Our organization, the oldest consumer advocacy agency of its kind in America, has relied on good Maine people to volunteer to help us get important work done.

Since our creation in 1972, we have done key casework and mediation services for our business and individual members as well as serving as a resource for the general public. This has been done, almost exclusively, with dedicated volunteers.

Some of our more than a dozen volunteers have been with us for more than two decades, and we could not be happier with the quality and consistency of work they have done. From time to time, more of our volunteers transition out of our agency than into our happy crew. This is one of those times.

Remember that popular poster from the second World War, “Uncle Sam wants YOU,” complete with the lanky, bearded gentleman wearing stars-and-stripes clothing and pointing his index finger? In similar fashion, we at Northeast COMBAT are asking for you to join us for a tour of volunteer duty of unspecified duration. Don’t let the “COMBAT” name frighten you. We are a peaceful yet persistent band of brothers and sisters galvanized for a common goal: fostering collaborative trade in the Maine marketplace and elsewhere. We need you.

We provide a professional office environment, second-to-none in-service training, and an opportunity to grow, should you be selected as a member of our volunteer team. Our needs are many and quite varied. Here are but a few positions:

Clerical: Because of the nature and volume of the documented casework our office handles, we require a support team to type letters, help with mailings and to support caseworkers so they are more effective with their clients. Confidentiality is a large part of our services. Good greeting, reception and phone-answering skills also are useful to our group.

Custodial: If we had a volunteer or two for just a few hours a week for general custodial services, this would be terrific. Not rocket science, but an essential need of any organization. The secret little truth of the matter is that today our office trash is collected by the assistant director and hauled away by the executive director.

Casework: Effective casework services to our business and individual clients takes training, dedication and time. We have the best trainers in the business for those with the aptitude and commitment. Having good rapport with clients and businesspeople from all walks of life is important. The skills and experience gained at Northeast COMBAT are readily transferred to other work positions and will last a lifetime.

Special projects: There always are special projects or tasks that require a good deal of volunteer time and effort. We always seek to utilize the special skills of our volunteers whenever possible.

Our scheduling of volunteers can be quite flexible and is based on needs of the agency and volunteer availability. Whether you have two hours a week to contribute or 20, we would like to chat with you. For information, please send a letter of interest and include a resume, if possible, to Volunteers, Northeast COMBAT, 109 State St., Bangor 04401, or send an e-mail to bangorgp@yahoo.com. Please, no phone calls or drop-ins. If one of your 2006 New Year’s promises is to provide more service to your community, Northeast COMBAT may be your solution.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit organization. For help, write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.