AliThinks

Well, That Was Fun

The 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games are over, and so is my paid role of raising awareness for Alltech's Sustainable Haiti Project.

It was a great experience, a definite learning experience. And there's one more video to come: me reading a poem to Heather. I can't wait to embarrass my kids with it. (Because me? I'm 40. I just don't care anymore.)

Many thanks to David Wescott, who brought me on to the Haiti Project, and to Heather Chapman, my partner in crime.

So it's back to normal here at AliThinks. And boy, have I been thinking. I just have to deem what's blogworthy. Wish me luck with that.

One Last Contest

We're almost finished, folks. Heather has posted information about the last prize we have, and her blog entry is just so good I wish I could copy every word. Please go read it.

She beat me in our last contest, and so I had to write a poem about her. Tomorrow she'll film me reciting it, and OH JOY, put it on the internet.

It was all for a great cause, however, and that's why I'm willing to shed a little dignity. In fact I'm proud, proud to have been asked to help spotlight the work that Alltech is doing in Haiti, work that is long-term and will directly benefit Haitians.

And now, if you live in Lexington and would like Sunday (October 10, last day!) passes to the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games grounds, where there's all sorts of cool stuff, leave me a comment. Like Heather, I'm going to ask you to also tell me what you think Haiti needs.

The contest ends at 5 pm. tomorrow, Friday October 8. I'll draw a random winner and will notify the person via email.

Thanks so much for playing along with me and Heather these last three weeks. It's been a trip.

I Lost

Heather got way more votes than I did, so I have to compose a poem in her honor and read it to her in a public place. Videoed, of course. I was going to riff on Walt Whitman with the poem starting "Oh, Chapman, my Chapman," but then remembered that the poem is about death, specifically Abe Lincoln's. Back to square one. At this point it will be more Mother than Ode on A Grecian Urn. (No, I don't have a theremin.)

The good news is that another Heather (Here's where I say "No, Heather, it's Heather's turn") won the tickets to Saturday's Cross Country event at the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games.

There's one more contest to go; this time it's another pair of event tickets. We'll post the details soon.

Thanks to everyone who participated this time. We have raised a nice little chunk of change for the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project!

We Got Pie In The Face

Heather has the video up here, and you need to read her blog entry associated with it, because in it, she explains the latest contest and what you need to do to win. The prize is a pair of tickets to the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games Cross-Country event on Saturday, October 2, a $90.00 value.

The premise is the same: you enter to win by texting "Alltech" to 50555, and in doing so, you donate $5.00 to Alltech's Haiti Sustainability Project. Heather has the current contest details here, and I have the legalese here. 

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first prank war contest. This next contest is even better!

While You Wait

Heather is editing the video of the two of us getting cream-pied, but here's a sneak peek from my friend Tanzi.

My friend Mick also took some photos.

We've got another prank war coming up this week, with the prize for one of you being a pair of WEG event tickets. And we've got more grounds passes to give away too. Stay tuned!

Congratulations!

We have a winner of the Grounds passes: K.C.

Thanks so much for voting, K.C., and especially for donating $5 to the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project! 

Heather and I are gearing up for the pies-in-the-faces. We get smooshed on Sunday.

More contests and giveaways to come, folks!

In the meantime, Lexington's ready for a party. For the next two weeks, we've got live music downtown every night (well...truth be told, we have live music somewhere in town every night anyway, but this is SPECIAL). 

It's bound to be interesting 'round these parts...

I Know You're Wondering...

...who won the first contest. And unfortunately, I can't tell you yet. We have a few details to iron out over on this end.

I can tell you who's gettin' the cream pies in the face, though:

Heather AND Alison!

Yes, folks, we have a tie. And that means that this coming Sunday, both Heather and I will get cream pies thrown in our faces.

Thanks again to everyone who participated and texted their support. I'll have more chances to win Grounds Passes coming up.

Just Three More Hours

...in our first contest.

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to text "Alltech Alison" or "Alltech Heather" to 50555. We've raised a little money for the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project. 

So far I am leading Heather, which means YAY, I'm winning! And YAY! I won't get cream pies in the face! But the contest ain't over yet, and she could edge me out.

And, no one has voted/donated more than once, and that means I may have to resort to a randomizer to pick a winner of the grounds passes for the 2010 Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games.

Here's where the phrase "So please, think of the children" really is a propos. Vote for Heather or me again and not only will you help me keep my face clean, you'll help build something lasting for kids and families in Haiti.

Thanks.

Win Free Grounds Passes to the World Equestrian Games

This week Heather and I are doing two contests, each with its own rules and outcomes.

Until 5 pm, Wednesday September 22, you can vote for either Heather or me by texting the words "Alltech Heather" or "Alltech Alison" to 50555. The person with the most "votes" wins the prank war, and the other gets a whole bunch of cream pies in the face.  This little event will be videoed and posted on these here interwebs. Why yes, there is much potential for embarrassment for the loser.

Each text will cost you five dollars, with the money going toward Alltech's Sustainable Haiti Project. The person who donates the most during this contest will win a pair of flex grounds passes for the World Equestrian Games. 

Here are the rules and fine print:

1) Each time you text, you will be billed $5.00 plus whatever texting charges your carrier slaps on there. The charge will be to the Muhammad Ali Center, and/or MGive.com will appear on your bill. Our thanks to the Muhammad Ali Center for acting as our MGive billing proxy.

2) The contest is only open to legal residents of the United States (sorry, readers elsewhere!), and the prize does not include travel or accommodation. 

3) The prize is for grounds entry to the Games. This is not an event ticket. But there's lots of cool stuff happening on the grounds, too. 

Any questions? Let me know in the comments.

Heather's contest is over here. Go give her some love. And see what other chances you have to win.

And now, ready, set, GO! Alltech Heather or Alltech Alison to 50555.

More fine print: Remember, I've been retained by Alltech’s agent to help promote the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project during the World Equestrian Games.

An Opportunity

My readers in Lexington have certainly heard of the Alltech 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games (and, well, if y'all haven't, I'd like to know which rock you live under). Those of you outside of Lexington or the country may not have heard of the Games, but they are a big deal for Lexington and Kentucky. The comparison has been made that the WEG are like the Olympics of the horse world. This is the first time they've been held in the United States, and that's a real privilege for us.

Alltech is a biotech firm located in central Kentucky, but they have offices and and distributors worldwide.

And what, you may wonder, does that have to do with me? 

Along with my friend and fellow blogger Heather, I've been retained by Alltech’s agent to help promote the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project during the World Equestrian Games. (There's my disclosure, folks. I'm getting paid to write this.)

And what, you may wonder, is the Alltech Sustainable Haiti Project? It's an initiative to create jobs and infrastructure in Haiti, for more long-term growth than just a monetary donation. The link above has all the info you'll need about it. It's a wonderful project that I am proud to support.

We are still fund-raising, however, and Heather and I will be blogging and tweeting about how you can help. There will be giveaways (WEG tickets and such) and friendly competitions between Heather and me, with the loser having to do something potentially embarrassing. (There will be video, OH YES.)

So for the next few weeks, I'll be posting here about the Sustainable Haiti Project. Please stay tuned.