America's Top Ten Ideas - help make Project Jason one of them.

The following is information received from Kelly Jolkowski about Project Jason's latest endeavours. Please vote and pass it on.

Most of you have heard of our Campaign for the Missing, a state by state effort to pass legislation which would positively impact how missing and unidentified deceased person cases are handled. (http://www.projectjason.org/legislation.html)

We’ve been successful mentoring volunteers with the passage of legislation in 6 states, with several more active. These efforts will continue on.

I recently learned of an effort called Ideas for Change in America. This is a is a citizen-driven project that aims to identify and create momentum around the best ideas for how the 111th Congress can turn the broad call for "change" across the country into specific policies. The project is nonpartisan, and is not connected to the Obama Administration.

In this effort, the top 10 rated ideas will be presented to the Obama Administration on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009 as the "Top 10 Ideas for America." The sponsor organization, Change.org, will then launch a national campaign behind each idea and mobilize the collective energy of a selected and related nonprofit, the millions of members of Change.org, MySpace, and partner organizations to ensure that each winning idea gets the full consideration of the Obama Administration and Members of Congress.

The "Top 10 Ideas for America" will be determined through two rounds of voting. In the first round, ideas will compete against other ideas in the same issue category. The first round will end on December 31, 2008, and the top 3 rated ideas from each category will make it into the second round. The second round of voting will begin on Monday, January 5, and each qualifying idea will compete against the qualifying ideas from all other categories. Second round voting will end on Thursday, January 15.

I have submitted “Establish National Protocol in Missing and Unidentified Person Cases” for consideration. It is now on the website and votes can be placed. It is listed in the Criminal Justice category.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/establish_national_protocol_in_missing_and_unidentified_person_cases

As you can see by the posted information and link to the protocol, this is the 2008 revision of the Campaign for the Missing legislation. While we have never pursued federal passage, this seemed like a good opportunity to make an attempt, or at least bring attention to our plight if nothing more. Education is important, with so many not having awareness of the situation as it exists, and what those of us who live with this experience daily. If we do not try, nothing will be accomplished, that is a certainty.

What I ask of you is your vote. It’s as easy as clicking on the link above, and then on the Vote button. There is also a widget you can copy and place on your website, blog, Facebook, or MySpace page. It will, however, take more than your vote. It will take you forwarding the link to your friends and family, and asking them to vote. It will take many of you adding the widget to your page.

My son, and thousands upon thousands of other sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, etc, might be an unidentified body lying in a morgue waiting to be buried or cremated without DNA analysis done. When that happens, and it may already have, my family may never have the answers we desire. We need to put a halt to this tragedy on top of tragedy and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure everything that can be done in these cases is done. (There is much more to it than DNA, but that is one of many key elements.)

Please vote, and forward this email to everyone in your address book.

Collectively, we are the voice for the missing, speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org
Help us find the missing: Become an AAN Member
http://www.projectjason.org/awareness.html

All missing persons are loved by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regards to the disappearance.

Meet ID Kitty, and get your ID kits for the family (US)

Keeping Kids Safe: New “I.D. Kitty” Mascot to Give Free I.D. Kits in Celebration of Family Safety
I.D. Kitty to debut in Omaha August 23 at the Omaha Royals game, with additional public appearances to follow

It is every parent’s nightmare – your child is here one minute, and out of sight the next. Most often, you can find them quickly. But sometimes, you need to call for help from people nearby and possibly even the police.

An average of 2,000 children per day disappear in the United States. Would you know what to do if your child or other loved one disappeared? Would you be prepared to quickly take the steps necessary to locate your missing loved one?

Project Jason, a nonprofit organization providing assistance for families of missing persons, offers free identification kits to help families to prepare. And now, Project Jason announces a fun new way to prepare your family when you need to spring into action, fast.

The new mascot, “I.D. Kitty,” is a large, warm and fuzzy, 6-foot-tall live action figure designed to make children and their families enjoy getting their own identification kits. Children will be delighted by him, and parents will appreciate how Project Jason is taking the “fear factor” out of obtaining and creating I.D. Kits, which should be part of every household, and for every family member.

I.D. Kitty will make his debut Saturday, August 23, 2008 at the Omaha Royals 2nd Annual Public Service Appreciation Night at 4 p.m. The public can visit I.D. Kitty at the main parking lot and get your FREE I.D. Kits!

I.D. Kitty will also appear Sunday, September 21 at Project Jason’s “Miles for the Missing” fundraiser at Zorinski Lake Park, and Sunday, October 5 at the Family Safety Day, held in conjunction with the Omaha Chapter of the National Safety Council.

About the I.D. Kit

Since its inception in 2003, Project Jason has given out more than 13,500 I.D. Kits to assist families with safety preparation.

These free I.D. Kits are provided by Project Jason at public events, and as a free downloads in English and in Spanish from the organization website. The kit contains a list of the first steps to take in the event a loved one is missing, plus valuable information that law enforcement will need. The kit should be printed on heavier stock paper, kept in a safe place, and updated at least every 6-12 months.

The kit can be downloaded at http://www.projectjason.org/education.shtml#idkit

Surviving without the JREF Forum - and - Project Jason in Second Life

So, the forum has been down for a few days, and may be down for a few more.

Now what am I supposed to do? Get a life or something? :-O

I've read all the excellent entries at xkcd
I've levelled up a WoW warrior character to level 14 (I know... I'm slow)
I've read through most of the threads at the UK Skeptics site.
I've got up to date on all the articles on the brilliant StopSylviaBrowne website.
I've checked up a few articles I'd missed on the SkepChicks site.
(I'm delighted to report that the Skepchick calendar will be out shortly, featuring a few of my friends as well as yours truly - book your copy next week!)

So, now what?
Well, something I neglected to mention above was the time I also spent in Second Life, learning about a very worthwhile project. Now, although I play and enjoy World of Warcraft, I'm not actually that keen on the concept of most online gaming, and particularly Second Life. I wouldn't have created an account there but for Project Jason, and due to the interface I wouldn't have returned much either but for the project I'm about to tell you about.

I've spoken before about Project Jason and the wonderful work they do to assist families of the missing. Well, now they have created an online presence in what I consider an innovative resource to reach out to people and spread information.

Project Jason is honored to be one of 44 nonprofit organizations and the first missing persons’ assistance organization to be selected as part of a new area of Nonprofit Commons, a section within the virtual world, Second Life.

The Project Jason office in Second Life has three purposes. One is to disseminate general information about the epidemic of missing persons – how many are missing and how difficult a situation it is for the families of missing persons. Another is to deliver presentations and other educational events and materials to participants within Second Life. Finally, Project Jason also developed a special theme for the office called “Every Face Tells a Story” and the site exhibits special posters of missing persons. These posters contain articles written exclusively for Project Jason in Second Life, and they are contributed by the families of each missing person featured.

Joining Second Life is free. To do so, go to http://secondlife.com/ and download the program. You will need to register your account and choose an inworld “name,” which is a nickname you will use when you are logged in to Second Life.

The address for Project Jason in Second Life is http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aloft%20Nonprofit%20Commons/246/25/26

Unfortunately I missed the grand opening due mainly to time differences and too many hours at work (yes - I cram all that stuff mentioned above into weekends and a few hours in the evenings ... maybe a lunch hour as well! I am the world's best multitasker.). I'm told the opening was a great success with a wonderful music event, with bands playing live, and all sorts of presentations.

I have however been in and visited the Project Jason house, and the Garden for the Missing. I am in the SL Project Jason group, and will be glad to meet you there (as Chillzero Dawner) if you happen to be there at the same time I am. There is a lot of information available and ways for you to donate to the Project to help them continue to help others. Last month they announced the passage of the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act in the state of Florida, which is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008. Florida joins CT, IN, NJ, and OR in passing this law. It's about increasing the flow and availability of information, and you can read more about it here:
http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0502.pdf

I look forward to meeting you in SL, and would encourage everyone to consider donating to Project Jason if you can.

URGENT appeal for help - Particularly USA Readers

There's not much I can say to add to what Kelly explains in her blog today. Please take a few minutes to send an email, or write a letter, to help this incredibly important organisation to survive.
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/07/71006-matter-of-urgency.html
[Quote]
To Family Members and Friends of the Missing,

Monday, November 5th, 2007, might be remembered by those involved in the missing persons cause as a day in which a huge step backwards was taken. Unless something major breaks in the way of funding, this will be the day in which the National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) will close their doors. Thousands of families will be affected, now and in the future.

Why is this happening?

The answer is complex, but in summary:
· The NCMA stepped up and assisted over 13,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina and was to be reimbursed for those expenditures, which were close to $250,000. At this time, the NCMA has only received $50,000 to cover the work they did at the request of the Dept. of Justice.
· The 2007 re-authorization of Kristen’s Law, (HR 423) which would provide the NCMA with up to $4 million per year in funding for 10 years, continues to remain in the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security committee, with no action taken to help the center. This re-authorization effort has been in the works unsuccessfully since 2005.
· As experienced not only by the NCMA, but by other national organizations, including ours, the public does not generally consider missing adults’ assistance nonprofits as a part of their charitable giving plans. Corporations are also hesitant to provide funding, and grant makers don’t seem responsive, either. This lack of support has also contributed to the problem.

What will save the NCMA at this late hour?

If an “angel” company or person comes forward who can help keep the center operating until the Kristen’s Law Re-authorization funds are released.

AND/OR

The DOJ immediately releases the funds owed to the NCMA from their work related to Hurricane Katrina.

What Can I Do?

I spent time talking with Kym Pasqualini, founder of the NCMA, late last night, and based upon the conversation, this is what she asks of you if you feel moved to help with a final effort.

· Kym feels that, out of all the national media, the person who could best help with exposure and a push for action is Larry King of CNN’s Larry King Live Show. She says that Larry’s show is watched by many members of congress and that he is not afraid to step on toes to get something accomplished. If she could get a spot on his show as soon as possible, she plans to talk candidly about the situation. If you can help with this step, please write to Larry King at larrykinglive@cnn.com and ask him to have Kym on as a guest immediately. Keep in mind that even if a spot on the show is not successful at moving congress or getting the Katrina reimbursement, it could reach the “angel” company or person as mentioned above.

· Contact Peter D. Keisler, acting Attorney General, and let him know how you feel about missing adults losing their national clearinghouse and resource. Mention the 2007 re-authorization of Kristen’s Law, (HR 423) You can also write to Vice President Dick Cheney at vice_president@whitehouse.gov The White House fax is 202-456-2461. Use AskDOJ@usdoj.gov to send correspondence to the Attorney General’s office.

· The webpage for the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security is http://judiciary.house.gov/committeestructure.aspx?committee=6 Once there, click on the names of the various members and be redirected to their own websites with contact information. You can also write to your congressman.

Time is quickly running out for this year’s session, so please send your letters right away.


[/quote]

How to be helpful

We can all do a little bit for helping others, with minimal effort.

I have written before about Project Jason, and am doing so again. They have joined an initiative for fundraising, where all you need to do is use a different search screen from your usual google page.

Read about it here:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/10/102107-no-cost-way-to-help-project.html

and support it here:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

Radio Waves for Jason

I would like to tell you about a woman I have come to admire tremendously, although I have never met her.

She is immensely brave, dedicated to her cause, and always carries herself with dignity and courtesy. She has helped change laws in America, has appeared on television, on radio, and at public rallies all over the States. I suspect, however, that she would prefer to live forever in anonymity if it meant that the catalyst which propelled her to this fame had never happened.

You see, one day Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason stepped out of the house to put out the trash, and never came back in.

There was no evidence of foul play, and none of the usual things that accompany runaways. He has simply vanished. Since then, on top of dealing with her loss, Kelly (and her family) has campaigned tirelessly to help improve things for families who are living without the knowledge of what has happened to a loved one.

Kelly and her family set up Project Jason, which has the support of the '18 Wheel Angels' - drivers who carry images of missing persons all over the nation. They worked to help establish Jason's Law; establishing from that the Missing Person's Clearinghouse. Project Jason established the 'Adopt a Missing Person' campaign to provide assistance to other families in desperate need of getting information out about their loved ones. Kelly started a blog to highlight the terrible situations families find themselves in, and how they are preyed upon by self-interested vultures. The list goes on, and it can easily be seen that because of Kelly, and Project Jason, much has been done to help families of missing people.

The latest project for Kelly is a much more personal one, and just as deserving of support. I can't imagine what it must be like to live every day with such a gap that must be left when your son just vanishes. I can't imagine all the years spanning out without contact, or information, or closure. There is nothing in me that can begin to understand the highs and lows of such hope and disappointment. Recently many of us read about two separate cases of children returned alive to their families after years on lists of the missing. This must impact a family like Kelly's so much more intimately and intensely than the rest of us - how can that not lead them to hope for the same outcome, and soon? I know that Kelly prays, and I hope it brings her the strength and comfort she needs.

What she also needs, are resources. Her son was keen to get into the radio industry, after an internship with a local station. The latest project is hoping that should he currently be active in making a life for himself, he would be involved in a radio station somewhere. Project Jason has a list of radio stations, and an email template already written up, and all they need are volunteers to work through the list, sending in the email to various stations. It provides a photo, a vocal clip and an aged photograph of Jason, in the hopes that he might be recognised. If you have some time to spare, and the ability to copy, paste and send information to a subset of this list of stations, Project Jason would love to hear from you.

You can read about the project:
http://www.projectjason.org/

and volunteer by emailing your interest to:
radiowavesforjason@projectjason.org

Let's see if we can help bring Jason home, or at least get information to his family about what has happened to him in the past five years.