Good Progress in Sector 5

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Hi Elves!

It’s been a monster week in Sector 5 – but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! People are GETTING IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!!!!!

Here’s our numbers —

North Pole Tracker Elves: 101,177
Freelance Tracker Elves: 10,557,961
Total Tracker Elves: 10,659,138

[cl-counter final=”33,306,388″ title=”Tracker Reports from Sector 5″ title_color=”#dd3333″]

Hahaha – here’s the report numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 576,709
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 32,729,679
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 33,306,388

How’s that for a great week? Ok, ok – I’ll calm down. Here’s your message from Santa –

Feedback from Santa: WOW, Sector 5! Are you ready for Christmas or what? But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It’s time to take a good look up – as in at roofs and chimneys, especially chimneys. Pinky will direct you. I want to be so prepared before I get to Sector 5 this year that I can see it all in my head without looking at maps or notes. That means I need you to be really descriptive in your reports, send in a lot of pictures if you can, and tell us exactly when you think you see something that could be a problem for me, the sleigh or the reindeer. Keep up the good work, Sector 5! You’re doing great – Santa

Your duties this week:

Sector 4 Barely Improves

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Feliz Navidad, Elves! Greetings from Ecuador.

Last week was not as good as I hoped. In fact, we barely moved the needle this year.

Of course, this is par for the course for Sector 4. I don’t know why that is. In my years over this sector I have seen us kind of cruise along in recruiting and reporting and THEN at the very end we surge. It happens most of the time. Could that be the case this year? I hope so. It seems the closer we are getting to launch the more behind we become in our goals. I am hoping we can see some good progress this week! Here are the numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 2,789
Freelance Tracker Elves: 537,330
Total Tracker Elves: 540,119

And here are the report tallies:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 11,993
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 1,880,655
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 1,892,648

It is still pretty early. But I’m hoping for a good jump by this time next week.

Feedback from Santa:
Hello, my fellows elves. I know Tubby was really disappointed last week but I have to commend you because your elf totals compared to a year ago are UP. So good job there! He is right in that the number of believers in Sector 4 is huge, so we should be growing our elf base larger too. Part of our problem is that our efforts are still quite small in Spanish and Portuguese. We’re working on that though! So be patient. Those elves we do have who can follow along in English or have the patience for an online translator are doing an exceptional job. So don’t be discouraged. In fact, how are you doing? I’m going to ask Tubby to address this question personally and he will be directing what you need to do. I want to hear from you individually, okay? On my mind right now is the weather, particularly in South America. I know Greenland is going to be dark and stormy, because it always is. It’s like Wyoming, except much much larger. Tough place to be! In any event, thank you for your efforts and keep plugging away at it. I know you are few compared to other sectors but you are doing a great work! – Santa

Instructions for this week, please send in the following reports:

Sector 3 Grows in Reports

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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!

Sector 2 Improves

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Hello my Elf Friends of Sector 2,

Last week was productive for us. Here are the numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 1024
Freelance Tracker Elves: 216,774
Total Tracker Elves: 217,798

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 4,608
Freelance Tracker Elf Report: 802,064
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 806,672

As you can see, we really saw some eye-popping improvement over the previous week, especially with the reports. You seemed to really take Santa’s feedback to heart. I greatly appreciate your efforts to improve reporting.

Note from Santa for this week:
WOW, Sector 2. Home run! Last week was fabulous. Can you do it again? This is how we are going to get the job done for Christmas. There is more work to do in Sector 2 than any other sector. This is due to your large size and also to the growing number of believers we have in Asia and the Middle East. If we can keep this up I will have my best trip ever through that part of the world. This week we should really work on roof reports, if the weather allows. And remember – no getting on ladders or on roof tops for this. You need to work from the ground when you do this report. The roof report is pretty critical because I need to know if a roof is safe to land on. I much prefer to land on a rooftop than on the ground. Staying on the roof is just faster all around. I can get in and out of the sleigh faster, in and out of a house faster and from one house to the next faster. There are many different kinds of roofs in Sector 2 and obviously I cannot land on all of them. Your reports will help me to know which ones I can use. — Santa

Instructions for this week:

  1. We need a local Christmas report from all areas. Please see this link.
  2. Photo reports of rooftops, chimneys and years are most helpful if you have time to take pictures. Please see this link.
  3. A ground report is needed from all major cities. Please see this link.
  4. Weather reports are getting more important. Please see this link.

Thank you for all your efforts, elves.

Sector 1 Shows Some Progress

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Greetings, elves of Sector 1. We had a pretty good week last week. Here are the numbers:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 4,315
Freelance Tracker Elves: 561,887
Total Tracker Elves: 566,202

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports YTD: 17,692
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports YTD: 1,966,605
Total Tracker Elf Reports YTD: 1,984,296

Feedback from Santa this week for Sector 1:
I really appreciate the efforts from tracker elves in Sector 1 last week. The total number of reports coming in was exceptionally impressive. This week, I’m less concerned about the number of reports than I am about the quality of the reports. I challenge you to “think like Santa” this week. Imagine yourself in the sleigh, coming in for a landing around your own home and neighborhood. What does it look like from the air? What are the obstacles? Will the sleigh really fit in that area?

Just how big is the sleigh? Don’t forget, the sleigh isn’t just a vehicle. There are 9 reindeer in front of it. It’s very, very long – much more long than wide. When people ask me how much room the sleigh needs just to park I tell them “the space of 3 city buses” – and that is a lot. Now picture what it takes to park it. It takes a lot of space.

When you picture the sleigh in your mind you will see why I need very detailed reports. Tell me what you think. It’s okay to say, “Santa, it won’t on the south side, you’re gonna have to use the north side” or something similar.

Also, just so you know, when I talked with Elf Randi about things this week she agreed to we need to start focusing on the weather in Sector 1. I asked her to ask you guys about that.

Keep up the good work, Sector 1 – Santa

Your Instructions this week:

  1. Please file a weather report. Click here.
  2. This would be a good time to start air traffic reports. Click here.
  3. If you haven’t done one yet, please provide a local Christmas report. Click here.
  4.  You can send in pictures at any time. They are most useful. Click here.

 

Come Chat About Reindeer

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On Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, at 10am EST, Elf Victor of the Reindeer Operations Department will be visiting Elf Chat at SantaTrackers.net.

The annual Reindeer Games begin tomorrow at the North Pole. This grand event usually brings up a lot of questions. This is one reason why Elf Victor will be in Elf Chat this week.

Another reason is to ensure that Tracker Elves can ask and get answered all the questions they have about how reindeer work in Operation Merry Christmas. From what reindeer are fed when Santa travels on Christmas Eve to how reindeer prepare for that worldwide trek will be discuss.

Elf Victor wants to answer EVERY question our tracker elf team has.

You can learn more about Elf Victor at this link. He is one of Santa’s longest serving elves and he has been answering questions via chat at SantaUpdate.com for years. Despite his advanced age, Elf Victor has no plans to retire.

He is one of Santa’s best friends and a key part to Operation Merry Christmas.

We hope you can join the chat. If you cannot, feel free to ask your question for Elf Victor in the comments below and we will try to include your question in the chat. A recap of this special chat event will be posted after.

Elf Winslow

Biggest Week of the Year So Far

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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

Sector 5 Standing Tall

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Elves of Sector 5, you are the best. Always have been. We just love Santa more in Sector 5, I guess.

Here’s where we stand so far for this year:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 55,986
Freelance Tracker Elves: 6,387,669
Total Tracker Elves: 6,443,655

That’s a huge number but it’s not great. We have had many, many more elves in the past and I think we’re going to get clobbered with new elves in the next several weeks. New elves, however, are not BETTER elves. In fact, it hurts our quality scores a lot.

So if you see new elves on the Elf Wall do your best to bring them up to speed as fast as you can. You have been here all year and you know all that has happened. You understand that Santa is more concerned with our reporting quality than any other number, such as elves, that we hit. We need to do good work as elves.

As far as our reports go, here’s the tally:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 212,747
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 21,718,075
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 21,930,821

Our tracker elf report ratio is 3.4, highest in the world. Our target is 8. So we have work to do. Here is what Santa has to say to us this year:

Feedback from Santa:
Friends in Sector 5 – you’re like no other place in the world. Most number of elves, most number of reports. But you also have a lot going for you that most sectors do not. You have greater Internet access. Better information at your disposal. More active elves. Huge amounts of Christmas spirit in the stores, the schools, the town squares and on the city streets. Where much is given much is expected. I have worries in Sector 5. More people are hurting there this year, more than I’ve seen in a long time. We must help them. That begins by being eyes-up and looking for ways to serve. That’s what we as elves do. So I want to hear from you about any special situations or concerns. I know of many things but I don’t know of everything. Please help me find those who need help. Especially with food. It’s weird to say that in Sector 5 but this year it is a real thing. You should see some of the letters I get. In terms of tracking and delivery, there are two big things on my mind: roof tops and whether or not they can hold my sleigh. And are people being nice? Elf Pinky will direct you on how you can help get information about these concerns to me. Have a great Thanksgiving, friends! I’ll be celebrating it too! — Santa

Your duties this week:

With Thanksgiving this week I know many of you have time off from school and jobs. It would be easy, I think, to flood you will work to do. But Santa and I don’t want that. Enjoy your families. Do what you can to spread the good cheer of Christmas and invite others to become elves. Show them what you do.

We always need more elves!

Chat with Santa

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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

Report for Sector 4

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Hola, amigos! As we head into the week of Thanksgiving, this is where we stand as a sector:

North Pole Tracker Elves: 2,496
Freelance Tracker Elves: 471,221
Total Tracker Elves: 473,717

And here is our report tally for the week:

North Pole Tracker Elf Reports: 8,237
Freelance Tracker Elf Reports: 1,460,785
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 1,469,022

Our goals: 
Total Tracker Elves: 3.8 million
Total Tracker Elf Reports: 17 million

As you can see, we have a long way to go. In fact, if I’m being honest, we are not off to a very strong start. But this isn’t unusual. We are usually a little behind everyone else at this point in the season. But we catch up fast! And that is exactly what we are going to do this year. Fortunately, as you can see, Santa has faith in us:

Feedback from Santa:
How I love coming to Sector 4. There are no more happier people in the world than the good people of Sector 4. I appreciate their Christmas spirit. I am concerned for many of them this year. It has been a difficult year in a lot of places. So this week I’d like you elves to take a good look around and file reports that Elf Tubby might ask for that address how things feel and look for Christmas in Sector 4. I know this will be hard in Greenland. However, there are few people there and it should be fairly easy for the few elves we have in Greenland. If need be, Greenland is close enough that we can dispatch some elves from the North Pole there to check things out. As far as delivery goes in Sector 4 I have a number of worries. Parking the sleigh is a bit of a challenge in some areas. I don’t do rooftops much in Sector 4. But yards are typically small and I don’t like parking the sleigh on the street. What you report about the ground and pictures of places you think I can land the sleigh are important to me. We could use a few more elves in Sector 4. Please talk to your friends. — Santa

Instructions for this week, please send in the following reports:

We have much to do, friends! Let’s get elf-busy!

Celebrate the Elf Parade

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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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Elf Crusader Named Sector Lead for Sector 5

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I am pleased to announce that Elf Crusader has been promoted to Sector Lead in Sector 5. As such, he in effect becomes my assistant here at SantaTrackers.net.

Most Sector 5 elves are already well aware of Elf Crusader. Crusader is the North Pole Naturalist, a city captain, a Senior Elf, a member of Santa’s Council and a popular elf podcaster and a dedicated tracker elf whose presence on these boards is well known and appreciated. He is a mentor to many elves and a constant source of good information.

As Sector Lead Elf Crusader will step up his efforts to communicate with tracker elves of Sector 5 on a daily basis. Outside of my own occasional news reports Elf Crusader will keep elves informed in things I might share with him as we get closer to Santa’s launch. He is trusted, calm and responsible. I find Elf Crusader ideally suited for this role and you can depend on him to provide you with timely information.

My reports post each Friday. Elf Crusader will be sharing information with you via the elf wall daily on a more informal basis.

He will answer your questions. When he can’t answer something Elf Crusader has contacts both with me and other elves he knows at the North Pole and North Pole Flight Command to answer your questions.

He will be available to guide you through your training. He will assist Elf Moe, if necessary, in policing troubled posts. He will remind you of rules, deadlines, expectations and needs.

Elf Crusader will even be able to reach Santa from time to time on matters of tracking and Operation Merry Christmas.

Elf Crusader will work from his home tracking center – for now – but could be called upon if needed for service either here in Mistletoe or at the North Pole.

Some, in applying for the Lead position, have asked me if this position could lead to other positions in an elf career, possibly even a position at the North Pole. The answer to that is yes. This appointment has been approved by both Elf Roger and Santa himself.

Elf Crusader continues to be a pioneer of sorts. He is the first Sector lead to be named. I do not know what progress has been made in naming Sector leads in other Sectors but Santa has told me that we have not wanted to rush this process. It is unknown at this time if other leads will be named this year. However, Santa did say that the choice of Elf Crusader is inspired and that he “wishes this young elf all the best”.

Please join me in thanking Elf Crusader in advance for his time and efforts and in congratulating him on this new position. It is well deserved and I’m excited to have him on the Sector 5 team as our lead elf.

Sector Lead