Santa`s BIO May Take Longer Than Projected

Arnold Breckensmith (DES Historian) just submitted an update on Santa`s Biography for the website.

He says it is going to take much longer than he expected. The volumes of research he has to review now takes over about 15 rooms within the meeting complex.

He has hired on 5 more elves to help him cross check his facts and it appears that there are several reports that conflict with each other.

He does plan on at least having the summary for us very soon so that it can be posted on the website.

Snowball Challenge Schedule

In light of having the this weekend free, the Department of Elfland Security has scheduled the 2375^th Snowball Challenge starting Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.

As always, events include: Snowman construction contest, Candy Cane eating contest, Reindeer in Training Rides, Gift Wrapping Contest (Gift wrapper workers will judge), and a performance by Rocky and the Mistletoes at noon in the square.

Food and Hot Chocolate will be provided.

If you wish to participate in the contests, please sign-in by 8:30 a.m. with Judy. She will have a sign-in table set up in front of the workshop doors.

Weather report is: Cold and snowy, so dress appropriately.

Elves Get the Weekend Off

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL DES AND PRODUCTION ELVES!

Due to being ahead of schedule, Santa has declared this coming weekend to be a non-working holiday break for all elves. He is proud to announce that we are down to loading the last satellite with gifts and there is no need for extended production… work will continue the following Monday; however, and there will be no time off until after the delivery night.

Enjoy your time off with family and friends, and give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done!

Please note, this does not include Security Details that will be traveling with Santa and Mrs. Claus over the weekend for public appearances.

Chat Services Tested at Department and Santa`s Office

The IT department reported that the test for the chat services link at Santa`s home office worked successfully. Today`s live chat is on task and still scheduled for 5p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be joining the chat from their home, as well as, several elves from the department. There will be a few located at the new meeting center and a couple at the headquarters building. We are getting a great satellite connection to the Internet today and they feel we will have a great chat session. Weather reports look very favorable.

Santa adds to his resource page!

Santa used his time today to create and publish several items for his resource page.

He has posed some math practice sheets, puzzles, and a domino game.

Click here for quick access! Have fun!

Tom Turkey's Biography and Summary Complete

Arnold Breckensmith (DES Historian) reported that he completed the Official Biography of Tom Turkey and submitted the summary to the web department. The web department immediately placed the summary on-line. It can be found here. Arnold continued his communication by saying he will continue on researching and start on Santa's Biography. His office has sent out letters to all of the Assembly of Legendary Figures asking for interview dates that are reasonable for them. Once he hears back from everyone he will post the research schedule.

He did say that the Biography's are quite larger than he originally planned and we may want to look into having them published within book volumes. This will be discussed at the next Department meeting.

Security Detail from New York Wrap up Report

Another successful mission!

At the end of the parade, Mr. and Mrs. Claus were invited inside Macy`s for their annual meet and greet. They spent about 45 minutes with the administration and employees of the store before boarding their transportation back to the airport. At 2:37 p.m. EST, DES-1 lifted off from JFK International Airport in route to the North Pole.

At 3:30 p.m. Santa called a debriefing meeting on board. He congratulated all of the elves for a job well done. He said that he love the new team and wishes that everyone can return again for next year`s Macy`s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The only negative item reported by Santa is that he thinks we should consider either renovation or replacement of DES-1. The jet is getting rather aged and is in need of updating. I have created a memo to submit to headquarters about this comment.

Mrs. Claus was a cheerful as always and gave all of the elves on board "I Love New York" T-shirts and large chocolate chip cookies.

The meeting was over at 4:13 p.m. EST.

Santa and Mrs. Claus retreated to their private cabin and the elves spent the rest of the trip singling carols and playing games. All elves were accounted for before taking off for the North Pole.

Security Detail Reports in From New York

The Department spent most of the night and morning reviewing the security plans for the parade route for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. There was only one issue found. The street department forgot to collect one mailbox on the corner of Central Park S. and 7^th Street, but it was removed immediately after it was reported. Santa arrived about 5:27 a.m. and was escorted to his private staging area with no incidents. Step off began on-time and all are excited for this year's parade.

We have issued maps to all of the parade spotters within the security detail. Although we communicate through our closed radio frequency, last year we had issues with two of our spotters trying to find fellow security members within the crowd. We were not clear if this was due to poor planning or if the security elves were distracted by one of the parade balloons. Either way, we implemented the spotter location map this year as part of the security planning.

Tom Turkey Creates Presidential Pardon Page

One of the unique things related to the TAOLF member Tom Turkey is the U.S. Presidential Pardon that takes place every Thanksgiving. Tom has created a new page called Presidential Pardon were you can see this year's pardon by President Obama and the history behind this yearly ceremony.

The origins of which is unknown exactly; however, there is some interesting history on this page even dating back to Abraham Lincoln.

Sit back and give it a read.

Tom Turkey' s FAQ page now available

Tom Turkey has been working with the Department of Elfland security to create his F.A.Q. page. They have come up with 75 questions and answers relating to the first Thanksgiving, parades, and turkeys. You can now connect to that page to find out some interesting information about the holiday.

We have our Facebook Username

BREAKING NEWS!

This just in from the Department of Elfland Security, The North Pole:

Attention all Assembly of Legendary Figures and Fans, it is official, we now have our Facebook username. Our official Facebook page is now, http://www.facebook.com/taolf. All websites and marketing material will be updated to reflect the new address. Thank you to our Facebook fans for helping to make this happen.

The History of the Wishbone Superstition

One of the elves working with Tom on items for his website asked Tom an interesting question that we found when reviewing the interview tapes. You see, we record our sessions with the Legendary Figures, because you never know when you have to go back and review what was said. Elves are not really great note takers, and we have found the recordings to be more dependable when it comes to getting the facts straight.

But anyways, back to the question. The following is a transcript that is between Tom the Turkey and Eugene Becklner (one of our researcher elves). Eugene asked Tom, Where did that superstition about the wishbone come from?

Tom: I cannot believe you asked me that... gobble, gobble.

Eugene: Well, I was working on these FAQ questions, and one of them was about the wishbone... I didn't mean to upset you, I was just curious.

Tom: Oh well, that's ok; you know I am a little edgy this time of year. You see, that superstition actually started many, many, man... gobble, gobble... ny years ago. Back during the times right before the Romans.

Eugene: Really, it is that old?

Tom: Yes. You see there was this group of people called the Etruscans...

Eugene: Etru...

Tom: Yes, the Etruscans. You see, they believed that fowls, like myself, were soothsayers.

Eugene: soothsayers?

Tom: Gobble, Gobble... yes... those who could tell the future. Well anyways, that is when they believed that... and this is hard for me to say... gobble gobble, that my collarbone had special powers.

Eugene: Wow... really?

Tom: Yes, and the Romans took over this thought and believed that if you would take out the bone… then two people rub it and make a wish... then each person take a side and pull... the one who... gobble gobble, got the biggest piece would get their wish. This is how it became to be called the wish bone.

Eugene: Oh... Ok, I see, hmmmmm...

Tom: Why are you looking at me like that?

Eugene: What, no... I'm not... nothing.

Tom: Yeah... Gobble, gobble... don't get any ideas.

Eugene: Tom, I would never...

Tom: Ok, well anyways... that tradition carried on throughout the years. Most people think is just an American tradition.

Eugene: Oh, yeah?

Tom: Yes, but the pilgrims actually brought that with them from England. Actually, In England they used to call it the merrythought.

Eugene: The merrythought?

Tom: Yes, because the wishbone is sometimes associated with festive holiday feasts and the thought or promise of the wish coming true.

Eugene: Oh, I see...

Tom: Yes, and even in the 1930's they used to have postcards that would show pictures of wishbones.

Eugene: Wow, so it is a pretty big custom then huh?

Tom: Yes, yes, it is... unfortunately... but you know what...

Eugene: What?

Tom: Chickens have wishbones too.

************** END OF TAPE

Resources:

http://www.luckymojo.com/wishbone.html

http://www.blurtit.com/q7623823.html

http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/why-is-breaking-a-wishbone-considered-good-luck-and-where-did-the-superstition-come-from

New Meeting Complex Completed

The Department of Elfland Security has just completed their new meeting facility located on the southern banks of Candy Cane forest at the North Pole. This facility houses the state of the art technology for communications and conferences and has a private wing dedicated to the entire Assembly of Legendary Figures.

A cocktail party was help tonight for selected guests and the facility will be opened for all starting tomorrow morning at 8 a.m.

EB Returns to Easter Island

The Easter Bunny just sent in that he has just arrived back at Easter Island to get his office and factory back into production for next season. After leaving the meeting yesterday, he stopped off in Southern California (Anaheim) for a brief visit with Mickey Mouse and for negotiations on next year's Disney character candies. He stated that the factory needs a few repairs since one of the jelly bean machines was left on accidently and they have flooded one of the rooms with billons of watermelon flavored jelly beans. They are going to have to move some of these out using heavy equipment and take out one of the walls in order to get to them all. Other than that, all is well and production should be in full flow after the first of the year.

Tom Turkey and Thanksgiving Page Now On-line

The Department has established the webpage for Tom Turkey. We will be working the rest of the weekend adding information to the site. Tom is currently staying up at the North Pole with us working on putting together items and doing some research on the Internet. His page will have a Biography page, resource page, FAQ page, and some other items relating to Thanksgiving.

He is looking at some possible activities for kids to do for Thanksgiving dinner, as well as, some activities for them while they are off school for the long weekend.

He said it is easier for him to just work on it from up here with us since it is much safer for him to be up here with us doing the Thanksgiving season.

Track Santa's Flight on NORAD

Now that Santa has his webpage up, he wanted us to post a reminder to all of the kids out there who would like to track him this year. You can follow along with his flight on NORADS Santa Tracking site. Please check their website for more details. We will also post the link on Santa's resource page once we get that up on the site.

Chat with Santa Scheduled for Nov. 27, 5-7p.m.

Come chat with Santa on November 27, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Right here on www.taolf.com Santa and his elves will be on-line to take your questions and you can chat with them live from the North Pole.

The department of Elfland Security will turn on the chatting service at about 4:45 p.m. and you can will be able to connect live others in the chat room.

Come Join In!

TAOLF Meeting Minutes for November 2011 now available

As of November 2011, the Department of Elfland Security has been instructed to post all meeting minutes for The Assembly of Legendary Figures on-line. We have created a new page off of the main website that will house all of these meeting documents. You can access this page here. We also posted the minutes from the meeting that took place today in order to get the page established. You can read the November 2011 meeting minutes here.

This page will be updated after each meeting, and we will post a notice on the news feeds when there are new meeting minutes available for you to review.