Florida
Masonic
Child
I.D.
Program
By Alan Walls
4 sponsoring Masonic Lodges in Citrus County
Citrus
Lodge No. 118, Anthony J. Marotta, Worshipful Master
W.B. John A. Rhame Citrus #118 Child I.D. Chairman
Floral City Lodge No. 133, David R.
Thompson, Worshipful Master
John Thrumson
Floral City
#133
Child ID Program Chairman
Ridge
Masonic Lodge No. 398, Charley W. Rhodes, Worshipful Master
The Florida Masonic Child ID Program is reaching children across the State.
What is the Child ID Program?
It is a program adopted by the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Florida in 1991, to provide a significant community service to the many communities in Florida. All too often, we see or hear of a story of a lost, runaway or apparently abducted child. Between June 1984 and September 1992 there were 29,514 nationally reported cases, and unfortunately, the numbers are increasing. This program is designed to facilitate the safe recovery of these youngsters by the authorities.
The Masonic Child
ID Program is a public service offered throughout the state of Florida at
NO COST, to
the
Parents and guardians of
children of all ages, infants to teenagers. The program provides a
professionally videotaped record of a child or young person’s unique visual
appearance, mannerisms, voice, and very specific answers to very specific
questions. The parents, or guardian are given the ONLY copy, along
with some helpful information and a form on which to record other vital
information
Videotapes are excellent tools in helping to recover a missing child. Videos are multidimensional, affording a number of visual angles and allowing the viewer to see and hear the child’s unique mannerisms and voice inflections. Like photographs and fingerprints, videotapes should be updated yearly.
DNA parents are requested to take a few strands of hair with the follicle for DNA. The simplest way to keep DNA is to save a child’s tooth after it falls out. All of these samples should be stored in a plastic bag and placed in the freezer – hopefully never to be used.
Fingerprints can allow police to trace a child’s whereabouts by ascertaining if a child was in a certain location or if he touched certain objects. Fingerprints can also be enlarged and scanned to other police departments to help locate a missing child. Any effort that can lead to a child’s recovery in the critical first hours after a child is reported missing can help prevent tragedy. The Masonic Fraternity provides the family with a professional set of fingerprints and given, free of charge, to the parents for safekeeping. No information is taken from the parent or child at the time of video and fingerprinting. The video and fingerprints are given to the parents with the instruction on how to use the document.
Citrus County Sheriff’s “Bike Rodeo”
Saturday, April 30,
2005
Location: Citrus County Auditorium
Citrus County Fair Grounds
US 41, Inverness, FL
Saturday, April 30, 2005 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Sheriff’s Department in conjunction with the four Masonic Lodges in Citrus County, PTA, E.M.S., County Fire Companies, Animal Control, American Red Cross, Shrine’s Club of Citrus County, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Will provide the days activities.
1. Bike Rodeo, coordinated by Citrus County Council of PTAs
2. Child ID, video taping of Children, 5 locations will be provided.
3. E.M.S. will have a clown, balloons, and other related child items as well as handouts. Come and see the medical training dummy that talks.
4. County Fire Companies will have a Smoke House and hand outs for the children
5. A request has been extended to the Department of Transportation to provide a program on “Car Seat Safety”. This group is involved in the water bottles and other give a ways that will be available.
6. Animal Control will have a program which will deal with children being safe around dogs, bite prevention, dog attacks. They will have handouts and coloring books. They have obtained approval for use of the Shuttle bus from Fair Grounds to Animal Control. The animal Control has provided two rooms with separate entrance and exit for one Masonic Child ID camera setup. Four Cameras for the Masonic Child ID program will be setup in the Auditorium.
7. Sheriff’s Department will provide the following activities.
a. Cyber Safety
b. Poisonous Snakes
c. Comp. Kits
d. Meet Sheriff’s Department Explorers
8. American Red Cross will provide a Water Safety program that will
Include safe use of Life Vest and proper use of Life Ring and the children will practice using the Life Rings.
9. Shrine’s of Citrus County will be completing “Face Painting”
10. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will have programs on First Aid (and will earn service hours). The Girl Scouts will provide a program on Seat Belt Safety. The Troop lost one of their members by not using a seat belt.
The concept of the countywide program was developed by Floral City Masonic Lodge No. 133's John T. Thrumston and has grown into the present program. From all who are participating in the Rodeo, we extend an invitation to you to bring your children out for the day’s activities. Video taping and fingerprints of your Children is most important in this day, as from 1984 to 1992, 29,514 children are lost, runaways or apparently abducted. The Masonic Child ID Program is designed to facilitate the safe recovery of these youngsters by the authorities.
We all look forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 30.
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Background information provided by the Grand Lodges of N Y, N J & Calf