Happy Anniversary!

By Michael Rielly

The ClausNet Gazette turns one year old this month! The inaugural edition was launched on May 1, 2009. Since then not only have we added a ton of new features to ClausNet.com, we've also added several new features to the newsletter as well!

Looking back at past issues, one of the most obvious differences is the Birthday List! It seems to get longer every month! I guess that would make sense since back in May 2009 we had only 572 registered members. One year later and we are close to 900!

This month we have also added featured videos to the newsletter. Don't forget to post your favorites to the videos section on ClausNet.com. As always, if you need help do not hesitate to ask!

We hope you enjoy this month's edition of the ClausNet Gazette! As always, if you have a product or a story that you would like to share with your fellow members, please feel free to contact us!

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In The News

Turkey to Promote Santa Claus Church

Christmas Newswire -- A Turkish tourism company will promote the Mediterranean home of St. Nicholas, better known as Santa Claus, to tourists in the United States, including promoting the area as a location for destination weddings.

Gülseren Özdemir, the general director of the Wedding City Antalya Company, said the firm has been organizing wedding ceremonies for foreigners at the Santa Claus Museum in Demre, a town in the province of Antalya.
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Environmental Group Wants to Replace Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Christmas Newswire -- What?s more green than a Christmas tree? Not cutting it down in the first place, says a pro-environment group petitioning Rockefeller Center to end its holiday tree-lighting ceremony.

The group, Save a Giant Tree, hopes to collect 10,000 signatures to persuade Rockefeller Center management to replace the tree with artwork fashioned from recycled materials.
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Holiday World ready for new season

WFIE.com -- It's not even open yet and Holiday World President Will Koch says 2010 is already looking better than ever.

"Our company picnic booking is a bit stronger (and) we're seeing some upticks in our group sales." It's no surprise, really, since the park seemed to fare well in a rough economy.

"2009 was an interesting year. The economy was down but we saw some positive effect of people choosing to stay closer to home rather than vacations."

Now, with the latest extension of US 231 opening from I-64 in Dale to east of Gentryville, it'll make getting here a lot easier for some..
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Santa Community Grapples with Issues of Integrity

Christmas Newswire -- Defending Santa.com has published a timeline of events tied to the latest episode of fraud in the community of Santas.

The timeline shows how a large gathering of Santas called Celebrate Santa fell apart amidst charges of corruption, mismanagement of funds, and dishonesty that has shaken the Christmas-centric countryside surrounding Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
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Connecticut's 'Mr. Christmas' Dies

WFSB.com -- A man known as Connecticut?s Mr. Christmas has died at the age of 81. Mervin Whipple was known across the state for the Christmas display at his Killingly home.

Whipple maintained the display for 35 years, adding new animations and more lights nearly every year.
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Forced Christmas Music Measure Dies in California

DefendChristmas.com -- Californians apparently weren?t feeling the Christmas spirit during Merry Susan Hyatt?s five-month carol initiative signature collection effort.

The measure failed Friday when the final signature count turned out to be only half a percent of the required 433,971, according to the secretary of state?s office. In all, 2,176 signatures were collected in California between Nov. 2 and March 29.

Hyatt is a retired substitute teacher from Riverside who now lives in Redding. She announced her initiative drive in November, saying schools needed to provide children with the opportunity to listen to Christmas carols during the Christmas season.
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Kaloo opens its first North American corporate store

DefendChristmas.com -- High-end baby toys and other products manufacturer, Kaloo has opened its first corporate store in North America.

The 800-sq.-ft. store, located at 1029 Avenida F.D. Roosevelt in San Juan, Puerto Rico, encompasses the complete range of Kaloo from soft toys, bedding and décor, to Canadian-made furniture, clothing and accessories.

Over the past decade Kaloo has grown into a true lifestyle brand and earned a reputation for quality and attention to detail across the globe.
Read More »

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Featured Member - May 2010

Each month, our Featured Member section profiles one ClausNet member. Members are chosen totally at random by myself and the staff. Once selected as Featured Member of the Month, we interview the candidate and post the interview here. This is a great way to get to know your fellow ClausNet members!

This month our featured ClausNet Member is Santa Jim Morrison!

As the curator of the National Christmas Center in Paradise, Pennsylvania, Santa Jim is not only a Christmas historian, but a preservationist of the history and traditions of Christmas. Jim joined ClausNet back in 2008 and we are very grateful to have him as part of the ClausNet community.

?Roving Reporter" Phil Wenz interviewed Santa Jim a few days ago. Enjoy!
Read the entire interview »

Visit our Featured Members of the Month section for past members!

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Length of time in the Red Suit

Posted in 'Claushimself' blog by Claushimself

I just noticed next to my picture that I am classified as a newbie. HOHOHO, haven't seen that in awhile.

Now I know it means I am new to this site, I am not questioning that, and not offended. However, after 38 years in the uniform, I was just taken by surprise.

I started back in 1972 at the ripe old age of 24 and did the fake beard for 7 years. In the last 2 years of that era, I met my mentor, Joseph Greenawalt.

He was real bearded and awesome. He appeared to be the type of Santa I wanted to be. Isn't it amazing how sometimes we get caught up with the way someone looks? I won't go any further with that. I just want to say that I have found my passion and it is a ministry for Christ while wearing the red uniform. I often challenge people to deny me my authenticity.
Read More »

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Holiday Thoughts Christmas 2009

by SantaMikeC

21 October - 64 Days until Christmas.

So it begins. I started waving at every vehicle as it passed me on Garrison today. I got about a 66% ROW (Return on Wave) average with one honk.

Last year, that was how I rated my ROW average, by honking and light blinks. I stopped waving at every car after Christmas, and throughout the year I got about 1 in 10 cars waving at me.

I allow the motorist to initiate the wave, with three exceptions: school busses, fire trucks, and police cars. I always initiated waves with those three groups.

I figure they are deserving of Santa?s magic year-round. At the Village Roaster about two weeks ago, I had an interaction with children. I had on my red fleece vest, and I have a reindeer pin on it.
Read More »

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Santa Claus Convention History

by Phil Wenz

The first Santa Claus Convention, held in 1939 in New York City, New York, was a two day affair that brought more than 40 Santas to the Hotel St. George.

It was held by the Benevolent Order of Santa Claus, which was founded two years earlier on December 14, 1937, to promote a positive image of Santa with guidelines such as clean costumes, personal hygiene, and knowing the reindeers? names.

The convention was to organize Santas and present to department stores an ever endearing code of conduct and the proper appearance of the profession. The slogan of the convention was ?Santa Claus is a living cause.

During the conference portion of the convention discussion, a foundation was laid for the code of conduct that included; Santa will never smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or use any language unbecoming of a saint, be physically and mentally healthy, never break character, incorporate folklore and legend, and use the best available costuming.

After the convention, the Benevolent Order of Santa Claus continued for a few more years. In 1942 the Order was dissolved. There would not be another convention until 1950 that was held by the newly organized, Ancient and Mystic Order of Kris Kringles in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Ancient and Mystic Order of Kris Kringles was organized in 1949 for the purpose of ?Placing Santa Claus on a Higher Plane and to Promote Good Will, Fellowship and the True Christmas Spirit in the Hearts of All People.?

Santa Sam Caress, President of AMKK, was very instrumental in laying out a 2 day conference that held seminars taught by Santa Frank Lais of New Orleans, Louisiana and Santa Charles W. Howard of Albion, New York. In the convention?s symposium, 12 important topics were open for discussion. The symposium used ?Roberts Rules of Order? and was presided over by Santa Francis A. Kirby of Silver Springs, Maryland.

There would be a couple more conventions in US in the 1950s and 1960s. Then not another until 1985?but that is another story
Read More »

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Santa Voices of the Past

Each month we feature a quote from a famous Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus of the past. Saturday May 1, 2010 marks the 44th year since the passing of Charles W. Howard.

As a reminder of Mr. Howard's contributions to the Santa vocation, it is only fitting that this month's quote come from him.

Please take a brief moment this month to remember Charles W. Howard, "Dean of Santa Clauses."

Mr. Howard was truly an American Original. The legacy and inspiration that he left behind in the "Santa World" may not be in a class by itself, but it does not take long to take role call.

"To say there is no Santa Claus is the most erroneous statement in the world. Santa Claus is a thought that is passed from generation to generation. After time this thought takes on a human form. Maybe if all children and adults understand the symbolism of this thought we can actually attain Peace on Earth and good will to men everywhere."

Charles W. Howard
June 15, 1896 - May 1, 1966

Want to learn more? Check out the following:

• Charles W. Howard Website
• CWH Santa Claus School
• Santa Claus Hall of Fame

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