I, a more or less retired personal financial advisor, have been preparing income tax returns at no cost for a few years as a volunteer, trained by the Income Tax people, in clinics which they organize - in your neighbouring province of Ontario.

This year I put some effort into getting out the word to more low-income people (singles under $20,000., couples under $25,000.) of the service's availability in this area, through churches, food banks and other social service agencies. The income tax people run the info on TV spots - one interview was with the administrator of a clinic in a local mall, a retiree who's member of the church that I attend (who, a former executive in good health, does over 1,100 hours of volunteer work annually, including co-ordinating the local unit of CrimeStoppers).

At our appreciation meeting, I found that, while the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency have organized several clinics in this city and in various local counties, there is none in a county where I served as clergyperson over twenty years ago but that county is under the supervision of our local office.

So - I plan to contact officials, service agencies, churches, etc. in that area to see whether we can get clinics organized in a number of towns for next year, with volunteers trained to operate them.

I suggest that many of you seniors in the U.S. and Canada volunteer for such service, if it interests you. Also check to see whether this service is offered extensively in your area and work toward such a goal. If not, perhaps you along with others could encourage its development.

Many of you live in other countries: does your country's income tax department offer such a service? If not, why not? Encourage various religious groups and other social service agencies to lobby your government to offer such a service.

If they are reluctant, get those groups to publicize the issue before the public: more or less shame them into it.

Good wishes to you and yours - summer's a great time to add some new blooms to the beautiful bouquet of variegated flowers of the life that you've been putting together for years. (I hope that your neighbours will say at your wake that your bouquet propogated a lovely smell, as well.)

joyful guy

Until recently, I served on the board of directors of an RSVP chapter (Retired and Senior Volunteers), and found it very rewarding to help seniors find meaningful volunteer work. It's truly amazing, when you see the numbers, how many hours of work these wonderful people contribute to their communities. (All work has to be done in not-for-profit or governmental agencies.)