In Elf Chat today Elf Crash Murphy announced that Elf Roger Star will outline more changes this week that will affect newly signed-on elves at SantaTrackers.net.
According to Crash new elves will have to work in a freelance capacity for at least 90 days and will be required to have their elf supervisor endorsement before being allowed to join the elf community as a North Pole Tracker Elf tracking Santa for Santa. Crash said the idea originated with Elf Moe, who expressed frustrations with recent elf recruits.
Today’s chat was full of information and seemed to have a little more serious tone:
Elf Ernest | Hello everyone |
Elf Ernest | Chat today will begin at the top of the hour, or whenever Elf Crash gets here |
Elf weather tracker | Hi Elf Ernest |
Elf Max | Hi Elf Weather Tracker |
Elf Max | Hi Elf Ernest |
Elf Max | Isn’t*t a bit strange for you to be hosting chat here instead of at SantaUpdate? |
Elf Ernest | Yes, it is. |
Elf Ernest | But Elf Roger asked me to pinch hit for him today because he’s involved in some Christmas-in-July thing |
Elf Max | Ah, I see. So you’re hosting the chat…no announcements? |
Elf Ernest | Right, I’m just facilitating |
Elf Ernest | But I think Crash will be breaking some news today |
Elf Max | Oh? That’s interesting. |
Elf weather tracker | Hi Elf Ulan |
Elf Ernest | He’s been in a lot of meetings. His tracker work is keeping him very busy |
Elf Max | I’m all ears |
Elf Crash Murphy | Hi everyone! |
Elf weather tracker | Hi Crash |
Elf Ernest | Crash! You are a little early |
Elf Crash Murphy | I could leave if you want |
Elf Ernest | No no no |
Elf Ernest | It’s all good! |
Elf Crash Murphy | Did I see Elf Ulan here? |
Elf Crash Murphy | I love her. She’s so NICE |
Elf Crash Murphy | Hi Elf Weather Tracker! |
Elf Crash Murphy | Hey Max |
Elf Max | Hi Crash |
Elf Crash Murphy | Max, are you going to ask me about Crusader’s podcast again? |
Elf Max | Consider yourself asked |
Elf Crash Murphy | I promise I will get in studio |
Elf Max | When? |
Elf Crash Murphy | When Frank pushes me in there |
Elf weather tracker | Hi Elf Radar |
Elf Max | Hahaha – ok, I’ll let him know |
Elf Ernest | Folks, welcome to today’s Elf Chat |
Elf Ernest | We have Elf Crash Murphy here today and you know him as a radio voice |
Elf Ernest | And as the Ultimate Santa Tracker |
Elf Ernest | He follows Santa every Christmas Eve around the world in his own sleigh |
Elf Ernest | And he reports the news |
Elf Ernest | In fact, you can hear a re-broadcast of last years Tracking Santa show on Kringle Radio right now |
Elf Ernest | But Crash is here today as a leader in the tracker elf community |
Elf Ernest | He officially represents Elf Roger Star today |
Elf Ernest | And Crash, I hear you have news to share? |
Elf Crash Murphy | I do. |
Elf Ulan | Hi Elf Crash! Thank you so much! Me too! |
Elf Crash Murphy | Roger will be posting or making some kind of announcement this week |
Elf Crash Murphy | But he told me to share a little bit of it with you guys here today |
Elf Crash Murphy | There are some changes coming to how new elves become new elves here on SantaTrackers.net |
Elf Crash Murphy | They are working out the details, but basically a new elf must seve |
Elf Crash Murphy | serve, that is |
Elf Crash Murphy | as a freelance elf for 90 days before they can become a North Pole elf |
Elf Ulan | Hi elf Weather Tracker! |
Elf Crash Murphy | And participate here on SantaTrackers.net with all of you |
Elf Max | Whoa |
Elf Ernest | That’s a very interesting development. Why is this happening? |
Elf Crash Murphy | It is all about elf quality, as I understand it. |
Elf Crash Murphy | They want a new elf to get a little reporting experience and gain the endorsement of their elf supervisor before they will be allowed to join here |
Elf Max | What does this exactly mean, Crash? |
Elf weather tracker | I think that is a great idea |
Elf Crash Murphy | It means the rush of new elves we see in the fall months of October thru December are a thing of the past |
Elf Crash Murphy | Elf Moe came up with this. |
Elf Crash Murphy | He’s been really troubled by some problems with new elves of late and this was his solution |
Elf Crash Murphy | It bears Santa’s approval. It’s happening |
Elf Max | Wow |
Elf Ernest | So…the elf supervisor has to approve a freelance elf becoming a North Pole elf? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, the elf supervisors are becoming a bigger and bigger part of things here |
Elf Max | How do they have time to do that? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Well, if a new freelance elf signs up Monday, as the test flights begin, they have 90 days or until the end of October to get in the good graces of their supervisor |
Elf Crash Murphy | So a new elf starting Monday could be a North Pole Elf by the time Santa flies |
Elf Max | What if they sign up in November and want to be a North Pole elf? |
Elf Crash Murphy | They have to wait 90 days. |
Elf Ernest | So it wouldn’t happen for them before Christmas? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Nope, not a chance |
Elf Max | Whoa again |
Elf Ernest | I’m with Weather Tracker. This is a really good idea |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, I think so too. It puts the focus right where Santa wants it – on the quality of reports |
Elf Max | That’s some really big news. Why wait to announce it? |
Elf Crash Murphy | There are some changes to the sign up and registration process we need to get taken care of. |
Elf Crash Murphy | But Elf Roger wanted our North Pole elves to know about it before hand, just because |
Elf Ernest | Ok. Got it |
Elf Ernest | Any other news? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Um…I’m going to the Eggnog Chug in about an hour. |
Elf Ernest | Hahaha. Me too! |
Elf Ernest | Ok, elves. Questions for Crash? |
Elf Max | Crash, I think this means we’re going to have a lot fewer elves here this Christmas. |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, Max. |
Elf weather tracker | Will I be helping with the test flight |
Elf Max | Do we have enough elves to get the reports they want this year? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, Max. Santa is okay with it |
Elf Crash Murphy | Elf Weather Tracker, let’s talk about those test flights |
Elf weather tracker | Ok |
Elf Crash Murphy | Sectors 5 and 1 were two of the last to announce and they are both scrambling to get set up |
Elf Crash Murphy | So I’m not sure, but I don’t think it will be next week for them anyway |
Elf Crash Murphy | I think the test flights will concentrate on Sector 4 for at least a week. After that, I don’t know |
Elf Crash Murphy | Watch for announcements from Elf Pinky for your sector |
Elf Ulan | Do we need to send some reports for the test flight? |
Elf Ernest | Is the map going to be live, Crash? |
Elf weather tracker | Ok thank you Crash |
Elf Crash Murphy | Elf Ulan, yes, pay attention because your elf supervisor could ask for reports at any time |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, Ernest, my sources in Flight Command tell me the map should be active Monday or Tuesday |
Elf Ulan | Okay, I’ll! |
Elf Max | Oh boy. A lot of news here today in this chat |
Elf Ernest | Will the Elf Supervisors just start posting? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, they will. In fact, Elf Tubby wanted to post today but Roger told him not til Monday |
Elf Ernest | Will there be radio coverage of the launch of the test flight? |
Elf Crash Murphy | No. There will be FLIGHTS. Plural. There are 12 prototype sleighs and they all have a different schedule. Too much to cover on the radio. We’re not ready yet in radio-land for that kind of reporting. |
elf radar | What kind of response time will we have on our reports when they are requested? I mean our regular reports for Christmas, not those involving test flights. |
Elf Ernest | Ok, so you’ll be staying at the North Pole during the test flight period? |
Elf Crash Murphy | The response time? What do you mean, Elf Radar? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, I’ll be at the North Pole for at least a few weeks. After that, we’ll see. |
Elf Ernest | Do we know how heavy of a flight schedule the test flights will have? |
elf radar | How long will we have to respond to these reports so they can be used. |
Elf Crash Murphy | I’m told it will be around the clock from the get go. |
Elf Crash Murphy | Oh, I see what you’re saying. I don’t know the answer to that. Maybe once we get started we can get one of the elf supervisors into a chat to respond to that. |
Elf Max | There’s kind of a new feeling to all this this year |
elf radar | ok. Thank you. |
Elf Ernest | I think that’s what Santa wanted, Max |
Elf Crash Murphy | I agree Maxy. |
Elf Ulan | Does each sector will start the test flight with different test reindeer at the same time? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Tracking feels more…serious in some way. |
Elf Crash Murphy | I don’t know, Elf Ulan. We really don’t know or get much information about the test flight reindeer. I’ll see if I can find that out. |
Elf Ernest | Crash, with 12 sleighs…how many test flight reindeer are there? |
Elf Crash Murphy | I don’t know yet about this year, but last year at the peak we had more than 6000 test flight reindeer |
Elf Max | That’s a lot of reindeer feed! |
Elf Ulan | Okay, than you! |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, the Reindeer Operations Department has a bigger job than most people know |
Elf Ernest | Crash, do you ever go on test flights? |
Elf Crash Murphy | I do. We have to test our radio broadcast capabilities every year. That’s usually in October for me. |
Elf Ernest | How long does that take? |
Elf Crash Murphy | A couple three or four days. It just depends. |
Elf Max | Do you like doing that, Crash? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yeah, it’s good practice for me. |
Elf Crash Murphy | I like to broadcast “We’re going down!” now and then…just to see if anyone is listening |
Elf Ernest | Hahaha…does that get you in trouble? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, every time |
Elf Crash Murphy | I try to do it when I know I’ve got a rookie in Flight Command |
Elf Ernest | You’re terrible… |
Elf Crash Murphy | I have to have my fun |
Elf Ernest | Okay, any last questions for Crash? |
elf radar | I liked that! |
Elf Max | Crash, do Santa’s regular reindeer ever serve on the test flights? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Sometimes, especially if they are recovering from some sort of injury. They use the test flights for rehab |
Elf Crash Murphy | But the closer it gets to December the less they are there because Santa doesn’t want any of his A-team to risk injury |
Elf Max | Interesting |
Elf Ernest | Crash, what do you think of the idea of sending the other North Pole News Reporters to practice on the test flights? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Well, they’d have to become sleigh certified first. Sleigh flight is not for everyone. |
Elf Ernest | Is that hard? |
elf radar | Do the reindeer have any problems flying in and out of the different climates encountered around the world? |
Elf Crash Murphy | I threw up every day for three weeks when I got certified the first time. |
Elf Crash Murphy | Good question, Elf Radar. And the answer is THEY CAN have issues in different climates |
Elf Crash Murphy | But Santa has established rules for the reindeer to keep them safe |
Elf Crash Murphy | His most experienced reindeer know how to adjust. Diet and rest play into it. |
Elf Crash Murphy | But reindeer do not care for heat much. Cold, doesn’t affect them. But heat is a problem |
Elf Crash Murphy | Again, a lot of this is managed by Reindeer Operations. Those elves work hard. |
Elf weather tracker | Does Santa want us to leave water out for the reindeer? |
Elf Crash Murphy | Yes, Weather Tracker. Santa always appreciates water for the reindeer. |
Elf Crash Murphy | But just water |
Elf Crash Murphy | Some want to share soda or eggnog or other stuff for the reindeer to drink and that’s not good. |
Elf weather tracker | Ok, I will leave a bowl of water out |
Elf Crash Murphy | A BIG bowl, I hope |
Elf weather tracker | Of course |
Elf Ulan | Okay! |
Elf Crash Murphy | You know who the thirstiest reindeer is? |
Elf weather tracker | Rudolph |
Elf Crash Murphy | It’s Blitzen. I’ve seen him nearly drain a lake. That guy can guzzle it! |
Elf Ulan | No, who? |
Elf weather tracker | Oh geeze |
Elf Crash Murphy | Rudolph is a little guy. He drinks fairly little. |
Elf Crash Murphy | We always joke we have to give water with electrolytes to Rudolph |
Elf Crash Murphy | He doesn’t think that’s funny. |
Elf Max | Hahaha |
Elf Ernest | Ok, guys. Thanks for being here today. Crash, great chat! |
Elf weather tracker | I will also be leaving carrots out as well |
Elf Crash Murphy | It’s been a good one. Y’all have a great weekend |
Elf Crash Murphy | Awesome, Weather Tracker |
Elf Ulan | Thank you Elf Crash, and everyone! See you again soon! |
Elf Max | Thank you Crash and Ernest |
Elf Crash Murphy | Bye everyone! |
elf radar | Thanks guys! Merry Christmas in July everyone. |
Elf Ernest | See ya! |
Elf weather tracker | Bye |
Elf Max | Wow, good chat! I’ll get it posted soon! |
Thank you, Elf Max for sharing the recap immediately! I got up at 2:50 am local time and 10 minutes before starting, and then I realized it takes time for my brain working well then. Lol! Thank you Elves Ernest and Crash, there were a lot of news! I agree Elf Moe and Elf Roger decided. I think new current elves don’t know when they discussed about closing the elf wall early this year. So we try to make a good communication on the wall as an elf for Santa. I hope new freelancers also can work actively as they can learning to become an elf for Santa. I’m still a young elf here and also learn a lot from super excellent elves here, and Santa even now! I’ll pay attention when my supervisor announces of the test flight. Thank you again to everyone , I’m happy to attend the chat with you all, and Happy Christmas in July! XD