Last Saturday Was RegDay

How did I miss RegDay this year? Last year it was on the same day as National Adoption Day, so I just assumed. We all know what they say about assuming, right? Well, 'tis true, so sorry.

If you were involved with RegDay, which occurred last Saturday, please leave a comment below and share how it went. For those who don't know, on RegDay volunteers set up booths in public areas, such as libraries, and hand out ISRR applications and free information on adoption searches and reunions.

The International Soundex Reunion Registry (ISRR) was developed with the idea of providing a means for families that have been separated due to divorce, adoption, or foster care to reunite. ISRR is a mutual consent registry, meaning that for the registry to work, each adult (18 and over), has to have registered with ISRR in order for a match to be made. Many volunteers and visitors to the booths share their touching stories of reunion or the pain of a fruitless search. One RegDay volunteer shares the following:

"One young woman(an adoptee) - late twenties I think - came in with her boyfriend - took the form to register and got some info about searching as well. She was quite soft-spoken and articulate. Said she had wonderful parents, did not have to know about her past, but, felt somehow it was part of her essence as to who she was. Said that she felt if she did not search, on her death bed, she would regret it.

Our event touches a few people very dramatically, but, we need to find ways to bring in more people - especially those birth moms still in their safe cocoons as I was until over 3 years ago. Many of them have children who are signing up, but, Soundex only works if both parties register. The fear of the unknown paralyzes many of us though - that's why those of us who are reunited work tirelessly to de-mystify search and reunion for people. We know what a difference reunion has made in our lives."