According to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations, over 1 million persons are reported missing each year.

While many organizations are doing their best to decrease this staggering statistic, one woman alone is putting forth an overwhelming effort to help reunite families and lost loved ones.

Teri Brown is pushing her ideas about finding America’s missing persons to the limit by creating a magazine called “The National Searcher.” Brown, a paralegal in Utah, first got the idea to start a magazine of this type over a year ago when her adopted sister requested Brown’s help in locating her birth mother.

Brown and her sister encountered many dead ends and rolls of red tape throughout their search. Brown likened the experience to “running your head into a brick wall.” Out of sheer exhaustion Brown finally decided that “there’s got to be an easier way.” From this desperation “The National Searcher” was born.

The magazine is targeted to begin publication this fall, provided all technical deadlines are met. For example, Brown needs to have enough material to fill three full monthly issues before the magazine can go to press.

The magazine itself is divided into four sections, and the needed material will vary accordingly. The first and foremost section of the magazine is devoted to helping find missing persons.

This section is designed for anyone who is searching for missing adults, missing parents, missing birth families or any other loved ones who cannot be traced. Brown encourages these people to gather any necessary information and descriptions plus whatever else they feel might be helpful for others to recognize them or their loved ones.

Information can be sent for publication to “The National Searcher” at P.O. Box 2299, Provo, Utah, 84603. Brown asks for no fee beyond the stamp on the envelope.

Brown said she reserves the right to select and choose what does go into print as “many wierd ones have come out of the woodwork already,” she said. Brown charges no fee for the public to run their information in her magazine. She said “The National Searcher” will run itself solely on the revenue generated from advertising and magazine sales.

The second section of the magazine is reserved for the “criminally wanted.” Decsriptive information and photographs will be printed that may help the general public recognize, locate and later help aprehend some of the country’s missing criminals.

The third division of the magazine will list unclaimed property divisions. Brown said many people may not realize that they have money or other material items coming to them as the result of a will or other similar property division.

The fourth and final section will provide a different, simple legal form each month. Brown used her professional knowledge of law when she designed this section. Various issues will highlight this section with topics such as “how to draw up a living will” or “how to answer when a complaint or suit has been filed against you.”

Brown feels that this type of “education on a small scale” can help people to help themselves without feeling lost or overwhelmed by a legal issue.

Brown created “The National Searcher” to fulfill a need that she feels is a prominant concern in society. “Today’s trend is toward the family and keeping it together,” Brown said. “The National Searcher is to help people. That’s what it’s all about,” she added.

Brown left no stone unturned when preparing herself for this added responsibility. She takes “The National Searcher” very seriously.

In fact, Brown has gone back to school to learn desktop publishing, layout and other related skills that she feels will help her make the magazine a success. Brown enrolled at Utah Valley Community College which is located what she calls “a stone’s throw” from the popular Brigham Young University.

Brown depends on her new skills more than one might think. Limited funds have made it impossible for Brown to hire any type of staff. She does almost all of the work herself. However, a small group of people in Brown’s community have recently volunteered their services to help lighten Brown’s workload.

Surprisingly enough, her eagerness and devotion have been answered by little more than rejection and skepticism. Brown sent approximately 500 letters to various major publications, adoption groups and police departments nationwide.

These letters gave their recipients some backround information on “The National Searcher” in addition to asking for some help for her cause. The letters to the police departments requested that they become involved by submitting a list of their current missing criminals.

The letters to the major newspapers asked that they help by enlightening the public about the service the magazine provides. Brown’s letters also asked adoption organizations for their support and any possible input they might have for the magazine.

Out of the over 500 letters sent to all 50 states, Brown has presently received only five responses. One of the responses was initiated by a police force in the state of New York who answered Brown’s letter by having her investigated for fraud. Ironically enough, the New York City Police Department, a different police force than the aforementioned, was more than willing to help and sent Brown a complete list of the information she needed.

Brown, of course, passed the investigation with flying colors, and emerged undaunted from a barrage of criticism. She states quite emphatically that she will continue to send more letters as long as the need exists. Brown’s courage in her endeavor is accented by her perserverence.

She admits she does expect some cynicism. “Not too many people want to trust you if you don’t have the experience,” Brown said. However, she views this resistance as a minor, temporary obstacle. Brown has no intention whatsoever of abandoning her magazine. “I have nothing to lose by trying,” she said.

Brown later confessed, however, that she does get impatient. Getting the magazine ready for publication has been a long, slow moving event. Brown’s primary concern at the moment is gathering enough information and material to begin the publicaton process.

Brown feels that once she gets “The National Searcher” into circulation people will take her much more seriously. “If it flys, it will fly big,” Brown said of her magazine.

Until the fall publication begins, Brown is continuously accepting material for print and dutifully writes her letters to the public.

In the future, Brown plans to solicit her ideas to the television media and targets shows such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and “America’s Most Wanted.” Brown has no doubt that her idea will succeed, but added “I hope to lose about a hundred pounds before I go on the air.”