Sector 4 – Page 10 – SantaTrackers.net

Understanding Our Mission

February 1, 2022/1 Comment/in Christmas Newswire, Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Tracking News/by Elf Roger Star

Several weeks ago Elf Max made a short statement on the Elf Wall about new features, changes and revisions being made to SantaTrackers.net. He mentioned that efforts were being made improve the site experience to be more “mission centric”. One of our astute elves asked, “What does that mean?”

To be mission centric is to be more focused on our main purpose.

What is our “main purpose”? Or, better said, what is our mission?

After a lot of discussion, this sums it up: Our mission here at SantaTrackers.net is to help Santa get around the world each Christmas and to get him safely back to the North Pole.

You can read our full mission statement at this new page just added to the website.

When we say we want to make each feature, each page, each post, each little wall posting more mission centric it means we want it to contribute to the thing we’re trying to accomplish.

Last year we did it. All 200+ million of us.

It came after a very full year of preparation, of discussion, of recruiting, of training and of just being elves together. We got Santa around the world, delivered Christmas and got him safely back home again.

Can we do better?

Oh yes. Of course. We all can do better.

That is the aim of what you are seeing Elf Max and his team doing right now. There are a lot of changes to the website. Lots of tiny adjustments and many bold new ideas being put into place. Our goal – which is part of our mission – is to improve on the great work already done.

Understanding our mission is something we are asking all elves to work on.

We want everything you do here online on SantaTrackers.net to somehow help the mission. Think hard before you post. It’s not always easy to do what we are asking here.

Simple things, like answering a question for new elves, are pretty simple. Of course that helps the mission.

But what about other things we’re doing here. Do we really need to post things about our hobbies, our hometowns or stuff that doesn’t relate at all to our mission?

That’s what we’re talking about here.

Elf Max is showing you how it is done. Every part of this website is under review. He is trying to make it apply more to our true mission. He wants every feature, every post, every word serve the mission better than it has in the past.

So that’s why you’re seeing some changes.

There are many more of them coming. Between now and June 1st, we expect them all to be put in place. Elf Max and his team are working every day in ways you may not see yet to improve things.

You can do that too. For now, your help will be in answering questions that Max might post. Like always, your help is appreciated in recruiting and training new elves. In the months ahead, it might mean taking on new jobs to add to your elf resume.

There are lots of ways to help accomplish the mission.

For now, read the mission statement. Ask whatever questions you might have. Think about what else you can do to help accomplish the mission.

Thank you.

350 Days to Santa’s Launch

January 7, 2022/2 Comments/in Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Tracking News/by Elf Max

It’s official. Only 350 days remain until Santa’s launch.

What does that mean – “It’s Official”?

Well, it means that as of right now we have a target date. That is all. It’s a number thrown at the wall.

That means it could change.

But it probably won’t.

The date, which gives us the number of days, is December 23rd on most calendars and that is customarily the date that Santa does take off from the North Pole. The time for his launch is known as well and it is reflected on the countdown clock of every North Pole website.

But right now, frankly, it is so far away it hardly matters.

This marker is just that – a line in the sand. It means more as a starting point than it does a destination at this time of the year.

Right now, at the North Pole and even here at SantaTrackers.net, it means the beginning of a lot of plans and the setting of a lot of goals. Every department and every elf in those departments are looking at that date and, working backwards, is planning dates on the calendar and what they mean.

For example, let’s look at the Reindeer Department. I talked with Elf Victor this morning about it and here is how he says they go about planning their year.

350 days from right now, the Reindeer Department has to have Santa’s team, his back up team, and about 65,000 other reindeer ready to take off from the North Pole in all their roles.

To accomplish that the reindeer need to be here, trained, healthy and ready to fly 350 days from right now.

How many steps does it take to do that?

Well, that’s what that marker is all about. It is knowing what to do and when it has to be done.

For the Reindeer Department that means knowing each reindeer by name, where they are in their development, how much food they will require, how many times they might need to see a doctor, etc. It means knowing their training schedule (or making one for each reindeer). It means knowing which of Santa’s ranches each reindeer is at through out the year and when they will be leaving and coming back to the North Pole.

It means knowing their skills now versus where their skills need to be 350 days from right now. It means making plans for the Reindeer Games and for the place each reindeer will play in the games.

All this stuff is mapped out on paper first, right now, 350 days before Santa’s anticipated departure.

As I said, every elf in every department is working on this right now. Including me.

It is a little daunting, to be honest. We are looking at everything we are doing and making plans for nearly every day, week and month between now and when Santa launches just to make sure we’re doing our very best to help in every way.

In fact, 350 days right now does not seem enough time to me.

That is why Santa wants us to use this month – January – to really think these things through. He has his ideas. He wants us gathering ideas from everyone that works with us. He doesn’t want any big promises made today, 350 days out. He wants us to really be sure we can do what we promise to do.

So between now and right around the end of the month we talk.

I went through this last year. And the year before that. So I know I will feel better about things when we’re, say, 335 days until launch. But right now, I’m overwhelmed.

Do YOU, as a Tracker Elf, need to do all this too?

That was my question for Elf Ernest this week. And the answer is “maybe”. If you did things this past Christmas that you think you should change now is definitely the time to make your plans.

But most of you are going to be waiting on the North Pole to know what really could be different 350 days right now. That’s why you need to keep up during these days that people call “the off season” (which means nothing at the North Pole, by the way).

350 days.

It’ll be here before you know it.

What Happens Next

January 1, 2022/2 Comments/in Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Tracking News/by Elf Roger Star

What happens next is perhaps the most important work of the year at the North Pole.

Here, over at NorthPoleFlightCommand.com, at ElfHQ.com, and at SantaUpdate.com, the new year brings a process that Santa calls the “season of imagination”.

Some elves don’t like it. They take the talk of performance reviews and goal setting as some kind of critique.

And it is an honest look at the season we just went through and the year that led up to it. But nobody gets in trouble or fired over what transpired. Santa has, after all, an all volunteer workforce.

He’s never angry, upset or mad at anything.

He just wants things to get better.

So, just to keep you posted, you need to understand that the next several weeks is a time of silence. It is when we reflect and put our best ideas on paper. There is some talk behind the scenes but really the real talk does not yet begin for a few more weeks. Santa wants us to think about it.

As for you – those of you still paying attention – I want you to talk. To spill your guts, so to speak. We want to hear your ideas and your elf ambitions.

Please remember than this year was better than last year. And last year was better than the year before. We have always gone forward, looking to improve on past efforts. Things will be no different this year. Well, at least in terms of trying to improve.

Things WILL be different next year, however.

We must remember that the North Pole’s Tracker Elf program is still very young. It’s new compared to things like flying reindeer, Santa’s workshop and North Pole Flight Command, which were all new things once upon a time.

Some of our plans from this time last January did not pan out. Why? Well, some things and some elves just had issues we didn’t anticipate. That doesn’t mean we did not have good ideas or that we give up on the ideas that didn’t work out.

But every year at this time is a period of wiping the slate clean and coming up with a new and improved plan.

Your part in it – and your future in it – comes from speaking your mind.

You are elves. You are important. You need to voice what is on your mind and what your concerns might be.

Elf Max has already asked for feedback and many of you have been quite candid, both publicly and privately. That’s good. It’s helpful.

What we might tell you by the end of January about the year ahead actually begins with what you have already told us.

Don’t stop talking.

This place can be pretty lonely come March, April and May. It does every year. It is nothing to worry about.

For me, these are the most exciting months of the year. It’s really how Operation Merry Christmas comes together. You can choose to be a part of it…or you can wait until the crowds start to show up around next Thanksgiving.

This is the one real unknown about the world elf community. We just don’t know who is still out there and engaged in the work of Santa.

But we hope those who read this understand how important the year round elf is.

We need you.

Stand Down for Sector 4

December 24, 2021/0 Comments/in Sector 4/by Elf Tubby Ryder

Wow, that was fast! North Pole Flight Command has given us the stand down order. I guess Santa wants us in bed!

Elf of the Year Named

December 24, 2021/14 Comments/in Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Tracking News/by Elf Roger Star

Greetings Fellow Trackers of Santa!

It is my distinct pleasure to announce our first ever Elf of the Year. This recognition is reserved for the tracker who has gone above and beyond in the service of Santa.

This award comes after recommendations from Elf Supervisors, admin staff at SantaTrackers.net, Santa’s Council at North Pole Flight Command, and from Santa himself. Santa has final say and has approved of this year’s Elf of the Year.

With gratitude and great joy, we are pleased to announce that our first-ever Tracker Elf of the Year is Elf Hannah, of Sector 3.

Elf Hannah has been a devoted and responsive elf almost since the start of our efforts here. She has great ideas, works to extend herself to other elves with kindness, and she is productive in a number of capacities. She is well on her way in her Elf Career.

Please join me in congratulating – and thanking – Elf Hannah.

I do not have any requests from Flight Command at this time. We anticipate at least six hours before we hear something from them.

I will keep you posted.

Understanding Our Mission

350 Days to Santa’s Launch

What Happens Next

Stand Down for Sector 4

Elf of the Year Named

Weather Update Needed in Sector 4

Sector 4 Final Roof Report Needed

Sector 4 Local Christmas Report Requested

Santa Has Launched from the North Pole

Sector 4 Weather Update

Wow – We Need a Chimney Report

Sector 4 in the Red Zone

Official North Pole Websites

About Santa Trackers