How can we help change the world with the Chevrolet Volt? Well, that’s simple. We’re meeting up. In partnership with social platform Meetup.com, Chevrolet is sponsoring 200 Meetup groups across the country that are enthusiastic about helping us create a greener world. Meetup members find groups online that interest them, and then they meet up in the real world. Join the EV movement, join a Meetup group, and join us in our quest for a better environment.
Share your thoughts about Chevy Volt and the EV movement with other Meetup members and enthusiasts by tweeting with the hashtag #VoltMeetup
Your questions answered! Find out more about the Volt.
Meetup Stories 1 – Will Farmer, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea-Trail Sponsored by Chevrolet
Will Farmer, Mountains-to-Sea Trail Meetup Organizer, doesn't have much spare time. Will is a busy man who spends his days traveling, reading, sailing and gardening - and today is no exception. This particular afternoon, he and his wife Donna are driving out to a local community farm to help high school kids haul homegrown collard greens to a local food bank. He doesn't have much time to chat, but with the time he’s got, he’s thrilled to talk about Chevy Volt’s Sponsorship of his Meetup Group.
In 2008, Will and Donna founded the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Meetup group. The group is an extension of the organization of the same name, which maintains a portion of the Mountains-to-Sea hiking trail. The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail are a dedicated group – they’ve built over 60 miles of trail near Falls Lake, North Carolina. Will and his Meetup group were thrilled that Chevy Volt recognized their efforts and supported their group with a sponsorship. They used the funds to host a dinner honoring the 24 leaders who maintain the trail and keep it safe. Properly recognizing the trail leaders for their work meant a lot to Will and his group and they even put some of the funds aside to do it again in the future.
Will is obviously a big fan of the Mountains-to-Sea hiking trail but he's also a big fan of Chevy, dating back to his years as a teen. Will is thrilled that Chevy has developed Volt, a car that respects the environment and is still great to drive. Will says that he was especially struck by how well the Volt would fit into his lifestyle and save him money on fuel.* A few weeks ago, he and Donna drove about 35 miles from their home outside of Raleigh, N.C., to take enrichment classes. Donna learned to knit dishcloths and Will made baskets out of pine needles, but what stood out to Will the most was that making that drive on a fully- charged Volt would have used little to no gas.
In fact, Will was so interested in the Chevy Volt that he reached out to a local dealer who brought a Volt to a Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail Meetup group on the Eno River. The Meetup was such a success that it inspired Chevy to set up a program for all interested Meetup groups to demo a Volt to their next meetup. Congrats to Will and the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea
Trail Meetup group for their work and dedication to our shared mission of moving toward a more environmentally conscious future. Stay tuned for more from Volt sponsored Meetup groups and what they’re doing to change their communities and the world!
Volt is available to order at participating dealers.
*EPA-estimated 35-mile range based on 94 MPGe (electric); 340-mile range based on 35 MPG city, 40 highway (gas).
Meetup Stories 2 – Peter Fosso Sponsored by Chevrolet
Peter Fosso is a successful Seattle-based entrepreneur who’s passionate about bringing people with big ideas together. He keeps ideas front-and-center both as founder and president of the Global Music Project, a nonprofit that works to inspire a better world through music, and as the organizer of Seattle Entrepreneurs, a Volt-sponsored Meetup group. Seattle is a hotbed for innovative, industry-leading companies, or as Peter puts it, a town with “the entrepreneurial spark.” Peter was inspired by Influential brands and bright minds in the area to take the reins of the Seattle Entrepreneurs group in 2002.
We had the chance to speak with Peter about his passion and the impact of the Chevy Volt sponsorship of Seattle Entrepreneurs. He was surprised Chevrolet would sponsor a Meetup group of only a couple thousand members. “I was very impressed by the grassroots level that Chevy got involved with the program – they seem to want to help the little guy,” he said. Chevy Volt’s support certainly helped; the group has seen a significant increase in attendees at its meet-ups since beginning the Volt sponsorship.
A couple times a month, Seattle Entrepreneurs meets to exchange ideas, share potential new business plans and listen to panels describe the challenges and opportunities in starting a company. The next Meetup session will focus on developing a mobile application, underscoring the importance of a mobile presence from fledgling startups to well-established companies.
Peter described the need for such an encouraging group. “We entrepreneurs make a lot of mistakes – it’s so different to learn through others and it speeds up the process significantly,” he said. “There’s really nothing better than connecting with people.” Some have even started companies with their fellow Meetup group members.
Although Peter was initially surprised by Chevy’s support, he soon realized the Chevy Volt is aligned with the do-it-yourself spirit of community leaders like himself. Peter explained, “if something doesn’t exist and I wish it existed, then I start it.”
The next Seattle Entrepreneurs Meetup session will focus on developing a mobile application and the importance of a mobile presence for fledgling startups to well-established companies. Peter was not surprised to learn that the Volt integrates cutting-edge mobile technology and features an OnStar mobile application that allows owners to access vehicle information like current charging level and how long it will take to fully charge, electric range, and fuel efficiency.
Peter said the sponsorship made him more aware of where Chevy is headed as a brand, mentioning he “admire(s) Chevy for their support of bringing people together through Meetups and helping to build and sustain the entrepreneurial spirit.”
We feel the same way, and Chevrolet is excited to continue supporting groups like Seattle Entrepreneurs that are making a difference in their communities.
Volt is available to order at participating dealers.
*The 2012 Chevy Volt offers an EPA-estimated 35 miles on a full charge based on 94 MPGe [electric] and an additional 340 miles with a full tank based on 35 city, 40 MPG highway [gas]. Actual range varies with conditions.
