Healthy Santas Symposium: Improving Santa's Health and Happiness
Please join us for the weekend of August 16, 2008 as we celebrate Healthy Santas with a Walk (media invited). Following the public-invited walk and the photo session for all Santas, the keynote speaker, Mary Johnson, RN, presents about living long and happy, with nutrition information immediately after presented by Heather Henry, followed by a healthy lunch at Sweet Tomatoes on Coleman Avenue, San Jose. The lunch will be an 'Eat Lunch with Santa and Santa's Helpers' event. If you are able, join us for the Friday evening BBQ in the park. Also, on Saturday afternoon, there are two Santa as Entertainer seminars planned for those who don't rush off to the golf course: Singing as Santa, Storytelling as Santa. While we do not expect take in more than our costs, if we do, we will donate to the American Heart Association. We hope several Santas will drive in or fly in to participate. Each Santa will receive a CD of the pictures taken during the day and a press release packet to take away.
Healthy Walk with Santa and Santa HelpersSession 1 – 7:45 AM sign-in to 9:00 AM
Please join Santas, Santa’s Helpers, Mrs. Clauses, Elves, Reindeer, family members, friends, and people from the community for a walk. We will be raising funds for the American Heart Association through pledges brought in by the community walkers. Since the media will be invited, the members should be dressed in Casual Claus or its equivalent. Everyone is welcome to walk as little or as much as desired or able. Maps of the courses will be provided, as well as juice, water, oatmeal, breads, cereals, and other refreshments before and after. To make it look really official, we will be issuing numbers to attach! Of course, everyone will be a winner, since it is for good health. Our photographer will be there to take pictures during the walk, and especially at the finish line, where each walker may have the finish line tape to break. Registration begins at 7:45; the Walk With Santas begins at 8:00 AM; however, stagger starts for later arrivals is fine. All walkers should be coming off the coursebetween 8:45 and 9:00 for the 'photo-finish'. Hopefully, a Scout Troop will present colors and layout the markers for our walking path options. Media are invited; photographer Shane will take dozens of shots for personal use and press releases.
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, 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. After our group beginning, there will be and Elves and Mrs. Claus helpers training session happening concurrently with Session 2 and Session 3.
Supporting A Visit With Santa as An Elf or as Mrs. ClausSession 2E and 3E -- 9:45 to 10:30 AM; 10:45 to 11:30 AM
An essential ingredient to a successful Santa visit, is the support of a trained and knowledgeable assistant. At time it may be a Mrs. Claus, and at others one or more Elves. From helping with a distressed child, bringing out the props as needed (jingle bells, books, CD player, etc.), to lifting children up onto Santa's knee and more, the Elf (or Mrs. Claus) serves a vital role. Santa's assistants need to anticipate situations, add to and enhance the experience of the clients, yet not attempt to overshadow the main focus person: Santa. On occasion, the Elf will be expected to be in the photos; other times he or she will be expected to had out candy canes or premiums, assist with gift exchanges or gift distribution. And while doing all of that, an Elf or Mrs. Claus is expected to be smiling, cheerful, outgoing, a good listener, an entertainer, all at the same time as being helpful to Santa and to the children and adults. Being an Elf or a Mrs. Claus is a fun, demanding, yet rewarding job. The seminars will alternate discussion of scenarios, role plays, small group interactions, and provide a stimulating experience that will enhance the Santa Season.
Nutrition, Menus, Food PreparationSession 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.
Heart Healthy Lunch With Santa and Santa's Helpers at Sweet Tomatoes in San JoseSession 4 – 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Please join us for a heart-healthy lunch, great visiting and socializing, and with general fun being had by all. We will be marketing to the community to come and join us for a Lunch With Santa and Santa Helpers at Sweet Tomatoes on Coleman Avenue.
Santa as Entertainer: Singing SessionSession 5 - 1:00 PM to 2:30 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)
Santa as Entertainer: Storytelling, Magic Tricks, Speeches, Presentations Session
Session 6 -- 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM
Since not all children are the same ages, storytelling, paraphrasing, and reading of stories must vary 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 are all touched on, including how to recover if the story winds up struggling 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.
RED TIE DINNER 6:30 PM Saturday (Optional and not included in the price for the day)
At a nearby restaurant, we will all have a chance to spruce up and enjoy each other's company over dinner. Each person picks up their own guest check. The restaurant and details are not yet finalized, but it should be a great dinner and fun for all of us. We will all dress up a bit in whatever 'Red Tie' means to each of us. After all, this is California! Wearing a tie to dinner is pretty rare circumstance.
Pre-Symposium BBQ in the Park7:30 PM Friday evening BBQ in the Park (Optional: $10 per person, as possible)
For those who are able to get into town in time, the Santas of Northern California will be hosting a BBQ in the Park with burgers, sausages, and chicken with western beans, potato salad, tossed greens, with a healthy dessert. If you have it handy, toss some money into the basket; otherwise, come and enjoy our wonderful summer weather. The previously-ordered shirts for the Healthy Walk With Santas will be available so the morning wardrobe can be planned. Heather is making a standard T-shirt for $8, and customized shirts (perhaps with your picture) and other shirt types are available for a little more. Contact her directly at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Costs for the Healthy Santas Symposium: August 16, 2008 (with optional BBQ on Friday night beforehand)All of the work to pull off this event is done by volunteers and friends of the Santas of Northern California (Santas NorCal). In this way, expenses are greatly minimized, so the event is an outstanding value. The expenses are basically copying and production costs. Lunch is even included! If all you are able to only participate in the Healthy Santa Symposium, the cost is just an amazing $29.99 per person!
- Pre-Symposium BBQ in the Park on Friday evening -- $10 per person donation suggested (pay at the event)
- Best Western Airport Plaza Inn (optional) 2118 The Alameda, San Jose -- $97.90 per night including the tax (make arrangements directly) 408-243-2400.
- Healthy Santa Symposium (from morning registration through lunch) -- $29.99 per person or a self-selected donation for companion sharing materials. Please preregister early! The morning is a media event; our photographer will create a CD for each participant to accompany the press release packet.
- T-Shirt for the Walk With Santas (optional) -- $8 each to Elf Heather, a little more for customization
- Donation to American Heart Association is optional; our main contribution is our appearance as Santa, Santa's Helpers, Elves, Reindeer, and Mrs. Clauses at the Walk.
- Santa as Entertainer and Santa as Entrepreneur Seminar Sessions (afternoon) -- $25.99 per person (includes CD and Christmas storybook)
- 'Red Tie' Dinner Saturday evening (optional) -- [$10 to $18 per person if at Sonoma Chicken Coop or The Old Spaghetti Factory; $25 to $40 per person if at Bella Mia's] Each person pays for own check. As folks pre-register, we will poll the dinner place preference.
Check the Santas NorCal site for registration information by mid-June. |
