Sector 3 Has a Big Week

Greetings, Elves!

Sorry I’m late with this week’s report – it’s getting so busy. Here are our elf numbers for this week:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 22,999
Freelance Tracker Elves: 4,125,763
Total Tracker Elves: 4,148,762

As you can see, we doubled in North Pole Trackers in just a week – and over all we improved 43% in our elf count. Our tracker elf report numbers are even better:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 147,194
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 17,740,781
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 17,887,975

As these numbers show, a much better return on reports are coming from our North Pole Trackers versus our Freelance Trackers. So, the easy answer for more and better reports is to simply get more North Pole Elves.

Know anyone?

Feedback from Santa:
Thanks, elves, for another great week in Sector 3. I asked for information from home last week from you elves and the response was tremendous. Now it’s time to take a look around publicly. Rolf is going to ask you guys for some very public information this week. I need to know this now, so please give it your time and attention. I’m feeling pretty good about getting around Sector 3 this year. But I’m not sure how everyone there is feeling about Christmas. I’m hoping this week you can tell me. Thanks! — Santa

Please follow this direction and send in this information for this week:

  1. Let’s do another Local Christmas Report – click here
  2. We need more Public Observance Reports – click here
  3. A weather update – click here
  4. A few more Chimney Inspections – click here
SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Halfway to our Report Goal

Hello Trackers!

As we approach the final full week before Christmas I’ve got some good news…and some bad news. First, the good news:

We have crossed over the halfway point to our goal. As of late this morning, we are over 500 million tracker reports so far this season.

This is historic. We have never had so much good information before. Our analysts are busy stuffing the database Santa will use when he takes flight with information he’s never had before. If he left right now, he would have roughly ten times the amount of current information than he has ever had in the past.

If we were to stop everything right now, we’d have set a record and Santa would be flying more prepared than ever before. Congratulations and THANK YOU.

And, now the bad news:

We have crossed over the halfway point to our goal.

500 million is only half of what Santa says that we need. And it has taken us all year to get to this part. That leaves us just 12 days to get the other half billion.

Can it be done?

Well, we know that it always comes down to the last two weeks. Every year. But this year is different because we’re chasing a report goal, not an elf goal.

How many elves do we have?

In all five sectors we now claim a total of more than 46 million elves.

Doing straight math, if those 46 million elves just did about 11 reports EACH in our last 12 days, we’d meet the goal.

But that’s a really dumb way to think about it.

We’re going to get millions of new elves in the next 12 days. And those elves are going to give us more reports than just 11 reports, right?

So, relax. Listen to your elf supervisor. Send in the reports he or she is asking for. Be ready to report on something new once Santa takes flight. We’ll make that goal, don’t you worry.

Now, on a topic entirely different.

You might hear some weird stuff over the next 12 days about Santa’s sleigh. Don’t freak over it. It doesn’t concern us, okay. Let’s keep our eye on Santa and getting our job done in helping him get around the world no matter he flies, alright?

Elf Roger Star

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Santa Answers Questions

Santa here. I send greetings to my fellow elves! Thank you for your excellent work so far this season. We have a couple of weeks to go and I was asked by the organizers of the Tracker Elf Conference to participate in Questions and Answers. You elves supply the questions and I supply the answers.

We have been at this a couple of weeks. These are all questions that came in from the Tracker Elf Conference survey. We have filtered out the usual “What am I getting for Christmas?” and “What time will you be to my house?” kind of questions. We want to focus on tracking, getting around the world, and fulfilling our goals for Operation Merry Christmas.

Here we go:

Q: How does your sleigh fit so many presents?
A: It holds a lot but not the whole world’s worth of presents. Long before I launch from the North Pole there is an effort called Operation Airlift which is run by North Pole Flight Command. They launch thousands and thousands of sleighs before, during and after my launch. These sleighs are mostly freighters that move things around. Part of that operation is a complicated process that sees my sleigh constantly re-supplied. As I stop and make visits in homes those sleighs and the elves and reindeer assigned to them re-supply my sleigh. All night long this happens, all over the world. It is a massive operation largely unseen by the world. Part of the magic of Christmas Eve is that it is the one night of the year when seeing a flying sleigh is really possible because there are thousands of sleighs out there – not just me. Great question. 

Q: What’s the hardest problem while taking the big trip, and is their anything we can do to help you out?
A: The biggest challenge is not knowing what I’m going to run into. That is why what you are doing now, in the weeks before I launch, is so helpful. The more I know about a home, a neighborhood, the weather, trees, fences, dogs, traffic, new construction, etc. the better I am able to do my job. The best thing you can do is to be thorough in your reports and think like I have to think when I fly. Be eyes up. When you see something that would concern anyone coming into your neighborhood with a huge sleigh and flying reindeer, say something. 

Q: How many tracker elves would you like to see do their job this year? Why do you love the tracker elf program?
A: We used to worry about how many elves. We thought the more elves we have the more reports we get. We learned that’s not true. We made changes this year to weed out the people who wanted to be elves but wouldn’t do the work of elves. We have fewer elves this year than last year. That does not matter because we are getting more reports and better reports this year. I am expecting MUCH better results in my flight this year because I simply have better information. I love the fact that we have whittled things down to elves who really care, really work and really celebrate Christmas. This is fun. 

Q: Can you magically just fly?
A: No. No magic about it. It takes training, talented reindeer, talented elves, expertly designed sleighs and lots of speed to fly. 

Q: Does Santa give gifts to grown-ups too who believe, or just to kids?
A: This isn’t a tracking question but I feel it is an important one. There are no grown ups to me. Just children. So the answer is yes. Understand? 

Q: How is the sleigh situation going?
A: Pretty rough. Not too worried about it though. 

Q: Dear Santa, Thank you for everything. If you could answer one question, have I been being useful to you as an elf so far? I would appreciate it if you could tell me specifically what more I need to do to be a better elf for you as a tracker elf, an elf educator, or a reindeer therapist?
A: Hi, Elf Ulan. You are an exceptional elf precisely because you ask questions like this. You are extremely helpful to me, especially as you share information about your country and customs. Your voice, as is the voice of every elf, is very important. So keep talking. Keep participating. Keep sharing. Keep asking questions. Your elf supervisor keeps track of your performance. If there are problems you will hear from them. As for me, I’m very happy to have you as an elf, doing all that you do. 

Q: Do you remember me?
A: Of course. I remember every believer and every elf, even those who live in California. I think this question comes from a different thing than just one particular person living in one particular place. It comes from being a little older and experiencing Santa different as an adult. Am I right about this? Yes, it changes as you change. But I always remember you. Remember that. 

Q: Who is the most amazing elf?
A: Hahaha – trick question! Mrs. Claus is the most amazing elf. 

Q: Why do you say “hohoho”?
A: I don’t, actually.

Q: Do you go to all the houses of your believers? Even if they are grown up?
A: I go where I am welcomed and invited. Some don’t want my inside their house and I understand and respect that. 

Q: Are you upset when people don’t believe in you or say mean things about you?
A: No, we don’t have time for that. 

Q: How much water could we leave out for the Reindeer team?
A: I appreciate this question. Figure on about a cup per reindeer. I want them to stay hydrated but too much water is a problem too. So keep it simple. A cup, no ice. Just water. Thank you! 

Q: How do you deliver to boats?
A: Boats are easy. Moving trains, planes and busses are a much bigger challenge. I’m just glad for very athletic reindeer and advanced sleigh technology. 

Q: Does Santa still come even while your tracking? Has Santa ever missed homes before and why?
A: I send out bed time advisories from the sleigh. Usually around 8pm to 10pm local time. I expect everyone living in the area of the advisory to do it. Even trackers. That being said, sometimes family traditions and events keep some people up later than that. That’s okay. I try to remember those things and not get there too early. And yes, I’ve missed homes before and had to go back. It happens because I’m not perfect and the information I have is not always up to do. That’s another reason why the work of trackers is so important. 

Q: I know you been doing this for years but is it any chance for you to retire and probably have someone else take it over?
A: No. Don’t believe the stuff of silly movies and television shows. 

Q: What is the very first thing he does after he gets back to Santa head quarters on Christmas day?
A: Celebrate Christmas with Mrs. Claus. 

Q: What if you get hurt on your flight?
A: Good question. We have a number of plans in place to deal with emergencies. We have elves everywhere on Christmas Eve. And I do mean everywhere. 

Thank you elves for your questions. If you have more, post them in the comments below.

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Elf Frank Myrrh Gets Personal in New Podcast

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Elf Frank Myrrh Gets Personal in New Podcast
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Elf Frank Myrrh, North Pole Radio News lead news anchor, gets personal in a new episode of the Santa Trackers Podcast.

In this episode Elf Crash Murphy hijacks the hosting duties in the podcast to interview Frank. Crash asks questions on behalf of fans and listeners who have written in. Crash attempts to get a little information about Frank, including where he is from and how he got into radio.

Frank does tell his elf story, albeit hesitantly. But when it comes to the questions from fans that’s when things take a very interesting turn.

This episode was prepared in advance of the Elf Chat with Elf Frank Myrrh scheduled this weekend on SantaTrackers.net.

If you have additional questions for Frank in advance of the chat, feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Elf Harold

 

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Sector 3 Remains Steady

Hi my elf friends of Sector 3!

We had a good week. Here is our elf count:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 11,241
Freelance Tracker Elves: 2,887,632
Total Tracker Elves: 2,898,973

That’s growth of 63% on the week – a very good improvement. We are gaining more and more elves every day. And, they are sending in more reports than ever. Here are those numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 47,212
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 11,261,765
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 11,308,977

That’s nearly double of last week – +99%. GREAT WORK!

Feedback from Santa:
Thank you for a very productive week. Last week as I asked you to tell me a bit about Christmas spirit where you are and how you see it. This week I’d like you to report a little closer to him. Elf Rolf will discuss that need. In fact, if there is any problem with any of your reports it is that you might want to be more detailed in person to Elf Rolf specifically. He is great with general details but if I ask him to tell me something about any of the tracker elves in his sector he comes up a little short. So let’s give him a lot of stuff to talk about this week, including a picture of YOU, preferably in your elf uniform if you have one or of you by your Christmas tree. We’re only a few weeks now away from Christmas and I’d like to see a little more excitement from Sector 3! — Santa

Please follow this direction and send in this information for this week:
Ok, elves. This is from me! Let’s give Santa the following reports in the next 7 days:

  1. Home and Family Report – click here
  2. An Elfie Selfie – click here
  3. Chimney Inspections, if you haven’t done one yet – click here
  4. Weather Report – click here
  5. Public Transit Report – click here

Please let me know if you have any questions. Just put them in the comments below!

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Sector 3 Grows in Reports

Greetings, Fellow Elves!

It was a good week for Sector 3. Here is how the numbers look for last week:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 8,315
Freelance Tracker Elves: 1,765,991
Total Tracker Elves: 1,774,306

But here are the really impressive numbers, the reports:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 40,744
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 5,651,171
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 5,691,915

Many of you have written in asking about our Sector Lead opening. Yes, I’m still taking applications. We do not yet know if we are going to fill this one. We’re watching how things go for the new Lead in Sector 5. Elf Crusader is kind of pioneering this for us. Santa is well aware of those of you with interest and we appreciate your patience as we work this out.

Feedback from Santa:
Great week, Sector 3. Elf Rolf sent me some of what he considers the best reports from your sector. I have to tell you, I’m very pleased with how the reporting is improving. You do know that your reports not only help me but they also help the elves in Flight Command and at your Regional HQ in Bethlehem, South Africa. They get to know your area better and the things that make it unique. I can tell they are improving in their knowledge and this is very useful. I have some concerns about Christmas in your area, specifically in Europe. I hear many weird things. That is why I would like you this week, if your schedule and the weather permits, to get out and about and observe things here and there. How are people acting? Are they Christmas shopping? Are they being nice to each other? Are there good feelings, happy countenances and Christmas spirit? Rolf will direct you in reporting about this but I’ll just say to take your time with that report and to be sure to give thoughtful answers. I have some worries about that part of the world and I’m very interested in what you think. Some of you in your reports suggested concerns about the weather. By all means, keep up the weather reports. But rest assured, there is nothing in the weather, especially in coastal areas and in the Alps, that I can’t handle. Good or bad, I’m coming to Sector 3 without any reservations about the weather. It’s just good information to know. Make it a great week! – Santa

Please follow this direction and send in this information for this week:

Feel free to ask any questions you might have in the comments below.

Thanks!

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Biggest Week of the Year So Far

Greetings Elves!

I am pleased to report that last week saw a huge increase in the number of new elves and new reports tallied in North Pole Flight Command.

This is not entirely a surprise. The week of Thanksgiving usually sees a big increase in interest in tracking Santa for Santa. So many people out there, for whatever reason, decide the week of Thanksgiving that they want to become elves. We give them that chance.

The big questions to be answered are: What kind of elves will they be? Will their reports really help Santa? Can they get enough training behind them in time to really know how to file a quality report?

The answers to those questions only come in the weeks ahead. For now, here are the numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 117,620
Freelance Tracker Elves: 13,639,943

Total Elves Tracking Santa for Santa = 13,757,563

As you can tell, the vast number of new elves are freelance elves. That has a huge bearing over the quality of reports we are seeing in Flight Command. I have met with each elf supervisor to discuss this issue. Most elf supervisors are thrilled to have so many new elves but most are also frustrated because the report data they are receiving is not good.

In fact, elf supervisors have decided to start “culling” elves while in season – meaning they will dismiss those elves who either submit sub-standard reports or no reports at all. They just don’t have time for people who want to be elves in name only. I’m sure they will address this individually in their reports this week.

Elf Moe also reports a number of issues monitoring the Elf Community on SantaTrackers.net. This is not surprising, just disappointing. Knowing and living by the Elf Code is new for many elves and we’re trying to give as many elves a chance as we can.

As far as reports go this week, it was very productive:

Reports from North Pole Tracker Elves: 106,251,961
Reports from Freelance Tracker Elves: 176,824,740

Total Reports from Tracker Elves Worldwide = 283,086,701

This new tally shows that we are 28% to goal, roughly, so far. This is an acceptable performance.

In Flight Command we are grappling with organizing all this information and making it useful for Santa. We are gratified to have new information about places we had nothing on before. It is exciting to see this. Santa has not yet seen some of this information but we have meetings set up with him soon to start presenting it to him.

Elves, keep up the good work. Please focus on your Elf Supervisor. They will tell you what is more important to work on this week.

Elf Roger Star

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Chat with Santa

Chat with Santa Claus this Sunday in North Pole Chat at SantaUpdate.com.

This event has been posted at SantaUpdate.com for about a week now but I wanted to make note of it here as well. Santa has very limited availability this year due to all of his travels before Christmas so we want to make sure everyone is aware of this event.

We have already received many questions for Santa via the other website. If you cannot make this scheduled event for Sunday, please leave your question for Santa in the comments below. We will try to get as many of them answered as we possibly can.

Chat with Santa

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Celebrate the Elf Parade

The Thanksgiving Day Elf Parade is a tradition celebrated by elves everywhere – including you! (We hope)

Just as we did last year, we are encouraging tracker elves everywhere to join in the festivities of Thanksgiving by sharing photos of themselves in their elf outfit, of their home tracking center, of their decorated trikes, bikes, scooters, long boards or other vehicular transport of choice, or even of themselves in front of their Christmas tree. You can either post them to the Elf Wall or share them via the form below.

We will collect images from this site and from SantaUpdate.com to share with everyone later.

Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!

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SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Sector 3 Report

Friends and Trackers in Sector 3, hello!

I am pleased to report that as of this date, our sector is on track for our goals for 2022. Operation Merry Christmas is depending on us and we have done very well so far. Congratulations!

Here is where we are by the numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 7,894
Freelance Tracker Elves: 1,238,673
Total Tracker Elves: 1,246,567

I know we have de-emphasized the number of elves in our area. I understand as well the need for better and more information for Santa as he flies on Christmas Eve. But, common sense and some amount of math tells me that in order to grow our Tracker Elf reports we need to grow in tracker elf numbers. From the “elf purge” earlier this year we LOST more elves than any other sector. By the week of Christmas, I figure we’re going to need better than 5 million elves overall to do our part. So, spread the word. Let’s get some of those elves let go from earlier this year BACK. And let’s find some new elves, friends. Surely there are many others out there who want to be an elf. Show them how to become an elf.

Here’s our report status so far:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 23,682
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 3,468,284
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 3,491,966
Tracker Elf Ratio: 2.8 

That tracker elf ratio is an important number. It basically tells us how many reports have been sent in from each tracker. We need that number to get to 8 by the time Santa flies. So we have a LOT of reporting to do. Our goal for the season is 40 million reports. That’s the second highest goal on the board.

So as you can see, we have a lot of work to do.

Feedback from Santa:
Trackers of Sector 3, hello! Thank you for your many efforts. Sector 3 is always a very supportive and festive group. We have many believers from North to South in this Sector. But they live in very different kinds of areas and their homes are all different. In the North, there are more chimneys in this part of the world than any other. So our needs for chimney inspections are great. The chimneys in Europe especially are really old and some are in poor condition and falling apart. I don’t want any of you getting on a roof top to inspect these chimneys but if you can get pictures from an upper window or other safe location it really helps me. In the South, chimneys are fewer but the wildlife is much greater. We may have to develop a new report about stray animals in places in Africa. But for now, Elf Rolf will instruct you on how to report on this issue. I have a lot of worries about Sector 3 and most of the time it is centered on the weather. Do you best to keep Flight Command of what the forecast is in your area. Thanks! — Santa

Please follow this direction and send in this information for this week:

Have questions? Just ask them via the comments below. I’ll do my best to get someone to answer them.

Thank you for your hard work!

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Tracker Elf Conference Survey

A tracker elf conference is held every December. This has been the tradition of the past five years. Key elves from Flight Command and even Santa himself take the time to discuss tracking Santa for Santa and what is needed in that particular year.

The Elf Supervisors are thinking of doing the Tracker Elf Conference a little differently this year. They are asking, in advance of scheduling this event, for your questions, comments and needs BEFORE the Conference.

How and when the Tracker Elf Conference will be held is yet to be announced. But we can proceed in getting your input right away.

We are asking all elves to provide the following information so we can make the Tracker Elf Conference more useful for you. You can fill this form out as many times as you like so that all of your questions can be considered:

Elf Supervisors are considering a new format for the Tracker Elf Conference this year. Your feedback on this question is very important
SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online

Night Time Flights in Sector 3

Hello fellow Trackers of Sector 3!

I just received word from Flight Command that the test flights of Santa’s sleigh are headed back to our sector. I’m am also told the schedule will include a special emphasis on night flights (after all, Santa flies almost exclusively in the dark).

The track record of seeing sleighs in flight is always better at night. We have about 10 reports from night flights for every 1 report we get during the day. I think the sun makes a flying sleigh really hard to see.

As of right now, I have no reporting assignments for you.

However, as the test flights get closer I might. So pay attention to the map.

Thanks.

SantaUpdate.com - Tracking Santa Online