May 15, 2008

U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson

5600 Fishers Lane

Room 18-66

Rockville, MD 20857

Dear Rear Admiral Galson,

Please support us in getting the message out: kids need to be healthy. Santa cares about kids. He cares if they are healthy, getting proper exercise, and eating the right foods. He also cares if they have been naughty or nice; however, eating too many sweets and not getting enough exercise has now become naughty behavior.

Please consider lending your presence to our media event on the Saturday morning of August 16, 2008. We are addressing childhood overweight and obesity prevention to help kids stay active, encourage healthy eating habits, and promote healthy choices. Santas support children in exercising and in eating healthy foods with a morning ‘Walk With Santas’ and with ‘Eat Healthy With Santas’ for lunch. We would be thrilled for you to address our community.

Dozens of us Santas and Santas Helpers from around the country will be here to participate. There will be Elves in costume as well. The morning ‘Walk With Santas’ in the beautiful Guadalupe Park and Gardens of San Jose (Coleman and Taylor, near the San Jose Airport) culminates at 9:00 AM at the finish line. The media will be there just before the end of the event. With your busy schedule, if you were available for us from 8:45 or 8:50 to 9:15 or so, all of the media interviews should be wrapped up. If you are able to address our group at 9:15 we would be delighted for you to be our keynote speaker. We do not yet have confirmation that Governor Schwarzenegger or Mayor Chuck Reed will be able to attend.

Kids being healthy is vitally important; your being at this event will showcase its importance. The Santas of Northern California, who are hosting this event, will be not only telling children the importance of exercise and diet, we will be setting an example, even if we are technically senior citizens. Several National and Regional Santa societies are behind this effort. Please come and support the message to the kids: eat right and exercise. As you told Mike Underwood of the Boston Herald on November 29, 2007, “It is absolutely critical.”

Sincerely,

Healthy Kids: Santa Leads by Example

Exercise + Good Foods = Healthy Kids

‘Walk With Santas,’ ‘Healthy Santas Symposium,’ ‘Healthy Lunch With Santas’

San Jose, August 16, 2008: In response to criticism from the Surgeon General about Santa being a poor role model for children, as published in the Boston Herald on November 30, 2007, the Santas of Northern California are hosting Santas from around the country in a public community ‘Walk With Santas’ from 8:00 to 9:00 AM, which benefits the American Heart Association, and kicks off the Healthy Santas Symposium (9:15 to 11:15 AM) being held at the Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant on Coleman Avenue in San Jose. Santa is health-oriented and cares about children and families. In this way, Santa is modeling exercising with the morning ‘Walk With Santas’ at Guadalupe Park and Gardens of the City of San Jose, and eating healthy at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant for lunch (from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM). The public is invited to both events for free pictures with Santas all dressed in casual or workshop attire. Everyone is a winner as they cross the finish line where the cameras are clicking, right outside the entrance to Sweet Tomatoes. In the afternoon, Santa and the Santa’s Helpers polish their skills exploring Santa as Entrepreneur and Santa as Entertainer.

Hey, St. Nick: Put down the cookie

Top doctor in U.S. says big guy sets bad example <http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1047979>

“It is really important that the people who kids look up to as role models are in good shape, eating well and getting exercise. It is absolutely critical,” acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson said in an interview with Mike Underwood of the Boston Herald after a presentation on obesity at the Boston Children’s Museum on November 29, 2007. The Surgeon General has called on Santa to be a better role model for children. “It is absolutely critical.”

The Real Santa is Expected –

While the real Santa has agreed to come, he chooses to be incognito among all of the dozens of Santa’s Helpers and dozens of Elves in costume. The various community organizations, Scout Troops, churches and families who will be participating in the Walk will have the opportunity to raise funds for the American Heart Association. Advance reservations may be made online at Santas NorCal website http://santasnorcal.com and pledge forms downloaded. Santa Walter says, “We do caution the public that Santa is a senior citizen, after all. The gentlemen in red and white may not set any speed records! What really counts is that Santa and the Santa Helpers are walking at the pace that is appropriate for each of them and is showing kids that exercise is important.”

Healthy Kids: Community ‘Walk With Santas’ for the American Heart Association

‘Walk With Santas’ Pre-registration and Fund Raiser –

Walkers from the community have an opportunity to fund raise pledges to benefit the American Heart Association.Walk With Santas’ can take any number of differing paths through the Gardens and Guadalupe River Park, with the Finish Line being across the street and south just a bit at the Fresh Tomatoes Restaurant entrance. Registration information is available online at Santas NorCal http://santasnorcal.com. Sign-in, late registration, and information tables will open at 7:45 AM on the sidewalk near Guadalupe Park and Gardens Visitors Center at Taylor and Coleman Avenues on Saturday morning, August 16, 2008. Colors to be presented by a local Boy Scout Troup will start the event at 8:00 AM, when the Guadalupe Park and Gardens officially opens for the public. The ‘

Healthy Santas Symposium: Living Healthy and Having Fun

Session 2 – 9:15 to 10:30 AM

The first sit-down session will be lead by Mary Johnson, RN, MBA, a noted expert on geriatric care, and she will briefly discuss good health practices. Get enough sleep! Wake up every day determined to enjoy life, smile, and have fun. Be active, engaged, and connected to others. Then she will demonstrate balance testing, blood pressure checks, pulse rates, exercise for older citizens, and practices to adopt for a long and healthy life. Website resources will be shared. The handout will be packed with practical suggestions for a variety of ages and physical conditions. There is ample opportunity for Q and A at the end.

Healthy Santas Symposium: Nutrition, Menus, Food Preparation

Session 3 – 10:45 to 11:30 AM

Eating a balanced diet is essential to aging well; antioxidants to retard aging appear naturally in many foods. While calorie needs decrease as we age, it is important to have the right vitamins and minerals in the diet. The food pyramid helps everyone, even seniors, understand how to make good food choices. Maintaining a healthy weight, cooking choices at home, and eating well while dining out are all-important subtopics. Handouts will include menus, recipes, and healthy guidelines.

Santa as Entrepreneur & Entertainer:

Polishing Santa’s and Santa Helper’s Skills in the afternoon

Santa as Entertainer: Singing Session

Session 5A - 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM

While focusing on Santa as entertainer, Nancy Wait-Kromm, Music Department Chair at Santa Clara University and noted director, soloist, and vocal teacher, will teach us singing techniques for Santa to lead group singing as well as to sing from the stage. Practice CD and Background CD add resources, which should enhance Santa's role as entertainer. (Santa Clara University is a short 5-minute drive away). For those who are available, a second session is scheduled for November 1, 2008.

Santa as Entrepreneur: Marketing Options Session

Session 5B - 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM

Santa Business is complicated, especially considering the extensive overhead expenses, which can easily consume half of an hour’s income. Show Santa advertise? If so, how much? What kinds? In this session we will explore free listings, referrals with nominal costs, direct mail, Google adclicks, testimonials, and after-visit customer satisfaction surveys. Just like being a good Santa is never an accident (but rather requires attention to a myriad of details), finding prospects, booking clients, having a great visit, and checking on customer satisfaction are all equally important to a well-planned, successful season. Many of us do lots of volunteer appearances but need income from ‘paying customers’ to support the extensive overhead costs.

Santa as Entertainer: Storytelling, Presentations Session

Session 6 – 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

Since not all children are the same ages, when reading of stories some paraphrasing may be desirable as well as selecting books to fit the 'audience.’ Each Santa will leave with at least one book ready to go, and at least one new story to tell. Presentation will include 'hooking' the listener, building interest and excitement, and wrapping up the story, including how to recover if the story bogs down or struggles along. A few additional books will be available for purchase, if desired. Sample magic tricks will be shown, and a couple of generic speeches discussed for adapting to various situations.