A few years ago, I wrote a story about Tim Connaghan, a Lakewood native who has created a business out of being Santa Claus and teaching people how to be Santa. (He runs a school called The International University of Santa Claus, which has churned out more than 1,500 Santas and Mrs. Clauses since 2003.)
Anyway, I received word this week from our neighborhood Kris Kringle, who is apparently preparing for a working vacation of sorts.
Connaghan on Saturday will join 25 "real bearded" Santas and their wives on Santa Cruise II, which combines Santa School with a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise on the Diamond Princess. They'll visit Juneau, Skagway and Anchorage, to name a few.
"There were always business groups having seminars and workshops aboard cruise ships, so I said, 'Why don't we do this with the Santas?" said the Millikan High School alum. "Thought it would be kinda neat."
Also, two Santas and their wives will tie the knot ... again.
Santa David Smith and his wife of 44 years, Carol, plus Santa Ben Williams and his wife of 33 years, Susan, will renew their wedding vows in a joint ceremony at the Santa Claus House at North Pole Alaska. Connaghan will preside over the ceremony.
A wedding toast of cookies and milk, perhaps?
"I think we'll have a champagne toast," Connaghan said, chuckling. "We have enough cookies and milk on the cruise."
Anyway, I received word this week from our neighborhood Kris Kringle, who is apparently preparing for a working vacation of sorts.
Connaghan on Saturday will join 25 "real bearded" Santas and their wives on Santa Cruise II, which combines Santa School with a seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise on the Diamond Princess. They'll visit Juneau, Skagway and Anchorage, to name a few.
"There were always business groups having seminars and workshops aboard cruise ships, so I said, 'Why don't we do this with the Santas?" said the Millikan High School alum. "Thought it would be kinda neat."
Also, two Santas and their wives will tie the knot ... again.
Santa David Smith and his wife of 44 years, Carol, plus Santa Ben Williams and his wife of 33 years, Susan, will renew their wedding vows in a joint ceremony at the Santa Claus House at North Pole Alaska. Connaghan will preside over the ceremony.
A wedding toast of cookies and milk, perhaps?
"I think we'll have a champagne toast," Connaghan said, chuckling. "We have enough cookies and milk on the cruise."
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Follow up to your story and the cruise Tim Connaghan organized with his students.
Apparently Tim Connaghan has upset the Santa Community by taking some of his students to a Brothel Museum.
Tim Connaghan, who teaches subjects about Santa Character Building and Ethics while Santa, has violated those same ethics by taking his students to a brothel museum, according to many Real Bearded, and Designer Bearded Santas. Many Santas are outraged by this publicity stunt that Tim Connaghan has perpetrated.
Read the story here;
http://defendingsanta.com/?p=33
Naughty Traveling Claus Clan Shames the Name of Santa
Another short article on his display of poor judgment was Titled "Ho Ho Ho's".
I know of no other Santa School that takes their Santa Students to a Brothel Museum. I guess he is trying to make his school unique.
Although you may have reported on Tim in the past, you haven't reported on him being ousted from at least ONE organization, and for being told he was not welcome at future events because of past behavior.
Tim Connaghan was accused of theft on a live radio show that aired in St. Louis, by a founder and Board Member of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas Inc. I heard it myself.