Seeking Recommendations for Regional Tracking Centers

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The Regional Tracking Center Committee has convened to begin the process of determining locations for this year’s regional tracking centers.

Each of the world’s five sectors needs a location for a regional tracking center. Months in advance of Christmas an Elf Supervisor and his or her team are dispatched to the regional locations to begin the work of scouting for Santa.

In this capacity they gather information to aid Santa and North Pole Flight Command in coming up with a good flight plan for Christmas.

Everything is taken into consideration for the particulars of every sector: the weather, the countries, the centers of population and the number of believers in each area. Months of information gathering and flight planning go into preparing for Santa’s Christmas Eve ride through each area of the world.

We are asking for suggestions, via the form below, from trackers who live in each sector. Here is the criteria we are using as a wish list for a good candidate of a regional tracking center:

1. We need a safe building large enough to house up to 500 elves who will work in the regional center.
2. Security is important. The building needs to be in a safe area. It needs not only to be large enough but able to be secured from the inside and the outside. All utilities used for the building (power, water, etc) but also be secured.
3. High speed internet access, preferably via ground cable, needs to be available. Satellite and/or Starlink, of course, is an option and will likely be installed as a backup if not already available.
4. Good 5g local cell service needs to be available.
5. A local good supply of fresh vegetables and fruits needs to be available.
6. Available land surrounding the center for the purposes of setting up sleigh landing zones is preferrable. While a good local airport is always an alternative for frequently arriving and departing sleigh flights is an option we do prefer to have enough real estate right next to the regional center for convenience in operations.
7. Access to local universities, museums, and historical repositories is preferrable for research purposes.
8. Nearby recreational facilities, national parks, nature preserves and other locations for elf off-time recreational purposes are a nice feature to have.
9. A good variety of restaurants where local cuisine is offered is preferrable.
10. A warehouse for receiving shipments, personnel transports, and supplies of water, provisions and equipment as part of the overall property is required.

While North Pole Flight Command is open to the idea of using locations that have previous served this purpose the goal in every sector is to find a new location each year. With so much time spent in these areas it helps the collection of knowledge and data about each sector expand by using new locations each year.

While it is nice to have a regional location with a Christmas-related name it is NOT required.

We will accept your nominations for the regional locations until May 31st, 2025. Regional tracking center location nominations will be researched, scouted and reported on by the Regional Tracking Center Committee through the end of June 2025.

Announcements of this year’s locations will happen during Christmas-in-July.

Thanks.

Elf of the Year Announcement

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In a final wrap to the 2024 Christmas season I am pleased to announce the Elf of the Year.

Elf of the Year

This year’s honoree is known to just about everyone. In fact, when I asked for recommendations from the Elf Community I was overwhelmed with the number of people suggesting this one particular elf.

This elf is likewise highly recommended by other key elves you know. He was recommended by Elf Ed Zachary, Elf Moe, Elf Max, Elf Frank Myrrh. And he carries my hearty endorsement as well.

This is not a popularity contest. This is recognition of elves who go above and beyond to serve the elf community with their talents and their Christmas Spirit. This is a serious award, one that is duplicated in departments all over the North Pole.

For example, just this week, Elf Bernard at Santa’s Workshop named the Elf of the Year in the Workshop an elf who goes by the name of Elf Dave “The Whistler” Jepsen. He’s called the Whistler because that’s what he does while he works. He’s always bright, positive and filled with Christmas Spirit. He lifts the elves around him.

That’s what the Elf of the Year here does for us too as part of the tracker elf community. He constantly looks at the bright side of things and he works hard to keep spirits up.

He is anxious to serve. He wants everyone to have a good time with their Christmas celebration, no matter how they celebrate it. He jumps to aid new elves and works hard to acknowledge elves with experience. Year round he is here, spreading a vital influence and doing all he can to help people understand Santa and how tracking Santa for Santa works.

Speaking of Santa, when I presented him with the list of candidates after weeks of talking to people, he very anxiously said: I hope Elf Westover is at the top of the list.

Elf Westover is our Elf of the Year. He is a tracker elf in Sector 5, a member of the Senior Elf Board here at SantaTrackers.net, and a news caster and podcaster for the North Pole News Department.

We thank him for his many efforts and for all the time he puts in for Operation Merry Christmas. He works on it year round, despite keeping a busy schedule.

He’s a young man, but our newest Senior Elf. He has a very mature sense of giving. He asks regular and good questions. He is eager to help in any way we ask.

He is also so very patient with the North Pole Elves he works with. He is part of the North Pole News Department, which is no easy thing considering he’s NOT at the North Pole. He has to wait on us for answers.

But nothing phases him. He’s patient, kind and helpful.

I personally believe he’s got a bright elf future. When I tell people of a great example of an elf who follows the Elf Code I always point them to Elf Westover here at SantaTrackers.net.

Elf Westover, thank you for your service. We enjoy your enthusiasm, your ideas and your constant desire to do good things. Your talents in writing news, presenting videos and group leadership will be valued a great deal in the years ahead.

Please join me in congratulating Elf Westover as our Elf of the Year.

Please Send in a Nomination

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It has been an excellent year in tracking Santa and one that taught us many things. We are grateful for all we experienced.

Before we move on to the year-in-review and in planning exciting things for 2025, we want to do a few things in wrapping up 2024. First of all, a performance review process for each of us as elves will take place. Even i get to go through that. We will have more details on what that means for you before long.

But there is one item of business I really need your feedback on: our Elf of the Year.

The Elf of the Year is an award recognizing the member of the Elf Community who performed at an exceptional level. Not only is the Elf of the Year an example of good execution against the Elf Code but they inspiring other elves to be better.

The Elf of the Year can be anyone. It can be me! Hahaha – no it can’t, I’m just kidding. I’m exempt because it would look pretty bad if I gave the award to myself.

Frank, I don’t want this responsibility. I like all of you and think you’re all great. There are many elves I think could be named Elf of the Year.

But this is a community award. You all should have a voice in this. You all should be included. Actually, you all should name the Elf of the Year.

So I’m taking nominations.

Here’s what I want you to do: please private message me who you think is the elf who most deserves Elf of the Year and why. Just a quick note. Now, to send me a message you need to friend me, but you should be my friend anyway, right?

After I hear from all of you I’m talking to each of the Elf Supervisors. I’m talking to other elves. I’m talking to Santa.

In a few weeks, we’re going to make the announcement.

We have many things to talk over in the next month. But let’s start on a high note by recognizing one of our own.

Thank you.

Sector 5 is in the Red Zone

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Ok guys, as always, we’re last. But, we’re the best. Flight Command just got off the horn and they confirm we are now in the Red Zone.

Since most of you are hopefully asleep (we have a LONG day ahead of us), there is nothing for you to do right now. So if you stayed up for this announcement, I’m sorry.

Santa will hit the skies soon, that may change things.

But it really won’t be until later tomorrow that Santa gets close to us. So we have to wait and watch. I’ll let you know what they want of us!

Sector 4 is in the Red Zone

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Hola, Tracker Elves. Flight Command just made the call – we’re in the Red Zone.

Santa will be launching before too long. I’m told though that we have other sleighs in the skies of our Sector.

Other than what Elf Roger said earlier, I have no new direction for you. That can change quickly, so please pay attention.

Thanks!

Red Zone for Sector 3

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Friends, Elves and Trackers – lend me your eyeballs! North Pole Flight Command just signaled us that we are in the Red Zone.

All of Europe and Africa marks Christmas Eve now. There are SLEIGHS in the skies right now in Sector 3.

That being said, we’re still hours away from Santa’s launch.

I have no needs to ask of you at this time other than to BE READY.

 

Christmas Eve Now in Sector 2

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Greetings Elves of Sector 2. The signal just came from North Pole Flight Command: we are now officially in the Red Zone.

It’s Christmas Eve!

We do not have any reporting needs at this time.

There are many active sleighs in our sector already. Keep your eyes peeled.

Sector 1 is in the Red Zone

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Ok, trackers! This is it. We’re in the Red Zone. Flight Command has sleighs active in our area. We’re now officially on the clock.

There are no reporting needs at this time which is good because most of you are likely still asleep.

I will keep you post.

In the meantime, happy tracking.

Instructions from Flight Command

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Elves, Trackers and Believers Worldwide:

No doubt you have heard the news of challenges we have had this past week with Operation Airlift. The news coming out of Flight Command in recent hours has not been any better.

While I am unable to give you an estimate of exactly how far behind we are I can provide you with information of how we are going to deal with this problem. As elves, working together around the world, we are confident we can help Santa deliver on time and safely, regardless of the weather.

Here is the challenge: Operation Airlift is 100% to Sectors 1, 2 and 3. We have deliberately distributed what Santa needs to those sectors first.

That does not mean we can have trackers and support personnel in Sectors 1,2 and 3 rest easy, however. We need you more than ever.

Why?

Because Elf Buck Sanchez and his team in flight operations at the North Pole are changing tactics in their struggle to get sleighs out. We have expanded sleigh launches from the Sleigh Barn and the Reindeer Barn, in addition to what you have heard about the Field House at North Pole High School. We are also working still to free a runway at the Sleigh Port to launch sleighs as well.

That multi-front operation means sleighs are leaving the North Pole under challenging storm conditions in every direction. That means those sleighs, as the surface above the storm, are headed into every sector. This will be true for the next 18 hours at least.

This is not our preferred method of doing this. We are working the sleigh traffic controllers at Flight Command, in every Regional Tracking Center, and on every ship of the North Pole Navy, at a highly complex level.

There are, as of right now, more sleighs in the skies than there ever have been in history. That number will increase and peak in the hours ahead.

Bearing all that in mind, please make it a REGULAR habit today to watch the skies where you are, day and night. If you see what you think is a sleigh, take photos or videos and submit it.

But more important than sleighs, and this is very unusual, is your observance of  ALL AIR TRAFFIC.

I want all elves in each sector, where possible, to submit an AIR TRAFFIC report every six hours. I know this is asking a lot.

In addition, please keep weather reports coming every six hours as well. In fact, do both reports and submit them at the same time.

We’re not just trying to help Santa here: we’re trying to help every sleigh pilot up there in every area as well as every sleigh traffic controller.

I hope this instruction is clear.

If you have questions, please use the comment area below.

Thanks!

What the Red Zone Means

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Trackers in All Sectors,

In just about 12 hours it will be dawning of Christmas Eve day in Sector 1. Whenever a sector enters into Christmas Eve day we call it entering the Red Zone.

What is the Red Zone?

You’re going to see those words in headlines, hear them on the radio, and read about them on the Official North Pole websites.

It means the sector is fully active – that Santa’s deliveries could happen at any time and that Santa is likely in the air or soon to be in the air within that sector. It also means that OTHER sleighs besides Santa’s sleigh could also be active within the sector.

It is possible for more than one sector to be in the Red Zone.

As a tracker elf, you will want to be as attentive as possible when your sector is in the Red Zone. That is when you might be called upon to report on something that might help Santa.

Be ready to be in the Red Zone soon!

Trackers in North and Central America Check In

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At last! We can now check in in Sector 5!

Weather Updates Needed

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Greetings from Kochi, India!

North Pole Flight Command has informed me that we have a lot of sleighs in the skies associated with Operation Airlift either here now or coming soon over the next 48 hours.

From those elves who are able we need fresh, updated weather reports from all trackers who are able to supply them from their locations EVERY 8 HOURS.

We can do this!

If you have any questions please post them below.

Thanks!