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This summer your adventures could win you $500! From May 26, 2015 to September 7, 2015, Markquart Toyota will be holding the Summer Expressions Photo Contest. Take a photo of your Toyota from Markquart Toyota and email it to photocontest@markquart.com then post it to our Facebook page. Include information like your full name, email address, phone number, year & model, and where the photo was taken in the email. Each person can submit one photo per week for a maximum of 15 submissions. So, while you’re taking your Markquart Toyota or Scion camping, fishing, to festivals, hiking, or whatever you love to do in the summer, we want to see it! The contest deadline is 11:59 PM CST on September 7, 2015. Photo entries will be judged by John Markquart along with other Markquart Toyota managers. These judges will select three finalists and from there, a grand prize winner will be selected based on public voting, which will take place from September 14, 2015 to September 25, 2015. On September 28, 2015 the grand prize winner will be announced on Markquart Toyota’s Facebook page. We can’t wait to see what kind of awesome experiences you have with your Markquart Toyota! Be sure to make your photos creative, of high quality, and completely original. If you have any questions please email them to the above-mentioned email address, or message us on Facebook. official contest rules

Josh has been in the auto industry for the past 10 years. He is from Medford, WI and attended Winona State University. Right after graduation he began his career in the auto industry, which brought him to Eau Claire. He says he wanted to work for Markquart because of the positive reputation and a good work/life balance. He said his favorite part of his job is meeting and talking to new people. Outside of work, Josh enjoys bow hunting, golfing, and spending time with his wife, Ali, and two boys, Jackson and Jameson. An interesting fact is that Josh has had 3 holes-in-one while golfing, but he says “it’s better to be lucky than good.” Come meet Josh at Markquart Toyota! He would love to talk to you about bow hunting, golf, and of course finding you a new vehicle!

Zach came to Eau Claire from Waupaca, WI because he heard it was a great area from one of his friends. During his job hunt in the Chippewa Valley, Zach kept his interest for cars in mind, and when he saw the opportunity of being a Service Advisor, he took it! He says he loves talking to and helping people, which is exactly what he does every day at work! When Zach isn’t helping customers get their vehicles serviced, he is probably watching a Packers game or playing football for the Menomonie Thunderhawks. An interesting fact about Zach is he shares the same birthday as Rosa Parks, and his dream car is a Toyota Tacoma. The next time you need your vehicle serviced, Zach is ready to help at Markquart Toyota!

Oil changes. They’re that annoying stop we have to make every six months to keep our vehicles running smoothly. They also cost somewhere between $30.00 and $80.00, so why not do it yourself? You can do it on your own time and save money, right? The truth is, there are hidden costs to changing your own oil that can hurt you in the long run. Service Centers Provide Additional Inspection When you take your vehicle to a service center like the one at Markquart Toyota, additional steps are performed like a Quality Vehicle Inspection, complementary alignment, battery checks. These are both preventative measures that can help prevent future issues. When you change your oil yourself, unless you know cars really well, you’re not able to perform some of these extra tasks. Doing it Yourself is More Complicated Now Due to the placement of oil drain plugs and oil filters on a lot of the new-design engines, they are not very easy to get at. Some oil filters are not spin-on-and-off anymore, so they are more difficult to change, and if you don’t have the proper tools to lift your vehicle, changing your oil can be dangerous.  You also aren’t allowed to put oil and oil filters in normal garbage, so it can be extremely inconvenient to dispose of them. The Markquart Way At Markquart, we also provide a free wash* with every service completed, and we top off additional fluids like washer fluid. All of these things combined would easily add up to $30.00 or more if you wanted to do them yourself – and we haven’t even talked about the time it takes to change your own oil. Between going to the store to pick up the oil and the filter, and actually performing the oil change you could have been in and out of the service department. You can watch this video on the service experience at Markquart, or view our service homepage to see why getting your vehicle serviced as opposed to doing it yourself is truly worth it! *Weather permitting.

Joe comes to Eau Claire from where he grew up in Hayward, WI. While Joe was attending the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire he studied Elementary Education, but decided to start a career in finance a few years ago. When Joe isn’t helping people finance a new car, you will find him spending time with his wife, Ileah, son, Jericho, and daughter, Preslie. Joe also enjoys distance running and camping with his family in the summer months. Stop by Markquart Toyota, conveniently located near Eau Claire off of HWY 53, to meet Joe and get yourself approved for a new vehicle!

During Markquart Gives Back, Markquart Motors and Markquart Toyota donated $100 from every new and used vehicle sold to organizations in our community. We are excited to announce we reached our goal of $50,000 and we could not have done it with you! This money will go to support the Boys and Girls Club, Feed My People Food Bank, The Open Door Clinic, and the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic. Thank you again and have a wonderful 2015! Learn more about these amazing organizations by visiting their websites The Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Feed My People Food Bank Open Door Clinic Chippewa Valley Free Clinic

The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic in Eau Claire and the Open Door Clinic of Chippewa Falls Provide basic health services to members in our community with no reasonable health care alternative. The clinics were established by medical personnel and community members who saw a need for affordable basic health care alternatives in the Chippewa Valley. With help from local businesses, churches, hospitals and neighbors, the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic opened in 1997 and the Open Door Clinic in 2005. Since then, the number of patients each clinic sees has grown drastically over the years, providing them with everything from exams and lab testing to x-rays and specialty care. First and foremost, both clinics aim to take the financial burden off people that come in so that they don’t have to choose between putting dinner on the table and getting their health care needs met. They also strive to promote ideal health and prevent illness, disease and disability within the Chippewa Valley. Aside from basic health care, the clinics also offer assistance to those needing to sign up for BadgerCare and the Affordable Care Act. For people with health care needs that can’t be met by the clinic, they are redirected to other resources in the Chippewa Valley. What keeps the clinics running are volunteers, as well as donations from local businesses and community members. If you are in need of health care, or would like to donate your time or money, check out the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic or Open Door Clinic’s websites for more information and make a difference today. >> Chippewa Valley Free Clinic Website >> Open Door Clinic Website

Providing a safe, positive and productive place for youth to go after school and during school breaks. An increasing number of children stay at home with no supervision. They are left to find their own recreation and companionship. The Boys and Girls club offers a safe, positive and productive place for children to go after school and during school breaks. The Boys and Girls Club empowers all young people to reach their full potential by instilling a sense of confidence and belonging. Staff and volunteers offer free tutoring and homework help and members participate in daily activities that focus on five core areas: Character & Leadership, Education & Career, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness & Recreation. Since the Eau Claire location opened its doors in 2004, the club has positively impacted the lives of more than 1,000 kids and has grown from 13 children per day to about 92. There are also locations in Chippewa Falls, Black River Falls and Menomonie. Community is so important to the club and without it, the Boys and Girls Club wouldn’t exist. If you’re interested in learning more, or if you would like to support the club by donating or volunteering visit their website to learn more and make a difference in a child’s life today.» Visit Boys and Girls Club Website

For every new or used vehicle sold from now until Christmas at Markquart Motors or Markquart Toyota we will donate $100 to local organizations. One of the organizations is the Feed My People Food Bank. They Rescue food before it is wasted and distribute it to people in our community who struggle to put food on the table. Every day people in the Chippewa Valley go hungry. Last year, more than 66,000 individuals relied on food received from programs supplied by Feed My People Food Bank. Feed My People bridges the gap between food manufacturers and hunger-relief organizations (food pantries, community meal sites & shelter). They are equipped with a large warehouse and 6 refrigerated trucks, which help them distribute food to more than 120 hunger-relief organizations. They also provide weekend kids meals to about 2,000 local students who may struggle with hunger when school meals are not available, and assist with Meals on Wheels, which distributes food boxes to individuals who are homebound. Feed My People is so successful due to the kindness of the surrounding communities. Local farmers, retailers and companies donate food and products every year, and individuals in the community help by donating their time and money. “Every $1 donated equals $10 worth of food,” according to Assistant Director Suzanne Becker. Many of the day-to-day operations are run by volunteers. If you are interested learning more about volunteering or donating please visit their website. >>Feed My People Food Bank Website

Markquart has been blessed by the support of a great community, and now we want to give back by helping organizations that serve those who need it most. From November 13th until Christmas, Markquart Motors and Markquart Toyota will be donating $100 for every new and used vehicle we sell. That money will go to support – The Boys and Girls Club – Feed My People Food Bank – Chippewa Valley Free Clinic (in Eau Claire) – Open Door Clinic (in Chippewa Falls) With your help we hope to raise over $50,000! >> Start Shopping

There is a reason why Jay has been a part of the Markquart Toyota team for 25 years. He’s friendly, personable and always willing to lend a helping hand. He also happens to be really good at selling cars, which doesn’t hurt either. This month, we give thanks to Jay as we celebrate his 25-year anniversary with Markquart Toyota. Before Jay made his way to Markquart Toyota, he was in the radio business for 18 years. During that time, he tried everything—from DJing to program directing. It wasn’t until 1989 that Jay changed directions and came to Markquart to sell cars. He took to it like a fish to water. Within 6 months of graduating from the Toyota training program, Jay had become the top-selling salesperson of the month. Jay has yet to slow down from when he started. In 1993 and 1994, Jay won 2nd-place nationally and 1st-place regionally, respectively, in the Product Knowledge National Walkaround Competition. And he probably would have gone on to win more if they hadn’t discontinued the competition in 1995. When asked what his favorite part of the job has been over the 25 years he’s spent at Markquart, Jay said that he enjoys meeting new people and helping them find the car that is right for them. “There are some regulars that I have known for decades,” he said. Jay also loves the fact that Toyota is constantly evolving and “there is always something new in product.” We appreciate everything you have done for Markquart Toyota over the years, Jay. You are a great asset to the team and we look forward to many more years with you.

By John Markquart This past summer while the news outlets were busy covering the troubled children of Central America making the dangerous trek to America, a contingent of locals travelled to Honduras to experience NPH in Honduras, an orphanage that cares for nearly 400 kids. John, Terri, Charlee, Malia, Leah and Will Markquart were part of that group and were excited to see the amazing work of NPH on behalf of orphan and disadvantaged children of Honduras. NPH stands for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos which is Spanish for Our Little Brothers and Sisters. NPH has nine facilities in Latin America including an orphanage located on a 2000 acre ranch in central Honduras. The organization was founded by Father Wasson in Mexico in the 1950's when he decided to take in an orphan boy caught stealing from the church's poor box. He soon had 8 more and NPH had its mission. The model for helping kids at NPH is remarkably different than most other orphanages and, in my experience, remarkably effective. NPH does not seek to place their children in families through adoption. Instead, they seek for the ranch and all the people there to become one very large family for each other. Their philosophy centers around the principles of love, security, sharing, work, responsibility and faith. We saw firsthand how the staff, volunteers and children join together and form a community that provides a genuine feeling of family for most everyone there! Our trip was organized by local surgeon Nino Parise and his wife Dana who have dedicated much of their lives to supporting and promoting the work of NPH in Honduras. Our group consisted of 25 people, primarily from the Eau Claire area, who hoped to leave their imprint on the people Honduras. Instead it was the people of Honduras who left their mark on us. From Edwin to Aldo and Carlos, to Marisol and Jessica, each of us came to know some amazing children. Each child has a story which would be painful to hear, yet so many of the children here have a genuine radiance about them which is absolutely miraculous given the hardship they have likely endured. Our group's morning at the ranch was spent helping with chores on the ranch like weeding the garden, collecting eggs from the chicken coop, preparing meals, or helping kids with their English. Afternoons were spent hanging out with the kids, relaxing, playing some soccer, and in a devotional led by the Dana and Nino. In the evening we split up and ate dinner in the children's homes which are called Hogar (pr. O Gar), which means dormitory in Spanish. Each Hogar was staffed by adults that supervised the kids that lived there. At the ranch the children went to school and learned how to work. It was new to us to see children at a young age learning the manual labor which is still a mainstay in the Honduran economy. Kids would wash their own clothes and dishes, and spend part of each day on chores like working the garden, cutting the grass with a machete, or moving material in a wheelbarrow. It seems like a lot of responsibility for such young children and yet it is necessary to prepare them for their lives ahead. As the children get older many are taught a trade like woodworking, welding, sewing, auto repair or making shoes. Whether kids will continue with upper education or go into the workforce, the goal at NPH is to help them prepare. There is far more to the lives of the kids than just school and chores. They love hanging with the other kids, playing soccer and having fun. Everywhere we looked kids were being kids, laughing, rough housing and running around. Many people in our group commented on how happy that most of the kids seemed to be at the ranch. There were many touching stories that we experienced at NPH. Dana and Nino told us about trying to explain to the children about their daughter who was adopted from an orphanage in Ethiopia. One of the kids asked "What's an orphanage?" Obviously an ironic question for a kid living at an orphanage. It struck me that perhaps NPH just doesn't feel like an orphanage to these kids. My wife Terri asked a 12 year old boy new to the ranch how he liked it. He said "He liked it. No one beats him here." Anyone care to guess who we will sponsor? As our TV screens are filled with images of desperate young people fleeing their troubled lives in Mexico and Central America it seems like there is nothing we can do living so far away in Wisconsin. Perhaps supporting organizations like NPH is something tangible that you can do to really make a difference in the lives of troubled kids. I was fortunate to experience their blessing first hand. If you are interested in learning more, or want to sponsor one of the kids at the ranch, go to www.nph-honduras.org for more information.