Happy FrEEday!

06.24.11 marks the launch of another small way we hope to give back to all of you that have supported Community Automotive Repair.

We made it clear from the beginning that we would never lobby or become political for somebody’s vote to “like” us. That said, it took a long time for us to develop a manner in which to grow this social presence and stay committed to our original core values.

In several talks we’ve had with other small businesses we’re fortunate to call neighbors, partners, and friends… we’ve arrived at one simple solution we hope meets your approval.

We’d like more people to know about us (doesn’t that go without saying?) but we don’t tolerate popularity contests. That’s why we invite you to share information about this (what will likely be one of many others to come) small promotion with other you know would directly benefit from hearing about it.

We’d like to introduce you to Free Friday (or FrEEday for short). Every Friday going forward we’re going to give you the opportunity to win a valuable service for FREE. We took a poll and found that most customers are interested in the opportunity to pay ZERO for the oil change service to be done on their vehicle. You made that clear and now it’s time to give you what you’ve requested.

We’re leading with and may stick with one FREE standard oil change service every Friday in 2011. The way this works is very easy.

*Instructions*
We’re asking at least 5% (based on our actual current amount of “fans”) of you to “like” our FrEEday post each week. That 5% number will increase as more people add Community Automotive Repair’s page to their feed (new “likes” of the page). Once that 5% mark is reached in “likes” of the FrEEday post every week, the amount of people IN WEST MICHIGAN that make up that 5% will be entered into a daily drawing for FREE service.

The more people you tell, the quicker we reach the qualifying point for the contest each week. 5% response is not difficult, especially as the total number of people following the contest increases. In the interest of full disclosure, this gives you an opportunity to share the news (and participate yourself) of FREE service(s) and it helps us grow our brand and social presence.  Bottom line, we’ve partnered with you in creating a win/win proposition.

OK, now you know how everything works… just a few conditions to cover and it’s GO time.
1) employees and their immediate family members are not eligible to win, but they may still participate if they choose
2) oil change service in particular is limited to standard, premium and synthetic options are available – customer simply needs to pay the difference in cost
3) oil offered for this promotion is limited to 5 quarts – customer to pay difference if vehicle requires additional oil
4) contest offer and rules are subject to change

Who wants FREE service(s)?

Happy FrEEday!

MyArea Card (MAC) chooses CHANGE

If we were betting people, we’d be willing to wager that you’ve heard of the Entertainment Book.  You know, the multi-colored coupon oriented publication that you most likely purchased to support a school fundraiser a time or two (or more).  Well, were you aware that there’s another form of receiving equal benefits that doesn’t require you to carry around a book?

That’s right, entering into the scene is a new technology offered by Grand Rapid’s own MyArea Card.  Have you spotted MAC around town?

Community Automotive Repair is one of hundreds of other local businesses/organizations featured in this new program.  For $25 you receive a card no bigger than a typical credit card, but we guarantee it can’t/won’t create a similar burden.  No use of credit here, pay the one time $25 fee and start SAVING money – it’s that simple!

MyArea Card and Community Automotive Repair have partnered to offer you significant discounts on quality services in West Michigan, but MyArea Card can also be utilized as a fund raising vehicle (much like its predecessor, Entertainment Book).

Even better, MyArea Card has graciously offered a FREE pre-activated membership ($25 value) to all parties that preregister to CHANGE by 06/17.  Have you chosen CHANGE?

Family Haven

Family Haven is one of many services that ICCF offers our community.  We count it a privilege to partner with this fine organization, which is why it is our pleasure to offer “Change Your Oil… Change A Life” on June 18, 2011.  100% of all monies received this day will go directly to ICCF.  A large group of generous sponsors have made it possible to offer this event with absolutely no additional overhead expenses.  What this means for you is that every penny of your donation will be forwarded to our benefactor.

Did you know that Family Haven provides quality, clean and private shelter for homeless families in Grand Rapids? Five apartments accommodate homeless families free of charge for up to thirty days.  Were you aware that Family Haven also offers financial counseling, employment assistance, a clothing pantry, food pantry, linen closet, Bible study and children’s activities?  These services remain available to the family even after they are back on their feet.  ICCF is committed to these families, to make sure they not only recover but that firm ground is underneath them as well.

Please strongly consider choosing CHANGE and Changing A Life!  RSVP today at www.GRchange.com

Choose CHANGE.

06.18.11

PRE-REGISTER AT WWW.GRCHANGE.COM TODAY.

“Change” is afoot…

06.18.11

Save the date.

846 E Fulton.  Community Automotive Repair.  GR, MI

8am-?

We’re in this together.

Stay tuned.

Dnt Txt N Drv.

We’ve written about this in an earlier blog entry but wanted to revisit things based on today being National Day of Awareness (with concern to distracted driving).  Hopefully WordPress will publish this in time for you to participate, but if not you can still follow the links for useful information.  The Remember Alex Brown Foundation is one entity that is doing incredible things to raise awareness for this issue, however we do not wish to discount the work of their predecessors or those that have followed in their footsteps.  Remember, we’re all in this together.

R.A.B. happens to be particularly instrumental in helping make this day one to reflect on eliminating texting and driving, as well as all other “distracted” forms of driving.  Our calling attention to this isn’t meant to condemn anyone, rather we’d like to ask that you make different choices going forward when faced with the temptation to drive while texting or talking on your cell phone.  Or for that matter, we ask that you not do anything that would prevent you from having full control of your vehicle while it’s moving.

We do not wish for you or anyone close to you to be the next statistic added to distracted driving fatalities.  Nobody should be lost to this.  It can be prevented.

More information about r.a.b. can be found HERE.  You can stamp your commitment against texting and driving HERE, which is free to do.

Learn. Share. Laugh

We’ve had the good fortune of knowing several people associated with Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids for many years (up to 20).  This organization has most recently been garnering local/regional attention for their upcoming LaughFest series, but long before this idea was even conceived they’ve been doing incredible and necessary work.  For those of you affected by cancer, or for anyone you may know that’s facing (or faced) the challenges of this disease, there simply isn’t a better place for you/them to engage in West Michigan.

Our company has proudly supported Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids‘ initiatives over the years, and we believe the work they do is even more important today than it has ever been.  This has to do with the fact that unfortunately more people have had to learn how to overcome the obstacles that cancer presents in their life, but also due to the professionalism and experience of the Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids staff being at their very best these days.  We’re very impressed with the level of care and services they are able to provide those that need them most.

Please consider supporting this great organization by attending LaughFest.  If you’re interested in volunteering or other ways of getting involved, feel free to stop by and visit the friendly staff or click here to learn more about opportunities that may be open to you.

 

We’re in this together.

LOL (nobody’s laughing)

Last week we called your attention to a very serious issue – texting and driving, and more specifically distracted driving fatalities.  For those of you wondering why space on this blog might be reserved for such a topic, let me assure you the value of human life is the reason.  That’s the bottom line.  Matters will only get worse if we ignore them, as this is no different than any other epidemic we face today.  We must believe that even our small efforts here help make a difference.

There are groups carrying this torch far better than we’re able so this entry is simply an introduction to another one of them.  Where LOL has become texting lingo for Laughing Out Loud, we assure you there is a more critical meaning behind LOST OUR LIVES.

Rather than add our own colorful commentary, we believe the footage here will speak for itself:

Part 1

Part 2

There are countless other meaningful ways this issue has been covered across the nation.  This and a few others are the ones garnering the most attention at the moment, but we don’t mean to discredit or undermine their predecessors.

Choose to listen.  Act if you feel so moved.  It’s your choice.  We’ve made ours.

r.a.b.

If you managed to pull away from the coverage of last night’s NFL Pro Bowl (or whatever else you may have been doing) long enough to catch ABC’s evening lineup, the heading of this post requires no clarification.  For those that didn’t, r.a.b. stands for Remember Alex Brown, and yesterday evening there was a montage of programs (led by Extreme Makeover, home edition) paying respect to this young lady and her family.  Their story isn’t exactly unique and they’ll be the first to tell you so; however, what is quite special is the amount of responsibility they’ve taken to share it and educate people all around the nation.  The Brown family lost their oldest daughter Alex in a distracted driving accident, where she was confirmed to have been texting and lost control of her moving vehicle.  Even as you read this you might be saying to yourself, “I do that all the time.”  We would recognize that as a common reaction; but not a good one.  Distracted driving accidents are happening more than ever before and for the sake of making it to your final destination safely, our hope is that you would completely eliminate texting while driving.  Draw the proverbial line in the sand or better yet, step out and take the pledge through r.a.b.

Whether you have kids of your own, or just happen to value the quality of life, please consider supporting this initiative in whatever way you’re able.  Easy ways to do this include (to name a few) printing out the pledge and distributing it to groups of which you’re a part, link to the r.a.b. website through social media, write your local high school principal or superintendent and ask them to get behind preventative education related to this epidemic, and naturally take the time to share this with your friends and family.  You’re of course welcome to do nothing, as we have no interest in motivating you through guilt.  That is not our objective.

It makes sense that an auto repair facility would take an invested interest in matters dealing with vehicles, driving, and safety but make no mistake about it, our main concern is the lives of these young kids and their families.  If calling brief attention to this matter helps prevent one fatality, or even make somebody think twice about the risk they’re accepting, we’ll consider our/your time well spent.

For more information about r.a.b. please visit the foundation’s website by clicking here, or become a fan of their facebook page and go viral with their message.

Kids matter

Every now and again we have the opportunity to do things we consider both fun and necessary.  This month happens to be one such occasion.  In an effort to make a difference in the lives of some West Michigan kids this winter, we’ve joined forces with WoodTV8 and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.  What does this mean for you, you might ask?  Among different answers you might hear, one consistent feeling is that we have a responsibility to take care of others.  It is true that you find several different personalities within our shop, and likely an equal amount of differences, but where none of us sway or falter is our direct understanding of giving when/where we’re able.  This company was founded on the principles of humility and integrity and we hope our contributions in some form or another help those receiving them in ways they may otherwise not have experienced.  Bottom line, it would be easy to get caught up in this exchange and think that it is all about us, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.  It isn’t about us.  Not before, not now, and not likely in our future.  It (the opportunity to effect positive change) is about what we do with what we have, period.  We’ve decided this season to challenge ourselves and our customers with a higher calling, one which takes eyes off all of us (and you) so that they may be placed on others that really matter:

Kids.

Please consider bringing in an unwrapped gift to our shop (not to exceed $10 value) for a child in need before 12/20/10.  If it isn’t possible for you to visit us, we’d prefer that you partner with whatever Angel Tree donation site is nearest you.

Thank you for taking this challenge seriously.  Children are our future.