The countdown begins! Here’s your final Medina Madness message before we meet in person next week! Judi and I are beyond thrilled that Medina is our FIRST full session since September 2019. On top of that, you’re a part of the largest SNHU session to date, and the first to include international attendees. A lot of reasons to celebrate. A few final updates and reminders as you finish your prepping and packing.
Weather
Wednesday looks to be sunny with a high of 80, then chance of rain Thursday night and Friday morning. Bring an umbrella just in case. Saturday, for Santa Day at Castle Noel should be clear, high of 70. Layers are always a good idea.
Class Location
All SNHU sessions will take place in the Conference Room at the Holiday Inn Express. The address is 5185 Gateway Dr., Medina, OH.
Our Teaching Philosophy
We create a safe environment for you to learn and gain confidence as a Claus. We believe every question is worth asking. We don’t have all the answers, but collectively, the group does. We know that each person’s portrayal is unique and personal, and we respect that uniqueness. We encourage everyone to willingly share their experiences, lessons learned, and ideas to improve the greater Claus community.
The Sessions
Curious about the sessions? We have a mix of Santa Nana’s original, plus new information to share. We’ll cover these topics and more, with breakout sessions to practice and share your experience and insights.
- History of Women in Christmas (plus Santa and Elves)
- Character on the Inside (developing your inner Claus)
- Character on the Outside (defining your outer Claus)
- Marketing (with Jacki Chamberlain’s famous Entertainment Resume and How to Find Jobs)
- Staying Healthy (with a breakout session just for the ladies and just for the gents)
- The Complete Claus Experience
- Exceeding Customer Expectations
- Working and Performing in the Christmas Community
The Charitable Project
At each SNHU session, we look to support a local cause or program important to the community. We’ve selected Castle Noel’s support of Socks for Soldiers, which provides socks to our military. We’ll have a donation box in the Conference Room from Wednesday through Friday, and will deliver your generous donations to Castle Noel Saturday morning. You can learn more about the program
HERE. Dana Klaus will join us Wednesday evening to tell us more about it. Participation is completely voluntary. We are also planning a group photo with the Cleveland Grays, who will be on hand Saturday to collect sock donations.
Wednesday
As everyone arrives, check in, relax, and we’ll have a very casual Jingle and Mingle in the Conference Room starting around 4:00. Come when you can and get to know each other. We’ll have finger foods and beverages for you. Mentioned above, Dana Klaus, of Castle Noel, will stop by to talk to us a little about the Castle and the Socks for Soldiers program.
Thursday
We kick off class at 8:30 and will go until 5:00. After a 7:00 dinner at Yours Truly, we’ll come back to the Conference Room for some evening fun, with our first ever Team Claus Challenge. We’ll divide into teams, and you can dust up on your knowledge about all things Christmas. Prizes for the winning Claus Team!
Friday
We start again at 8:30 and wrap up late afternoon with reciting of the Mrs. Claus Commission, Santa Claus Oath, and Elf Oath before our Graduation Ceremony.
Dress Code
A quick reminder that dress is Claus Casual. Be comfortable. For graduation, we love to continue the tradition that Santa Nana started in 2016, with red top and black bottom. No need to bring your Claus attire other than what you want to wear for Castle Noel’s Santa Day on Saturday, if you’re attending.
Food!
Guests at the hotel have a complimentary breakfast included. We will have assorted sodas (or pop if that’s what you call it) and plenty of water in the Conference Room. Thursday lunch will include assorted sandwiches and sides. Friday we’ll have BBQ sliders with sides, and dessert for graduation. Hang around Friday evening to finish up any leftovers!
Swap or Sell
We’ll have a few extra tables in the Conference Room for you to swap or sell your Claus accessories before class, during breaks, or after class. Whether you swap or sell with someone is entirely between you and the other person. SNHU receives no proceeds – it’s all about giving you a chance to refresh your Claus-iness with some new-to-you items.
Alumni
We have extended invitations to any alumni who may be in the area to join us for graduation Friday afternoon. We’re looking forward to reconnecting, and hope you’ll have a chance to meet other members of the SNHU family.
Photos and Recording
Here’s the fine print. Each of you will receive a nice workbook with lots of information and plenty of space to take notes. We ask that no one records the session, nor takes photos of the slides, unless Judi or Deanna agrees. The information is for your personal and professional use in your Claus portrayals and is not intended to be copied or shared with anyone else for any other purpose. When in doubt, please ask! Photos of the group, candids and group photos are always encouraged, and we invite you to snap away and post to your pages and the Santa Nana’s Holiday University Facebook page. We’ll have a class photo, and individual graduation photos that we’ll share with you shortly after we close the session.
The Elephant in the Room
We should mention masks. We follow the hotel’s and CDC guidance. Wearing or not wearing is entirely up to you and your comfort level. We will have hand sanitizer in the Conference Room.
Missed any of the prior messages? You can see all the Medina messages from the Santa Nana's Holiday University site - just click
HERE.
That’s it until we meet in Medina on Wednesday, May 11. Travel safely, and we truly appreciate that you’ve partnered with Santa Nana for your holiday education and connection with the Claus community.
Have questions? Write us at
SNHU@SantaNana.com or visit the
Events page.
See you soon!
Deanna and Judi