Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070165
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But even so, SCORE wants more.
The rhyme was intended.
SCORE - Service Corps of Retired Executives Association - is a nonprofit organization made up of retired business executives who spend some of their time helping small businesses get started, expanded, modernized or whatever.
"We have skills in all fields," said Joseph Vaeth, chairman of SCORE's Roanoke chapter. "When we bring them all together, we can perform a valuable service for a person."
The agency handled more than 1,000 cases in 1993, said Bob Carter, SCORE's Virginia district manager. That is an average of more than 80 cases a month - and more clients are wanted.
Carter formerly was Rocky Mount plant manager for the Burris Corp., and Vaeth was president of Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies Inc.
The Roanoke chapter is one of 13 in Virginia and 350 nationwide. All operate under the auspices of the Small Business Administration to offer confidential counseling, training and workshops, business information and business management help.
"And we're free," Vaeth said. "There is no cost for the counselors."
The only charge is $25 for workshops, although some workshops are free.
The Roanoke Chapter has 24 retired business executives on its staff. They work from an office in the Poff Federal Building in Roanoke and from three satellite offices in Blacksburg, Radford and Covington.
Vaeth said the counselors who operate SCORE donate their time because they want to help people.
"We want to give back to the community some of what has been given to us," he said.
Vaeth is quick to point out that executives do not have to be retired to work with the agency. They need to have business skills and the time to donate an average of one-half to one day a week.
SCORE offers workshops throughout the year. The next one in Roanoke, at 8:30 a.m. April 20 at the Roanoke Valley Graduate Center on Church Avenue in downtown Roanoke, is aimed at prospective business owners. It will cover all aspects of business management for those planning to start their own businesses as well as those already in business.
There is a $25 fee for this workshop, and participation is limited to 45.
Applications for the workshop are being handled by the Blue Ridge Small Business Development Center, which operates out of the offices of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce at 310 First St. S.W.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***