MMSCC Board of Directors Meeting August 28, 2025

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The meeting was brought to order by Vice President Bob McKay at 2:10pm in the upstairs conference room at OHTM. In attendance: John Freeman, Albert Aniel, Sam Surprise, Ed Schultz, Ed Avis, Sarah Rheault and George Silvestri. Absent: Silvio Calabi and Ian Marshall.

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Approval of Minutes

The first order of business was approval of the minutes from the BOD meeting on 7/24/2025. The minutes were unanimously approved.

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Quick recap

The meeting covered financial updates and membership status, including discussions about the Camden Car Show expenses and registration fees, as well as plans to increase dues and handle new memberships. The group discussed upcoming events including the Camden Car Show and parking, with volunteers assigned to judge and organize activities. Technical discussions focused on car maintenance topics, website analytics and potential partnerships with local businesses and how to promote them.

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Financial and Membership Updates

John Freeman reported on financial updates, membership status and the Camden Car Show expenses, noting an increase in police support costs but remaining within expectations. The club's available balance was $2,337, with anticipated offsets from registration fees. Membership increased to 209 paid members, with some applications lacking completed forms or payments. There was discussion about updating the website to reflect the upcoming increase in dues to $40 after January 1st, and the group discussed how to handle memberships and dues for new joiners, with a decision that current dues of $25 would apply to any new members this year and would for the remainder of 2025.

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Camden Car Show Planning Meeting

Ed Schultz reported on the upcoming Camden car show, which has 44 pre-registered attendees. Sarah offered to work at the registration table and Ed S will bring necessary equipment like name tags, and a bullhorn, supplied by Sam. John will bring table, placards, hi-vis vests, waivers and registration lists. The group decided to charge $10 for entry and potentially $20 for additional unreserved spaces if available. They also discussed the need for judges, with Albert and Ian volunteering. Ed Avis will bring a cooler with drinks and a flag for the event. The next event after Camden is the Owls Head Museum Foreign Car Show, 9/20.

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Website Updates for Non-Club Events

The group discussed creating a separate page for non-club events on the website. George suggested listing them on the regular Events Page with color coding or typeface changes to differentiate club and non-club events, possibly a reverse band of color separating it from sanctioned events. The group agreed to list a "Cars and Coffee" event at the Maine Classic Car Museum on September 13th, with George offering to set up the listing. The group also planned to send an email to members about upcoming events, including the Camden Car Show, the Maine Classic Car Museum and the Foreign Car Festival. The group discussed the need to balance email frequency to avoid overwhelming members, and mentioned working on a Leaf Peeper Event for October.

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Event Planning and Analytics Review

The meeting covered website analytics, event planning, and technical seminars. George reported a 13% decrease in web traffic but noted an increase in RSVPs. The group discussed upcoming events, including the Camden Show. They explored ideas for winter technical events, such as car-care presentations and insurance. Albert suggested partnering with local businesses like Squire Motors for these events. The conversation ended with a discussion about car insurance for classic vehicles and the challenges of obtaining proper coverage.

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Catalytic Converter Replacement and Tech Sessions

Bob discussed his experience with replacing a catalytic converter on his Mercedes, highlighting the challenges of shipping and welding the part. He mentioned that California, Colorado and Maine restrict the shipping of catalytic converters, and he had to go through multiple companies to get the correct part. Bob also proposed the idea of organizing tech sessions at the museum to engage members and provide educational content on car maintenance topics like carburetor tuning and brake adjustments. He suggested drafting a proposal for the museum to consider and potentially involving knowledgeable members to lead these sessions.

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Plug Replacement and Lift Safety

Bob discussed the differences between cold and race plugs, suggesting that John Shepherd or Philip Reinhart could host a program to demonstrate plug replacement. He also considered the safety and functionality of 2-post and 4-post car lifts, expressing concerns about the weight capacity and stability of different lift types. Bob also shared updates on his barn addition, mentioning that excavation work was in progress and concrete pouring was expected the following week.

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Tech Session Planning with MG Expert

Ed Schultz brought up the possibility of a tech session with John Twist, an expert on MGs, who charges $100 per person for his services. He suggested considering local resources for mechanics and car inspections, as well as hosting a session on how to inspect cars for purchase. Someone also mentioned attending the Owl’s Head auction where several nice cars were sold, including a Jaguar that went for $150,000.

Tech Session Planning Subcommittee

The group discussed organizing a tech session and agreed to form a subcommittee to plan and execute it. They considered contacting museums and experts for participation, with suggestions to compensate speakers through stipends or donations based on their potential business gain. The nonprofit status was briefly addressed, confirming plans to self-declare tax exemption and file taxes when due. The conversation ended with a plan to adjourn and a brief discussion about car storage.

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Next steps

•  Silvio to send an email to the membership after the Camden Car Show highlighting the event and upcoming non-club events .

•  George to update the website events page to clearly differentiate between club and non-club events using color coding or visual indicators.

•  Ed Schultz to work with Lucy Harrington to finalize the route for the leaf peeper drive in October.

•  Ed Schultz to contact Ports of Italy restaurant in Camden about accommodating the group after the leaf peeper drive.

•  Silvio to send over the updated membership information to George for updating the website regarding the $40 dues.

•  Sam to ask his insurance agent about finding a Hagerty representative who could give a presentation on classic car insurance.

•  Ed Avis or Albert to contact Squire Motors about potentially hosting a tech session on car detailing/maintenance.

•  John to follow up with members who paid dues but didn't fill out applications and those who applied without paying dues.

•  Ed Avis to bring the table, signs, and merchandise to the Camden Car Show.

•  There being no further business, Ed Schultz moved, Sam seconded the motion to adjourn. The motion was passed unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 3:25 pm.

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 Respectfully submitted,

 Sam Surprise

Secretary