Roundup

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Keynote Speaker: Mr. Fred Shafer
Keynote Speach description:

Here Comes Santa!! Making Spirits Bright for Children with Special Needs
Meeting Santa Claus for children with special needs can present a challenge. But a caring and jolly Santa who understands special needs can make the holidays bright and cheerful for children and their families. Be that Santa who brings “special” to the holiday season for children with special needs.

Fred Shafer Bio

Fred has served all the 40 years of his education career in the field of special education as a school psychologist, education consultant, executive director of special education and special education monitor/conservator for the Texas Education Agency.

Fred began his career in 1976 at Region 3 Education Service Center in Victoria, Tx as an education consultant and later as the Director of Special Education Services.

Fred and his wife Patti moved to Katy in 2001.  Fred was hired as the Director for Special Education and Patti as an assistant principal.  Fred later became the Executive Director for Special Education, Counseling and Psychological Services and Patti became the Principal for West Memorial Junior High School and later was selected to open Woodcreek Junior High School.

In 2009 Fred was hired as the Director of Special Education for Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, TX

Fred retired in 2012 but continued to do contract work for Region 4 ESC and school districts across the state. Fred served as a state appointed special education monitor and conservator for the Texas Education Agency and as Executive Director of Special Education for Beaumont ISD and Birdville ISD

Upon retirement Fred and Patti were honored by the Katy ISD Board of Trustees to be the namesakes for Fred and Patti Shafer Elementary School for their years of service in education, especially in Katy ISD.

Fred believes strongly in volunteering and giving back to the community.  He serves as a Katy ISD KEYS mentor and mentors at-risk students in the District.

Fred serves as the President Elect for The Arc of Katy, a non-profit organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  He is also a board member for the Live Like Lucas Foundation that focuses on helping individuals and organizations that support children with disabilities.

In 2021 Fred left the field of public education and was hired as the Executive Director of Special Needs Ministry for Kingsland Baptist Church.  Fred felt the calling to use his experience in special education in the public-school setting to minister to children and adults with special needs and their families.

Only about 10% of churches provide a special needs ministry.  Individuals with disabilities are one of the most underserved groups by the church.  Over the past 2 ½ years Kingsland has seen a 115% increase in the number of children, youth and adults with special needs served in the Special Needs Ministry.

Fred and Patti have two married children and four grandchildren who all live in Katy.

Click here to download the Schedule.

Friday AM

New Santa and Mrs. Claus Training                   Karen and Jim Flinn

Are you a new Santa with 5 years of experience or less? Do you know what you want to do but are just not sure how to accomplish it? Maybe you just don’t know where to start and what is most important. If this describes you, then join us at the fourth annual presentation of “New Santa and Mrs. Claus” training on Friday, from 8:30 am until 12:30 pm. Topics to be addressed are suit and accessories selection, types of appearances, why props can be important, Santa as a business or hobby, Mrs. Claus as an active part of your Santa appearances, tips and techniques that will improve your presentations, available Santa schools and why you need to attend. We will touch on many areas and guide you to get more information from the workshops that will be presented on Friday and Saturday.

New Santa and Mrs. Claus training will be presented by Jim and Karen Flinn. To attend the seminar registration is required prior to Friday, 7 March 2024.

Register by emailing to info@windcrestsanta.com to reserve your spot. Only people who register in this manner will receive the opportunity to receive door prizes during the instruction.

Seasoned Santa 202: Elevate Your Santa Game                         Tim Phillips and John Manes

For Santas with several seasons of experience, this program is designed to help you step away from being an average Santa and become truly exceptional. Learn how to enhance your presentation, bookings, and event management skills. Topics include:

• Upgrading Your Look: Tips on refining your suit, accessories, and overall presentation to captivate audiences.
• Organizing Your Santa Business: Setting up a record-keeping system to manage bookings, client files, and event details seamlessly.
• Creating Your North Pole: Transform your setting into a magical North Pole experience for home visits and corporate events.
• Specialized Skills: Master storytelling, singing, magic tricks, and other engaging activities to create unforgettable experiences.
• Event Mastery: Tailoring your approach for different occasions, from intimate home visits to large-scale corporate gatherings.

Take your Santa performance to the next level, build recurring client relationships, and leave a lasting impression as a top-tier Santa Claus.

Please register for this class by contacting Santa Tim at the following:
Santa Tim Phillips
832.715.4450
Santa@santaclaushouston.com

Mrs. Claus from A to Z                                      Brenda Marshall

Whether you are new to the portrayal of Mrs. Claus or you have been doing it for years, the shared experiences and expertise from several of our ladies will help you be the best you can be!  From social media to solo performance and everything in between, join us for fun, games, useful information…and door prizes!   

This workshop will be presented by the following team of Mrs. Clauses: Toni Hickman, Cathy Sturm, Elizabeth Saunders, Krissi Covic, and Brenda Marshall.

Please register for this class by contacting Brenda Marshall at the following:  flowertc@flash.net

ASL Christmas Harvey Manning, and Myrnaloy Manning, PODA

Using available ASL resources learn the basic sign language words and phrases that you can use to communicate with a deaf child during the holiday sea

son. We will explain the best practice technics that you can use to help you build a strong ASL vocabulary specific to the holiday season. Learning these practice techniques will allow you to practice throughout the year building your confidence in both signing and understanding ASL. This is a hands-on class with plenty of practical exercises. Please bring your cell phone or I Pad for self-recording”.

Christmas en Español                                                                       Eric Dieckman 

Almost 30% of Texans speak Spanish at home. This makes it undeniably useful to have at least a few Spanish phrases in your toolbox. Learn some handy expressions for Christmas and the holiday season. Learn a couple holiday traditions of the Spanish speaking community and some sources of continuing education and practice, too. ¡Feliz Navidad y Jo Jo Jooo! 

Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus                         Santa Lance

Tracing the Origins of Santa Through the Ages. This class will take a look at the real man, Nicholas of Mira, starting from a young boy to his mission of bringing joy to children. It will then follow his mission to our present-day depiction of Santa.

How to COT                                                                   Santa Lance

What are the requirements to conduct a COT in your area for LSS.    The process and procedures required to plan and execute a COT will be discussed. This class is for those members that wish to conduct a COT in their respective home areas should the need arise.

Working with Other North Pole Characters                                               Elizabeth Saunders

Santas, Mrs. Clauses, and Elves, at some point in our North Pole life most of us will have to work with another North Pole Character. Wouldn’t it be elftasic if everyone knew how to interact and work with other NPCs? This workshop will help you know the basic expectations of working and interacting with another North Pole Character.

The Real Reason for the Season                                 Santa Gordon

How do you combine Jesus with Santa for Christmas visits.  Learn how to word an email asking clients if they want this done without offending anyone.  We will share presentation ideas that you can use when you get permission from your client.

A More Inclusive Santa                                     Sharon Newhardt

Morgan’s Wonderland presentation

A More Inclusive Santa: Making Memories for Individuals with Disabilities and Special Needs. Sharon will share tips on how to enhance your interactions with individuals in the community to make every Santa experience Inclusive and Magical! Designed to help Santa and Mrs. Claus with tips and techniques on how to achieve encounters that are filled with comfo1t and joy for all ages and abilities. This presentation with accompanying video will educate the use of proper terminology and appropriate eti­quette when engaging with individuals who have special needs. Various communities

Introduction to North Pole Community Improv                                           Chris Saunders

This spirited workshop will help you learn the fundamental tools of improvisation. Together we will explore your creative potential, the joy of improvisational thought, and how this fits into the World of Claus. This is the perfect workshop for those with zero improv experience or for a refresher course.

Elf 101 The FUNdamentals Training                  ELF Flurrie McSparkles

In Elf 101 we are going to go over the fundamentals of being an elf. This will include the three M’s: Manners, Mischief and Magic and how to balance them. A short History of the North Pole Expectations for helping our Santa’s with events. How we handle tricky questions from kids, The rules on Candy, Consistency and Community as well as a short creative writing project to make sure each of our elves know WHO they are , WHAT they do in the North Pole and WHERE they feel like appearing during the holidays. We will also go over costume tips

How to have a Successful Santa Season                                                     Santa Jim Parker

The first class focuses on time management.  How to have a successful season on your own terms. Do I charge for travel?  If so, how much?  How can I schedule appointments in succession that are geographically close to one another?  How to track expenses How much should I charge for my sessions? – Working with photographers… what to do and what to avoid.  How to get five-star reviews. What organizations are the best ones to join… and maybe which ones to avoid?   Taking care of your health during Santa season.

How to set up a bike shop for COT                         Santa Russell

Getting bicycles gently used and repairing them so they can be enjoyed with a new owner is a great way to expand out our inventory for COTs. If you have several used bikes in need of repair or are thinking of starting a collection for use in an upcoming COT this class is for you. We will explain how we got started with our bike shop, covering things such as Sources, Parts Supplied, Inventory, Location and a video of LSS Bike Shop in Weatherford.

Creating a Welcoming “Santa” Environment for Children with Special Needs        Fred Shafter

Creating a welcoming “Santa” environment for children is more than knowing who has been naughty or nice but also knowing the impact a child’s special needs may have on their visit to Santa.  This session will address the manifestations of specific disabilities that will help Santa be more welcoming to each child.

Beard Care                                                                    Christine Flanagan

Developing 

Santa Situation awareness                                                     Santa McLeroy

Developing.

Website assistance                                                                 Various Helpers

More now than ever the LSS Website is the main means of obtaining information on LSS activities and programs. Each member needs to have a good basic understanding on how to navigate the site as well as what information is available for them. This time will be dedicated to assisting members on the how’s and what’s of the website. This is a hands-on time period so make sure to bring your electronic device (and your passwords) and assistance will be given to those requesting it.

Working with a Photographer                                                Santa Emmett

This class will present both sides of the job – from the Photographers point of view, what they want and expect from their Santa, as well as from the Santa’s point of view, what working with a professional photographer is all about.

We are looking forward to another great cookie contest this year. Put your North Pole Bakery skills to the test and bring the cookies that we are sure will put smiles on everyone’s faces.

Download the Cookie Contest Entry Form

Deadline for form submission is Feb 28, 2025

One of the highlights of Roundup every year is our Christmas Performer style show. 

The Roundup theme this year is Santa for All Seasons. So, we thought it would be fun to show outfits for all seasons. This includes something you wear in May or July or some other time of the year.

Download the entry form for the 2025 Lone Star Santas Style Show

Entries must be submitted by March 1, 2025 (extended deadline).

Every year Roundup brings some amazing vendors. This year is no different. Here is our list of current vendors:

 Service Project details will be shared soon.