Where is Elf Crash?

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Joel here. Remember me? Santa’s calendar guy?

Yeah, my job sucks right now. Santa took off, nobody can reach him, everyone wants to meet with him and I can only book things for November and December.

That’s not exactly a great time for Santa.

That means everyone is mad at me. You see, Santa could come back this week or sometime in the fall. I don’t know. So I don’t dare put anything on his calendar. He told me to just tell people “no”. And they don’t like that.

I’m not the elf everyone should be mad at right now. They should be mad at Elf Crash Murphy.

I’m hearing lots of complaints.

Since Crash was named International Director of Santa Trackers there have been nothing but questions.

Where are the elf reviews? Are we recruiting new elves this year or not? What about the regional tracking centers – when do we get word of those? How about Santa’s sleigh and the test flight schedule?

But we haven’t had a single word from our intrepid new International Director. Not a chat, not a radio news report, not a podcast. Nothing. Zip. Nada. Zilch. A big donut from the new director.

Am I mad?

Well…not exactly. I’m just bored if you want to know the truth.

I’m working at Mrs. Claus’ new office because Santa’s office is, well, empty and dark. Plus, getting away from there means that people have to come find me if they want to be told “no” about adding something new to Santa’s calendar. I find hiding out over here is a good strategy.

Since I’m not calendaring I’m doing a lot of filing. Elf Trixie has me shuffling paperwork – filing last year’s weather reports from Flight Command. Very boring. It snowed nearly every day last year at the North Pole. Did you know that? Yeah, I know, who cares, right?

Anyways, one of my new passions is, well, tracking Santa. Like many of you I’m a tracker elf. After all, what is there for Santa’s calendar guy to do on Christmas Eve?

So I’ve been deep in Elf University, catching up on all the Santa Tracker Podcasts and doing all I can to be ready to track Santa for Santa this year. Just like all of you.

And I have questions. Questions that only Elf Crash, our new director, can answer. And he appears to have gone silent. Which is really weird for a guy like Crash.

Yes, I know Crash. I’ve known him actually since I was a kid and he was a tape dispenser repair elf in the Wrapping Department.

He’s a good guy.

But where the heck is he?

Like everyone else, I really feel Crash is the right guy to be our director.

I want to hear from him. I have questions. There are things I think we need to know. Now. Not at Christmas in July. Not in the fall when all the tracker elves will be back in abundance. Now.

Where is Elf Crash?

Leadership Changes Announced at the North Pole

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Mrs. Claus today announced major restructuring of North Pole leadership.

In prepared comments signed by Santa in advance of his recent trip around the world Mrs. Claus said the changes have been made necessary by the growing nature of Santa’s mission and the needs of a changing world.

The restructuring means changes for many elves in many departments.

Operation Merry Christmas, which is what Santa calls all that he does, is run by four major departments at the North Pole: Production, Distribution, Operations and Public Relations.

The Department of Production is headed by new Senior Vice President, Elf Wally. Wally has for years headed the Wrapping Department at the North Pole. From that vantage point Wally was well positioned to observe all the moving pieces that make up North Pole production. Under his direction all North Pole manufacturing production of toys, stockings, wrapping, decoration and foods will continue under unified leadership.

The Department of Operations is managed by Elf Olivia M. Peters, a long-time North Pole resident who has worked in the administrative offices of Santa Claus for decades. She is a trusted voice to Santa, an operations professional with years of expert experience in coordinating North Pole events. The following departments will report to her: North Pole Security, the North Pole Department of State, the Research and Development Department, the Department of Traditions, Medical and Safety.

The Distribution Department will be headed by Elf Gertrude Gates, a former certified sleigh pilot, sleigh traffic controller, fleet manager and distribution executive in North Pole Flight Command. Gerty is a legend of sleigh flight, having logged thousands of hours as a test pilot and scout support over generations of Christmas Eve flights. She is a logistics and distribution expert and one of Santa’s most trusted advisors. North Pole Flight Command and Reindeer Operations departments will be her responsibility going forward.

Continuing in his role as Senior Vice President of Public Relations, Elf Ernest now adds several departments related to his list of responsibilities. The North Pole Post Office, which continues in its role to manage all internal and external communications worldwide for the North Pole, will now report to Elf Ernest and continue to be managed by Elf Hugo Slavia.

The News Department, which has grown rapidly the past 20 years under Elf Ernest’s leadership, will now be headed by Elf Ed Zachary, legendary North Pole reporter who will work under Elf Ernest’s direction. Cyber Operations, which includes all official North Pole websites, apps and social media channels, is a newly formed department that will expand into new areas of e-commerce and charitable outreach, will also be under Elf Ernest’s direction. The Department of Records, an extension formerly of the North Pole Post Office, will be re-organized this year and report to Elf Ernest.

These four broad departments – Production, Operations, Distribution and Public Relations – will each re-organize and announce more changes soon. Thousands of elves are expected to change roles, achieve promotions, and expand responsibilities in the coming weeks ahead. Here is a chart that outlines the new organizational structure:

Leadership Changes

(Click the image to see an expanded view)

Details of some of these changes will be provided in the weeks and months ahead. We encourage you to check back frequently for updates.

International Director of Santa Trackers Named

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Elf Roger Star, new director of North Pole Flight Command, announced today a new International Director of Santa Trackers. Elf Crash Murphy, famously called the Ultimate Santa Tracker, has been promoted to the position.

Elf Crash Murphy was the inspiration for the Tracker Elf program instituted by Santa in 2016. As Kringle Radio’s “Eye-in-the-Sky” reporter, Elf Crash has dutifully followed Santa in a chaser sleigh every Christmas Eve for years, giving live radio reports of Santa’s activities on his annual sleigh ride.

His Santa tracker efforts led to the idea that millions of believers around the world could be deputized to “track Santa for Santa”, aiding the Big Guy by reporting on local conditions in advance of Santa’s arrival in neighborhoods, villages, towns and cities worldwide.

Since that time millions of people of all ages have taken the Elf Oath and engaged with North Pole Flight Command as “tracker elves”.

Elf Crash Murphy now leads this growing group of elves, replacing Elf Roger Star, who headed up the pilot program for years under Santa’s direction.

“Elf Crash Murphy is the natural leader for this group,” said Elf Ernest, Senior Vice President of Public Relations, which operates the News Department at the North Pole. Elf Ernest has been Crash’s boss as part of his radio assignments. “Nobody knows these elves better. He has contributed hours to their training. He participates in regular chats and podcasts and news reports, all aimed at support of the elf community. We’re thrilled for him.”

Elf Crash begins his assignment immediately. By special arrangement with Santa, Elf Crash will continue his broadcasting duties every Christmas Eve.

As the new International Director of Santa Trackers it is expected that Elf Crash will continue to participate in North Pole podcasts and radio news reports in that capacity.

Elf Roger Star Gets a Promotion

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In a surprise announcement today Mrs. Claus said that Elf Roger Star will take up duties as the new director of North Pole Flight Command, effective April 1st.

Elf Roger has been serving as the International Director of Santa Trackers where he led the elf community at Santa Trackers.net.

Mrs. Claus explained in her written announcement that the promotion for Elf Roger is the first of several restructuring changes at the North Pole that will be rolled out over the next few weeks and months.

That means the job Elf Roger has had for six years as International Director of Santa Trackers will be held by someone else soon.

Elf Sandy Claus is taking applications and screening candidates now. It is expected that Mrs. Claus and Elf Roger Star will name a replacement in the coming weeks.

Interested elves should contact Elf Sandy as soon as possible.

Mrs. Claus Stands in for Santa

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Mrs. Claus has taken charge in the absence of Santa Claus while he goes on walkabout. News of Santa’s travels broke at SantaUpdate.com yesterday.

As noted at North Pole Flight Command this morning, Mrs. Claus has set up office at Santa’s Workshop and chosen Elf Trixie to be her Chief of Staff while Santa is gone.

For the Elf Community at SantaTrackers.net, Elf Trixie says that Mrs. Claus will be meeting with Elf Roger Star this next week for an update on the various projects already in progress for the tracker elf community.

As for Elf Trixie, I am her boss in her regular duties, and while serving Mrs. Claus as Chief of Staff I have been told that Trixie will continue in her regular reporting duties for North Pole News and here at SantaTrackers.net.

We have all been told that even though Santa will be absent for a while we can expect things to carry on normally.

North Pole Chat Scheduled

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A North Pole Chat will be held on Saturday, April 15th at 1pm EST on SantaUpdate.com.

We do not know who the scheduled guest will be but Elf Ernest tells me it will be likely the most important chat of the year.

We expect to know who the guest will be in about a week, so stand by for another announcement soon.

It has been about two months since our last chat so it is expected that a lot of news about the progress of Operation Merry Christmas 2023 will be discussed.

We hope you can join us.

300 Days Until Santa’s Launch

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300 days remain until Santa’s launch from the North Pole for Christmas 2023. It is a Sunday and the countdown clocks everywhere here at the North Pole mark the snowy milestone.

300 Days

Here is where we stand on Operation Merry Christmas so far:

– The Sleigh Committee is meeting daily in Flight Command to explore new designs and to approve a development schedule for this year’s sleigh. Santa will not be participating in this process this year.

– Elves from the Locations Committee are at work traveling in each sector to develop a list of finalists for Regional Tracking center locations to be used this year.

– Santa has met with all department heads, and all department heads and supervisors are meeting individually with elves to discuss goals for the new year.

– Santa’s Workshop has preliminary production data for toys to be made this year. Elves are hard at work at this time making “classics” – which are toys that have passed the test of time and are made each year – while other elves are still working on obtaining supplies and materials for new projects anticipated for later in the year.

Other elements of the season, such as eggnog, candy canes, stockings, tree stars and Santa tracker maps are all in the planning and development stages.

Also, Elf Training is in full swing at this time.

With 300 days to go, it appears all is on track for Operation Merry Christmas.

Applications Open for Santa’s Council

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Hello, Elves! Even though the work of the website remodel/upgrade by Elf Max is underway, I have been authorized to proceed with this year’s hiring.

We will be doing these in stages, starting with the Executive Group.

The positions in this group that will likely be of most interest to you are for Santa’s Council or the Senior Elf group.

Santa’s council is a special group of elves who discuss items of concern to the Elf Community with executive elves and even Santa himself. This council gives Santa insight into the concerns of elves and helps make decisions.

You can apply to become a member of Santa’s Council at this link.

The Senior Elf Group is made of up of elves only who are leaders in the community.

You can apply to become a member of the Senior Elf Group at this link.

Applications for both groups will remain open until June 1st. It is not yet known what the hiring or interviewing process will be but you can bet Santa will be directly involved in interviewing for Santa’s Council.

Elf Jobs Update

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As a follow up to our elf job restructuring announcement of last week here are some new details for those sending in questions about how elf jobs will now work.

Elf Sandy of the Elf Resources Department will soon be posting for elf positions.

The first positions to be filled will be at the executive level: for example, my job as International Director of Santa Trackers, will be posted.

Executive level jobs include:
– Elf Supervisors
– News Director
– Santa’s Council
– Senior Elves
– Sector Leads

These positions will be posted and filled between February 1st and March 1st.

Beginning in March, other jobs will be posted. They will be the same or slightly adjusted versions of the jobs now posted at the Elf Jobs page.

ALL jobs will be filled by September 30th.

Any new elves recruited to and joining the Elf Community after September 30th will just be tracker elves for the upcoming season and ineligible for any other job until they open again on December 26th for the next year.

Here are some answers to common questions now coming in to me and to Elf Resources:

Q: Will my job badges change?
A: Not yet, and when or if they do, they will reflect the elf jobs you have had in the past. So your profile page that shows all your badges will reflect all of your experience as an elf – a kind of visual elf resume.

Q: Can I get the same elf job I had previously.
A: Yes, that’s going to be possible.

Q: Will I be able to have more than 1 elf job.
A: Yes, in some, but not all, circumstances.

Q: Will qualifications be changing for all elf jobs?
A: Maybe, but only just a little.

Q: Is it possible a new elf job would mean a transfer to the North Pole?
A: That’s always possible.

Q: Is it possible that I can’t get an elf job because of my record as an elf?
A: Yes, longevity as an elf matters. But what you DO as an elf matters more.

Q: Is it bad that I don’t get an elf job? Can I just stay a tracker elf?
A: No, it’s not bad at all. Take your time.

Q: Will Santa or someone else ASK me to apply for a certain elf job?
A: Yes, that might happen.

Q: Will Santa interview me?
A: It depends on the job, but yes, that’s possible.

Q: Will I have an elf supervisor?
A: Yes and no. Yes, as a tracker elf. Your sector will have a director who will remain your supervisor over tracking duties. Other elf jobs may or may not have a supervisor.

Q: If you, Elf Roger, have to re-apply to be International Director, does that mean you are NOT the International Director now?
A: Until we apply and get a new elf job we remain in our old roles.

If you have additional questions please feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Site Upgrades Scheduled

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Our website will soon experience a light remodeling and site upgrades.

This is scheduled to happen between January 29th and February 2nd. It is possible the site may need to be closed for brief periods of time while this work is completed.

Last year was a major project in rebuilding. This year the work will be less extensive.

Right now we’re working on a list of improvements and upgrades that need to be done, including several overdue site fixes.

We welcome your input. Please share your ideas and site feature requests in the comment area below.

We do not yet know the extent of cosmetic site upgrades. That is still being discussed. However, we welcome your input on possible changes there.

As we get closer to the 29th, and as I understand better what needs to happen, we may make additional announcements regarding changes to site features.

Elf Evaluations Begin

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The annual elf evaluation process has started.

My part in this process begins today by purging our membership ranks of inactive elves. Those elves without a recorded log in during the past 90 days will be “retired”.

Other elves will be retired for other reasons, most associated with behavior unbecoming an elf. There are very few of those and most have already been retired.

Elf Supervisors are in the middle of evaluations for active elves. Their reviews will be posted soon for individual elf review.

If you have any questions or want to appeal any review or evaluation decisions being made please use the support link below.

The Job Comes First

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Hi. Joel here. At the Pole, as ever.

Elf Joel

Lots of confused elves running around here. Elf Roger’s announcement yesterday has thrown everyone into a tizzy.

Some elves here didn’t come in to work.

They aren’t mad. They just don’t know if they still do what they were doing before. So they stayed home, waiting to see if they need to apply for a job.

Elf supervisors in departments all over the North Pole are busy calling elves in to work.

It was bound to happen.

It didn’t happen to me. I’m here, outside Santa’s office. Doing my usual thing with Santa’s calendar.

There was no way I wasn’t coming to work.

Can you imagine the chaos?

You see, nobody else knows how to do my job. I’ve done it for so long. And I have never trained another elf to do it. If I get sick and can’t come in to work, Santa’s calendar world stops.

Nobody else can manage Santa’s calendar, not even Santa.

We did talk about this last year during my review. I asked Santa, “What if I get hit by a bus?” Santa just laughed. Then he admitted that maybe we should organize a little succession plan for the Santa Calendar Department, as he put it.

He told me to put that on his calendar.

Haha. Santa is such a jokester sometimes.

Anyways, every time there are changes at the North Pole – and there are constant changes – elves tend to freak.

There is a lot of freaking out going on right now at the North Pole.

Every January something like this happens.

I remember the year when Mrs. Claus said the elf hats worn in the North Pole kitchen might not be white any more. She was thinking red would be a lovely change. Well, that freaked out the kitchen elves like nothing else. There were elves seriously shopping for new shoes that very day just because of the possibility of red hats.

That’s why these days important individuals like Mrs. Claus or Elf Roger are really, really careful about what they say in January.

As elves we take our jobs very seriously. Our elf job is part of our elf identity. I like that sometimes but most of the time, it bothers me a little. As Santa’s calendar elf I’m known everywhere here for that.

But I’m not anyone important. I don’t make decisions. I write things down in pencil and erase things a great deal. That doesn’t make me important in any way.

Santa is important.

Not me. Just because I work for the Big Guy doesn’t mean I’m someone.

I often wonder what it feels like to be just a regular guy who is not an elf. Like a bus driver, or something.

In the real world, do people see you and recognize you by your job?

I don’t think so.

If I were just Joel from Toledo, or somewhere, and I drove a bus would they call me Bus Driver Joel? I kind of doubt it.

But here, at the North Pole, I’m Elf Joel – the elf with the office just outside of Santa’s office. Most don’t even know my name. I’m that Santa calendar guy.

That’s so uncool. I don’t like it at all.

But that’s the way it is and I accept it. Heck, I embrace it.

I even called my Mom the other day. “Who is this?” she asked. I said, “It’s me, Mom. Your son, Joel?”

She said, “Who?”

I said, “You know, Santa’s calendar elf?”

“Oh, oh, oh…” she said.

She was just teasing.

She knows I’m sensitive about this. But I took her serious. I always fall for that.

But I took her serious because that’s my job. I’m an elf. I’m Santa’s calendar elf. That’s who I am. That is what I respond to. The job is everything to an elf.

And that, I suppose, is why so many elves are freaking out today.

I get it. I understand it.

But I tell you: relax.

Being an elf is good enough. Or, at least it should be. Being a particular kind of elf doesn’t matter at the end of the day.

You’re an elf. Think about that.

That makes you special.