One of the few laws passed by our legislators in recent years that has actually enhanced the quality of life in Connecticut was legislation that allows state residents to put themselves on a “No Call” list maintained by the Department of Consumer Protection that shields them from telemarketers. For the past year and half, it has become possible to make it through dinner without getting up from the table to discuss home security systems with someone intent on invading the privacy of your family’s dinner hour in hopes of making a buck through some fast talking.

Exempted from this law, however, are tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations, including their paid phone solicitors. What most people do not realize when paid telemarketers call is that while they may be collecting funds for nonprofit charitable and civic organizations, the solicitors themselves are far from nonprofit.

Last week, the state attorney general’s office and the Department of Consumer Protection issued their annual report on paid telephone fundraising in the state, which showed that Connecticut residents contributed $8.6 million in 2000 to charitable and nonprofit civic organizations through paid solicitors. Of that amount, only $2.9 million made it to these groups. The solicitors pocketed two-thirds of the money.

The biggest users of these paid telemarketers are police, firefighters, and other public safety groups. (Some Newtown groups have used paid solicitors in the past, but most do their own fundraising now.) While these public service groups deserve and need support from the public, people also need to know that the money they contribute to these causes is going where they intend. The best way to do this is to ask questions. The attorney general and Department of Consumer Protection have offered the following sound advice to residents who are asked for donations over the phone:

* Make sure you know which organization is asking for money. Many charities have similar sounding names.

* Ask how and where the donation will be used. Do not accept vague answers.

* Ask whether the person calling is being paid and what percentage of the donation goes to the organization.

* Never agree to give over the telephone; ask for written information to be sent.

* Never give cash or agree to have someone pick up a contribution.

The best strategy to prevent paid telemarketers from exploiting the good will and public support earned by the dedicated public servants they claim to represent is to skip the middleman. Hang up on the solicitor, sit down and write a check, and send it directly to the group you wish to support.