Ontario: Masons Launch Child ID program

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Ontario: Masons Launch Child ID program
10 January 2008 By NICK GARDINER
Staff Writer
Brockville Recorder & Times.
Brockville ON
Parents will soon be able to get their hands on a high-tech record of their children in the event they ever go missing under a new campaign being launched by the Masons of Ontario. The MasoniCHIP program is being supported by the St. Lawrence District, Eastern District and Frontenac District Masonic Lodges, which are planning clinics throughout the region to record information on compact discs.
John Hunter, program co-ordinator for St. Lawrence District, which encompasses 14 lodges in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties, said a missing child is something nobody wants to contemplate but it's better to be prepared if it ever occurs. "We hope that nobody ever has to use them, that they just lay there and collect dust," he said.
At the clinics, a photo and brief video will be taken of a child by web cam and they will speak into a microphone to record a voice-scan. Digital fingerprints and a dental impression will also be taken. In addition a DNA swab will be taken and sealed in a plastic bag. Both the CD and bag will be given to the parents. Hunter said the lodge is holding public clinics at times to be announced that will be free for participants.
"We haven't finalized our dates yet. We're hoping for a clinic in Spencerville near the end of February." Richard Bennett, a past district deputy grand master, said privacy is ensured because all data will be wiped from the laptop computers used to acquire the information and the parents will hold the only record. "That's a key selling point," said Bennett. "We suggest they take it home and burn a copy or two to keep at home in the glovebox of the car or in the trailer when they go camping."
If a child goes missing the CD can be turned over or e-mailed to the police who can quickly spread the word across North America , he said. He said it's critical in a missing-person's case to have the information out on the street within two hours. In this case, it takes less than a minute once the disc is in a police computer. "Within 42 seconds, an Amber Alert is issued."
He said the intention is to maintain the program as a long-standing service offered by the Masons. "The theory is this will become an ongoing project like Canadian Blood Services." Dan Roddick, publicity chairman for the Eastern District Masonic Lodge, said an Amber Alert automatically notifies authorities at border crossings and on patrol and triggers information bulletins on highway signs and lottery terminals. Like Bennett, Roddick is impressed with the timeliness of the response. "The big plus is how quickly the information can be sent out for an amber alert," said Roddick. He said the Eastern District, which covers Cardinal to the Quebec border and north to near Ottawa , has already planned clinics in Winchester and Chesterville and is aiming to hold one in Cardinal before the end of this month.
Fundraising is also continuing to purchase computers, valued at $3,000 apiece, for the campaign. As well there are costs identified with operating the clinics and providing the CDs. Interested individuals or businesses may contact the Eastern District through project co-ordinator Gary MacGregor at HTUgary@compusilv.comUTH.
The St. Lawrence District is hoping to raise $25,000 to purchase five laptops and webcams and to put $10,000 into a reserve for replacements. To inquire about a donation, contact John Hunter at jhunter@netscape.ca or call Sonny Clark at 613-340-0088.