New Brunswick Set to Pioneer Viral Marketing Movement?

For Immediate Release
March 17, 2008

New Brunswick Set to Pioneer Viral Marketing Movement?

Moncton, NB – Are New Brunswick’s small to medium sized businesses ready to capitalize on social networking platforms like Facebook, blogs, MySpace, podcasts and YouTube? To a growing group of local entrepreneurs doing it and Web 2.0 enthusiasts, the answer is an overwhelming yes!

Third Tuesday New Brunswick is a group of individuals and organizations who have come together to help Atlantic Canadian businesses learn how to leverage the economic and effective benefits of viral marketing. Third Tuesday’s have already taken place in Fredericton and Saint John which featured speakers whom have successfully leveraged emerging web technologies to create a raving fan base for their products and services.

“We want a way to share our expertise with other business owners in the region and collaborate on the benefits and principles of the new economy” says Dan Martell, Co-Founder of Spheric Technologies and Third Tuesday New Brunswick Moncton representative. “Our group is passionate about helping others compete online. Together we are collaborating to help Atlantic Canada rediscover its pioneering ways and emerge as a leader in the 21st century economy!”.

This month, the group will meet-up beginning at 7pm in Moncton on March 25 at Studio 700 on Main Street. Presenters for the Moncton event will include Pierre Martell of The Martell Group, Walter Melanson from Property Guys, Chris Nadeau of YourTeamOnline.com, Lisa Rousseau from WalkingSpree.com, Mike Mullen technophile extraordinaire, known internet guru Cory Schop and the Co-Founder of Spheric Technologies Dan Martell. Topics will range from “Using Social Networking for your Small Business” to “The 6 Principles for Viral Marketing Success”.


Registration is FREE, however; event organizers ask that those who are interested register at http://publicrelations.meetup.com/99/.



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Contact:

Dan Martell (Moncton)
dmartell@spheric.ca

Lisa Rousseau (Fredericton)
lisa@walkingspree.com

Chris Nadeau (St-John)
chris@yourteamonline.ca

Trade Mission: TechSouth IT trade Show

Dear Stakeholders,

The International SESAME Exchange (ISE) is the annual meeting/conference of the SESAME Network (www.sesame.biz). The 2008 ISE event will be held in Lafayette, Louisiana (www.sesame2008.com) on April 7-8-9 at the Lafayette Cajundome Convention Centre, concurrently with the TechSouth IT Trade Show (www.techsouth.com). The 2008 ISE event will focus on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Digital Technologies and Film.

As a member of the SESAME network (15 cities on 3 continents), Moncton is organizing a Mission to Lafayette, Louisiana. Should you wish to be part of this regional Mission, or to learn more about the ISE, please contact me at 853-3518.

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Regards,

Ben Champoux
SESAME Officer - Officier du réseau SESAME
Business Development Specialist - Spécialiste en développement économique
Office of the City Manager - Bureau du directeur général
655 rue Main Street
Moncton, NB
Canada, E1C 1E8
Tel.: (506) 853-3518
Fax.:(506) 859-2610
www.moncton.ca

The Martell Home Builders Experience

Geeks on Ice must tip its hat to Martell Home Builders (http://www.themartellexperience.com/) for the best and most innovative exhibit at last weekend's Moncton Home Show. Martell Homes wanted to grab the attention of the public as well as other exhibitors and decided that unlike their competition, they would embrace the internet for greater transparency and collaboration with their customers.

Wanting to spread their message of unlike your husband, we listen and deliver within 99 days; Martell Homes have positioned themselves as THE premier digital based home builders in the world! To drive this message "home" they decided to interview passersby at the show and listen to what was on the mind of greater Moncton's movers and shakers....

Kudos to Martell Homes for having taken the digital lead over their competition and are maximizing the viral nature of the internet to spread their message to the world through YouTube. I encourage everyone to checkout the Geeks on Ice interview as well as others at http://www.youtube.com/user/martellhomes.

For those of you who have not heard yet about this growing company, check out Pierre Martell's interview with Gair Maxwell:

Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson Breweries.

What is Geeks on Ice?

For several months I have experience some degree of frustration in trying to explain to people what Geeks on Ice represents or what is our goal as a group. It is a very valid question and one that deserves an answer, so we have decided to come together and define who we are and what we offer (Value-Add).

Since 2003, groups of individuals and organizations have gathered at the Moncton 4 Ice Center to participate in an annual ritual of recreational hockey and networking while leveraging the assembly as charitable mechanism to serve the community we live and play in. Our progress as a group has resulted in business transactions taking place, employment opportunities revealed, co-workers bonding outside of a traditional office setting and showcases this region's knowledge economy.

We are excited about the positive impact GOI has had in the community and that is why our group decided to embark on a vision exercise to see how we can "export" our model to the rest of the world. The goal was to make the region a global leader on an international stage in relation to social economic development. Our mission was going to be eliminating the digital divide trough sport and transfer of professional expertise of those who want to join our team.

With such a mammoth task at hand, the group questioned whether the existing base of "Geeks" were enough to export our brand of digital hockey to the world? Change was inevitable and that's why we re-examined the entry criteria for the tournament. There is a perception out there that you need to be either from a software or hardware based organization to play in the tournament, this is false! Our entry requirements have always been broader then that definition because technology effects everyone in a 21st century digital economy...

In our best effort to define our target audience, we broadened the definition of Geeks on Ice. For 2008, our group would include organizations and individuals who share a passion for sports, community and technology.

This year's line-up certainly represents this bold new vision looking out towards 2012. Some teams playing in the tournament might puzzle our critics and skeptics who say we cannot reach our goal. We say, in a 21st century economy, anyone leveraging the power of the network (Internet/Technology) is a certified Geek on Ice!

Trevor MacAusland
Chairman & Founder
Geeks on Ice


Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson Breweries.

TJ: Geeks on Ice looking to welcome the world to Moncton by 2012

Melissa Dunne
For the Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday March 10th, 2008
Appeared on page B1
A world hockey tournament for "geeks" could be coming to Moncton by 2012.

Trevor MacAusland, founder of the annual high-tech industry hockey tournament Geeks on Ice, aims to grow the provincial event into a global phenom.

Over the next five years Geeks on Ice, which started as a regional event in the Hub City in 2003, is set to become a unique, global tournament, similar to the World Pond Hockey Championship held in Plaster Rock every year, says the 28-year-old founder.

Celebrating its fifth year in 2008, after taking 2004 off, Geeks on Ice has already grown from a regional tournament attracting less than a hundred players to signing up about 300 players for this year's charity tournament.

Continue...

Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson Breweries.

Geeks Hockey Tournament Deadline Approaches

March 7, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Moncton, NB -- Geeks on Ice need more teams for their 5th annual charitable recreational ice hockey tournament. Geeks on Ice will take place from April 17-20th, 2008 and is hosted by the Moncton 4 Ice Center in Moncton, NB.

Registration is open to teams and individuals (Free Agents) who are interested in lacing up for a great cause. Team registration is $800.00 and includes 3 games, access to the Par-T-Perfect Kid Zone for family members, food and beverage specials at the Slapshots Bar and Grill, access to the Molson Geekfest party, official Geeks on Ice dog tag, pocket protector and puck as well as tons of raffle prizes.

Deadline for registration is March 15th.

Organizers have taken great steps to provide an exciting fun filled weekend focused on networking, community involvement and family entertainment.

To register contact Michael Nied at 506-860-5963 or geeksonice@gmail.com. Tournament rules, pictures, videos featuring HNIC’s Ron Maclean and other event details are featured at www.Geeksonice.com.

Companies who have already answered the call for registration include Sun Microsystems, Skywire Software, Moncton Honda, Mariner Partners, Spielo(Gtech), Service Canada, Property Guys, Canada Post and eVolving Solutions.

Proceeds from Geeks on Ice are invested in technology upgrades for United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeaster NB Region member agencies. One of the agencies selected for investment this year this year is Ability Transit. The non-profit agency provides transportation service to persons with disabilities in Moncton since 1985.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to combine your passion for hockey, technology and community; answer the call for registration today!

We would like to thank our title sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Gold Sponsor Molson Breweries. Geeks on Ice is a knowledge industry partner with Rising Stars and the KIRA Awards.


Celebrating People(Rising Stars), Industry (KIRA) and Community (Geeks on Ice)

Calling all Players

Are you a player in New Brunswick's knowledge economy? Is your team looking for a way to bond outside of a traditional office environment? Are you interested in networking with your peers from across Atlantic Canada? Are your employees passionate about hockey, technology and community? If you said yes to each of these questions then answer our call for registration!

Registration is now open to organizations (Teams) and individuals (Free Agents) who are interested in playing in the annual charitable recreational hockey tournament from April 17-20^th, 2008 and hosted by the Moncton 4 Ice Center in Moncton, NB.

Registration for each team is $800.00 which includes 3 games, access to the Par-T-Perfect KidZone for your children, food and beverage specials at the Slapshots Bar and Grill, access to the Molson Geekfest party the evening of April 19^th, a Geeks on Ice dog tag, pocket protector and puck as well as tons of raffle prizes and the opportunity for your team to win an invitation to the Geeks on Ice World IT Hockey Championships to be played in May of 2009 in Moncton, NB. Hurry, registration deadline is March 15^th.

But I do not have enough employees that play hockey to ice a team? All you need is a minimum of 10 players to ice a team and participants can include friends, family members, business partners, clients, financiers and/or sales prospects. Organizers have taken great steps to provide an exciting fun filled weekend focused on networking with your peers and entertaining families.

How do I register? Registration is simple, contact Michael Nied at 506-860-5963 or email him at geeksonice@gmail.com. Tournament rules, pictures, videos featuring HNIC's Ron Maclean and other event details are listed on our website: www.GeeksonIce.com.

Companies who have already answered the call for this year's tournament include Sun Microsystems, Skywire Software, Mariner Partners, Spielo(Gtech), Service Canada, Property Guys and eVolving Solutions. Proceeds from the tournament are invested in technology upgrades for United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeaster NB Region member agencies.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to combine your passion for hockey, technology and community; answer the call today!

We would like to thank our title sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Gold Sponsor Molson Breweries. Geeks on Ice is a knowledge industry partner with Rising Stars and the KIRA Awards.

Celebrating People(Rising Stars), Industry (KIRA) and Community (Geeks on Ice)

Registration Deadline Extended

Registration has been going well since we resolved our technical issues, however; due to communication mix-ups the Tournament Committee Chair Jason Clements has decided to extend the registration deadline to March 15th.

Registration Fee: $800/team

If paying by cheque, please make it payable to: Geeks On Ice

You can send it to:

Michael Nied
Geeks On Ice
c/o Aditya Birla Minacs
720 Coverdale Road
Riverview NB E1B 3L8

If you have any questions or if you wish to make arrangements to submit your registration fee, please contact Michael Nied at 506-860-5963 or email him at geeksonice@gmail.com.

Registration Package:

Rules and Regulations (Click Here)
Player Contract (Click Here)
Team Registration Form (Click Here)

Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson Breweries.

T&T: Geeks use hockey to bridge 'digital divide'

Annual Geeks on Ice tournament raises funds to help provide computer technology for non-profit groups

By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Tuesday March 4th, 2008
Appeared on page A8

Geeks on Ice almost had a far less catchy name.

The five-year-old Moncton hockey tournament is made up of teams from the information technology sector. They get together for a weekend tournament that's part networking opportunity and part fundraiser for local charities.

Trevor MacAusland, of Skywire Software, came up with the idea for the event in spring 2003 but he was stuck on what to call it. At the Moncton Rotary Club luncheon yesterday, MacAusland told his audience all he could come up with was the long, rambling and incomplete, "New Brunswick Information Technology Annual . . . ."

"One of my co-workers, who's a smart Alec, said 'Bunch of geeks on ice.' I said, That's it! I'm going with that," MacAusland told the crowd.

Geeks on Ice has built itself into a 16-team tournament for men and women. This year it takes place at the Tim Hortons 4-Ice Centre from April 17-20. Teams can register up to March 15 at $800 per team and players who want to take part can register as a 'free agent' and be assigned to a team.

MacAusland spoke at the Delta Beauséjour yesterday, and mostly talked about the charitable side of the Geeks. He said the tournament has raised $15,000 to provide local non-profit organizations with computer equipment and technological upgrades.

"There's a gap between the digital haves and digital have-nots," he said. "It's the digital divide.

"Our mission is not to stop skating until we eliminate that digital divide."

The Geeks have already helped out several organizations. They've provided Support for Single Parents with refurbished laptop computers and the Tantramar Family Resource Centre received a digital camera to help document its work so it can apply for government grants.

Several other groups have received computer equipment, including fax machines, scanners and printers. MacAusland said they plan to branch out so local IT companies loan their network technicians to non-profit groups to help set up computer systems and ensure everything works properly.

This year the Geeks are focusing on the needs of Ability Transit, an organization that provides transportation to people with mobility problems due to a physical disability.

MacAusland said the Geeks are looking for more teams for this year's tournament, along with sponsors and volunteers.

Source: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/229840

Geeks on Ice would like to thank its 2008 sponsors the City of Moncton, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Molson.