{raffle? sweeps?} dinner with POTUS, FLOTUS at Sarah Jessica Parker’s in New York City

May 19, 2012 | I almost called this category “none of the above” because I’m not quite clear what we’re dealing with here. It’s not a sweeps, because you to contribute to enter. (At least I did; more on that below.) What does that make it? A raffle? A lottery? I went with raffle because lotteries tend to be run by the government. And even though this is, despite claims to the contrary, a raffle and not a sweeps, in my mind Barack Obama our first travel sweeps president. He’s been enticing folks with the chance to have dinner or lunch with him for years. Sometimes with raffles, and, because you don’t always have to contribute to enter, sometimes with sweeps. These meals are filmed and turned into a warm-and-fuzzy election promotions. Here’s one and another and another.

I entered the raffle for the dinner at George Clooney’s, too.  I loved that one of the two winners, a teacher from New Jersey named Beth Topinka, told New York Magazine she was something of a celebrity for having won:  “What was really special for us being there was how any celebrities came up to us — you’re not going to believe this — how many celebrities came up to us and said, ‘We want our picture taken with the contest winner!’” she told us. “They were handing their cell phones to, like, other celebrities to have their pictures taken with us.” She was also interviewed by Entertainment Tonight.

As for the raffle versus sweeps label, even NPR did not seem to note the distinction in this piece on Obama’s fundraising strategy. I must admit that I’m slightly confused by this. The email I received yesterday from Julianna Smoot, Deputy Campaign Manager of the Obama Campaign, inviting me and other grassroots supporters to enter for a chance to enter for this dinner with Barack, Michelle and Sarah, does not mention the word “sweepstakes.” Nor does Ms. Smoot’s email note that people can enter without making a contribution. And the landing page, which contains the entry portion and a link to the Official Rules, doesn’t use the word “sweepstakes,” either. The Official Rules however do. And the Official Rules clearly note that NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.

I tried to enter the George Clooney raffle without donating when I discovered after clicking around a bit that I could do as much, but there again I could not figure out how to do it. I have entered hundreds of travel sweeps since the spring of 2006, and I have always been able to figure out how to enter without making a purchase. This distinction arises most often with sweeps sponsored by magazines. They’re trying to get you to subscribe, but allow you to enter without subscribing. It’s always perfectly clear. Usually there’s a box to check, or a separate page on which to enter without subscribing to the magazine.

Now, why does this vex me as much as it does? Not because I want to be able to enter without making a contribution. Because I, as an Obama supporter, do not want to give fodder to the opposition. Plus, to put it bluntly, there’s something slippery about this. Also, as a travel sweepstress, I support user- and consumer-friendly sweepstakes, with clear labels and modes of entry. I’ve been reminding readers to read the fine print since my early days of sweepstaking. I’m not going to stop now.

To enter to win dinner at Sarah Jessica Parker’s home with the President and First Lady, click HERE. 

The email from the campaign appears after the jump.

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{UPDATE} travel sweeps blog + twitter status report

I wanted to update folks on the status of Travel Sweeps. I’m not closing shop, but I did want to let folks know that I only plan to post sporadically for the foreseeable future as my work ramps up and my thinking about my digital articulations evolves. That said, I’m playing with another website concept, and will post the news here if this latest idea amounts to anything. And it just might.

So, with no further ado, please note the following:

+ Yes, I will still be entering travel sweeps.

+ Yes, I will still be tweeting about travel sweeps. Please follow me @TravelSweeps.

+ Yes, if I come upon a particularly spectacular travel sweeps, I will blog about it.

+ Yes, I still hope to put together a sweeps, most likely to my fair city of Washington, D.C., if and when I do, I’ll announce that here, there and everywhere.

+ Yes, if I win a trip, I will absolutely shout the news from the highest mountain, and of course post the news here as well. With apologies to Emily Dickinson, hope drips eternal.

+ Yes, I still hope you’ll go for it. Remember, somebody’s got to win!

Thanks for dropping by,

Barbara

{SWEEPS} three nights at the el dorado royale in the riviera maya {ooh la la!}

You may have heard that the U.S. State Department extended its warning on Mexico travel last week. There is no warning for Quintana Roo, even though the region has had its share of drug-related violence over the past several years, so I can share this sweeps for four days at the El Dorado Royale Spa Resort with a relatively clear conscience. Before I get to that, I feel compelled to opine on the State Department’s travel warning presentation. This current warning on Mexico travel, dated February 8, 2012, supersedes a warning dated April 22, 2011, so almost a year ago. I find it problematic that there is no distillation, no summary, of the changes the State Department has made in the latest warning. I would find that useful.

I’m also surprised that there is no warning for Mexico City. Reports I’ve read in the press and heard from personal friends suggest that Mexico City is a pretty dangerous place these days. I’m not the first to note

The warning contains some chilling statistics: According to the most recent homicide figures published by the Mexican government, 47,515 people were killed in narcotics-related violence in Mexico between December 1, 2006 and September 30, 2011, with 12,903 narcotics-related homicides in the first nine months of 2011 alone.  While most of those killed in narcotics-related violence have been members of TCOs, innocent persons have also been killed.  The number of U.S. citizens reported to the Department of State as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011. 

What a shame for Mexico. The drug violence compromised the nation’s centennial celebration in 2010. The violence has also hurt the tourism industry.

I’m not giving up on Mexico altogether. Today I entered a sweeps for a fitness vacation, four days at El Dorado Royale Spa Resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya sponsored by FitStudio. From the website:  Join FitStudio experts and celebrity trainer, David Prichard, of “My Destination Wellness,” for four days of mind, body, and spirit rejuvenation. Winners will enjoy a unique lineup of physical conditioning classes, food tastings, nutrition workshops, one-on-one sessions with trainers, and chef-prepared healthy meals, against the backdrop of a lush, sandy beach.

Sigh, I could so use this. The sweeps closes March 25, 2012.

SWEEPS: 2 Nights in LA + Workout Inspiration + Wardrobe {no pain, no gain!}

Show me a person who doesn’t have “Get more exercise” as a New Year’s Resolution and I’ll ask for a really good explanation for the aberration. This is a New-Year’s-resolution-themed sweeps for a two-night trip to LA and a workout session with celebrity trainer Ashley Borden and a workout wardrobe, all from Lady Foot Locker. Enter daily through January 30. To enter, click HERE.