Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 19, 1990 TAG: 9006190092
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Tammy Poole
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
These organizations have not registered with nor been granted the appropriate exempt status by the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as required by law.
Contributors are cautioned that contributions to these organizations may be used for non-charitable purposes:
\ United Disabled Valley Athletes has contracted with a professional solicitor to solicit on its behalf. The solicitor is obtaining contributions by selling fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Complimentary gifts of jams and jellies may be provided when the products have been purchased. No solicitation permits have been provided by the city of Roanoke, where most of the solicitations have been made. Before making a contribution, you may want to contact the division to see if the professional solicitor has been properly registered with the state.
\ The Stars and Stripes/The National Tribune: Complaints have been made by veterans who received calls regarding a journal called "The Stars and Stripes." The caller asked veterans to purchase a personal advertising space for $25. The call was worded to make the consumer believe he was benefitting a veterans' association. Consumers also said they were told they had contributed the previous year, when such may not be the case.
\ Children's Traveling Museum/Kids Versus Drugs: The professional solicitor this organization has hired has not registered with the state. The solicitor, Community Benefits Services, also known as C.B.S. Telemarketing, asks for contributions for complimentary tickets to be given to "deserving children and the elderly" who will walk through a display of information about drugs.
The phone solicitations ask for $24 to sponsor 24 children. The division learned that in some locations the admission is free to anyone. After consumers pledge a donation, a self-addressed stamped envelope is provided to return the donation to a local street address; however, the division said the contributions are received by a local mailing company who forwards the mail to a Florida address. The solicitations also come from Florida.
\ Youth Environmental Society (Y.E.S.), also known as Flower Ascend (Y.E.S. THAT'S A F.A.C.T.): The division received a complaint after a door-to-door solicitor requested merchandise to help furnish a shelter. The organization failed to respond to the division's request to register under the Virginia Solicitation of Contributions Law.
\ Cooley's Anemia Foundation Inc.; National Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Foundation Inc.; Telecommunications Exchange for the Deaf Inc.: These organizations have not renewed their registration with or been granted the exempt status by the state.
by CNB