I just wanted to introduce myself and tell everyone why I am here. My father has been sweeping (his term for it was "contesting" even though he entered sweepstakes exclusively) since probably the 1970s. I first knew about it when he began subscribing to Contest Newsletter when I was a boy growing up in Blythe, Georgia.
He would sit and fill out 3x5 cards, licks stamps, etc. and the family thought he was nuts. He would occasionally win something small, and was always trying to get me involved (going so far as to order me a subscription to Contest Newsletter one year for my birthday when I was older).
A few years ago he won a 2005 Chevy Equinox. That was his biggest win ever.
On September 12th, 2009 we found out that my dad has terminal brain cancer with about a month to live (he's beaten their estimate a bit so far). I began doing the sweeps for him, sitting at the computer beside his bed. He still encouraged me to "start contesting". After doing it for him a while I began thinking that this would be the way to honor my daddy, to take up this "corny" little hobby of his (and maybe win something). (My wife and I have 3 daughters. Winning would be very nice.)
Dad's still with us, and so far I've won some hardwood floor cleaner from Shaw and a $10 BP gas card. Dad is quite proud.
Good luck, everyone!