FORBS Santa Reunion XVIII (2012) in San Diego, California 

The tradition of Santa's gathering each January is alive and well for 2012! Join us in San Diego this coming January 26, 27, 28 & 29 2012 as the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas host the Santa Reunion XVIII / San Diego 2012! Register on or before November 1, 2011 and receive special reduced rates. It's a reunion and SO MUCH MORE!

WHAT IS SO MUCH MORE, you ask?  Well here is just a peek at some of the things we are going to be offered in San Diego!

Thursday evening Meet and Greet, Friday morning President's Breakfast, Friday and Saturday THIRTY workshops for you to choose which you want to attend, Friday and Saturday Two Deli Buffett Lunches (that is PER PERSON!).

Evenings you have options to go out with friends, stay in and rest, or go out on the town with the local Santa's who know just the right places. (Dutch treat, you pay your own way)

Friday and Saturday nights we will have entertainment at the hotel after dinner.  We will be asking for a donation to these events and all donations will go to two very special charity funds.

A golf tournament is in the works, and it is shaping up to be wonderful!

Morning group walks. 

Sunday morning there will be a Sunday morning Santa Church service for those wishing to attend.

You will also receive Photo Memory Book of 2012 (one per couple), along with a FORBS Reunion 2012 'dangle'.

Not to mention the wonderful amenities our hotel has to pamper and allow us all to rejuvenate after the holiday season!  Heated Pool, Whirlpool, Sauna, Fitness Track and Sport Court! 

San Diego has so much to offer.  Plan to come a few days early or stay a few afterward.  We hope you will take advantage of a few of the wonderful and great features San Diego offers. 

We are working on getting discounts for SeaWorld, Lego Land, Harbor Cruises, San Diego Zoo (a really great zoo), Tours of the SS Midway to name just a few. 

 The Mission Valley hotel is steps from the Rio Vista Trolley with easy access to many of the top attractions in San Diego. Our hotel is just minutes from SeaWorld, Qualcomm Stadium, Balboa Park, Historic Old Town and the Gaslamp Quarter.

So, are you ready to register for this First Gathering for Santa's in 2012?  Click here, then click on the right button to view more information; if you want to go direct to the registration page, please click on that button.  You can pay with your debit or credit card through PayPal.Register Now!         We can't wait to see you in San Diego, California!!!!!! 

Our Grand Sponsor, the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley has as extended a very special offer for our Santa's, families, and friends.

That's right, your friends and family members can join you and get the same reduced rate that you do!

Keeping in mind that this is a resort hotel, you are going to be amazed at the special offer they are extending to us.  Obviously, they are trying hard to get on Santa's Good List!  We think they have made it and so will you when you hear the rates we have!

For $99.00 per night you get to stay in a beautiful hotel room, enjoy the "winter weather" of San Diego, CA, and see old friends and meet new ones!

To get these special rates, please click (or copy and paste) The Marriott's Website that has been created for our event: http://tinyurl.com/6fyjbzx

If you prefer to call the hotel direct, please call them at 1-800-842-5329. 

Mention the "Annual Santa Reunion" or "sansana" to get the special rates offered to you. 

Also, these rates are good for five days before and five days after Santa Reunion XVIII! 

Come early or stay after, you deserve the rest.

 Thursday night "Meet and Greet" reception area.

    Projected Schedule of Events

Edition 12/06/11   (over 40 Chautauqua events)

Our Schedule of Events will change as we get closer to the Event date.Please be sure to check back often for the latest updates!

Unless otherwise noted, all events will take place at the

San Diego Marriott Mission Valley

 

Wednesday Jan. 25, 2012

4:00 PM to 7:00 PM - "Unofficial Early Arrivers Late Afternoon No Host Pool Gathering." Lounge by the pool at the Marriott Mission Valley and enjoy the fact that you are in San Diego. Tentative Optional Santa Speedo contest to see who can wear one and still be decent.

Thursday January  26, 2012 

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - "Walk with Harold" along the beautiful San Diego River. A healthy start to the morning.

10:30 AM – 1:30 PM - Tours of the USS Midway at San Diego harbor. Package includes admission, tour, lunch and photo for $25.00/Person, payable at boarding. Details to follow.

1:00 PM– 4:00 PM - Hands-On Craft Workshops. Primarily for fun but many useful tips for Santas and their helpers. Mostly ongoing but check schedule for specifics. Pool side and around the Patio area at the Marriott Mission Valley. Featuring:

• Paper folding with Santa Don Davis. Learn the ancient art of Origami. Learn to fold the “Cranes of peace”

• Balloons with Jonathan Hillmer. Watch a master demonstrate his craft and learn how to make those cute animals all children love.

• Face Painting with Gordon Bailey. Learn this craft from a master of make up. Especially of interest to Santa’s helpers.

• Ukulele playing with Glen Bailey. Learn this skill from a master of the instrument Class limited to 10. Perhaps we can have a few carols from our new band at the luncheon. It is hoped that the Santa Ukulele Band can do a “U” tube video so bad it goes viral.

• Basketry with Allen and Nancy Keeney. Learn from master basket weavers to weave a  dream weaver to filter out bad dreams and let the good ones through.

• Strolling Minstrel of Christmas and Holiday themes by David Drake.

5:00 PM - Dinner Hour. We encourage you to visit one of the many nearby local restaurants.

7:00 PM - 9:00PM -  Welcoming Reception. Pavilion area.

7:00 PM – Midnight - A time for lekking. (Better look that word up!) Strut your finery!

 Friday January 27

7:00 AM -8:00 AM - "Walk with Harold" along the beautiful San Diego River. A healthy start to the morning.

8:30AM – 10:00 AM - Presidents Breakfast. Keynote Speaker: Phil Wenz. 

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM  - Seminar Sessions 1

• A  Ladies interest: Changing the role and  portrayal of Mrs. Santa to suit you.
• B. Santa Business: Marketing and Promoting Santa. Ron Breach.
• C. Holiday interest and Santa perspective: Santas around the World. Tim Connaghan.
• D. Special interest subjects: The Art of Story Telling with Paul Rains.
• E. Open Screening Room TBA

12:00 PM – 1:30PM - Buffet Lunch

1:45 PM  – 3:00 PM  - Seminar Sessions 2

• A. Ladies interest:  Dealing with your ego inflated Santa peacock, round table
• B. Santa Business:  Clowns, Pirates and other characters you can be. Gordon Bailey
• C. Holiday interest and Santa perspective: Chanukah and the Jewish Holiday presented by Maurice Golde aka "Jewie Claus."  
• D. Special interest subjects: Sing Along with Santa David Drake
• E. Open Screening Room TBA

3:15PM -5:00PM - Round Table Discussion of Major Subjects:

• Making your own costumes, talking about fabric, patterns, techniques etc.
• A panel presentation on Santa and the Unexpected: What has happened to you and how did you handle it. IE. Too friendly ladies, child confessions, arriving on the wrong day or wrong address. Costume malfunction, an event you are uncomfortable with etc.

6:00 PM - Santa's Night in Old Town San Diego. Dinner at Cafe Coyote in San Diego's historic Old Town. $18.00/Person at the door. Details to follow.

8:00 PM - Midnight - Free time. (Perhaps more lekking.)

 

Saturday January 28

7:00 AM -8:00 AM - "Walk with Harold" along the beautiful San Diego River. A healthy start to the morning.

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM ~ Seminar Sessions 3

• A. Ladies interest: On being Mrs. Claus  
• B. Santa Business:  Santa and Social Media Dan Greenleaf
• C. Holiday interest and Santa Perspective: Holidays We Share (The non Christian Yule) Tamara Gold
• D. Special interest subjects: Non Profit Santa Workshop: Forming your own 501C corporation. Brad Martin
• E. Open Screening Room TBA

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM - Seminar Sessions 4

• A. Ladies interest: Hair and Beard: A Roundtable Discussion
• B. Santa Business: Working in Films and Commercials. Ron Robertson
• C. Holiday interest and Santa Perspective: Sign Language Workshop. Sheri Farley
• D. Special interest subjects: Close up Magic with Sam Sidotti
• E. E. Open Screening Room TBA

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM - Buffet Lunch. Santa Fashion Show, Vendors Area and Mariachi: Open to the Public

1:45 PM – 3:00 PM Seminar Sessions 5

• A. Santa America. Bob Elkins
• B. Santa Business: Forming a local Santa group. Rob Figley
• C. Holiday interest and Santa perspective: The Historical Santa and how we got here. Phil Wenz    
• D. Special interest subjects:  Internet Radio: How it works and what you can do with it.  Bryan Austin
• E. Open Screening Room TBA

3:15PM -5:00PM - Round Table Discussion: Meet the Board, Meet the Candidates, Where does FORBS go from here?

5:00 PM - Dinner Hour. We encourage you to visit one of the many nearby local restaurants. Possible Santa and Mrs. Claus "Flash Mob."

8:00PM – 10:00 PM “An Evening of Comedy and Hypnosis"  featuring Joe Mystic. Marriott Mission Valley Pavilion. $10.00/Person Donation at the Door

 

Sunday January 29

8:00 AM - Santas Sunday Service

8:45 AM -  "Walk with Harold" along the beautiful San Diego River. A healthy start to the morning.,

11:30 AM - 4:00 PM - Reunion Luncheon XVIII: The West's oldest continuous gathering of Santas and Mrs.Claus. Fashion Show, Raffle, Key Note Speaker, Group Photo. Great food and good fun!

4:00 PM - Tearful good byes until next year, 2013! (Perhaps the Reunion Luncheon in Ventura or Phoenix?) And in two years, 2014, our next Chautauqua somewhere East of the Mississippi.