Rochester Institute of Technology we thank you!

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Rochester Institute of Technology we thank you!

 

The students and faculty of RIT were introduced to the world of the missing when a fellow student was missing, George DeLany. George was later found deceased.  What they are doing to actively honor George is simply amazing, heartwarming and filled with love.

 

I don't believe God causes the bad in the world and certainly doesn't cause bad to teach us lessons.  But, He does watch closely what we do with the "bad" that has been handed us.  How proud God must be of the students and faculty who took the "bad," George's death, and are turning it into a powerful tool of love and hope for the families of the missing.

 

I do believe God helps us when "bad" enters our lives by placing tools of goodness along the way.  RIT's professor found Peace4, became a member and found Billy's Law and brought it to a grieving campus.  And, in their grief these students and faculty have actively thrown their support behind Billy's Law. 

 

I am so touched by what they are doing as should be all families of the missing and all those who work in this world of the missing.  Stop by their FB site and say THANK YOU!

 

Tomorrow on their campus they are having a Petition signing for Billy's Law in honor of George:

 

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165168540208832

 

Time: Wednesday, May 11 · 9:00am - 3:00pm

 
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology - at the SAU lobby

 
Created By: Students Finding George DeLany

 
More Info: Come by to sign a Petition in support of Billy's Law - a proposed law in Congress to improve database information and access about those who go missing. This event is being held in honor of our classmate and friend, George  DeLany

 

___________________________

 

DIRECT LINK TO PETITION:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-congress-to-pass-billys-law-to...

[Sara Huizenga]

Thanks so much for writing/adding this, Mo

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

How incredibly awesome is this!! Thank you RIT!!

[Delilah]

It's so good to see the student involvement.  Hoping that the word will spread to other campuses and others will come on board as well.

[Paloma Capanna]

Thank you for taking the time to write such kind words.  I copied the post and e-mailed the team of 13 students this morning.  It will get them off on a good note, along with an e-mail that I received from Billy's Mom.

 

Yes, we're trying to understand how much has happened in just two months.  At times, it felt interminably long.  Now, at times, it feels unbelievably fast.  

 

But what does seem to be striking us is the need for a hub to the spokes of the wheel.  Our impression is that some of the families of the missing have become advocates and have had more or less success at lobbying federal and state officials, but that there aren't either the nfps or PACs (non-profits or Political Action Committees) that tend to spring up.  This would then appear to have lent itself to the patchwork quilt of legislation.  We're going to try to use summer break to put together the "is" and some of the "needs" in legislation.

 

We feel that George has both inspired us and walked us straight into quite a bit of homework!

 

Again, thanks.  I'll provide an update tonight.  The on-line petition is perking along at 524 signatures as of this morning, which is already more than double what we had yesterday morning.

 

All the best ~ Paloma

[Findmywayhome]

What an awesome tribute to your friend.  It is the ultimate gift to someone to try and make changes that will help others not to suffer the same fate!  My hat off to you for doing what so many neglect to do!  MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  I hope its contagious!

Findmywayhome

[Jan Smolinski]

I agree with everything you said Maureen. Paloma and RIT together we can all make a difference. It does take a village of caring people. Thank you for being part of it. My prayer is the village grows to astronomical numbers...

  I feel everything does happen for a reason and the tragedy of losing George has brought recognition to a serious problem and Billy's law to RIT. By passing this bill into law it would help enable and offer incentives for the only centralized database (NamUs) so the authorities would have a better opportunity to learn and make proper entries into NamUs.

Congress needs to know this is a silent crisis and it has to be addressed...indeed families could have hope for a better tomorrow.  I can only say when my son went missing almost seven years ago a Pandora's Box opened for us and in it emerged numbers... huge numbers..over 100,000 missing persons and 40,000 unidentified deceased. Thank you for jumping on board please everyone sign the petition and pass it on. Knowledge is Power. Always Hope, Jan ...Billy's Mom

[Paloma Capanna]

Great news:  552 signatures in 4:50!  The RIT community came together to fill all 50-pages available for signatures.  It was going so quickly, we didn't even realize how many sheets were filled until there were fewer than 10 sheets left.  And the next thing we knew, those were filled, too.  Also there were 3 TV stations, which gave us the opportunity to talk about "Billy" of "Billy's Law" to our media market, not even just the people who were signing the petitions.  We also passed out a few hundred small flyers about the on-line petition, and those numbers seem to be moving along nicely, as well.  We are hoping that Billy's family could feel the best wishes and prayers of the RIT community today.  We're over 1,200 signatures in 7-days.  Doing what we can to try to make a difference.  Paloma

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Paloma....you and the RIT community are amazing!  Thank you!  I'm sure the Smolinski's are feeling the love as well as all the families of the missing!