Happy Easter!

By Michael Rielly

Easter is my favorite holiday. I guess that sounds a bit odd coming from Santa Claus. But think about it. Would there be a Christmas if there had not been Easter?

When I think of Easter, it always reminds me of my mother. My mom loved to decorate Easter Eggs. She would spend hours with markers and paints designing and creating some of the most beautiful Easter Eggs I have ever seen! Afterwards, she would always poke a small hole in one end of the egg to allow the hard boiled contents to dry out. Neighbors, friends, and relatives would look forward to receiving an Easter Egg from Mom each year. So! In the spirit of my mom's decorated Easter Eggs, be sure to check in on ClausNet sometime around Good Friday...

Easter also reminds me of The Ten Commandments. My mother would make my brothers and I watch it every year on television. As kids, my brothers and I weren't keen on watching the four hour broadcast each year. But for some reason, now I have it on DVD and watch it every year!

This Month on ClausNet.com

As always, there is a lot happening on ClausNet! Read through this month's newsletter to learn who the winners are in our Funniest Picture Contest. and be sure to check out our newest feature, the ClausNet Member Map. Don't forget to add your location on the Map!

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

Gatlinburg?s reindeer games

The Mountain Press -- Yes, Virginia, that really was Santa Claus walking down the Parkway. And Father Christmas. St. Nick. Kris Kringle. A couple of camels, a couple of reindeer and a wolf? Well, part wolf. They were all part of the Holly and Shamrock Parade, which kicked off the Celebrate Santa Festival.

Seeing a parade of Santas came a surprise for most of the people along the sidewalk, but they quickly got into the spirit. ?It?s actually exciting,? said Erin Mundy, who was visiting from Charlotte, N.C., with friends. ?We thought it was funny at first, but we decided to stay and now we?re actually excited."
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Iowa Town Renames Good Friday to 'Spring Holiday'

ABC News.com -- One week before the most solemn day in the Christian year, the city of Davenport, Iowa removed Good Friday from its municipal calendar, setting off a storm of complaints from Christians and union members whose contracts give them that day off.

Taking a recommendation by the Davenport Civil Rights Commission to change the holiday's name to something more ecumenical, City Administrator Craig Malin sent a memo to municipal employees announcing Good Friday would officially be known as 'Spring Holiday.'
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Respect the rabbit: Easter Bunny creeping up on Santa?s mall turf

Chicago Tribune -- Every successful employee begins with successful training, Marie Johnson believes, and so she delivered her best advice to the new hires who recently gathered in a vacant store space at Yorktown Center in Lombard.
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'Santa' on the mend

Newark Advocate -- Christmas is past, but that hasn't stopped Santa Claus from spreading cheer at Newark Healthcare Centre.

For the past 35 years, Gordon Asher, 79, has been one of Santa's helpers, playing Santa at malls and Christmas events in central Ohio.

Although he has been at Newark Healthcare since Jan. 30, recovering from knee surgery, it hasn't dampened his spirits, said Amanda Snow, community liaison.
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Unexpected Christmas delights seniors

Galveston County Daily News -- Santa and his merry elves paid a surprise visit to Galveston County seniors this Christmas, bringing delight and smiles to us old folks from Christmas?s past. Thank you for giving us a 'Christmas to Remember'.

Many hadn't received a present in years. Some didn't share their holiday season with anyone, much less Santa Claus! So, it felt so good bring in the midst of all that job and excitement.
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Toys R Us profits in '09

Playthings.com -- Toys R Us Inc. this week reported a 43 percent increase in profit for its fiscal 2009, helped by fourth quarter sales gains. For the 12 month period ended on Jan.30, 2010, the retailer reported net earnings of $312 million, up from $218 million for the 2008 fiscal year. Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $387 million, compared to net earnings of $345 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
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Featured Member - April 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 Tim Mack!

Tim and his Mrs. Claus, Dana, joined ClausNet back in February 2008. Tim is a Co-Chairman for the newly formed Knights of Saint Nicholas organization and was the Executive Director for Celebrate Santa 2009. Tim is a wonderful Santa Claus and we are happy to have him here on ClausNet!

Here?s our interview with Santa Tim Mack...
Read the entire interview »

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

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Contest Winners

ClausNet Funniest Picture Contest

Back in February we kicked off our Funniest Picture Contest. We had over 40 entries! ClausNet Members voted for their favorite pictures during the month of March!

As you might expect, many of the best pictures we received featured kids and babies! Our First, Second, and Third Place Winners of the 2010 Funniest Picture Contest were, Santa George, VetteCitySanta, and GatorClaus.

To see all the entries, including three Honorable Mention Winners, visit ClausNet Contests and Happenings on ClausNet.com.

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The March to December 25th

Posted in 'The Road To December 25th' blog by Gary Casey

What is the next move on the March to December 25th? It is to go back to the last Season and wrap it up correctly. I was going to put this subject at the end of this March but decided to place it in the blog now because you can do something about it Now.

During the last season you hopefully did a bunch of events as Santa. You may have included additional cast members (Elves, Mrs. Claus, photographers, etc. Actually the ETC is what could make it a lot more interest, but is for another day.

When you booked these events you also needed to make a Christmas Card out to the folks that decided to hire you to be at the event. This includes all PAID and NON-PAID events. What are you crazy? No I'm not Crazy. I did it for 400 events you can do it for how many events you have. This is how you do it!

The first thing to do is buy Christmas Cards. Where? At discount store or wherever you can find them. Another is Costco, Sam's Club, Walmarts. They make cards with envelopes. They also custom make the cards with your picture or whatever you want on them. So now you should get your cards based on your estimate of how many you will really need. Do not put any date or year on the card, that way if you over estimate the cards you can us them another year. Buy stamps or order custom made business stamps. You can do that on www.Stamps.com. Now go get the events and book them!
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Creation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Historical information complied by Santa Dennis Blanden

The modern Santa Claus and his eight tiny reindeer were first brought together in Clement Clark Moore?s 1822 poem ?A visit from Saint Nicholas.? First printed anonymously in a local New York newspaper the Troy Sentinel in 1823. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen became household names after the formal 1837 publishing of the poem giving authorship credit to Moore. By the 1860?s most home libraries had a copy of Moore?s work. No other major modern day characters were added to the group with the exception of Mrs. Claus and the North Pole Elves for nearly 50 years.

Then as the story goes in 1938, as the Great Depression was winding down and even as the prospect of better times loomed on the horizon, Robert L. May was looking toward another bleak Christmas. An advertising copywriter for Montgomery Wards living on meager salary, May was on the brink of bankruptcy and exhaustion. After fighting cancer for two long years, his wife, Evelyn, was losing the battle. Staring into each other?s eyes, they both knew she wouldn't?t last long. Their daughter knew something was wrong too.

On a cold December night after visiting her bedridden emaciated mother, their four year old, Barbara, climbed into her father?s lap. She asked, ?Why isn't my mommy just like everybody else?s mommy??

How could he explain to a small child that her critically ill mother wanted to play with Barbara, read her stories and more than anything in the world ? be with her for every important moment in her life? How could he tell an innocent girl that illness and death were a part of life?
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. This month's quote comes to us from Santa George A. Smith.

A native of Jackson, Tennessee, George A. Smith is a true legendary Santa to his community.

Smith began his Santa Claus career back in the early 1940s and continued until his passing. George Smith was the official Santa Claus to the local Christmas Parade, the city and many civic organizations.

Smith passed away in 1993 at the age of 83.

More information on Santa George A. Smith will be forth coming when he and nine other Santas will have their plaques and stories put into the Santa Claus Hall of Fame in October 2010.

"If you've ever been Santa Claus just one time, you don't ever want to be anyone else."

George A. Smith
1910 - 1993

Want to learn more Santa Claus history? Check out the following:

• The Santa Claus Oath
• Santa Claus Hall of Fame

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