100 K Give-A-Way

The Grande Prairie Auto Group held true to their word on June 1, 2011 as they awarded 6 lucky people (Carol Pedersen, Cindy Purves, Karen Saxberg, Darilyn Supernault, Carol Rycroft , Debbie Rychard) $15,000 each, that combined with the $10,000 given out to the early bird winners (Jessica Klymchuk, Jennifer Hoban, Terry Drover, Megan Mayer, Tara Brown) throughout the contest, made up a grand total of $100,000 given to the good people of the Peace Region!

Internet contests are rapidly growing with the social media craze and the way of this generation. Long gone are the hand written entry forms that you used to fill out at all the home shows, hopeful to be the winner of a grand prize only to find out that you won a sales consultation for the newest time share.   With new sites popping up by the minute on your computer screen spouting the encouraging words that you just won an i-pad, “click here to claim your prize”, only to be let down when the reality of the misleading pop up becomes all too true after you click your mouse so fast you sprain your finger; yes you were just duped by the too good to be true promise. How can a person know what contests are legitimate and which ones are just chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Rest assured, when the Grande Prairie Auto Group is behind the contest you can count on real prizes and real winners!

I know there was a lot of apprehension and scepticism about the 100k give-a-way, I suspect mostly because there has never been a  contest of such magnitude in the Peace Region. As early bird winners were drawn and posted on facebook and the mass population could witness the reality of the contest , the viral effect of social media too hold and entrants as far as way Toronto, Nova Scotia, PEI, Vancouver and yes even entries from the United States, (even though the rules clearly stated this was only open to Canadian residents), began to pour in.

The 100 K Give-A-Way has been a whirl win yearlong campaign that launched back in April 2010,  and was designed to bring brand recognition to the Grande Prairie Auto Group, which is made up of Grande Prairie Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Grande Prairie Nissan, Grande Prairie Hyundai, Grande Prairie Subaru, and Grande Prairie Mitsubishi, successfully , I believe this was accomplished.

Due to the popularity and triumph of the contest the Grande Prairie Auto Group has committed to yet another give-a-way unlike any other. I am going to put one lucky winner in the driver’s seat of a Limited Edition Dodge Challenger. Details, contest rules and the on-line entry form will be available early this summer.  The giving is not going to stop at www.gpautogroup.com or www.gpautogroup.ca, yes the radio is correct we own both!

Until next time,

Corey

Lord Stanley, It Is Time To Come Home

Spring is finally here…well at least that is what the calendar is showing. It has been a long winter, but the final melt of 2011 brings the start of the road to the Stanley Cup coming home to Canada, or Vancouver to be more specific.

C’mon hockey fans are you all cheering on the Vancouver Canucks or are you just band wagon jumpers, who lose hope at the first sign of tired players or a bad play? I am holding on to the fact that this is the year the Canucks will bring home the cup.  

Favored to win the “Nucks” have history and stats that you can’t argue on their side. Did you know that history has shown the last six times the current President Trophy winners played and defeated the previous Stanley Cup champions, that team went on to be the current winners of Stanley Cup? It just so happens that this year’s President Trophy winners (a.k.a. the Vancouver Canucks) did defeat last year’s Stanley Cup winners (a.k.a. Chicago Blackhawks)! Need I say more?

No need to answer… I do have more to share…

The Vancouver Canucks have appeared in the Stanley Cup finals only twice in the team’s history, losing to the islanders in 1982 and the Rangers in 1994. Ironically and to the advantage of the Canucks both the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers are out of the running.  With nothing left standing in their way except an expansion team from Tennessee and the Eastern Conference winners, Vancouver, by all rights, has the ingredients and leadership to end the 2011 season triumphantly! 

It is time to get behind our Canadian team and the ride the band wagon all the way to victory. Lord Stanley it is time for you to come home to Canada where you belong.

Wishing the Vancouver Canucks “all the goals”

Corey

The Grande Prairie Auto Group Legacy Foundation

Working for the Grande Prairie Auto Group has afforded me many opportunities to give back to the community and people that support our group of dealerships.  Giving away $ 100,000 in prizes is a very exciting and public way that the GP Auto Group has been able to give back to some of our clients.  As thrilling as it is to give away $ 100,000 the biggest smile for me comes from the quiet behind the scenes money that go to the charities in the Peace Region that need it most, putting it to use by making a true difference in the lives of good people of the Grande Prairie region.  

Recently, the GP Auto Group partnered with the Grande Prairie Community Foundation and started the Grande Prairie Auto Group Legacy Foundation.  This Foundation will leave a lasting legacy offering continued support of registered charities in our area for future generations. 

The Community Foundation of Greater Grande Prairie celebrated their 15^th anniversary on January 10, 2011.  The Community Foundation has earned a reputation throughout the region as a trusted, reliable source for identifying and funding community initiatives that will strengthen our district over the long term. By understanding the philanthropic wishes of donors and working with successful, committed agencies, the Foundation provides funding for worthy programs and services that improve the quality of life in our community.

Living their mission to inspire humanitarianism by providing a way for anyone to leave a lasting legacy to our community through permanent endowment building responsible grants and leadership to meet our community’s needs for today, tomorrow and forever; the Foundation was the perfect fit  to help the GP Auto Group manage our charitable donations.  Knowing that I am investing in the people and programs in the Peace Region is the best way I can show my appreciation for the good fortune and success the Grande Prairie Auto Group experiences.  

For more information on how to get involved with the Greater Grande Prairie Community Foundation or the GP Auto Group Legacy Foundation check out www.buildingtomorrowtoday.com  or email at info@buildingtomorrowtoday.com

Until next time,

Corey

Etiquette or Sport?

GOLF – gentlemen only ladies forbidden, yes this is the true name of a gentlemen’s sport. Thanks to Scotland this popular stress relieving or stress causing game...depending on the day, is how and where big business is sometimes conducted, on the golf course. A game of etiquette and skill... and really I have to say more etiquette than skill. Let’s face it where else can you play a sport poorly, like only being able to drive your ball three feet off the tee box instead of the average 150 yards down the fairway or shanking your new Titalist Pro V1 into the woods, and still be easily forgiven by your group of four? I guess that is the luxury of playing an individual activity as opposed to a team sport.  But always remember...don’t talk  or let your cell phone ring during someone’s back swing, and whatever you do, don’t commit the cardinal sin of walking across your opponents line on the putting green!  All infractions considered to be a major felony on the golf course which are not so easily forgiven or tolerated by your foursome.
So based on the argument that golf is all about showing off your decorum and sense of Scottish fashion attire, I guess it stands to reason why there was such an uproar over Tigers recent indiscretion on the Dubai golf course, and for the decision made by the European Tour to fine Tiger based on breach of tour code of conduct. 
However, in all accounts of common sense, bird droppings would make up the same amount of unpleasantness on a putting green. No one complains about putting over that. Is Tigers spit really worse?
Chasing a little white ball around the quiet serenity of pristinely cut grass while taking in the beautiful and relaxing views, minus the odd clump of flemmy discharge of course, is supposed to lower your blood pressure, be good for your overall health, and provide the ultimate business office to work deals ...that is of course if you don’t really care that your ball just shanked left and quickly turned you from a gentlemen to a lumber jack who calls FORE more often than calling for the beer cart!
Until next time I remain a gentlemen/lumberjack with a respectable handicap of 36!
~Corey~

Superbowl XLV

February 6^th is fast approaching and for all you football enthusiast I know I don’t have to remind you the importance of that day!

The Superbowl is debatably the biggest sports event of the year in the North America. We as Canadians love our hockey, but thanks to our American neighbors, Superbowl predictions and betting is big business. 

The internet and social media send a vast majority of bettors flocking to view what the professionals are predicting. Of course, they are just educated guesses. Sure they might increase your odds of winning by giving you the favourite, but don’t forget about the upsets that can happen like in 1969 when the The Colts were led by Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas and the 18-point underdog Jets were led by flamboyant QB Joe Namath. "Broadway Joe" guaranteed that his Jets would upset the Colts. And that guarantee proved true and as the result, it would be the game that would put the Super Bowl on the map.

If you like millions of sports fans alike will be gambling on the Superbowl, how will you bet? Will you invest your time to research injuries, strategies and line ups or will you be more of a risk taker betting on pure luck or the way the moon and planets are aligned?

Based on the eliminations of this week, the Super Bowl predictions are coming down the home stretch. My predication…well let pose this question for you to ponder….What do you call a Pittsburg Steelers fan holding a bottle of champagne after Super Bowl XLV?

A: Waiter

GO GREENBAY!!!!

Happy Super Bowl Everyone,

Corey