Four New Senior Elves Named

/4 Comments/in , /by

We are pleased to announce four new Senior Elves have been named and will join Santa’s Council. They are Elf Nic, Elf Kringle, Elf Lil Cream and Elf Radar.

This is a very diverse addition to our Senior Elf staff. Elf Nic hails from Sector 3, our 2nd Senior Elf from that part of the world. Elf Nic has a load of technical experience and brings a strong voice from the UK to the table.

Elf Kringle is our youngest senior elf but one of the longest serving elves on SantaTrackers.net. She will represent a lot of minor-aged elves who frequent the site and are growing in numbers. Elf Kringle has proven herself to be reliable, faithful and consistent. We are so happy to have her as a part of this group.

Elf Lil Cream likewise represents this younger group, although her visibility and talents with public relations has served SantaTrackers well these past few years with her podcast and efforts on social media. Lil has great ideas, isn’t shy, and always looks to build the community.

Elf Radar is actually representative of a family of elves, a great group who has been consistently engaged in the elf efforts here for quite a while. We look forward to the many great perspectives they will bring to the table.

Please note that not ALL of the Senior Elf positions are yet filled and that I continue to hold conversations with several candidates. We expect more announcements of additions to this group in the weeks ahead.

Santa’s Council is a group comprised not only of the new Senior Elf team here on SantaTrackers.net but also members of the Executive team and the Operations team from the North Pole. The council is headed by Santa himself. They worked together to address difficult issues that come up in the Elf Community and to decide policy as it relates to Tracker Elves.

The Senior Elves at SantaTrackers.net are a vital addition to Santa’s Council and they are making history with their inclusion in that group. They are the “voice of the Tracker Elf”.

We appreciate all those who are willing to serve in these capacities. As SantaTrackers.net continues to evolve we feel confident in adding these valuable elf resources to aid us in helping Santa with his mission.

 

Solving Login Issues

/2 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

We have been receiving word that some elves are having issues logging in to SantaTrackers.net.

We are investigating why this might be the case. We suspect it may have something to do with some temporary changes we have recently made to registration settings. Early this week, the site fell under attack from hackers in Russia, which caused us to lock down registrations. This may have changed “cookie” settings for site users.

“Cookies” are small files placed on your computer that help SantaTrackers.net remember you. If those files become corrupt, logging in could suddenly become a problem. The way around it is to clear your cookies. If you do not know how to do this, we have set up this page that explains what is happening and how to resolve it. It includes a link to resources that will help you with any particular kind of browser or device.

If this continues to be an issue, please contact me via the site support link in the footer of every page.

 

Changes to Elf Groups

/4 Comments/in , , /by

Changes to Elf Groups have been happening since the first of the New Year.

It is likely you have seen some groups disappear while others have been consolidated or changed.

The decision to do this by Santa’s Council is based on the mandate given by Santa to focus the features of the elf community to be more mission centric.

Eliminated groups were those that lacked activity or support of their managers.

Modified groups are groups that were active but fell under various management entities or were designated as “private” or “hidden”. All groups, except for Santa’s Council, will be public going forward.

All groups now have centralized administrative control. Elf Max, under the direction of Santa’s Council, will administer the groups for uniformity and compliance.

Much discussion has been had over what constitutes “mission centric” topics of each group.

It was decided that elf discussion on things such as Christmas Baking is healthy for the community and should continue, even though not specifically relatable to Santa tracking.

Thus, if new groups are wanted for other Christmas topics – decorating, Christmas movies, Christmas music, etc – it will be possible to form them. Interested parties in forming new groups should contact Elf Max.

Going forward all groups will be monitored by Santa’s Council who will occasionally review group activity, relevancy and contribution to the Elf Community.

We expect the elf community to continue to grow. This change to elf groups is just one of many adjustments being made this year. Further detail of the formation, administration and future of Elf Groups will be included in a new feature called Elf University, to be released soon.

Feel free to add questions, comments or suggestions below.

Elf Chat Scheduled for Monday, February 21st

/5 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

A special event featuring Elf Roger Star has been scheduled in Elf Chat for next Monday, February 21st at 12pm EST. Elf Roger will discuss the calendar of events for Santa Trackers at SantaTrackers.net this year.

He will also answer questions posted by elves during the course of the chat event.

Elf Max is also scheduled to host North Pole Chat at SantaUpdate.com the same day, just a few hours later at 3pm EST. He will be discussing updates to SantaTrackers.net and take questions.

These chats are the first opportunities elves will have to directly address plans for the upcoming year.

Other elves that might be in attendance for these events include Elves Frank Myrrh, Crash Murphy and Elf Sandy Claus.

Elf Ernest might also be able to attend both chat events. Questions for these elves specifically would be welcomed.

Unfortunately, Santa will not be able to attend these chats. He has indicated that a chat scheduled with him will be coming soon.

Four New Senior Elves

/4 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

We are pleased to announce the addition of four elves to Santa’s Council. As a Senior Elf, each of the following individuals will have administrative-level access and authority on SantaTrackers.net. They will work alongside Elf Max to support the community through new elf training, moderation, verification and other tasks. Likewise their influence will be felt with new elves as well as other elves who work in Santa’s Council.

They are: Elf Jacob, Elf Cookie Dough, Elf Hannah and Elf Sugar Cookie.

Please note that not ALL of the Senior Elf positions are yet filled and that I continue to hold conversations with several candidates. We expect more announcements of additions to this group in the days ahead.

Santa’s Council is a group comprised not only of the new Senior Elf team here on SantaTrackers.net but also members of the Executive team and the Operations team from the North Pole. The council is headed by Santa himself. They worked together to address difficult issues that come up in the Elf Community and to decide policy as it relates to Tracker Elves.

The Senior Elves at SantaTrackers.net are a vital addition to Santa’s Council and they are making history with their inclusion in that group. They are the “voice of the Tracker Elf”, being the first-ever elves not from the North Pole serving in this capacity. Santa feels these Senior Elves and their opinions are critical to shaping the Tracker Elf program going forward.

These elves are trusted with helping to shape the Elf Community going forward. They will continue, as they have naturally been doing any way, to mentor new elves and those who arrive with questions.

Each will retain other elf jobs they presently fulfill and are welcome to take on additional responsibilities as new jobs become available and as they have time to contribute.

Please join me in congratulating them on this new assignment and in wishing them well in their new roles.

Become a Kringle Radio DJ

/1 Comment/in , , , , , /by

The Department of Elf Resources is happy to announce that you can now apply to become a Kringle Radio DJ. Just click on the link at the Elf Jobs page or click here.

Now, just so you know, we posted this job here at the North Pole earlier this week and the response to it already has been huge. And while there will be a few North Pole elves here that will get this job we have reserved SEVERAL spots for tracker elves here on SantaTrackers.net. After all, this is going on the Santa Tracker Channel of Kringle Radio.

Now, some of you – well, most of you – have no radio experience. Do not let that deter you from applying. We have several radio producers from Kringle Radio who are prepared to help new radio DJs work up new shows. We’ll train you.

What we want is bright, high-energy elf voices to put together 1-hour shows that will appeal to other Santa Trackers.

You know what YOU want to hear – why no be the one to bring it to other elves?

Feel free to ask me any question you want. This is going to fun for all of us!

Suggestions for New Tracking Center Location

/12 Comments/in , /by

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!

First Senior Elf Named

/5 Comments/in , /by

The first senior elf has accepted his position and joins the all-new Santa’s Council, which is in the formation process.

Our first senior elf is one you know well, Elf Max.

Elf Max is the most important elf on SantaTrackers.net. He works tirelessly 365 days of the year to make this site and community work. While we do not want to add to his workload there is no way we can proceed without his voice on Santa’s Council.

There are several “Santa’s Council” groups. We have one at SantaUpdate.com, at the North Pole, at North Pole Flight Command, etc. These are groups of senior elves that meet with Santa on occasion to discuss difficult issues and to resolve them. The elves included in these groups are approved personally by Santa and are highly trusted.

In forming a group of such elves here we will be including elves who serve in various important capacities first. You know these elves already. Elves Ernest, Frank Myrrh, Harold Star, Sandy Claus and Crash Murphy will, by the nature of their existing positions and how they work within the Santa Tracker community, will be part of this group.

I am in the process as well in interviewing several other elves to be part of this group. It may take me a few months to get through this process of interviewing, identifying and inviting new elves to join Santa’s Council.

Not only are we looking for the right mix for Santa’s Council we are looking for new Senior Elves to fill special assignments within the tracker community. It will take time to recruit such elves, train them and get them up to speed on their duties.

But adding Elf Max to this group is a logical first step and one we hope you approve of.

Expect more announcements of this type over the weeks and months ahead.

Understanding Our Mission

/1 Comment/in , , , , , , /by

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

/2 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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

/2 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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.

Elf of the Year Named

/14 Comments/in , , , , , /by

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 of the Year - Elf Hannah

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.