Membership Update

/3 Comments/in , /by

Here’s a little reminder that Membership routines continue even as Elf Max revamps the website.

We are at the time of the month where we give a cleaning to our membership roles, meaning those accounts who have not logged in for 90 days get deleted. This practice, while frustrating for some elves, is necessary to keep the most serious elves among us. So, as we frequently experience at this time of the year, you will see our numbers dwindle before they expand.

When will we open the gates of registration again for new elves? That is a topic of much discussion among elf leadership. Even Santa is weighing in on it. I have no news at this time to share but as soon as I do, I will let you know.

As always, we encourage every elf to have a complete elf profile. Elf Max assures me that the work is done on the new set up for profiles. He made an adjustment to elf names, leaving just one field to set up or edit in your profile. Where it says first name, just put in “Elf” and whatever your elf name is. You can look at my profile as an example. It says simply “Elf Moe”. That’s how we want every profile to look.

We remind you that you need a “cover” image and an “avatar”. There are many examples of elves who have done this correctly. I believe the new elf profile interface makes it clear and easy to do this. But if you need help, just let one of us know and we’ll assist.

We strongly encourage ALL active elves to update their profile with the new set up and freshen up the look you have for yourself.

Finally, as you work to get your profile the way you want it be sure to look at the little images to the right of your name. We want to get those right for every elf as well. If you are missing the red check of a verified elf or other designation please let me or Max know. Those images are pretty cool – if you hover your cursor over them a little text box pops up to explain what the image means. We want that for every everyone, so let us know what you’re missing and we’ll get it working.

While we anticipate a lot of adjustments to the website still in the coming weeks we anticipate more bugs and fixes. Please do not be shy in testing things out and sharing what you find. We want to fix everything and make it better and we believe it is going to take the efforts of everyone to get it right.

Thanks!

 

Elf Community Upgrades Begin

/4 Comments/in , , /by

The first in a series of Elf Community upgrades is in progress. As you login you might notice some new features while other regular site offerings are suspended.

The following are features not currently operational that will return very soon:

– Elf University
– Tracker Reports
– Elf Jobs
– Tracker Elf Registration
– Elf Points Summaries (points building has returned and is being renewed)
– Sector News Pages

The Elf Community software has been upgraded and these new features are now active:

  • All new Elf Wall
  • All new Elf Groups
  • All new Elf Events
  • New profile features and upgrades
  • New messaging system
  • New friends and followers features
  • New News Page
  • New Podcast Page
  • New emojis and elf role icons

Our desire right now is to continue working while the Elf Community is open. We have spent the past two days working to get to this point, but we know a lot of work remains to be done.

We encourage you to help with this project doing the following:

  1. Update your profile. There are many new items not previously available.
  2. Update your avatar. (Many have lost the avatar they were using)
  3. Update your profile cover image to something Christmasy.
  4. Try everything. Tell us what works and what doesn’t for you.
  5. Ask questions.

We greatly depend upon your feedback to test everything out as we go along. Don’t be shy in posting on the Elf Wall or sending me a message.

Thank you!

Site Upgrades Starting Soon

/1 Comment/in /by

Some necessary site changes are underway. You may see some downtime in site access over the course of the next three to four weeks as a result.

There will be many changes, so be patient as we work to roll them out. We will try to post updates about our progress on the changes and what it will mean to the Santa tracking effort going forward.

The site team is working though many suggestions, as well as testing new functionality. It is likely that the look of the site will be upgraded as well.

We appreciate your patience as we work through these issues.

Take our 2023 Survey

/1 Comment/in , /by

My Fellow Trackers of Santa,

Thank you and Merry Christmas! Santa’s record-breaking ride in 2023 came as a result of a lot of work.

Much of that work came from you, the unseen and unheard-from heroes of Operation Merry Christmas.

North Pole Flight Command took in over 30 million reports from trackers in the past year, which represents billions of tiny bits of information fed to Santa so that he could move more efficiently and safely on Christmas Eve.

In setting a new record this year Santa gave credit to his trackers first.

Ahead of the Sleigh Designers, ahead of the reindeer, ahead of anything and everything else. I want you to know that.

I also want you to know that you hung with us despite some problems we had.

We will get together next week to begin sorting through everything that went right, everything that went wrong, and just what we can do better in our efforts ahead.

To that end, I’m posting a survey we would like you to take.

We want to know not only about your tracking experience but also your ideas for doing better going forward.

I look forward to your candid responses to this survey.

I want to especially give a tip of the elf hat to Elf Max, who likely hasn’t had any kind of sleep for more than a week. That guy not only pulled out all the stops in supporting SantaTrackers.net but he worked tirelessly behind the scenes with issues at SantaUpdate.com. And I know he has lots of ideas for the work going forward too.

I also want to thank you for all the personal things left for me this Christmas. So many of you made sure there were cookies and eggnog and candy canes and other treats marked for me, just as you do for Santa.

That touches me like you would not believe and I’m grateful you would remember me. I’m overwhelmed by it all (and I don’t know how Santa eats all those cookies). Thank you as well for remembering MY reindeer, too. They, like me, were so surprised by your kindness.

I’m excited already for next year and can’t wait to track Santa for Santa again.

Please rate your overall Santa tracking experience on a scale of 1 to 5
What is your primary source for Santa Tracking information
Do you use the Santa Tracker Map online?
Do you set up a home tracking center
Do you make a landing zone for Santa?
Did you listen to the Tracking Santa Around the World radio show while tracking Santa this year?

Time to Stand Down Sector 5

/3 Comments/in , , /by

Trackers in Sector 5 – I know Santa’s not even touched our sector yet but Flight Command just sent the word that we can start to stand down. This will vary – those in the east are nearing bed time, while those way out west in Hawaii and Tahiti are going to be up for a while.

For those out west, we’re not anticipating any needs, so your judgment is best for when you need to stand down. Santa just requests that you don’t stay up too late tonight!

Thank you all for an outstanding year!

Merry Christmas!

Sector 4 Can Stand Down Now

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Friends in Sector 4 – the official word has come: it’s time for us to call it a year. The stand down order is in.

Fortunately, our work in the preseason make it so we didn’t have much to do today. It was fun just watching Santa cross the world.

Thank you for your many efforts this year!

Merry Christmas!

Santa Wants a Weather Update

/1 Comment/in , /by

Elves,

Are you watching this? Santa has these sudden bursts of speed – he literally tore through Australia in under an hour. Amazing!

The word I’m getting is that he is totally focused on breaking this speed record this year. He’s going to go through our sector just as fast. He’s moving like crazy!

Let’s help him out by sending him the most current weather forecast you can find. Get screen shots, take pictures – do whatever you have to do to get him the latest from your area.

Here’s the report:

Your Sector
If you do not know or remember your sector, please see this link
What do you see when you look out your window?
Check all that apply

Standing Down in Sector 3

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Trackers,

As the bedtime advisories pile up so do the orders to stand down in Sector 3. It appears our work for this year is over as Santa is advising us to call it a night.

Merry Christmas, elves and THANK YOU for your merry efforts.

Stand Down in Sector 2 Beginning

/1 Comment/in , /by

The first of our stand down orders in Sector 2 are coming in.

All trackers in Asia and the Middle East are advised to “stand down” – that is, stop sending in reports – as the bedtime advisories closest to you are posted at NorthPoleFlightCommand.com.

That means our work in Sector 2 is coming to an end for this year.

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Stand Down Coming for Sector 1

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Trackers it’s been a long but fun day. But as always it comes to an end and word is starting to come down from Flight Command for trackers in our sector to Stand Down.

As you hear or read of the bedtime advisories via North Pole Flight Command or Kringle Radio for your area you will be considered “logged out” for the day.

Thank you for your service. It appears, so far, that Santa’s flight in our sector has been successful. This can only happen with your help. Good work!

Merry Christmas!

Air Traffic Report Needed

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Elves of Sector 2, North Pole Flight Command has requested an air traffic report for all areas of our sector. Please supply the information requested below if you can:

Just look out the window and look up!
What is the activity in the skies above you?
Check all that apply
Drag & Drop Files, Choose Files to Upload
This is optional

We are in the Red Zone, Trackers

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Tracker friends of Sector 5 – finally! – we are in the Red Zone! Santa will soon be on the way and we’re ready to rock.

I do not have any requests from North Pole Flight Command for you at this time. Please get some rest. I think we’ve got a full day ahead of us for tracking Santa for Santa.