Project Jason Announces Presence in Virtual World

[Kelly]

Project Jason Announces Presence in Virtual World Nonprofit Consortium
 
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.  Among the other nonprofits represented there are Sustainable Harvest International, Kiva, Giving Circles Network, Grants Managers Network, the SPCA Maryland, America's Second Harvest, Digital Campfires Foundation, and Preferred Family Healthcare.  The grand opening is Wednesday, May 28.
 
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.
 
Second Life is a 3D virtual world that offers powerful communications tools.  Second Life is used extensively by global corporations such as IBM, Cisco, Sun Microsystems, and even NASA, for employee meetings (that save gas or airfare by meeting on the internet instead of at one office), for corporate communications, for marketing, and for research and development. There are over one million registered members.
 
The grand opening takes place within Second Life from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time.  The all-day and evening celebration will include live musicians from all around the world, whose performances will be broadcast into Second Life.
 
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
 
To learn more about Project Jason, please see www.projectjason.org.  You may also contact Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder, at 402-932-0095, or by emailing kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org.

[Kelly]

For Family Members of Missing Persons:

This notification is to let you know about a free awareness opportunity for your missing loved one in Project Jason's headquarters in Second Life, a highly popular virtual reality world. Second Life will allow us to reach a new audience with our cause, one which may not read newspapers or watch television news. It is a new means to bring your missing loved one's story to life in front of thousands of people, all at no cost to you.
 
Second Life is one of the most popular virtual reality worlds available. They have over one million registered members. At any given time, 40,000+ people will be signed into Second Life, visiting places of interest, meeting friends, attending business meetings, etc. Several well known US corporations have properties and conduct business in Second Life. It is not a game. It is also free to join, but please be aware that dial-up access will not be sufficient, and you must have a somewhat newer PC to access the site. Please see http://secondlife.com/ for additional information and PC specs.
 
Project Jason is the first assistance organization for families of missing persons to have a property in Second Life. In our virtual office, we will showcase our benefits and services AND your missing loved one, if you choose to participate.

All of the wall hangings you see in the screenshots are clickable when in Second Life and will take the reader to a link on our site or forum, where they can read additional information about that benefit. Posters of missing persons will link to that person's thread on our forum where they can read all the news stories and find the links to individual family member sites, if applicable. 
 
Our theme is "Every Face Tells a Story....".  Our goal is to intrigue this new audience with a brief story about your missing loved one in such a way that they will be compelled to read more, and perhaps even actively help with spreading the word, poster placement, etc. We feel that the public is more interested in your story, as a family member, than in a list of physical attributes as we see on typical missing persons posters. As we always say, this is a person missing, not a case number, or a height and weight.
(Please note that is not the intention for persons to download and print these posters. These are merely for display. There are links to proper printable posters in your missing loved one's thread in our forum, which the reader will be guided to.)


 
If you would like to participate, all we ask you to do is to write the brief story about the disappearance of your missing loved one. If you use Microsoft Word, it has a word count feature so you know how many words you have written. Space is very limited on the poster, so we must limit the story to less than 90 words. Please submit the story to us via email in proper case (not all caps) and with a signature line, such as in the example in the attached poster. (The signature line tells who wrote the story, and their relationship to the missing person.)
 
Remember that in writing the brief story, you want to give some information and then capture their interest so they want to read more. Please see examples in the post below this one. This will give you an idea of what we are looking for. 
 
You will also need to let us know which photo you would like to use. With limited space on the poster, there is only room for one photo. All posters are standardized, and will look like the attached poster unless we change the design or theme. We create the poster for you. All you need to do is write the brief story (90 words or less) and let us know which photo of your missing loved one you prefer to use. It may also be a good idea to include the current law enforcement phone number that the public uses to call in leads. It may be possible that number has changed, and we want to ensure the correct phone number is on the poster.
 
Please do not include reward or other website information in your story as not all missing persons have one. This will ensure that each missing person's story will have an equal opportunity for awareness.   

Even though we just officially opened in Second Life, there is already a high degree of interest, so we hope that you will agree with us that it's worth a few minutes of your time to write the brief story and email it to us. For those of you who are not fond of writing, I will be glad to help you with editing once you write the basic story.

If your missing loved one is not yet registered with us, please do so first at http://www.projectjason.org/report.html
 
Again, this is just another way we strive to obtain awareness for your missing loved one.
 
There is always hope................
 
Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org

Please continue to read this thread for addtional information which will aid you in your submission of info for our Second Life office.

[Kelly]

Here are some screenshots of our Second Life themed poster so you can see what these look like. Even though they don't display large enough to read here, they are very readable in Second Life. 

[Kelly]

Not sure what to write?

Here are some examples of what others wrote:

Brandy was at Alex`s Restaurant, where we both worked. She always waited for me to arrive before she left, and this day was no different. We talked and laughed. I set up her voice mail on her new cell phone. Brandy said �Bye mom�I`ll see you later. I love you.� Little did I know that would be the last time I would see my daughter. We all miss her so much. Words cannot begin to express the ache in my heart. My life cannot go on until I find out where she is or what happened.

Cynthia L. Day was last seen with her boyfriend at home around noon. We had just taken her first newborn grandson to her directly from the hospital for a visit. Cynthia couldn�t have been more excited about the occasion. She ran and showed him to all the neighbors. We spent some time chatting with her and then we left, never to see her again. She would never leave without contacting her family and friends. We miss her more each day. Pray for her return.     

My �Papa� has always been my hero and has been there for me. Now it is my turn to be there for him. I have not heard from or seen Papa in 4 years. He disappeared 11 months and 1 day after Nana passed away. I felt like my world was taken away when I lost Nana, but when Papa went missing, my world fell off its axis. My Papa means the world to me. Papa, if you happen to be reading this, please call us. I love and miss you very, very much.

Our son, John J. Morris, disappeared from Whites Ferry Road at about 11:00 p.m. There has been no phone contact, or credit card use since. John suffers from ADHD and needs medication. He is a talented artist who is very outgoing and makes friends easily. All of his belongings, including his truck and his dog, were left at home. It is not like John to miss his weekly phone calls with us. When we last spoke to him, he told us he was waiting for the ride. The neighbor also saw him waiting.

Our son, Jesse, went to Chicago for a model UN conference with his school.  On the 21st, Jesse was attending a mock Security Council meeting at 2:00 am.  About 3:00 am there was a break and Jesse left the meeting room.  When he walked out those doors he simply disappeared.  His cell phone and credit card have not been used.  He had a great job as an on-the-air radio personality waiting for him; He had no reason not to come home.  We miss him dearly.

That morning Mike left his home in Rutland, VT for work at Spring Lake Ranch. He was standing outside the dining room around noon when he vanished. We received a phone call a few hours later with heavy breathing. Days later, we received a second phone call and heard him speaking, but the phone disconnected. We have not heard from Mike since. Our son was on powerful medications for obsessive compulsive disorder. Sudden withdrawal can cause unconsciousness and amnesia.  He is a gentle, intelligent man. We love him and miss him every day. 

My wife, Patricia, volunteered in our town's elementary school for three hours before returning home.  She spoke to her mom and apparently left our residence on foot around 1PM.  She may have gone Valentine's Day shopping in the local stores.  Pat left without her pocketbook containing her ID, keys and epilepsy medication.  We doubt she would just walk away from her two children.  There is no evidence that she was harmed and we feel her epilepsy may have contributed to her disappearance. We love and miss her.     

This is our beautiful 14-year-old Sara.  Sara and her sister were together that night.  The next morning, her father went to her room.  Her bed was not slept in, and none of her belongings were gone. No one has seen or heard from her since then. I miss her more than I could ever explain. Her smile and laugh are contagious. I pray everyday that she is safe. We have our good and bad days. The days spent crying about Sara we call our "Sara days."  She is loved and missed.                     

Our brother was last seen sometime after 5pm. He had helped a friend move earlier that day, and then went to a local bar, where he was last seen. His car was found in November 2006. We know he didn't walk away. He had purchased a restaurant in July and it was going to be ready to open in September of that year. Tom's bank account was never touched. I still look for him everyday. His youngest daughter has had 2 birthdays without her dad, whom she talked to every day. Please help us find him.   

Our son, Jason, left home for work at about 10:15 that morning after doing his chores. His car was in the shop for repairs, so his employer made arrangements to pick him up at a local high school, seven blocks away. Jason never made it there. He had only a small amount of money with him. His cell phone was never used again and his bank account never accessed. It doesn�t appear that he ran away, but we have no evidence someone harmed him. We love and miss him.     

These all fit the less than 90 words rule. You'll notice that there is no physical data, name, or LE info in the story. That is because it's in the other sections of the poster, and does not count in your less than 90 words. So, don't use your word count for that info.

[Kelly]

Other parts of the poster include the header, signature, and the physical data and LE contact section.

An example of a standard header:  Jason Jolkowski, 19, Missing from Omaha, NE since June 13, 2001

Example of a signature: Jim and Kelly Jolkowski, Jason�s parents

Example of the standard physical data and LE contact section: Jason is 6�1, weighs 175  lbs, and has brown hair and brown eyes. If you have any information about Jason, please call the Omaha NE Police Dept. at 402-444-5818.

[Kelly]

Here's a summary of what to do if you would like your missing loved one's poster featured in the Project Jason office in Second Life:

1) Send me an email with the subject line Second Life Poster for XXX XXX  where xxx xxx is the name of your missing loved one.

2) Include the standard header, signature, and the physical data and LE contact section. (Example in the post above this one.)

3) Include your story of less than 90 words. (Examples above in this thread.)

4) Attach the photo you would like us to use on the poster or include a link to that photo online.

5) Send the email to kelly_projectjason@cox.net

What we will then do:  

1) Create the poster and upload it into Second Life.

2) Email you the poster in PDF format.

3) Email you a screenshot of the poster as it appears in Second Life.

You are welcome to make mention of this on your websites or in other personal communications, such as email, blogs, MySpace pages, etc.

[Kelly]

It is not neccesary for you to join Second Life. I do NOT recommend it unless you are very comfortable with your PC and the internet, AND your PC meets the requirements. Dial-Up users will not be able to access it. There is a free membership level.

If you do decide you'd like to join Second Life, here is a link that will take you to the Project Jason office: http://slurl.com/secondlife/aloft%20island/233/23/27

System requirements: http://secondlife.com/corporate/sysreqs.php

General info: http://secondlife.com/whatis/

Begin the registration process: https://secure-web22.secondlife.com/join/index.php/Choose-Name?form%5Baction%5D=Skip+This+Step

[Kelly]

Take a Tour of the Project Jason Second Life Office

On the next few posts, you can take a tour of the Project Jason Second Life Office without having to register there and download the software.

This is outside of the office. You can see the theme signs, (Every Face Tell a Story) which beckons SL members into the office.



This is a shot standing in the entryway. You can see a smaller version of the Garden for the Missing over to your left.

[Kelly]

All of the posters and many other objects are clickable, taking you to the featured link on our site.

This is the view looking at the main wall with the featured missing persons poster viewer. Visitors can use the arrows at the bottom of the viewer to rotate the posters. Clicking on a poster of interest places it in the middle of the viewer. The visitor can then click on the poster and be directed to the link on our forum for more news and information about that person.



This is a closer view of the poster viewer. You can see that as you move closer, you can read the info on the poster. (The image here is too small for you to read, but it is very readable when in Second Life.)

[Kelly]

Moving around the 1st floor, this is the next wall and area.



There is a "working" fireplace, and a harp plays. Visitors can sit here and chat.

[Kelly]

Here is the donation box and message center:



We are still working on the 2nd floor. There is a patio outside.

[Kelly]

On the 2nd floor, there is a presentation area. We can give Powerpoint presentations here. It is also easy to add more seats as needed. If you've seen my presentations, you'll recognize the slide on the wall.

Underneath the window, there is an In Loving Memory display to remember those who were missing, but have now "come home".



Many major companies are meeting in Second Life to give presentations. I emphasize that it is not a game, although naturally, there are some members who play games within Second Life. With over a million members and growing, it's just another place and mechanism to bring awareness for your missing loved one and our cause.

In the future, we also hope to have family members meeting there as well.

[Kelly]

This video is an introduction to our office in Second Life, a virtual reality world. It also showcases our theme, Every Face Tells a Story, and the exclusive stories written by the families of the missing. If you decide to join Second Life to see these posters up close and personal, the SLURL is:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/aloft%20island/233/23/27

Remember, every missing person is loved by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regards to the disappearance.

Kelly, Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/downloads/SecondLife.wmv

[Kelly]

http://nwn.blogs.com/

Charlanna Beresford�s weekly round-up of upcoming SL events�

Across the globe, thousands of people go missing every day. There are a pair of open houses this week that demonstrate what Second Life can do to help those with missing loved ones in their first lives. 

On Friday, June 27 at 4:30 PM, Project Jason is holding an open house to mark the opening of their office in Second Life. Project Jason was founded by Kellyj Shepherd (Kelly Jolkowski in RL) following the mysterious disappearance of her 19 year old Jason Jolkowski from the family�s driveway on June 13, 2001. In the aftermath of this tragic event, she and her husband found that there are few resources for families of missing adults and they developed Project Jason so that no family would be left alone and without resources in a heartbreaking situation where time is so critical. Project Jason�s Second Life plans include educational presentations, law enforcement training, and family support meetings.  The open house is an opportunity to learn more about Project Jason�s efforts in both worlds and to meet Kellyj Shepherd. In Aloft Nonprofit Commons.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aloft%20Nonprofit%20Commons/241/24/26

My Note: The beautiful Garden for the Missing (see below) is not a Project Jason site, but is operated by the person who is our Second Life Consultant and technical admin.

On Wednesday, July 2 at 6:00 PM, there will be an open house at the Garden for the Missing. The Garden for the Missing contains over 170 posters of missing persons from the US.  All of the missing persons posters are clickable so that you can read more about their disappearances;  bring your friends and stop by and to read the stories of the missing and help raise awareness for these souls. In Remora.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Remora/205/148/21

[Kelly]

SLURLS are unique addresses in Second Life. You must register and download the Second Life software in order for the links below to work.

Project Jason

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Aloft%20Nonprofit%20Commons/237/24/26

The Garden for the Missing

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Remora/203/147/21