collection. In 1997, comedian and car enthusiast, Jay Leno (host of the Tonight Show) established the Fred J. Duesenberg Scholorship at the college to assist restoration students. Mr Leno is also a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast and works on projects with the Mercedes-Benz USA from time to time. In 2002, the Foundation established the Gene Vance Memorial Scholarship, named after MBCA enthusiast and club member who passed away in January 2002.

Governed by volunteer directors, initially the Foundation was funded with a $2 donation from each MBCA member in 1998 ($47,192). You can join the cause and help the Foundation reach its goals by becoming a Century Member through a commitment of a donation of $100 or more each year. You can contact the Foundation's 2006 board president, David Glass, Seattle Section, for more information.