I know it seems like just about every day, we’re announcing a new opportunity to win something from CMEpalooza for doing very little. But today’s opportunity might require the little-ist doing of all.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Academic CME, we’re bringing back our CMEpalooza Feeds the People feature, where you can earn a $20 Grubhub gift card, ideally to be used on the day of CMEpalooza Spring (Wednesday, April 16), though we don’t have that level of control over your actions. I can tell you that you won’t get the actual gift card until the morning of our Spring event, so you won’t have to exert any sort of unusual patience to let it lie until then.

If nothing else, you’ll join this illustrious list of winners of $100 Amazon gift cards from last week’s Signs of Spring sponsor event:

• Caitlyn Keenan, Associate Director of Accreditation, American Society of Addiction Medicine
• Sujita Adhikari, MPH, CPH, Senior Program Manager, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
• Carolyn O’Donnell, PharmD, Associate Director, Education Content Management, American Society for Health-System Pharmacists
• Nathalie Harden, Grants Administrator, Informa Connect
• Cindy Davidson, Editorial Manager, Scientific Affairs, Global Learning Collaborative

To earn one of the Grubhub gift cards we are doling out, all you need to do is be one of the first 25 people to click on this link and complete a very simple form. If you are No. 26, well, you’ll have to buy your own lunch (sorry). Based on previous years, this fills up fast (might have something to do with the lack of effort required), so don’t dilly or dally too much.

CMEpalooza Feeds the People sponsored by:

 

Before I forget, Derek has asked me to remind everyone that the 2025 Spring edition of the CMEpalooza STEPtacular Challenge begins on Monday. So if you have been doing the couch potato thing while watching four episodes of The Rookie each evening, perhaps this weekend would be a good time to get off your duff so that you are ready to get your steps in for when it really matters next week.

Now on to our blog entry for today…

Yes, you read correctly in the headline. I know that you have been procrastinating all week and telling yourself, “I know that I should make the CMEpalooza Signs of Spring a priority, but I can’t break myself away from these cute cat videos!” Well there friend, I’m here to tell you that Fluffy is going to need to wait, because the deadline to submit your entry (or entries if you are feeling particularly bold) is today at 5 pm ET.

If you need a reminder about how our special Sponsor event works, you can click here for all of the details, including links to the forms you need to download and instructions on how to find the answers. I would estimate that it will take you 10 minutes of research per entry if you work diligently. Maybe less. And I even have a special Friday bonus offer for you — because the answers to the April Fools Day category clues have gone “poof!” from the specific Sponsors’ websites, you can put down anything you want on your answer form in that section and I’ll give you credit. Who says I’m not a nice guy?

One question we often get from people is, “But if I win the CMEpalooza Sponsor contest and collect my $100 Amazon gift card, doesn’t that mean I will be disqualified from the many, many other giveaway opportunities being offered this spring?” And the answer to that is unequivocally, “No.” I am not sure that anyone has actually won multiple prizes in the same season (though we have had many repeat winners in certain giveaways over the years), but there is nothing in the official CMEpalooza rulebook prohibiting this.

So then what’s stopping you? Get to work, pilgrim.

Since Derek has curiously avoided his usual crutch of coming up with Top 10 lists when he doesn’t have a better idea for a blog post, I figured I’d step up to fill the void (note from Derek: point of clarification — I usually only do Top 5 lists. Top 10 lists are too much work.) So, in the wake of Monday’s announcement about our special sponsor event entitled CMEpalooza’s Signs of Spring, I thought I’d provide you with the Top 10 reasons you should spend time this morning doing something other than completing one or more contest entries.

That’s right – there is nothing more important than completing one or more contest entries this morning. No, not that grant proposal that is due “urgently.” No, not that outcomes report that your supporter asked for 2 days ago. No, not even that scheduled faculty call at 10 am. That can all wait. So put on your OOO for 30 minutes or so and get cracking on The Signs of Spring. (note from Derek: I take it back. Top 10 lists are not too much work if that is your list. Cheater.)

I’ll even give you a note for your boss if you need one.