October saw us sending out around 11,000 emails, which is
slightly down, owing to members being away on vacation or having family issues
to contend with. We have just bought into an emailing program which means we
can send out individual emails (not spam) at a greater rate of knots, so we
would expect to see this figure of emails going out, at least double, this
month.
That we are able to start looking at and purchasing these types
of programs is directly down to the fundraising efforts since September 2008.
It is early days, but we hope to see a steady flow of events that will bring in
some funds and allow us to purchase more credits, look at buying in market
research lists, anything aimed at just continuously keeping on raising profiles
of the missing.
Day For Daniel by Bruce Morcombe
Daniel went missing from a bus-stop on the Kiel
Mountain Road Overpass, Nambour Connection Road, Palmwoods, Australia on
December the 7th 2003
Our Day for Daniel is growing bigger and bigger each
and every year. Now in its 4th year and for the first time, extending
outside the State of Queensland, it is now a National Event of
significance. Focusing on Child Protection and Protective Behaviour
education in schools, it is estimated that more than 250,000 students
participated in some way on the day. Hundreds of Regional and Suburban
schools all registered their support online. These included schools in
Cairns to Canberra and King Island to Karretha.
The focus of the day, was to incorporate a 'red' theme and make it fun
to participate, but the day also had a serious side to it and that is
identifying Daniel`s abduction and linking that back to 'keep safe' messages.
By associating the very 'real' case of Daniel with child protection intitiatives,
no longer do they think 'That will never happen to me'.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation believes this unique
formula is one that can make a difference in protecting children from predators.
Another activity on the Day for Daniel was a
Community walk. This makes the visual statement that crimes against children
have no place in modern Australia. Walks were organised in Hobart,
Townsville, Bowen, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba and more.
Hundreds of businesses also took part on the day.
Day for Daniel still has enormous potential
to continue to grow in the years ahead.
Bruce Morcombe, in his address to walkers, also
recognised the many suspicious disappearances in Australia over the last 40
years and acknowledged one by one many names of family members now missing from
the Foreversearching family. All participants on our walks were asked to
pray and send collective goodwill to these families.
For those not in the know - the concept of the "Squeaky
Wheel Tour" is simple - Using music to raise awareness of the missing...Founded
by Jannel Rap, an artist who has shared the stage with the likes of Stevie
Wonder, John Waite to name a few, whose own sister Gina Bos has been missing
since October 17 2000.
"I'd look up at the moon and think that if I could just scream loud enough for
her to hear me, maybe we could find her," Now, six years after Gina Bos'
disappearance, singer-songwriter Rap has launched the Squeaky Wheel Tour to
raise awareness of missing people.
-David Hendee , Omaha World-Herald
Jannel is a member of the group "Clementine", to learn more about this very
talented and passionate group please visit their site...http://www.clementineband.com/about.htm
"Clementine is most known for their musical and lyrical hooks and their unique
vocal sound reminiscent of the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and Crosby Stills Nash and
Young. Clementine has shared the stage with Hal Ketchum, Louden Wainwright,
Nickel Creek and more."
-By Pegasus News wire, Pegasus News
On the evening of November 2nd - live via Web-cam the Squeaky Wheel Tour arrived
in the UK......the band "Clementine" aired our UK missing to the world........it
was a live interactive show, messages were read out from the families of the
profiled missing.
What a show - many of us took time out - logged in - into something that many of
us have never experience before...Val Nettles, mother of Damien, whose 12th
anniversary of his disappearance was on the same day, was interviewed live. It
was a very powerful concert, very emotive, and more importantly a fantastic way
to raise awareness to our missing.....
Forever Searching will be working with Jannel Rap, pulling out all the stops in
trying to bring the Squeaky tour to the UK in March 2009, so watch this
space.....please visit the site to read more about the tour and how it all works
- its simple - its powerful -
http://www.411gina.org/squeakywheeltour.htm
If you are an artist who would like to particiapate in this initiative, please
mail us - it costs nothing -
enquiries@foreversearching.com
This is an amazing opportunity that we have right here and right now to gain
public attention for the missing, which will in turn create momentum and hope
for us all.
The Squeaky Wheel starts here. . .with me, with you. . .we have the power to
make a difference both individually and collectively. We are the families of the
missing, the artists and communities who care about the missing, the
non-for-profit organizations dedicated to the missing, and the media who sees
that attention is needed to bring someone home.
SEAN GOLDMAN - USA - PARENTAL ABDUCTION
THIS FATHER NEEDS SUPPORT OF THE WORLD - IF EVERYONE
ONE OF US SENT AN E-MAIL ON BEHALF OF THIS FATHER - THE PRESSURE WOULD BE ON TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE. - SEAN GOLDMAN - USA - PARENTAL
ABDUCTION
David Goldman an American Subject, married Bruna Bianchi Carneiro Ribeiro a
Brazilian Subject in Eatontown, New Jersey, USA, on December 17, 1999. They had
a son, Sean Goldman, born in Red Bank, NJ on May 25, 2000.
On June 16, 2004, David drove Bruna, Sean and Bruna's parents to Newark Airport
for a planned 2-week vacation to her parent's home in Brazil. Upon her arrival,
she called David Goldman to tell him that their marriage was over and that she
and Sean were not returning to the US. If David ever wanted to see Sean again he
would have to fly to Brazil and sign some legal documents she had prepared
signing custody of Sean over to her. David never signed any documents giving up
custody of Sean.
David, up until this point, had been under the impression that their home-life
was happy and typical of any American family. Bruna made no allegations to the
contrary, and this is well documented in the court records in both Brazil and
the United States. Although still legally married in the United States, Bruna
obtained a divorce in the eyes of Brazil, without the presence or knowledge of
David Goldman.
It is understood that Bruna became pregnant and remarried in Brazil within the
past year to a Brazilian attorney. He works for his father's law firm, a firm
that concentrates on "Family Law," particularly international Family Law. The
father has even spoken at The Hague regarding child abduction.
On August 22, 2008, Bruna tragically passed away during childbirth. It was
assumed that David, being Sean's biological father, and the only other person
with a reasonable claim to custody, would be reunited with Sean and return him
to their home in the U.S.
Since learning of Bruna's passing, however, all of David's attempts to directly
contact Sean or Bruna's family in Brazil have failed. Bruna's Brazilian husband
and parents have denied any contact between Sean and David and have even
disobeyed a Federal Court order of visitation without any consequences for this
blatant disregard for the law.
David Goldman soon established that Bruna's Brazilian husband did not file for
custody of Sean. Instead, he filed to replace David (his biological father) on a
birth certificate issued for Sean in Brazil, trying to erase Sean's true
paternity.
David Goldman is fighting to regain custody of his son, who needs him more now
than ever. David is fighting against people with substantial influence at high
levels in the Brazilian judiciary system, government and media. He has been
fighting in the Brazilian courts under The Hague Treaty for 4+ years. All counts
of the law under The Hague Treaty as well as Brazilian, US and International law
state clearly that this is a case of parental child abduction and that Sean was
and still is being retained illegally and should be returned to the US.
For David to regain custody of his son, it is imperative that he has high level
support within the government and media of his own country. David Goldman also
needs the world to know of the situation he finds himself in to spread awareness
to this tragic case. He needs the citizens of the world to stand behind him and
to help him get his child back -- a child that is rightfully his. This is a
travesty of justice by any measure and an affront to human decency.
If you are shocked by this case - you can help David Goldman regain custody of
his son by visiting the website
http://www.BringSeanHome.org and reading about
how you can help in the effort to bring Sean home. Please also take the time to
send the link to family and friends who may also be interested in helping raise
awareness of this case.
Monster Band Night
In
Aid of Forever Searching
November
5th saw an awesome line up of talent who joined together to hold a
performance in London, proceeds going to Forever Searching. It was a brilliant
evening, the atmosphere was just great, really supportive and upbeat, but with
some emotional and poignant moments. Tara London, who wrote and produced a song
for us in our fledgling days named Find You Way Home, performed this and her
young son, very supportive of the cause despite his nerves, joined her on stage
to back her. There was not a dry eye in the house.
The
evening raised us £188, enough to send out around 35,000 emails on the new email
marketing tool we are using, so great stuff and directly aimed at raising
awareness for those we are searching.
Lux Perpetua
On November 2, 2008, All Souls' day in the Christan Calendar, the sublime
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, OR was filled with songs and
words of remembrance for missing persons.
Renown opera singers Angela Niederloh, Katie Taylor, Elizaebeth Niesen Sheller
and Tuesday Rupp joined the Cathedral Choir of St. Mary's directed by Angela
Westhoff Johnson and other classical musicians to bring voice to the stories of
the missing.
Over 300 community members listened to music and readings chosen to give voice
to the international issue of missing persons. The vespers service, conceived by
Zachary Hoyt, brother of missing person Emillie Hoyt was a collaboration with
Forever Searching and Global Health Promise. A recording and video will be
available in the near future.
The Latin term "Lux Perpetua" literally means "perpetual light" and is taken
from tradition of lighting candles in sacred places to remember those who are
lost and to provide a beacon for those who are missing.
Awareness Event - May 24th 2009
Forever Searching is pleased to announce that we will be
holding a big awareness event in May next year, in Leicester, we hope many of
you can attend.
The event will consist of:
Sunday 24th May
1pm – March through Leicester will placards / posters of our missing
There is a Holiday Inn Express on site, and they have given us a group discount
booking rate of £60 per room per night including breakfast.
Monday 25th May - Bank Holiday
A special service for the missing is being put on at Leicester Cathedral, and
promises to be a very emotional event. We will be remembering all those still
missing and praying for them to find their way home.
The
walk and the service are free of charge, although it would be great should you
plan to attend the walk, you would consider buying a Forever Searching t-shirt
at cost price and walking in it. We can let you have the styles and prices of
these.
We really hope many of you can make it, please let us know asap. And please
do ask friends and family, the more the merrier. Tables seat 10.
A Trip To Canada
A recent trip
to Canada, provided the opportunity for an interesting and fruitful visit with
Barbara Snider of the Missing Children’s Society of Canada. Barbara is one of
the most experienced people in the child finding arena having been committed to
it for 25 years, and it was certainly an educational and inspiring afternoon for
Foreversearching.
One
frustration that it seems we all share, wherever we are in the world, is the
lack of resources, both financially and practically, available to organisations
like ourselves and to the family’s we support. Having said that, Canada is way
ahead of the UK, and I think we can learn some valuable lessons from MCSC in
terms of what programs to try and get off the ground, that ultimately will
assist the family’s of the missing and the children we are searching for.
MCSC
and FS, have a complementary style of working and our ongoing collaborations
will help not only our family’s in Canada, but globally as we grow and associate
with similar organisations around the globe.
BIRTHDAY VIGIL FOR BEN ROSELAND
The family of Ben Roseland would like to bring to you
attention a vigil they are planning for Ben.
Ben has been missing from Clinton, Iowa since February 9th, 2008. His Birthday
is the 24th of November and the family are having a Candle Light Vigil in
observance of his Birthday and to raise public awareness that Ben is still
missing.
The vigil will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 in Sacred Heart Church,
located at 312 South Fourth Street in Clinton, Iowa at 7:00 p.m Father Richard
Okumu from The Church of the Visitation will lead the prayers and Clinton's
Mayor, Rodger Holm will be a speaker.
Everyone is invited and if you do attend please bring a Birthday card or a note
(if they want to), stating who they are and if, and in what capacity you know of
Ben, to be kept for when we meet up with Ben again.
Please visit Ben's website at
http://www.benroseland.com to see Ben's new You
Tube video created by Forever Searching of the United Kingdom.
