Zone 12 News: HAPPY NEW YEAR! We made it through 2020!
Category : News
I hope you enjoyed a safe and healthy holiday season and are looking forward to a happy, healthy and hopeful 2021. With help from family and friends, and probably some random acts of kindness along the way, we all survived 2020. In PCA, there will be a lot to look forward to in 2021 – fun times; chances to give back to our communities; and simple opportunities to get back out there again.
Let’s start out right in 2021: Welcome Zone 12’s Newest Region – Gulfstream!
As a well-deserved Christmas gift, Zone 12 got a new Region! This is our 2nd new Region in the past few years (Thoroughbred began in 2015), giving us 11 Regions total.
Gulfstream was granted a PCA charter on December 21 and becomes the 146th Region in PCA. It was formed from the northern part of the Gold Coast Region, after more than a year of preparation and planning.
This will give us more opportunities to provide local support and activities for our members in this part of southeast Florida. The borders include Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach (from Boynton Beach and north) and St. Lucie counties.
If you live within these boundaries, you’ll soon be receiving a letter from the National PCA office, asking if you’d like to become a member of Gulfstream or remain in Gold Coast.
Thanks to all the Gulfstream board members who contributed their time and efforts, as well as those members of the Gold Coast board who supported and helped the new Region get started. Look forward to new Gulfstream events in 2021, including joint events between Gulfstream and Gold Coast as they start their planning for the new year.
If you have any questions about the new Region, please contact Gulfstream’s leadership.
Check out Gulfstream’s new website.
And they’re already planning to socialize, safely, with monthly Third Thursday Socials. The first Gulfstream event will be held in a few weeks.
January 21, starting at 5:30 pm:
Hilton Palm Beach Airport
150 Australian Ave
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
From I-95, exit at Southern Blvd, west
Contact Kyle Rathbun with any questions (561-602-2100)
Events Around the Zone; and National Event Registration Coming Up
In addition to getting a new Region in Zone 12, there are also a couple of big anniversaries next year:
Suncoast’s 60th
North Florida’s 50th
In the next few months, look for more details about celebrations being planned in each Region.
In a somewhat traditional fashion, Zone 12 will have a very busy first quarter, of course with ongoing health and safety protocols based on current conditions in the local areas. Our first big event will be the Rolex 24.
Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 29-31
As with almost everything else, the PCA car corral at the Rolex will be affected by COVID restrictions. There will be a PCA presence at Daytona, but it will be scaled back to minimize crowds.
There will not be the traditional large PCA Tent located in the Porsche Car Corral parking area, because we can’t provide our traditional hospitality (driver presentations, live feed TVs, seating, paddock tour raffles, etc.). The health and safety of our members is most important, and we’ll be abiding by all current safety guidelines.
We will have a smaller tent, so you can still easily spot the Corral! We’ll be there to welcome members just the same. Parking in the Porsche Car Corral is currently planned to proceed as usual (as always, it requires the Porsche Car Corral parking ticket purchased from Daytona International Speedway).
The Speedway has made some significant changes regarding the race weekend. You can learn more on the track’s Rolex information page.
In order to safely host fans in the venue and infield, new protocols and procedures will be in place, including limiting capacity in the infield to allow for social distancing. As a result, experiences will be modified in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. Also, the competitor garages and paddock will be closed to all spectators.
Because of the track’s restrictions for 2021, Daytona is allowing ticket holders to defer their tickets to be used at the 2022 race. If you’d like to postpone your tickets to 2022, please visit their site for full details.
To postpone your tickets to 2022 or get additional information, go to the Rolex Assistance page for information about all your options. You must let Daytona know by January 6.
All of this is subject to change and is dependent on guidelines set by Daytona International Speedway and local health authorities. As additional information becomes available, it will be posted on PCA’s site as well.
>>> WE NEED ROLEX VOLUNTEERS! <<<
If you KNOW you’ll definitely be attending Rolex and can easily get to the Corral (i.e., you’ll be parking in the infield, even if you won’t be parked in the corral), please help us out. While we will have limited hours at the tent, we still need a few Volunteers to help us Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Please email me if you can help at Rolex (caymancrazy2012@yahoo.com).
And the very next week … we need more Volunteers for the 48 Hours at Sebring (Feb 5-7)!
Volunteering is a great way to meet new PCA friends and learn about the various aspects of running an event. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
Please contact Paul Raben, Gold Coast volunteer chair, if you have any questions or need help registering (praben356@gmail.com).
Learn about various Volunteer positions at the 48.
Sign up here.
PCA’s Werks Reunion at Amelia Island, March 5, 2021
Werks is still on, but of course things can change as we get closer to the date. It’s held during the Amelia Island Concours weekend, so if the Amelia Concours organization cancels their event, then Werks will be cancelled.
Please check here for updated details about Werks.
Registration for Werks will open this Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 12:00 PM (EST).
Porsche owners interested in displaying their vehicles must register in one of two categories:
Porsche Corral — Display your cherished Porsche proudly alongside others in its model type. Corral participants are not considered in judged competition.
Porsche Judged Field — Compete against other owners to take home a Werks Reunion Award. Register early as this category sells out fast!
**please note that there is no spectator parking and all Porsche owners wishing to attend must register and park in the Porsche Corral.
Learn more about the Amelia Island Concours.
Parade and Treffen registrations
Parade 2021 will be in French Lick, IN, July 11-17. Registration for Phase 1 will open February 10. Check the Parade website for updates.
Spring Treffen will be in Scottsdale, AZ, May 5-9. Registration will open Wednesday, February 24, at 3 pm EST. Note that registration may get delayed due to COVID situation uncertainty. Keep checking the Treffen website for current info.
Zone 12’s Annual Zonefest – back in Melbourne in May (May 28-30, 2021)
Zonefest is Zone 12’s annual beginning-of-summer bash, usually held Memorial Day weekend in various parts of Florida. We had to put it off for 2020, but we’ll make up those plans in 2021.
Come join us for 2021’s party on the east coast, in Melbourne. Thanks to our host Region — Space Coast – this is going to be an incredible weekend.
Now, of course all this is dependent on the health and safety circumstances at the time, but the plans are currently moving forward to be able to have Zonefest in Melbourne in May.
Registration will be on ClubReg, and will open some time in the spring. Stay tuned for updates and keep checking the Zone 12 page.
Here are Some Easy Ways to Stay Engaged with PCA, all year round
ClubRegistration.net
Most of our events are listed on ClubRegistration.net. It’s easy to register on ClubReg, and then you can simply search for a Region to see what all is going on – all around PCA. Most of us are already on ClubReg, but if you’re new to PCA or haven’t attended many events in the past, please take the time to register now.
Most of our events do require registration now, so we can manage the number of attendees and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Attached you’ll find instructions for how to register. Thanks to Suncoast President Denise Remus for creating this helpful document!
Is your email address current on PCA.org? And is your co-member’s email included?
Make sure you keep your email address updated, so you continue to receive emails from your Region, Zone and the National office. And if you have a co-member, make sure their email address is also in your profile, otherwise they will not receive any communications from PCA. Just sign into your account on PCA.org to make any updates, or call the National office for help: 410-381-0911
Also, the PCA website (PCA.org) will be getting a facelift this year. The new website will be rolling out some time soon, with easier ways to learn about what’s happening and how you can stay involved.
Ending the year on a high note … let’s celebrate Good Works Around the Zone!
During the holiday season – and all year through – our Regions gave back to their communities, especially during this extraordinary time of need.
We all know about the larger charities, but if you know of any organizations in your area that are helping people in need, please bring it to the attention of your Region leadership. As I am well aware (and often hear from others), most of us in PCA have been blessed – we get the opportunity to play with our “toys,” that are usually only dreams for most people. By giving back to our communities through worthwhile organizations, we can share our skills, efforts and blessings – providing a more personal experience that not only uplifts the recipient but the giver as well.
As the incoming President of Gold Coast, Peter Oliviere, said about their recent events: “These events were more than just the ‘numbers;’ our members got the opportunity to deliver relief to those in need in a very personal way. The feeling of helping others you get when looking into the eyes of the person you assisted, goes far beyond what you get by delivering a check to an intermediary.”
Here are just a few examples of our Regions’ recent good works. And there are plans for many more opportunities to help in 2021.
North Florida Region
In December, North Florida’s western group (Emerald Coast Area) held a charity drive and donated $2,365 to Feeding the Gulf Coast, the food bank that serves the 5 most western counties in the North Florida Region (in the FL Panhandle). They had 8 cars and 14 members take part in the drive to “Feed the Gulf Coast” and help with the presentation of their donation. Afterwards, they enjoyed a backroads drive through the Blackwater State Forest to Bear Lake for a socially distanced picnic on a warm, but slightly cloudy day. It was a fun and worthwhile event that benefitted many people in need.
In January, North Florida’s eastern group (Canopy Roads Area) will have their event to benefit Second Harvest of the Big Bend. At the moment, it’s scheduled for Saturday, January 23, and will be a luncheon and donation event at FSU’s University Center, overlooking the Seminoles’ football field. NFL will be sending updates to members as the time gets near, but if you’re interested in attending and donating, please email Shirley Kerns at shirley@penningtonlaw.com.
Gold Coast Region
In November, the Gold Coast Region had several Volunteers help during a food distribution effort, and the Region provided 500 turkeys to families in need in the Fort Lauderdale area (at a cost of $7,500). Another 250 families received gift cards after the turkeys were given out. Volunteers helped to control the lines of cars; sort food; load car trunks with the food; and a million other jobs that needed to be attended to in order for the event to be a success.
In December, the Region pitched in to help families in the Plantation area, who received more than $4,000 in food gift cards. It was not difficult to partner with Plantation Methodist Church, along with the City of Plantation, and American Heritage High School, to distribute 500 Christmas food baskets to the people in need in Plantation. This was a smaller effort than in November, but it was supported by more than $4,000 in food gift cards supplied by Gold Coast that went into the baskets. Once again, club members rose to the occasion, volunteering for traffic control and manning the food line.
Despite the hindrances created by COVID 19, the club was able to assist more than 1,000 families in the Ft Lauderdale and Plantation areas, who have been adversely affected by this dreadful virus.
Everglades Region
The Everglades Region continues to make a big difference in SW Florida communities, by celebrating the club’s 4th Porsche & Friends Parade to The Golisano Children’s Hospital on December 5th. They delivered a trailer full of toys to the children and raised more than $200,000 in 20 minutes at the hospital’s doorstep, helping to get closer to bringing a robotic neurosurgery machine to Golisano (full cost is $675,000). Currently, children in need of neurosurgery have to be flown at least 2 hours away for care, and their families have to be away from home as well.
Valerie Petracco, Board member and event organizer reiterated “even though this year’s holiday celebration looked a little different, we were still able to keep our annual tradition alive in a safe way for the precious patients, their families and the hospital staff. This was the only event the hospital had hosted on their campus all year, and C-19 best practices were implemented for all to see. Even custom masks with Everglades logo and Golisano logo were made for all participants.”
Santa led the 150-car, police-escorted parade, riding on top of a fire truck to deliver the cargo of presents that filled the Porsche of Ft. Myers car transport trailer. With the help of the Lee County SWAT team and the Iona McGregor Fire Dept, Santa’s elves repelled down the sides of the 8-story hospital, saying hello to children, their families and staff through the windows as they passed by. Santa was also able to hitch a ride up to the windows, where he was able to visit with the children, with a little help from the fire department’s hook & ladder bucket.
Sonnenschein Region
Sonnenschein Region enjoyed a Toys for Tot’s tour to Fairhope, AL, in early December. One of the extra challenges in 2020 was not being able to gather or hold events at hospitals, especially in smaller cities or rural areas. But one of Sonnenschein’s members is in the Fairhope Rotary Club, and they offered to accept the toys. There were two tours that Sonnenschein members could join, one from Pensacola and another starting at the newly remodeled Porsche Mobile.
More than 20 cars in the two groups joined together for a Police escort thru downtown Fairhope, AL, to the toy drop-off at the Rotary Club.
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred also held a Toys for Tots drive and dine in December, including more than 20 cars and lots of club engagement.
Connie Taylor did a great job purchasing about $1,000 of toys – flooding her dining room with the bounty. She organized to have the toys transported in Macans, and the club also presented a $1,500 check. This event also provided publicity to help draw attention to the extra need for donations at this time. The participants enjoyed a nice drive through Marion County Horse Country, with a planned lunch to finish the trip.
See what’s going on at all our Regions: Zone 12 Regions
And as we begin a much-needed new year …
Thanks to all of our Regions’ leadership and teams of Volunteers for keeping us going through 2020. All of our Regions did a great job keeping us engaged and informed, and most importantly safe during this unprecedented year for us all. As we enter into a hopeful new year, we’ll continue our trend toward getting back to normal, while also helping those who are still in need.
We’ve all had to deal with various levels of stress, unique challenges, isolation, uncertainty, and health issues, and hopefully we’ve all come through it just fine. But on a personal note, as we end this challenging year and look forward to new beginnings, I just want to thank my precious husband Mike for all his help and support of my Zone Rep duties, always.
Wishing you health and happiness, well into the new year and beyond!
Lisa Lewis Koller
Zone 12 Rep
