Santa Johnathan was right then, and he is right now. The IBRBS Vision and Mission Statement contains a list of “Our Tenets” which includes the laudable goals of promoting the joy of giving, upholding the positive image of Christmas performers, fostering good will and cooperation throughout the entire Christmas Community, and encouraging members to be charitable. Moreover, “Our Tenets” says explicitly “We support the principles embodied in the Santa Claus Oath.” The Santa Claus Oath pledges the oath taker to bring cheer and good will to all; to bring a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion; to create happiness, to spread love and make fantasies come to life, in the true tradition of Santa Claus. Most significantly, the Santa Claus Oath states explicitly that “I realize that I belong to a brotherhood and will be supportive, honest, and show fellowship to my peers.” With these statements in mind, why did the IBRBS membership vote to exclude clean shaven Santas from membership in their organization? Can anyone explain to me how recent votes of the membership excluding clean shaven Santas from IBRBS membership were consistent with the goals expressed so well in the IBRBS statement of “Our Tenets?” Were IBRBS members fostering good will and cooperation throughout the entire Christmas Community, or being supportive, honest, and showing fellowship to their peers when they cast votes to exclude clean shaven Santas from membership? Was it supportive, honest, or showing fellowship to say one thing and do another? Did IBRBS members bring cheer and good will to all, or bring a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion when they cast votes that caused so much hurt to clean shaven Santas, their children and grandchildren? Do those children and grandchildren count, or are they somehow expendable? Perhaps IBRBS members believed they were promoting the joy of giving, or encouraging members to be charitable when they cast votes to exclude clean shaven Santas from membership? Was it a generous or charitable act to cast such votes? Were IBRBS members upholding the positive image of Christmas performers, creating happiness, or spreading love and making fantasies come to life, in the true tradition of Santa Claus when they cast votes to exclude clean shaven Santas from membership? International media portrayed these votes as more evidence of a nasty feud between members of different organizations of Christmas performers, suggesting their positive image was tarnished by it. Were such votes an appropriate way to recognize a brotherhood of Santas and be supportive, honest, and show fellowship to one’s peers? Does there seem to be a bit of a disconnect between what IBRBS members say and what they do? Were the votes cast excluding clean shaven Santas from IBRBS membership entirely honest and supportive, and did they display fellowship towards other members of this brotherhood? What would Santa do? Might these would-be Santas find themselves on a Naughty List? Certainly this suggests many IBRBS members either do not understand or do not really embrace the tenets of IBRBS, and may require some remedial education about what they actually mean. Perhaps IBRBS should institute a continuing education requirement for its members? Perhaps Santa, and anyone embracing the spirit and legend of Santa Claus, would have voted to allow clean shaven Santas membership in IBRBS, thereby promoting the joy of giving; fostering good will and cooperation throughout the entire Christmas Community; encouraging members to be generous and charitable; expressing cheer and good will to all; bringing a spirit of warmth, understanding and compassion to the issue; creating happiness instead of pain for children; upholding the positive image of Christmas performers; spreading love and making fantasies come to life, in the true tradition of Santa Claus. Thank you, Santa Johnathan, for your insights and leadership on this important issue.

Voting for the 4 open seats on the Board of Directors closes on February 15th. If you haven't voted yet, please do so and make your voice count. After all, it is your Organization.

To the best of my knowledge, they can be added at any time. To be 100% sure, contact Jacqui at (702) 304-7800 and she will know as she's our rep at the insurance company.

Big John, Memberships expire as of tomorrow. You can always log into your Dashboard to check your status, renew membership, purchase insurance, or a background check. You should have received an email with all the details if we have your correct email address.

OK all....still being fairly new to the IBRBS....I see posts about renewing membership...I, for some reason cannot find anywhere to renew my membership. OR am I not reading the posts properly and you guys are referring to insurance renewals?

Question on the insurance. Does anyone know if I can pay for and add an assistant on at any time after I purchase the insurance , or does the assistant have to be added and paid for when I purchase the insurance?

Got mine renewed yesterday!!

If you're an IBRBS member, your membership, which expires at the end of September, can now be renewed. Also, background checks and insurance are now available to members. Thanks for your support.

Interesting that the above letter does not mention all Christmas Performers. This vote is not about beards but more about letting any one who claims to be a Christmas Performer as a full member. Grinch, elf, Dominic the Donkey, etc. Also this letter states non bearded are asking to join and earlier it was said there is no movement of that at this time. This will be my last post as I am just really tired of the whole debate. I do still find it interesting how hard this is being pushed. At the end of the day I do not care at all, I just like facts to be facts and truths to be truthful.

An open letter to IBRBS Membership, publish as you wish, My fellow Santas, With the current By-Law vote in progress, I would like to make some points in favor of the proposed revisions: First, the only major change in the proposed newly written By-Laws is the definition of Full Member and Associate Member. We have come to recognize that the spirit of Santa Claus starts in the heart, with the spirit of goodwill and giving, not from a beard, real or not. We have also been approached by many younger men who would like to learn about becoming Santa but cannot sport a beard because of their employment situation or physical condition. If such men are seeking the true heart of Santa, we should recognize this and help them in any way we can. After all, our Purpose (Article 2, A) is "to support, mentor and promote professional development." There is another side to this question:- Can we agree that a Santa in the public eye who does not understand or reflect our values, reduces the respect and appreciation for all Santas? I hope you will also consider the long-term value of including nonreal bearded Santas in our membership, just as we have recognized the value of including Mrs. Claus'. In addition, the increased pool of gentlemen will bring a number of professionals who have training and experience which could be of value in the leadership of IBRBS. PLEASE VOTE Have a happy and successful season, My Best Regards, Santa Ron Robertson IBRBS President Emeritus International Hall of Fame Santa

Well, board member or not, I think many have very strong feelings about this and are quite passionate about this. I’m sure I have come across as one with strong feelings on this. In responses, I hope that I have not come across as attacking anyone. I think we can certainly be respectful but agree we see things very differently. I have seen a lot of negative comments. I will support every member’s right to vote, I will speak my mind. This organization takes an extreme amount of volunteer hours, extreme. The board has worked tirelessly to create a bylaws update that will refine it’s organizational setup, as well as erase a dividing line in the community that has no real need to be there anymore. This bylaws update has been clearly stated, has been recommended by the board, and has seen those that have even founded the organization endorse the need for this change. There are a few members that have been adamant that it’s a terrible move without any real justification but to say, keep things as they are, change is bad. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates I will be honest, I will be transparent, I am constantly looking at ways to support this community...the whole community. For me, at this point of our community’s history, a vote to support all brothers in red was not a casual option, it was the only option to do what is right. I stand by that firmly. I understand that there are those within IBRBS’s membership that will vote differently than I. I wish this was just simply about options...but, for me, it is not. That being said. I am very curious to finally see this vote and the thoughts of the membership. Either way, there will be a group that is quite disappointed and I do hope that we can all learn to support each other, regardless as we look to the future. IBRBS can mean more.

Interesting by product of this vote is the opinion of many Board members toward membership that disagree with them! Disagree and you are attacked, put down etc. Agree and they tell you how smart and wise you are. In an above post someone said they like it as it is and the next post by a board member basically tells them they are wrong and does it in what in my opinion is an unnecessary way. Are members not allowed to have an opinion and voice it with out being told they are wrong?

I see you spinning around quite a few points. I will be very clear as I have tried to be. This vote is up to the membership, everyone has one vote to make a choice they feel is best. I await the voting results just as much as anyone else. I do believe that this vote is not about option 1 or 2, it’s about right or wrong. IBRBS was started to make the biggest difference within the Santa community and help support those members. Yes, it was geared towards the real bearded community but as the years pass, we see that Santa is Santa, the exclusiveness based on your beard just does not seem right. Organizations change, they grow, they evolve. These changes are based on a wide variety of things. I have made the point before, as soon as women were voted in as full voting members, IBRBS moved to that name, just IBRBS. Just as my GEICO car insurance is no longer just for “Government Employees” IBRBS can serve more than just real bearded Santas...they already do! As far as an official name change, I do not think it’s needed to erase or change the history of our group. Regardless, you are a member of IBRBS. I do not believe any time would be given to a name change, until the time comes that the membership vote for a change. I hope that answers your question.

I’m not sure this is a profitable discussion to continue anymore, but if you could answer my original question... What steps will be necessary to remove/change the name “International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas” from how it is registered? (I’m not real good at doing the split quote thing, so I just commented where I had something to say.)

I believe that every member of the IBRBS Board started out as a traditional bearded Santa. Are we better today for having a real beard? No. We’re better because of years of experience, learning from all sorts of performers, and having Santa in our heart. My reason for becoming a Charter Member of IBRBS was for the affordable insurance, background check, networking, and other benefits. I personally wouldn’t waste my money joining any organization just because I have something. If that were the case, I’d probably be broke from joining a riding mower association, toothbrush association, etc. Call me crazy, but I want something of value in return for my investment. I think we all would agree that we’re in this for the children. So, if they don’t care, why should we? Ive read here and on Facebook many valid reasons why these proposed changes are good. The problem is I don’t recall reading any legitimate reasons for not supporting these changes. All I seem to read is, “Because I have a real beard.” So? There is no need to change the name either. We simply continue using the acronym IBRBS. As has been pointed out numerous times, there are many companies that have changed their original focus but still use the original acronym (IBM, RCA, etc.). Just seems to me that there’s too much emphasis on the name, as opposed to how great this could be for our Community. Whatever you do, make your voice heard and vote!

The change is wrong? Because you like to be in an exclusive club? Does it make you feel extra special? Set you apart as a better Santa? Do you like to see fellow Santas left out of your special club? I think the Christmas community, as we see here on Clausnet, united together, is exclusive enough for me and should be reflected in our groups and clubs. Our IBRBS ISC enjoyed the presentations of Phil Wenz, a Hall of Fame Santa, our key note speaker was hall of fame Santa, Bruce Templeton, another wonderful traditionally bearded Santa. Are you better than they? We learn from them, we watch their examples, we invite them to our events but cannot join our exclusive club and that’s okay to you? The devision certainly is there, not united, perhaps not as bad as some would say, but it is there in the thoughts, hearts, and actions of some, and has been seen here on Clausnet many times. I have no idea how things will go with this vote, but I feel confident I made the right choice that I felt was needed with my vote. Your opinions sadden me on this but we move forward and the membership does have an opportunity to vote how they feel. If I am in the minority, so be it.

What will be the necessary steps for changing the name “International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas” that it is registered under? That will eventually have to happen for it to progress in the way you want it to. As to much of your post, I just think it is pointless to comment further. Most of the points you raise are not in dispute and just create a false dilemma. The Christmas community IS united, just look at ClausNet as an example. Whoever you’re listening to that says we are not united is pulling your Santa hat over your eyes. Learning for each other is already happening and has been for the years I’ve been around. I’ll testify to how much I’ve gained from many in the community as a whole...male and female, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Bearded and non-Bearded. Heck, even Chris Capstone, if you can believe that! Teeheehee. The change is unnecessary, wrong, and will cause division. But either way the vote goes, the damage has been done. As your leader said, “the dye is cast.” Sadly, that quote from Suetonius is about the beginning of the fall of the Roman Republic.

If you are an IBRBS member in good standing, please make sure you take the time to vote. It is very important that we have an accurate vote on the desires of the membership as we look at where we see IBRBS in the future.

I could care less about where your beard comes from. If that’s the only reason that you joined IBRBS, for the name? that’s just makes me sad and I don’t know why the board is working so hard to volunteer and to try and provide something more. This is not a move being pushed by the traditional bearded Santas, they are not knocking on the door. Why would they? Not when they do not feel welcome. This move is a moment for the Christmas community to come together. It’s no surprise that some of the most respected Santas in the community are wanting this change. I want a group that has the best of the best or at least welcomes them. I was a traditionally bearded Santa and later grew a beard; my heart is the same, my dedication is the same, my love for doing this is the same. I am not a better Santa in my heart for having a real beard. At some point does this international group evolve to work together for all Santas and truly become international for all those that take on this vocation? I certainly hope so. Take a look at the Santa Claus Hall of Fame, take a look at our history, IBRBS can mean more and I’d love to see a time when we welcome all that take this work seriously. “Real Bearded Santas” are primarily a contemporary US novelty and a marketing move. If we are truly to be an international group, we need to vote “YES” on the bylaws change. Six years ago, this was voted with the majority wanting to include and redefine IBRBS. Six years ago, the majority of IBRBS members did not see the change they wanted because a super majority was not reached. It should be time now. I find all talk on conspiracy theory and financial gain rediculous and insulting, people put too many selfless hours in behind the scenes for that. This change for me, and as a board member, is all about coming together and it should be time. Our historic Santas like Jim Yellig and Charles W Howard defined this work, both traditionally bearded, the Charles W Howard School’s Dean, traditionally bearded, writer of the Santa Claus Oath, traditionally bearded, the founder of Clausnet, traditionally bearded, just about every famous Santa seen in film, traditionally bearded. Personally speaking, any Santa Group that thinks these individuals would not bring value to our organization and not want to do whatever possible to welcome them and learn from them, just to keep things outdated exclusive and solely based on a beard...this is just sad and I pray that this community can be better at making the right decisions for the future of IBRBS. I celebrate all Santas and Mrs. Claus. We stand on the shoulders of the men and women before us when ego was not a big deal and when social media played no part. I’m working on a future podcast, a historica series. They cared about the vocation...not their facial hair...not how much their beard cost...and not their gender. They cared about children and the tradition. Today I cast my vote. When you cast your vote, think of them...not yourself. Look through the eyes of a child. Santa and all Christmas performers should look at it from their perspective...not our own. Is this about me and my ego...or about the tradition and what this is really about? Santa is for everyone, all believers and All Santas are for children, that is my hope. IBRBS has the potential to mean more, we just need to take the necessary steps to do that. I believe this with all my heart and I have thought long and hard about this vote. We move forward regardless and I will look towards finding ways to improve each day and be a support to this community. I am grateful for IBRBS and I am so very grateful that some in the world humble me by calling me “Santa Claus.”

Neither do I. I have thoughts about what precipitated this move, but they are just that "thoughts" and not based on anything but personal hunches, so they must remain unsaid.

I agree with much of what you said. And here’s the real rub. I have absolutely no desire to join, break-up, or change a Designer Bearded Santa group (maybe like MOTS). So why do that to a Real Bearded Santa group? All of the reasons I’ve read are empty and without merit.

When the insurance purchase window opens sometime in August, I see you can add an assistant for $70 for the first tier. If I purchase the insurance when the window opens, would I be able to add an assistant to my insurance anytime later, say closer to November?

I too was never in it for anything but the pride of being a part of a group of, what I took to be, like minded fellows who took the time and effort to grow and maintain a "real beard" as opposed to a designer/fake/synthetic/etc. beard. The designer beard looks nice, if you spend the bucks to get a top shelf one, but I consistently have people tell me there is no substitute for the way Santa looks with a "real beard" and that's what I wanted to be a part of and help perpetuate. Now that seems to have taken a distinct back seat to the cancer of "inclusiveness" that's overtaking the world today. I feel myself coming up on a rant about this, so I'll take a deep breath and back away after saying to all..... It's not too late to take a stand, draw a line in the sand, and stand up for what's right, or sure used to be right, within this group called IBRBS. VOTE a resounding NO to the bylaw change!

I understand your feelings, although I do not know if I will leave or not (last year I did not renew till very late) I use none of the benefits the organization provides. I also belonged because of the name. I most likely will vote for the change just avoid having to do all this again. As to whether or not being a member of a Christmas Performer group has any benefit to me I will have to think on that.

Thanks for sharing gentlemen. I’m painfully aware of the history from the 10 in 94’ to AORBS. Then the split from AORBS into FORBS and their subsequent split into IBRBS. And now this vote. I’m out of IBRBS either way. It was never about saving money on insurance or anything’s else, I’m not doing Santa to save money. It wasn’t about training, mentoring, and knowledge that’s already happening in local groups, schools, and places like ClausNet. It was just about the name. Sad that so many just don’t get that, or don’t care. Anyway, bottom line...it doesn’t help me be a better Santa.