PARSONS PRIDE
SEPTEMBER 2010 EDITION
LABOR DAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY HONORING THE WORKING PEOPLE. IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS WORKERS HAVE MADE TO THE STRENGTH, PROSPERITY, AND WELL BEING OF OUR COUNTRY.
PARSONS OF ANTIGO, CRANDON, AND EAGLE RIVER WILL BE CLOSED SEPTEMBER 4-6 IN HONOR OF OUR EMPLOYEES. WE WISH TO THANK ALL OF THEM FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
MESSAGE FROM CURT PARSONS
September is an exciting time of the year. The kids are heading back to school for another year of learning, the hunters will begin their yearly fall journey into the woods, and at Parsons of Antigo, we will get our first glimpse at an exciting new product…the Chevy Cruze!!!
This is an unbelievable offering from Chevrolet that should be able to dominate the small car segment. This game changer starts off with fit and finish generally found on vehicles much more expensive than the Cruze. The quietness found in this car is unparalleled as it boasts both triple sealed acoustic laminated windshield glass as well as liquid applied sound deadening. The great story on the Cruze continues under the hood where you will find exceptional power mated with undeniable fuel economy - up to 40 miles per gallon! However, when you get inside this small car, you will find out it really isn't all that small. In fact, the spacious interior is bigger than either a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic. This new offering will be very safe as well, boasting 10 airbags and the safety and security of the OnStar Directions and Connections package! We are looking forward to showing this car off as it hits the lot soon. Make sure you stop in and see the new standard in the compact car segment!
If you are in the market for a vehicle, did you realize that now is the time to take advantage of some unprecedented interest rates? That's right, on certain vehicles and with approved credit, we are able to offer rates as low as 2.9% for 60 months through our finance department. This truly is the time to see if we have the vehicle that suits your needs!
Speaking of financing, are you aware that GMAC (the former GM financing arm) has recently been renamed Ally? That is correct, so if you have a loan through GMAC, don't be surprised to see some paperwork coming to your house with the name Ally on it.
Lastly, our drawing for the 1.38 carat diamond journey necklace has nine qualifiers so far, and everyone still has 17 weeks left to be one of the lucky qualifiers that will have a chance to win this beautiful piece of jewelry the week before Christmas! Don't forget to sign up in the show room every time you come in the dealership, as the "pot" gets emptied every week and we draw from a new pool of names! Best of luck to everyone!
Until next month,
Curt Parsons
ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
To celebrate Parsons 75th Anniversary, we are giving away a 14K white gold, 1.38 total carat weight diamond journey necklace. The necklaces' value is $2,150.00, purchased from Molle’s Jewelry & Gifts in Antigo. Come to Parsons to see this beautiful necklace on display in the showroom and register for the necklace weekly. The weekly drawings will be held every Friday. Each weekly name will be entered into the final drawing which will be held on December 17, 2010, and you must be present to win.
So far, the weekly qualifiers for the Journey Necklace are as follows:
Week 1: Orv DeHart
Week 2: Nancy Bugni
Week 3: William Hickson
Week 4: Ron Niemietz
Week 5: Donna DeVries
Week 6: Len Ray
Week 7: Hanna Layton
Week 8: Brea Albrecht
CAR RENTAL
Parsons of Antigo now has a Hertz car rental program. This car rental association between Hertz and Parsons provides our customers with even more options such as: local and one-way rentals, the option to buy insurance, unlimited miles, competitive daily rates, and we work with most insurance companies. Call Parsons today to reserve your GM car rental, or you may also call hertz.com.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Service Technician Travis Karpf and his wife, Jenny on their new baby girl!!! Adelita Lynn Karpf was born on August 11 at 6:21 p.m. She was 5 lbs., 14 oz. and 19" long. We wish them both much happiness as they welcome their newest family member into their home!
Congratulations also goes out to Body Shop Technician, Pat Meyer and his wife, Patti who are the proud parents of a baby girl as well! Olivia Marie was born on August 17th at 11:04 p.m. She was 5 lbs., 9 oz. and 18" long. Best wishes on the Meyer's new addition to their family, and thank you to both families for bringing their cute little babies to Parsons for a visit!
Now we are awaiting baby news from Bob Duchan and his wife, Jackie who are expecting a baby in October…
And congratulations also goes out to Brandon Kramer (former body shop employee) on his engagement to Elizabeth Bucholtz-Draves. Brandon is presently stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in MO.
HOSPITALIZED
Our thoughts and prayers are with Logan Wilhelm, son of Jeremy and Tammy Wilhelm from our Service Department. Logan was hospitalized recently and has been very ill. We hope he recovers quickly and is back on his feet soon.
SATURDAY SALES HOURS
On Saturdays after Labor Day Weekend, our Sales Department will be here from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
BODY SHOP NEWS
Come in to Parsons of Antigo for a no-cost estimate on your vehicle, and you will automatically be registered for a gift card to be given away each month.
The lucky winner for the month of July received a $100 Shell gas card!!!
Congratulations to Mary Golbach of Lakewood!
The drawing is held on the first day of the following month. Every customer that has a body shop estimate done at our location is automatically entered to win. We are insurance company certified and we repair ALL makes and models, foreign and domestic.
GOOD LUCK, TRAVIS!!
Travis Widder has a car ready to go for the Demo Derby at Jim Falls on Labor Day Weekend. Good luck, Travis, go get 'em!!!
PARTS DEPARTMENT
We'd like to welcome Jamie Boyd to our Parts Department. Hopefully next month we'll get an article on him for the newsletter. But welcome to the Parsons, Jamie!
SEPTEMBER EMPLOYEE BIRTHDAYS
September 1: Jordan Sharon (Parsons of Antigo celebrating The Big 3-0)
September 5: Jake Sharon (Parsons of Antigo)
September 9: Gus Flannery (Parsons of Antigo)
September 14: Vicki Rasmussen (Parsons of Antigo)
September 17: Wayne Sparks (Parsons of Antigo) & Brandee Nieckula (Parsons of Eagle River)
September 24: Jeff Ralph (Parsons of Antigo) & Chuck Pace (Parsons of Eagle River)
September 29: Ray Anderson (Parsons of Eagle River)
SEPTEMBER WORK ANNIVERSARIES
September 1: Tom Price (11 years with Parsons of Antigo)
September 2: Debbie Bula (2 years with Parsons of Eagle River) & Jake Sharon (3 years with Parsons of Antigo)
September 11: Amy Krause (10 years with Parsons of Crandon)
September 14: Mark Bednarz (1 year with Parsons of Eagle River)
September 15: Travis Widder (11 years with Parsons of Antigo)
September 18: Iris Lange (2 years with Parsons of Eagle River)
September 26: Drew Ritter (7 years with Parsons of Eagle River)
September 28: Peggy Parsons (18 years with Parsons of Antigo)
September 30: Bill Weber (14 years with Parsons of Eagle River)
WHERE'S THE POPCORN?
Some of our Antigo customers have been wondering, "Where's the popcorn???" We are waiting on the delivery of a brand new popcorn machine which will be arriving very soon. Thank you to everyone for your patience and hopefully it will be worth the wait!
LOF BENEFIT PROGRAM
During the month of August, $1.00 of every oil change was donated to the National Honor Flight Program. Each of the Honor Flights, originating from Central WI Airport, carries approximately 100 veterans to Washington D.C. to see monuments that stand in their honor. This is done at no cost to the veterans. Next month we will be raising money for the Operation Compassion Food Pantry here in Antigo. With your help, we have given back over $80,700 to organizations in Antigo and the surroundIng area! We're proud to be a part of this great community since 1935. Do you need your oil changed?
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INDEX (CSI)
Here are the latest CSI results based on the average of the last 3-month period as submitted by Mike Apfelbeck.
EAGLE RIVER:
Sales Service
Buick: 100% 91.7%
Chevrolet: 95.0% 90.0%
Total: 95.8% 90.9%
ANTIGO:
Sales Service
Buick: 100% 84.6%
Chevrolet: 97.1% 91.7%
Pontiac: --__ 100%
Total: 97.4% 91.4%
Note: These totals are based on all valid questionnaires returned and the customers that are “completely” satisfied. Service percentages are also affected by cross-line warranty results.
A WORD FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
Here is what some of our customers had to say recently about their service at Parsons of Antigo. Please take the time to fill out your comment card located on your rearview mirror behind the number, and let us know how we're doing!
"We appreciate the many years of dependable service." - Don Schroeder
"Just good service!" - Gerald Meinecke
"Great people - great service! Thanks for helping an out-of-towner!" - Pat Novak
"Work was satisfactory as usual." - Duane Maas
"Yes, we want to thank your staff for the great work and the way everything was explained. A special thanks to Jeff Dahlke. Parsons will be highly recommended." - Marvin Fedderly
"Excellent work as usual." - Maryjane Erdman
"Keep up the good work." - John Marx
"Excellent service as always, and a young man changed my blinker bulb for me too."- No Name
"The Service Department at Parsons always provides honest and up-front service. I always feel they are looking to make my cars safe and not just running up a bill with unnecessary repairs. It is one of the few dealerships I trust for quality and reliability."- Douglas Knol
THANK YOU to all of our valued customers for taking the time to complete our customer service cards and surveys, or taking the time to write a note letting us know how we’re doing. We appreciate your business!
ANTIGO AREA EVENTS
Every Monday from 7-8:00 p.m. you can enjoy "Music in the Park".
September 4-5: Labor Day Flea Market at Antigo Fairgrounds
September 5: 27th Annual Labor Day Picnic at Rolling Stone
September 5: Phlox 35th Annual Corn Roast 11 am-10 pm
Sept. 9-12: Springbrook Buckskinners Rendezvous
September 11: Eastview Memory Walk for Alzheimers Fundraiser
September 11: 16th Annual Wolfman Triathlon on Wolf River
Sept. 11-12: St. John Church Fall Festival
September 18: Langlade Memory Auxiliary Parade of Homes: 12-4 pm
September 18: Lakes & Leaves Bike Ride
September 20: Tavern League Golf Outing at Bass Lake Country Club
September 24: Lakeside Brat Fry for Avail
September 25: Fly-in Air Show
September 25: Historical Society Antique Appraisal Show at AHS Commons area: 9:00 am
September 30: Culvers Classic Car Show
AARP DRIVER SAFETY PROGRAM
Cars have changed. So have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads you travel every day. Peoples vision changes. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's licenses, but even the most experienced drivers can benefit from brushing up on their driving skills. Plus you may be eligible to receive an insurance discount upon completing the course, as well as a discount on roadside assistant plans. The AARP Driver Safety Program has helped millions of drivers stay safe on the roads since its inception in 1979. The course is open to people of all ages and there is no test to pass!
The first meeting will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010. It is sponsored by the L.C. Dept on Aging Health Services Center. For more information, you may call the Department on Aging at (715) 627-6232 for details.
IS YOUR CHILD SAFE?
Your child's safety is important to us! If you would like to ensure that your child is buckled in their car seat (or seat belt) correctly, or that they are using the correct seat for their age, come to the Antigo Fire Department, 700 Edison Street, in Antigo. On the second Tuesday of each month, there are certified child passenger safety technicians on hand from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Also, car seats are sold there at cost through the Langlade County Health Department. The next event will be held on Tuesday, September 14th.
SHARE YOUR HEART…GIVE BLOOD
An hour of your time can save a life. St. Joseph's Outpatient Center (across from Langlade Memorial Hospital) holds a blood drive on the first Monday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Just phone 1-866-566-5900 to set up an appointment to donate blood. On average, it only takes an hour or less of your time. The blood drive is held by the Blood Center of North Central Wisconsin, the principal supplier of blood to the Langlade Hospital. The next blood drive will be held on Monday, September 6th.
CRANDON AREA EVENTS
September 3-5: World Championship Off-Road Race, Parade, and downtown celebration-Crandon
September 10-12: Forest County Fair-Crandon
September 11: Polish Fest-Sunset Bay, Pickerel
September 18: Art in the Square-Courthouse Square-Crandon
Sept. 24-26: Wabeno Fairgrounds Big Woods Dual 200 Sport/Motorcycle Cross Event
September 25: Wabeno Fall Colorama Dinner & Raffle
NEW GM WOMEN'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
GM was the first automaker in the industry to establish a program to actively recruit women into the automotive retail field to increase the number of women dealers in our network. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of this program, so the Dealer Advisory Council agreed that it was time to launch a scholarship program that might help influence more women to consider a career as an owner or manager of a GM dealership. Women who wish to apply for this scholarship may do so beginning January 2011. Scholarship awards will be announced in May 2011. More information is available at wrnscholarshipinfo@gmsac.com.
CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO NEWS
Squeezing out every last drop of fuel efficiency in one of the most fuel-efficient small cars on the market and achieving up to 40 mpg highway is one of the key tasks for the aerodynamics engineering group at Chevrolet. First they trimmed its overall weight and lowered the ride height. But then the real innovation came along: behind the front grill hides an automatic air shutter system allowing the car to change shape and cut through the air more smoothly. The air shutter system uses sensors to feel and sense wind and temperature conditions. The sensors open and close the shutters automatically, and significantly improved the fuel economy.
ADVANCED TIRE TEST FACILITY
GM is partnering with Virginia Tech to pioneer research and development that will develop "green" tire technologies to further improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles in the future. The Virginia Tech has a "Smart Road" which is a 2.2 mile, two-lane road with the ability to replicate rain, snow, and fog as well as other driving conditions to collect data from the test vehicles on site. This facility will be the only one of its kind in the world. It will enable the development of tire technology as well as improve vehicle highway safety.
ONSTAR NAVIGATION REQUESTS
During this summers busy travel season, OnStars live advisors provided navigation service in record numbers. Nearly 40,000 navigation requests were received across the U.S. and Canada. Can you guess what the most often south destination was? The nearest Walmart! The turn-by-turn navigation allows subscribers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road as they safely reach their destination. Following Walmart, the top ten most requested destinations in July were: Holiday Inn, Home Depot, Walgreens, Marriott, McDonald's, Bank of America, Starbucks, Target, and Hampton Inn.
SINKHOLE SURVIVOR FROM MILWAUKEE
Lance Treankler lost his 2007 Cadillac Escalade recently to a sinkhole in downtown Milwaukee. He plunged 20 feet, but was able to climb out. Fortunately the insurance policy on the Escalade covered the accident. The 25-year-old Milwaukee resident still has some back pain but escaped serious harm. Every day there are people who have accidents, some of which are unbelievable. That's why everyone should seriously consider having a good warranty that will cover them when these unfortunate events occur. See our finance team at Parsons for more information.
GM SAFETY BELT RECALL
There is a safety recall coming for the 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave to inspect second-row safety belts for damage. They want to check for a false-latch condition. Owners will be receiving letters this month to schedule appointments for no-charge inspections and repairs.
SIGNS FOR THE MODERN WOMAN
"I Serve Three Meals: Frozen, Microwave, & Take-Out"
"Housework Won't Kill You…But Why Take the Chance?"
"Laundry Room: Push Button for Service ® Å
If No One Answers, Do It Yourself!"
"My House Was Clean Last Week…Sorry You Missed it."
BACK TO SCHOOL
It's that time of year again when the kids head back to school. Just a reminder for all you drivers to watch for children crossing the street, and watch for those flashing red lights on our school buses and remember to stop. Drive safely and remember to watch your speed in school zones.
"Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results ." -Andrew Carnegie
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." - Henry Ford
"No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it."- H. E. Luccock
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