Elves of Sector 5 – I just turned in my location report from last Christmas. Within a few weeks I will be asked about where I think the new location for this year’s regional tracking center for Sector 5 should go.

Last year we were in Christmas Island, Nova Scotia in Canada. We have been in Eggnog, Utah and Noelville, Ontario, Canada and even in Santa Claus, Idaho.

Where should we go next in Sector 5?

Please understand there is a process to this. Every year they find these crazy locations and we go there to work. I spend the whole time inside, so I don’t really care where we go. But I know some of you do.

Some feel we spend too much time focusing in locations in Canada or the United States. I know Mexico wants to host us some time. I’ve heard that Hawaii wants us too.

I’m open to just about anything.

I also know they don’t listen to me much. I’m very fond of the Rocky Mountains but they’ve never really given us a regional tracking center there, no matter the country.

Besides, all the really want right now are suggestions.

Once they get a list of 10 or 15 places they send scouts from the North Pole to go check those locations out. They have a long list of things they need to answer about a location. It’s got to be just right for everything from power requirements to security standards.

Whatever.

We’re early in this process. Let’s hear your suggestions for possible locations in the comments below. I’ll add them all to my list and send them to the North Pole and they can take it from there.

Thanks, Elves!

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.