It’s 90/90 time here in Southwest Alabama (90+ degrees F and 90% humidity!!). I’m in red shorts and a red tee shirt, and hydrating like crazy! Believe me, I’m not complaining as the mid-west and northeast are locked into temperatures 10-15 degrees hotter!!

This is supposed to be a “quiet” time for Santa America……..instead the Santa America national staff is moving at full speed! We are at a whole new level of national planning and delivery of our mission of bringing Love, Hope and Joy to special children and their families. Many of you know I am proud to be a former (retired?!) GE executive from the Jack Welch era. Jack is still recognized as the world’s finest operations oriented CEO. His leadership got a lot accomplished with a lean, focused, and committed workforce, and we are doing the same here at Santa America. I’m sure he would be challenging us to deliver toys from a larger sleigh pulled by FIVE (and try four!!) tiny reindeer!!

We are committed to planning excellence….never ever forgetting our motto “Elf Before Self.” We are about compassionate/personal Santa visits by very special Santa America volunteers to some very special children and their families!

We have some pretty special (cool really….I need to think cool) things underway that I want to share with you……

We are forming a National Emergency Response Program that will provide national and international leadership, coordination, funding and support to regional Santa groups. We are all proud of the incredible visit to the tornado victims (and emergency responders) at Oklahoma City and Joplin by the Texas based Lone Star Santas!! The LSS are at work putting an operating model together for regional Santa groups to review and use. Santa Bob Elkin has agreed to act as Santa America’s Vice President for the next 2-3 months and will coordinate regional responses with the Red Cross, FEMA, Salvation Army and state and local emergency responders. Our goal: to bring Love, Hope and Joy and some precious toys to children in shelters who have lost everything.

Keep an eye on Santa Wyeth Hatfield our new Vice President, Autism Support Programs. Santa Wyeth is building on the solid platform of web based training and a special web-based pre-visit orientation designed for children with autism that were developed by acting Director Santa John Scheuch in 2009-2010. Santa Wyeth brings solid experience in strategic planning, program development and delivery all combined with a Santa’s heart. Santa John laid the foundation…Santa Wyeth is building the workshop! We are all learning from him!

Santa Jack Arthur is leading our Military Support Programs through a period of (pardon the phrase) explosive growth! We concentrated on the US Army in 2010. Look for 100+ Santa visits to all branches of the military + VA hospitals + USO’s +++++. Volunteer Santas, you can now join Santa America and concentrate your volunteer work JUST on military visits. Santa Jack is finalizing a special military Santa suit based on the US Army’s BDU (battle dress uniform)/CDU US Marine Corp’s (combat dress uniform). Santas, (Size 3X and smaller please), are encouraged to join the team.

Santa Lou Knezevich is developing some pretty unique projects in National Santa & Public Health Support. Our 2012 Santa calendar has identified 7 of the 12 Santas and Mrs. Claus who will represent each month. Look for some break through relationships with healthy eating restaurant chains this year. Look for Santa Lou’s sound and sensible blog articles on being a healthier Santa role model of our children. Remember, childhood obesity is the #1 healthcare epidemic facing our children. Long live “an apple a day and homemade chicken soup!!” I hear a national restaurant chain may be developing a special taste good and healthy chocolate chip cookie as part of its support of Santa America!!

Our own Santa Bob Elkin, Vice President of National Santa Relations is spreading the word on joining Santa America throughout the land. Armed with a video on the Santa America core mission developed by Santa Phil Wenz and reinforced by the “soon to be famous Palm Tree Santas Drill Team,” Santa Bob’s commitment has resulted in 4+ new Santa America volunteers joining every month! Contact Santa Bob and join the team!

Our very own Elf Nita Mickwee, Vice President, Santa Administration is getting new Santa volunteers cleared and posted on the Map of America is quickly as possible. Look for a 100% web based application form in the near future. Please note: Elf Nita is a diehard Auburn fan in a sea of Alabama Crimson Tide! Believe me, she can gain yardage and get the job done!

Finally, please give a huge Thank You to our webmaster, Elf Dan Therrell for the continued development of our website! We love the rotating pictures on the home page ++++++

That’s it for now. I’m off for some hummus on whole grain, an apple and a bottle of H20!

Love, Hope and Joy to you and yours!
Santa Ernest