May 25, 2000 is National Missing Children's Day and National Tap Dance Day. What could be a better way than to use music and dance to raise public awareness about child safety? And it's so simple to become involved. Dance studios and festivals across the nation can raise public awareness by having May 25, 2000 proclaimed both National Missing Children's Day and National Tap Dance Day in their community; by hosting a safety awareness table at their spring recital where they can distribute the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's (NCMEC) child safety brochures; and by asking their audiences to look closely at missing children photos -- they could help bring a child home.

The NCMEC seeks volunteers to help create child safety awareness on National Missing Children's Day. They have chosen tap dance recitals and tap festivals for their awareness campaign and if you'd like to volunteer, here's how you can help.

• Contact dance teachers in your community and tell them about Tap 2000. If a teacher expresses interest in participating take down their Name, Studio/Business, address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail. Forward the information to NCMEC's Volunteer Office (address below). Written information will be sent to the teacher.

• After information has been sent to the interested teacher, volunteers make a follow-up phone call to confirm the participation.

• Contact your local Mayor's Office (or other local official) to see if they will present a proclamation to the dance teacher during the recital's intermission. The proclamation should proclaim that May 25, 2000 is jointly recognized locally as National Missing Children's Day and National Tap Dance Day. The dance teacher can have the proclamation to hang in his/her dance studio.

For more information on being a volunteer or to learn more about this program or NCMEC contact:

Special thanks to Carolyn Weaver for making Talkin' Broadway aware of this event and for providing the information.

See you Sunday!

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