Home and Family Report Added

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An all-new report has been added called the Home and Family Report. It is under the Personal Elf Reports section of the Tracker Reports page.

Santa himself requested this report. He said that some of the most urgent and distressing messages he receives each year comes from elves. He wanted to provide a way where special needs and conditions could be communicated before he gets to your neighborhood.

We are a little worried that this report may be sent too frequently or at inappropriate times. We want to remind you that this is one of those reports that are not sent until your Elf Supervisor calls for it. Some elves, in their anxiety to address concerns, can send a report repeatedly. We want to avoid that.

The Tracker Reports are becoming a bigger part of our jobs as trackers. Paying attention, filling out reports accurately and sending them at the right time matters. Some of this will be explain in the Elf Chats scheduled for later today and tomorrow. More training on this concern is coming during Christmas in July.

You will want to be paying attention.

Elf Supervisors to Hold Conference

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Elf Supervisors will be heading for a special conference called by Santa. The event will be held the week of April 18th in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

I’m told that Santa himself called for this conference and will be facilitating it with Elf Roger Star.

Given all the changes we have seen on this website plus others that are rumored to still be coming out of the Tracker Elf program this week-long event is no surprise.

Elves at the North Pole today were a bit surprised to hear of this event if only because to some it signals that an end to Toyvember is coming. Santa has not made an announcement in that regard but if that’s true then this Toyvember will fall short of a record in the length of time a Toyvember has been held.

For whatever reason, some elves are focusing on that milestone and are thinking that just because the Elf Supervisors are conferencing means that Toyvember will end.

I asked Santa that this morning after he was heading out of a meeting and he merely shook his head.

Two things make this Elf Supervisor event interesting: the length of time it will take (most conferences are two or three days) and the location of Costa Rica. Why there?

I talked to Elf Winslow about it (he’s an assistant now to Elf Ernest) and he told me Santa really likes to surf and that the beaches there are great.

I’ll try to confirm that.

Elf Roger did spend some time with me to explain the reasons behind this event. He said the changes to the tracker program will impact the Elf Supervisors even more than it will tracker elves.

Elfie Selfie Report Added

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The Elfie Selfie has been added to the Tracker Reports roster. Elf Max has started the revisions planned to the Tracker Reports page by making them all mobile friendly and by starting to add new reports.

The Elfie Selfie report will never be a required report because it’s not critical to Santa’s mission. But we added it for those elves who want to participate in contests and activities where the Elfie Selfie might be a part of it.

Elfie Selfie

The report is part of a new section on the Tracker Reports page called Personal Elf Reports. These are reports will be all new and, as of right now, we have six reports that will eventually populate this menu. Expect more announcements in the day ahead.

We have other new reports coming for the other categories on that page.

Why so many tracker reports?

As you will hear in the months ahead we will be shining a spotlight on tracker elf reports all year long and into the Santa tracking season.

You will want to pay attention to these new reports, become familiar with them and be ready to send them in when your elf supervisor calls for them.

Our mission-centric focus means doing more of these reports. More reports means more and better information for Santa.

More reports also means more points for you.

These reports are why we are here.

Even elves at the North Pole working other departments will receive training in these reports. You see, even me and others doing jobs like I do, become Santa trackers on December 23rd and 24th. We all use these reports.

So pay attention as Max gets these new reports up. It does not make any sense to send in these reports now. But you will want to familiarize yourself with them before the season hits, so you can properly track Santa for Santa.

Christmas in July Events Added

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Christmas in July events are beginning to populate the Elf Calendar.

Yesterday, North Pole Flight Command announced July 11th the day for the annual Tracker Press Conference. Traditionally this is when the year’s elf recruiting goal is announced.

Also as part of Christmas in July, the first of several promised events is now on the calendar:

Elfie Selfie

Christmas in July is a huge event at the North Pole with more plans soon to be announced both here and at SantaUpdate.com.

~ Events this Week ~

And don’t forget – this weekend in Elf Chat – Elf Max will be discussing a new points system at SantaTrackers.net that will soon be making it’s debut. There are actually TWO times scheduled for this chat. Saturday at 7pm EDT and Sunday at 5pm EDT.

Ten Possible Locations for Sector 4 Tracking Center

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I have heard back from the Locating Committee at Flight Command on our ten finalist locations for this year’s regional tracking center here in Sector 4. Last year’s location was in Natal, Brazil.

Here are the finalists:

  1. Milagro, Ecuador
  2. Kuummit, Greenland
  3. Somerset Village, Bermuda
  4. Saint Martins, Barbados
  5. Mary, Grenada
  6. Sucre, Bolivia
  7. Los Angeles, Chile
  8. Santa Fe, Argentina
  9. Grytviken, South Sandwich Islands
  10. Punta Arenas, Chile

As other sectors have been told, we might learn the final decision on this year’s location during Christmas in July. Stay tuned.

The Old #1

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Earlier this week Elf Roger Star shared a brief story in Santa’s Council. He told of visiting Santa in his home workshop and there getting into serious conversation. He said:

Mrs. Claus came out to bring us a few treats. She saw the serious look on our faces and not even knowing what we were talking about she said, “You boys need to lighten up.” I got to thinking about that last night and it occurs to me that we’ve forgotten something when it comes to our community standards. We need rule #1 to be “Have fun”.

The story drew many positive comments and Elf Max quickly amended the new Community Standards to reflect this rule.

But it is not a new rule.

I remember years ago, when I was just a kid in elf school, being told this rule. They called it the “old #1” – meaning this has been an axiom Santa has used for ever and ever and ever.

And that’s the thing about Santa.

You know how in some groups there is always that guy who is cheerful and smiling and messing around, even when there is heavy lifting or dirty work to do?

Santa is that guy.

He’s always whistling. He’s always telling a little joke. He’s always egging someone on to do something silly. There is a light energy to Santa, even when there is heavy responsibility in a task.

I think what Roger is saying is that given all the serious things we have been dealing with the past few years, and I think especially the past few months, we don’t want to forget to have fun.

Last year, as you may have heard, was a real trial for me. I was one of those who got really sick during the pandemic. You know, hospital kind of sick.

I’m okay now. But there was a lot I got out of that experience besides just getting really ill. I was bored much of them time. Healing for me was very slow. And I missed a lot of work. That is to say, I missed a lot of fun.

I missed the fun work working with others. I missed the fun of sharing ideas. I missed the fun of accomplishing good things together.

Well, now that I’m back I’m really appreciating the fun I’m having.

We have been working hard. I’ve been on the Elf University project. There’s been work on the Santa Tracker Herald Star. There’s a newsletter project at SantaUpdate.com you’ll soon hear about that has taken up a huge part of my work time. I have been writing and editing like crazy.

But working hard is just what we do.

Work does not have to something absent of fun. In fact, Santa insists that we have fun. It’s our #1 rule. We’re elves! It’s Christmas! It’s supposed to be fun, dummy.

I’m having the time of my life right now. Last year, when I couldn’t work and there was no fun to be found, I was miserable.

I don’t ever want to go through that again.

I commend Elf Max on the good work he’s doing here on the website. I commend Elf Roger and Santa for leading us into new things that are sure to make life as a tracker elf both more work and more fun. Things are looking good.

Having fun is a reminder that the work we do does not need to always be so serious. The serious side of things comes from somewhere happy. Santa wants to improve things so that we can accomplish more. That not only means we get more done.

It means we take greater pride in what we do.

It means we make more people happy.

It means we have more fun.

It means we keep and honor the Old #1.

Elf PIN Can Now Be Set

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An Elf Personal Identification Number can now be set for every account at SantaTrackers.net.

The Elf PIN is designed as a safety and security feature. Using an Elf PIN will be an added means of us knowing a submission actually comes from you. It will be added to job applications, tracker reports and other submission forms soon.

Fraud in the elf world is rare. But this added feature will ensure the North Pole gets the information that you intend. Going forward, new accounts, both for Freelance Elves and for North Pole Elves, will register with an Elf PIN.

Please set your Elf PIN. You can change your Elf Pin at any time.

For existing accounts, please see this page or fill out the form below.

Thank you and have a nice day.

[caldera_form id=”CF6235b64ce1d47″]

Changes in the Elf World

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Santa Trackers Podcast
Santa Tracker Podcast
Changes in the Elf World
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Changes in the Elf World are afoot due to a report submitted to Santa by Elf Roger Star.

The report showed that very few of the 200 million registered elves the program has gathered in the past five years are actually sending in tracker reports to help track Santa for Santa. The topic has been a big part of the conversation between Santa and Elf Roger and it has already led to many changes. The website changeover is indicative of the changes yet to be announced and rumors in North Pole media have started to make some elves nervous.

In this episode Elf Frank Myrrh grills Elf Crash Murphy about what he knows and what he can say about the changes to come. Elf Crash explains that after 5 years Santa remains committed to the program but that changes are inevitable.

Take a listen to this episode at the all-new podcast page.

Leprechauns Are Not Elves

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Tis the week of St. Patty’s Day and a lot of people like that.

I don’t.

There are many who seem to think that leprechauns are elves.

They aren’t.

They are Irish. For whatever reason they tend to be male (most have beards). And leprechauns wear a lot of green.

Leprechaun

Leprechauns are famous for being mischievous. That’s a nice way of saying they are punks. Evidently the life of a leprechaun involves making shoes and hiding coins in hidden pots of gold at the end of rainbows.

How in the world does that make them elves?

It doesn’t. But more on that in a minute.

The true appeal to leprechauns is the belief that they can grant wishes. That’s why one of the big traditions of St. Patrick’s Day is to try and capture a leprechaun.

I don’t know why people believe in this stuff.

I mean, if leprechauns can really grant wishes don’t you think they’d wish for something other than green to wear?

When was the last time green was a decent color for any kind of clothing? Green shirts? Okay – within reason. Green pants? Uh, no. Green socks? Uh-huh. Green underwear? Are you out of your mind? If a leprechaun cannot grant himself a reasonable wish about something as simple as clothes, what’s he really going to do for you?

Now let’s get back to this elf business and leprechauns supposedly being elves.

We see it every year. St. Patrick’s Day comes around and everything Irish is in fashion. I don’t think that makes a lot of sense but good for the Irish, I guess. I’ll keep my heritage, thank you, and wish the Irish well.

But already the mail is coming in to the North Pole Post Office this week and the question is almost universal: Are elves leprechauns?

No.

I’ll say it again – no.

In fact, Santa does not even celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Why?

Well, he’s not Irish.

He loves Ireland. Has a lot of fans there. The culture there is friendly, the people very nice and it is a pretty place indeed.

In fact, Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle – emerald, as in a color, not a gem. Emerald is a beautiful green color. Hence, everything green on St. Patrick’s Day. Who was St. Patrick? He was the patron saint of Ireland. During his lifetime he did a great deal to convert the people of Ireland. March 17th became his feast day.

Again, Santa finds all that very interesting.

But he won’t be dressing in green, drinking dubious liquids or eating a lot of cabbage on the 17th. He wishes the Irish well, just as he wishes well the citizens of any country or region who celebrates their heritage. But Santa is not Irish and will never be Irish.

Certainly there are some elves from Ireland. They are free to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But they are not free to call themselves both an elf and a leprechaun. You are free to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, too. But you are not free to call yourself an elf and a leprechaun at the same time either. They are not the same thing.

They are not connected in any way.

An elf, you see, is something that these days squarely belongs to Santa and the North Pole.

Leprechauns cannot ever be tied to Santa, the North Pole or anything other than Ireland.

Leprechauns are creatures of Irish folklore. That means they are not really known for anything other than being known for nothing.

No one has actually seen a leprechaun. Ever.

Many dress up like leprechauns. But no one has seen one or caught one, for that matter. And that’s a thing of St. Patrick’s Day – to catch a leprechaun. Maybe that’s why we get so many questions about them. Maybe there are elves out there concerned about being kidnapped. Maybe they fear being confused for a leprechaun.

But no elf should ever have this worry. Leprechauns have never been caught.

Have you ever noticed that? They are allegedly “magical” if you catch one. But catching one has never been done.

Elves, of course, are completely different from leprechauns.

Elves work to serve others, not elude them. Elves can be caught, and have been caught, many times. Elves alone will tell you they do not employ any magic in what they do. In fact, they serve Santa who very clearly works hard in doing all that he does.

It’s all visible.

It’s all out there.

It’s all real.

Leprechauns are just the opposite. They disappear on March 18th. And no one thinks about them again until the week of St. Paddy’s the next year.

Why?

Because little green men belong to Mars. Not earth. They claim everything and actually do nothing. That’s definitely very un-elf-like.

Be glad you’re an elf.

People will want to be like you. Nobody really wants to be green and disappear every March 18th.

Elf Crusader Joins Senior Elf Staff

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Elf Crusader, North Pole Zoologist, famed podcaster, and all-around good elf has agreed to accept a promotion to Senior Elf. Crusader is a friendly voice and consistent presence in the elf community.

He has accepted the responsibility of joining a select group of elves. He will help moderate the community as well as serve on Santa’s Council to be an influence in the continuing development of the Tracker Elf program.

The Senior Elf position is new and still evolving. We want enough senior elves on staff to providing a guiding presence 24-hours a day. These elves have admin level authority, giving them the means to serve new elves as mentors, existing elves in getting support, and the Executive Team in meeting goals and expectations.

We are working hard to fill the Senior team with enough elves so that the work does not overshadow the greater work of being trackers. The job is intended to be fun but not so absorbing as to dominate the schedule of the elves who serve in this capacity.

Elf Crusader will bring a fun energy to the group. He’s a relentless ambassador of the Christmas spirit and a stalwart believer in Santa.

We remind all elves that we are still accepting applications for this position. For more information, please see this post.

Introducing Elf Community Standards

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After review from Santa’s Council we announce new Elf Community Standards. This effort is a result of difficult activity experienced over the past year as more new elves have joined. We hope all elves will review these.

Community Standards are rules and policies related to how the Elf Community here on SantaTrackers.net is managed. They are designed to guide elf behavior and aid in keeping SantaTrackers.net a safe place.

While these policies and rules are now clearly stated you should not expect to see a big change in how the site is operated. We have always operated by the standards. We issue them now to be clear about how we work and what expectations are of you.

We also want to be certain to communicate that this list can and likely will change over time. We welcome your feedback and suggestions as we further work to maintain the community.

Four New Senior Elves Named

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We are pleased to announce four new Senior Elves have been named and will join Santa’s Council. They are Elf Nic, Elf Kringle, Elf Lil Cream and Elf Radar.

This is a very diverse addition to our Senior Elf staff. Elf Nic hails from Sector 3, our 2nd Senior Elf from that part of the world. Elf Nic has a load of technical experience and brings a strong voice from the UK to the table.

Elf Kringle is our youngest senior elf but one of the longest serving elves on SantaTrackers.net. She will represent a lot of minor-aged elves who frequent the site and are growing in numbers. Elf Kringle has proven herself to be reliable, faithful and consistent. We are so happy to have her as a part of this group.

Elf Lil Cream likewise represents this younger group, although her visibility and talents with public relations has served SantaTrackers well these past few years with her podcast and efforts on social media. Lil has great ideas, isn’t shy, and always looks to build the community.

Elf Radar is actually representative of a family of elves, a great group who has been consistently engaged in the elf efforts here for quite a while. We look forward to the many great perspectives they will bring to the table.

Please note that not ALL of the Senior Elf positions are yet filled and that I continue to hold conversations with several candidates. We expect more announcements of additions to this group in the weeks ahead.

Santa’s Council is a group comprised not only of the new Senior Elf team here on SantaTrackers.net but also members of the Executive team and the Operations team from the North Pole. The council is headed by Santa himself. They worked together to address difficult issues that come up in the Elf Community and to decide policy as it relates to Tracker Elves.

The Senior Elves at SantaTrackers.net are a vital addition to Santa’s Council and they are making history with their inclusion in that group. They are the “voice of the Tracker Elf”.

We appreciate all those who are willing to serve in these capacities. As SantaTrackers.net continues to evolve we feel confident in adding these valuable elf resources to aid us in helping Santa with his mission.