So…an interesting debate has begun at North Pole Flight Command. Just how many tracker elves are there REALLY that now track Santa for Santa?

Last Christmas Santa set the goal at 40 million tracker elves. That goal was based on the assumption that there were better than 25 million tracker elves from the Christmas before. After working all year last Christmas to build the ranks the numbers show that the goal Santa set was blown away days before Christmas arrived.

A straight count of how many people applied showed that better than 58 million total were enrolled.

But is that how many people actually tracked Santa for Santa?

Well…no. Not really.

In fact, if the truth is told, the number of people who actually helped Santa get around the world last year appears to be significantly less.

Why?

Well, there are many reasons: Some people sign up twice. Some are excited to track Santa and sign up to do it…but then can’t because they are busy with other things when the time actually comes for an elf to check in. Some people who track Santa for Santa one Christmas don’t do it the next Christmas. Some people get sick. Some people lose Internet. Some people just forget. Others sign up late and don’t have time to figure out HOW to do it.

At the end of the day, the number of people who come here, sign up, and DON’T track Santa for Santa is actually a BIG number.

In fact, elves in the Estimating Department at Flight Command estimate the number is so embarrassing that we probably shouldn’t share it with you.

Needless to say, we have some work to do.

We know that Santa is going to give us a new goal to hit with the number of NEW trackers we need to get signed up. But we need to put more work into training the tracker elves we already have and making sure they are on the job when Santa actually needs the help.

What does that mean for you?

Well, we’re still trying to decide that.

Personally, I think this: if you are an active tracker and have years of experience already tracking Santa we need to put you to work. We need to promote you. We need you find those elves who want to be leaders. We need elves to help other elves to be elves. Make sense?

Now, I haven’t heard yet what our plans will be for all this. My job, as usual, is to run the website and to give you guys information about what’s going on. It’s only February.

But, I know there are many of you out there who visit year round. I want to know what you think. I believe we need the power of all elves in on this question. We need to brainstorm. We need to share ideas. We need to throw out suggestions to the elves in charge. This is no time to be shy.

So, as you think about this, don’t be afraid to comment. We are still months away from when the crowds of people start coming back. We have time to put our heads together. We have time to act.

Don’t be shy. Speak up. How do we get better elf participation?