Awesome Augusta

Plant Vogtle.  Friday afternoon we will have the opportunity to tour the Nuclear Power Plant Vogtle owned by Georgia Power and subsidiaries. Most of us have heard about plant Vogtle in the news. Once inside the Main Gate in the visitor center, we will first listen to a presentation about the site from the Site Communications Director.  Then we will be given a limited riding site tour inside vans provided by the utility, and finally (and hopefully) we will be able visit inside the training center (depending on work schedules) and see the control room simulators. This is a very-very secure site.  We need the name of each attendee by the cut off date, and a photo ID must be presented before entry.  The name on the photo ID must exactly match the name as presented for entry-no exceptions.   Also, NO FIREARMS are permitted onsite –personal or vehicle. There is no cost for this portion of the weekend but we will be limited to 32 people, so signup early.  We will meet at the Subway parking lot in the Goshen Village Shopping Center on the left side of Rt 56 just beyond the intersection with Tobacco Road approximately 2 1/2 miles south of I-520/Rt 56 intersection (NOTE: This intersection is located approximately 9 miles South of the I-20/I-520 intersection).  We will leave there at precisely 12:15PM. Come between 11:15 and 11:30 if you wish to eat at Subway.  Further driving instructions to Vogtle will be provided prior to departing Subway.

Champions Retreat Following our tour of Plant Vogtle we will caravan to The Champions Retreat  (Visit the web site for overview of the facility).  (If you are not going to Vogtle, please ask Al for directions).  This is a gated community and will require the names of attendees prior to entry.  We will have a buffet dinner with both beef and salmon. The cost for dinner will be $45 per person including tax and gratuity. Please note that Jeans are not allowed in the dining room and shirts with collars and sleeves are required (Bermuda shorts and golf shirts are fine). Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.  We will assemble for dinner at 6:30 PM.  For those who do not live close to Augusta and for those in the area that are looking for a night away from home, we will be able to stay at the Cottages or Bungalows at the retreat for only $148.60 per room including a continental breakfast for 2 with Danish, bagels, cereal, yogurt, juice and coffee. If desired the reservation could be made for 2 nights. For reservations at the Cottages or Bungalows, please call Jami VanSant Shingler at 706-854-6999 and reference the Mercedes Club Event. This is a busy time of the year and 16 Rooms will be held for us until April 26 so make your reservations early.

Golf For those who wish, Saturday tee times can be reserved at the only golf facility in the world designed by golf greats Jack Nickolas, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The prestigious 27-hole course layout is considered second in quality only to the Augusta National in the region. Please contact Al for more information about this opportunity. For couples where one prefers to play golf and one does not, we will help arrange some car pooling to the other activities.

Car Show and Lunch Saturday morning we will meet at Mercedes-Benz of Augusta. We will have a non judged car show. All Mercedes are welcomed, no matter what year, or condition. We believe all Mercedes are special so bring yours and lets share them with each other’s and with the Dealer’s customers. We will start parking our cars at 9AM and plan to have them all in place by 10AM. At 11:30 Mercedes-Benz of Augusta will treat us to lunch. There is no cost for this activity.

Museum and Trolley Tour Around 12:15 PM we will start to gather so that at precisely 12:30 we will begin our caravan to downtown Augusta You'll tour the Augusta Museum of History and explore Augusta's journey through time. You'll see fascinating exhibits such as Celebrating a Grand Tradition, the Sport of Golf, an exhibit dedicated to the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown and much more.  Then board the Lady Liberty trolley and explore Augusta's Historic Downtown. You will see historic homes, hear about the bones in the basement of the Medical College of Georgia, see where a President lived as a boy, get a glimpse of the Augusta Canal, and hear the legend of the famous Haunted Pillar! And that's not all!  The cost for the trolley tour is $10, and is limited to the first 20 reservations, so reserve your spot on the trolley early.  For those not taking the trolley tour other sites such as a cemetery in a church court yard with head stones dating back to the Revolutionary War era and the Savannah River walking tour are very close to the Museum.