VOLUNTEER CENTRE ANSWERS QUESTIONS Help’s at hand HELP’S AT Hand, a weekly feature by the North Shore Infor- mation and Volunteer Centre, an- swers questions about and discusses such topics as govern- men? pcelicics and programs, benefits, consumer and _ legal rights, taxation and public ser- vices. Answers published in this col- umn are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to specific individual cases without further consultation. wre Question: I want to buy 2 sec- ondhand car and I beve looked at several in the past few weeks. The one I really like is being sold pri- vately. Besides having the car checked mechanically, what other precautions should I take before making an offer for it? Answer: The main concern here would be to make sure that the Seller has clear title to the car. In some cases the car may have been used as security against a loan and the bank or credit union will have placed a lien on the car to ensure that it cannot be sold unti] the Joan is repaid. Take the make, year, and serial number of the car to the nearest. Motor Vehicle Branch and, for a $6 fee, they will run a computer check for you. (To be extra safe, check the serial number on the car’s registration papers against the serial number stamped on the car itself.) There is a delay of approximate- ly seven days after a lien is regis- tered before it will show up on the computer. Unfortunately, this check will not tell you if a lien has been registered in another pro- vince. Question: My 10-year-old con sent away for 2 Commando Sur- vival Kit that he saw advertised in the back of a comic book. I wrote a cheque for him to enclose with the order. The ad ssid he should expect to receive the kit in six to - eight weeks. It is now 10 weeks later and no kit. fs there anything we can do? Answer: You can try writing to the company and, if your cheque has been processed, enclose a photocopy of it with your letter. Unfortunately, shopping by mail is fraught with peril and all too often firms ‘‘disappear’’ without satisfactorily fulfilling orders. If you shop by mail in the future, check with the Consumers Association of Canada or the Bet- ter Business Bureau before order- ing, and keep a copy of the adver- tisement, as well as money order receipts or cancelled cheques. Read the advertisement carefully, par- ticularly any reference to ‘‘refund policy,’ and be aware that goods you return will have to be mailed at your own expense. Be extra cautious and remember when a deal seems “‘too good to be true” it often is. Remember we have laws in British Columbia to protect consuiners, but if you are dealing with a company out of this province it is difficult io enforce your rights. ket The North Shore Information and Volunteer Centre, a United Way agency, is located at 1060 Roosevelt Cres., North Vancouver, BC V7P 1M3, telephone 985- Society says thanks DURING NATIONAL Volunteer Week, April 9 to 15, the spotlight will be on more than 135 volunteers who gave more than 9,000 hours of their time and talent to help enrich and strengthen family life on the North Shore. The Board of Directors of North Shore Family Services Society, all of whom are volunteers, gathered recently for a photo session as part of the celebration that will take place during National Volunteer Week. Executive director Arlene Gladstone said: ‘‘the success of our agency is built on the strength of its people — including a large team of Palliative Care volunteers, Christmas Bureau volunteers, Winter Family Ball vol- unteers — as well as office and Family Drop-In Centre volunteers. ““We couldn’t do it without them,’’ she acded, ‘‘and this is the time we say: thank you volunteers for your gifts of time, talent and commit- WE MAKE THE VOLUNTEER CONNECTION NORTH SHORE INFORMATION & VOLUNTEER CENTRE Imagine the difference you can make to the community Share your skills Share your experience Share yourself 985- As a volunteer you will: - gain valuable work experience - learn sew skills - meet new people - develop potential job contacts - expand your horizons - explore new worlds - discover yourself 7138 We salute all the North Shere Volunteers NEWS photo Tom Burley MARGARET KELLY, director of the Margaret Fulton Centre, serves goodies to (left to right) staff member Grayce Boyle and volunteers Leona McPherson and Tom Holness. The April 5 dessert party was held to thank the many volunteers who are integral to the running of the centre. VOLUNTEERS HONORED THE STAFF at the Margaret Fulion Centre held an April 5 dessert party to honor the many volunteers who assist in the operation of the centre. Board members, program volunteers and staff enjoyed a pleasant social evening, and were served a fruit plate, pastries and a special cake. Volunteers provide a unique contribution to the program at the centre. The Margaret Fulton Centre, located at 11th and St. George's, offers recreation and supervised social activity for seniors and partially disabled adults. For further information on membership eligibility or volun- teer opportunities, call 980- 6116. The North Shore Family Services Society test ye . wf F _ Volunteer Board of Directors (left to right), front: Diana Whyte, Jill Flemons, Pat Orr, Teresa Watts, Ida Paddock, Sue Bauman. Back row: Ken Hanna, Jill Schine, Gary Grafton, David Rice, Richard Rees, Martin Roberts, Roy Nelson (President). Missing from photo: dudi Korbin. Thank You Volunteers! who give their time and talents to help enrich and strengthen family life on the North Shore. Paggy Pitt-Brooke (Ca.Comm.) Katy Previs RCMP. Pat Wiles Verna Williams » Bob Woodburne Dorothy Woodburne Ruth Woorsuine SanJy Woodburne . Winter Family Bait Volunteers Betty Beaton Sylvia Brewster Joan Brown dudy Christie Ginny Crawford Boffy Detmotte Norma Hamilton Ruth Hiddleston Edie Hildreth Johanne Homer Cathy Jackson Marilyn Jackson Glad Ledingham Lily Lee Carcline Mascn Rosemary Parrett-Keevil Marilyn Poole Doreen Ramage Gwen Reilly ®arb Roberts Pip Roberts Joan Sawers Pat Smith Satly Stamper tda Talt Mary Varchere Joan Thon*pson Michelle Trenter Florence Wallace Sharon Warner Donaida Weaver Sandra Whyte Val Wieczorek Diane Wills Bergie Wilson Christmas Buresu Volunteers Barbara Armour Mery! Banish Douglas Black Daniello Cantofic Rae Collier Harry Derwin Elaine Draw Pegoy Hall - N.S.Credit Union Sheila Heritage Maise Jolly Jean Kaiser Sidney MacDonald Margaret Manning Nancy/Michelie North Shore Firemen Kay O'Neill! Leo O'Neill Margaret O'Neill Shane O'Neill Allan Orr Pat Ore ida Paddock Connie Penningtan Iris Pennington Thomas Stringer September Pennington Susan Summers Tom Pennington NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK APRIL 9-15 Special Interest Volunteers Carot Bouskill John Calder John Bouskill Georgs Jarvis Grace Boyle Fanny Kiefer Joan Brown Terry David Mulligan Pam Buckman Tazeem Nathoo William Clare Charlotte Nelson Marian Easton Rosemary Parrett-Keevil Vivian Eaton Doreen Flamage vill Flemons Wayne Soper Betty Freeze Cindy Starr Alison Gatten Sharon Willms Doneen Goff Vera Grant Famliy Drop-in Centre Lisa Hail Volunteers Karen Hamilton Eileen Austin Penny Horvath Kay Kirkiand Gillian Hunt Mark Labrie Roland Hunter Sandy McDonald Luise lantorno Sandy McLean Bonnie Jamison Litt Tabrizzi David Johnson Anne Watson Jytte Larsen Margaret Mabea Barbara MacKenzie Kerry Lynn Menzies June Mills Gillian Morrison Ted Mousseau Roy Nelson Beth Peake Erica Ray Diane Roussin Donna Shaw Nancy Stewart Oftice Volunteers Helen Altan Elaine Mcintosh Pat Montgomery Jean Picrce Carol Slight Paillative Care Volunteers lan Andrews Brita Bater Kata Baker Percy Bell Esther Bernard