The world's first Santa Claus group was founded on December 18, 1937. The Benevolent Order of Santa Claus was organized in New York to promote a positive image of Santa through out department stores in the United States. The group grew from a handful of men, including Charles W. Howard, to more than forty members by 1939.
Over the years there have been many groups formed. Below is a current list. This is only an attempt to research all available Santa groups or related Santa run agencies, forums and newsletters that are run by Santas. We have listed the names or the principle manager or owner of each (this may not be the founder) the location and the year started. By any means this is not a complete list of information.
The Santa Claus Oath is open to every Santa, Mrs. Claus and helper regardless of any Santa group, Santa organization, Santa school, Santa club or independent Santa regardless of affiliation. Proper credentials are required. For information please contact santaclausoath@msn.com
. National and World Wide Santa’s Across the Globe – Tom Kliner /Canada (2002) ClausNet – Michael Rielly / USA (2007) Mystic Order of Traditional Santas – Phillip L. Wenz / USA (2006) International Order of Santas – Tom Hartsfield / USA (2008) Fraternal Order of Real bearded Santas – Ron Robertson / USA (2008) Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas – Nicholas Trolli /USA (1994) Fraternity of International Real Bearded Santas – Tom Kliner / Canada (2007) Santa America – Ernest Berger / USA (2005) Red Suit Society - Tim Connaghan / USA (2004) Santa Claus Around the World – Terry Hilderbrand /USA (2001) Santa World Group – Richard Washington / USA (2004) Santa’s Society – Walter Roach / USA (2008) Royal Order of Santa Claus (Santa Claus Registry) – Don McArdle / USA (2004) The Brotherhood of direct descendants of Santa – USA / (2008) Claus Clan Society – USA / (2008) Regional (All 2008) IOS / Santas of Northern California – California USA / Walter Roach Santas NorCal - California USA / Walter Roach Santa PACK – Washington and Oregon USA / Robert Figley Inland Empire – California USA / Gordon Bailey Long Leaf Pine Santas – North Carolina USA / Jac Grimes FORBS /Orange County - California USA / Nelson Burke, Ron Robertson &Bob Callahan IOS / Silver State Santas – Nevada USA / Robert Callet Minnesota Santas - USA / Carl Carlucci Southern Santas - Georgia USA / David Beckman Buckeye Santas - Ohio USA Santas of New Mexico – New Mexico USA IOS / Illinois Association of Professional Santas –Illinois USA / Phillip L. Wenz IOS / Indiana USA / Paul Suits Midwest Santa – Iowa and Illinois USA /Michael Sypherd & Ray Spellbrink Palm Tree Santas – Florida USA / Robert Elkin Colorado Santas – Colorado USA / Paul Raines Peachtree Santas – Georgia USA / Stephen Bailey & Ted Jackson Santas Across the Globe - Wreaths Hosts* (First Wreath Chicago – 2003 / Last Wreath Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen - 2007) Chicago Area Santas - Phillip L. Wenz / Illinois USA Southeast Santas – Thomas Therique / Tennessee USA Mid-Atlantic Santas – Arthur G. Bahl /PA/ USA Santa Claus Northeast –Rene “Doc” Bureau /Maryland USA Santas of Australia – Ian / Australia Toronto Area Santas –Tony Porter /Ontario Canada Northwest Santas – Dale Gillespie /British Columbia Canada Southwest Santas –Barry Walzberg / California USA Midwest Santas – Tom Pellitieri / Ohio USA Great Plains Santas –John Scheuch /Missouri USA Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen – Christine Seelye-King /Georgia USA *Tom Kliner is the Principle Manager of all Wreath sites Santa owned Agencies Santa School (Santa for hire) – Victor Nevada / Canada Santa for Hire – Based in Orange County, CA / USA (1999) Real Santas – Tim Connaghan / USA (2004) Santa for Events – Walter Roach / USA Just Be Claus – (2008) Santa run or owned Schools Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School – Tom Valent / USA International University of Santa Claus – Tim Connaghan / USA Santa School – Victor Nevada / Canada Santa Academy - USA Santa Claus Newsletters or Newspapers Santas Across the Globe (2003) The SAG Newsletter, North Pole News & Kringle Khronicle (The SAG Newsletter became the North Pole News, which was merged with the Kringle Khronicle in 2004) Phillip L. Wenz, Tom Kliner & Arthur G. Bahl ClausNet News Gazette (ClausNet 2009) Michael Rielly
AORBS Newsletter (2004) Tim Connaghan
Jingle Press (AORBS 2007)
Santa's Gazette (Independent 2008) Walter Roach