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. PAGE 10, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1975, WHITBY FREE PRESS Durham Centre volunteers hold second annual meeting The second annual meet- ing of volunteers for the Developmentally Handicap- ped was held last week, According to Elizabeth Gomes, Volunteer Services Organizer, "we have corne a long way since May of '74 when at that time the regis- tered force of volunteers nuni- bered around 15 and parti- cipated in one or two pro- grams and working 227 volunteer hours per week. The registered list of volun- teers numbers around 250, many of these people can be called on for temporary help instead of weekly parti- cipation". Mrs. Gomes highlighted special achievements of the volunteers since their first annual meeting in May 1974. "Dr. Caron, director of training, stated at that time that the role of the volunteer is virtually unlimited and the role increases and expands the longer they are with us here at Durham Centre. The statistics, I am sure, will cer- tainly exemplify these ideas". "The summer of '74 saw an average of 10-15 volunteers per day helping with the day canp five days per week for a period of two months. There was no recreation de- partment as we now know it and, without the help of the volunteers, many of the chl- dren would not have been able to get out of the resi- dence and into the fresh air", she said. Mrs. Gomes reported "in February of '75 the first vol- unteer training course had Il volunteers achieve a certifi- cate from the National Institute on Mental Retarda- tion (N.I.M.R.). The course was conducted over a period of 12 weeks and consisted of essay topicsand workshop sessions". "As volunteer coordinator I have tried to keep my sights on direct help or participa- tion with the mentally re- tarded as a top priority goal for the volunteers. If ever integration was to take on new and added meaning then the volunteers are in the fore- front of integration between the so-called normal people and the so-called mentally retarded. The achieving of a common meeting ground is being met by both. The men- tally retarded in the past have been removed from the life blood of the community and the institutions have been no more guilty than the citi- zens within the community as the most blatant and yet subtle of segregations has taken place. The move is now back to the community and volunteers are of instru- mental service. We can bring volunteers into the institu- tion to socialize with the residents. We can take the residents out to volunteer events in the community. But what happens when the residents are discharged fron the institution to survive in alien community? The kind of human service like that of volunteerism needs to be extended beyond the bound- aries of an institution", she said. Mrs. Gomes reported on the steady growth of volun- teer work from April, 1974, to October, 1975. From April 8 to June 8, 1974, the total registered volunteers numbered 101. Volunteer programs included music and classrooms. Spe- cial volunteer activities in- cluded helping to take resi- dents to a circus, participa- ting in carnival day, helping with reorganization of the children's floors and holding two picnics and a party for residents. From June 8, 1974, to' February 4, 1975, the total registered volunteers num- bered 191. Volunteers pro- grams, in addition to those already listed, included spe- ech, bingo, summer day camp floor activities, self-care, Sat- urday shopping, swimming, adult education, special edu- cational and rehabilitation programs and teen group. Special volunteer activities included helping to take res- idents to the CNE, providing a hayride and pprty, going to a floor hockey tournament in Orillia with residents, hold- ing Christmas parties, holding baseball games, donating at Christmas and helping to furnish household items to discharged residents. From February 4 to Octo- ber 20, 1975, the total regis- tered volunteers numbered 250. Volunteer programs, in addition to those already listed, included activity house, service skills, workers' J-lclub, crafts, one-to-one pro- gram and social evening. Special volunteer activities included participating at the Valentines party and carnival day, helping with an open house and the information display at the Oshawa Shop- ping Centre, holding -a base- ball game and barbecue on the beach for the residents, holding a rummage sale and helping with the fashion show. AP- The Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handi- capped's Volunteer Services was formed in April, 1975. "The committee serves to provide interest, enthusiasm and support to the volunteers at Durham Centre. The com- mittee has monthly meetings and initiates bazaars, com- munity displays and generally serves to disseminate infor- mation on what we do in a residential training facility for the developmentally handi- capped", Volunteer Services Organizer Elizabeth Gomes reported at the second annual general meeting of volunteers. Committee Chairwoman Audrey Golding said "we are a group of active volunteers who participate in prograns, have monthly meetings to share information on volun- teer activities and to act as the intermediary between al the volunteers and the volun- teer coordinator". "As yet we have not es- tablished our mandate for the committee. This is something Construction has begun on a nursery school and daycare centre in Ajax to serve the needs of the mentally retard- ed in the area. The Ajax, Pickering, Whit- by Association for the Retard- ed has been negotiating with the provincial government for some time to get a grant for such a centre. The province we are working on and hope to have completed in the near future. It has been decided to hold elections at our May general meeting", she said. Mrs. Golding reported "since our committee was formed, we held a recruit- ment rally in June, a rum- mage sale in June and a suc- cessful fashion show was held at the centre in September. We have two upcoming events planned - a bazaar and bake sale to be held in December and a banquet for volunteers is planned for sometime in the spring". "The V.S.A.C. is asking for the help and cooperation of all the volunteers for the betterment and enhancement of the lives of the mentally retarded at Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped", she said. In addition to Mrs. Golding, the V.S.A.C. exec- utive consists of Secretary- Treasurer Linda Korbak. Publicity Director Art Solo- tarow and Recruitment Direc- tor Sharon Walmsley. recently authorized the grant which will cover the entire cost of construction. In the past, the association has used the basement of St. Mark's United Church in Whiîtby as a nursery school and daycare centre. The new centre will be located at 36 Emperor Street in Ajax. IIm We have a new law in Ontario called the Business Practices Act. Its purpose is to prevent unfair business practices in sales to the public. Here's what the law does: • it prohibits false, misleading or deceptive tactics in the'sale of products and services. • it prohibits too high prices, unfair contracts and high-pressure sales methods. " helps people get their money back if a seller has taken unfair advantage of them. The Province of Ontario wants you to get your money's worth when you buy. Expensive items such as cars and homes require a lot of thought, so the Government of Ontario has prepared some simple booklets that tell you what to watch out for when you buy, explain- ing the do's and don'ts about: "Buying a Car" "Buying Real Estate" "Buying a Condominium" "Getting a Mortgage" You can also get a booklet called "Balance in the Marketplace-The Consumer's Guide to the Business Practices Act." If you would like a copy of any of these booklets, or if you wish to report an unfair business practice, write now to: Ontario Consumer Queen's Park Toronto,Ontario M4Y 1Y7 Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations Sidney Handleman, Minister OM* Province of Ontario William Davis, Premier NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF WHITBY Revision and Certification of the Assessment Commis- sioner's List - SCHOOL SUPPORT ENTRY LAST DATE FOR FILING AN APPEAL. NOVEMBER 14th, 1975 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the Municipal Act, as amended, I HAVE POSTED UP AT MY OFFICE in the Municipal Building, 405 Dundas Street West, on the 29th day of October 1975, a copy of the Assessment Commissioner's List showing the school support for ail persons who are qualified to direct taxes. The persons who are qualified to direct taxes are owners, joint owners, tenants and joint tenants. I hereby call upon ail persons qualified to direct taxes in the Town of Whitby to take immediate proceedings to have any errors corrected, the last day of appeal being the 14th day of November 1975. Revision of the list for a change in school support will commence on November 17th, 1975 at 10:00 a.m. in the Municipal Building, 405 Dundas Street West. . Appeal forms for alternations of your school support are available at my office. Dated at the Town of Whitby this 29th day of October, 1975. Wm. H. Wallace, A.M.C.T., CLERK Topwn of Whitby 405 Eundas Street West Whitby, Ontario M I committee needs volunteers Deceptive bus"iness practices hurt everyone. This is what Ontario s doing to protect you. Daycare centre for area retarded