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FAQs About Joining
SCORE
What is SCORE's Vision?
SCORE's vision statement says that SCORE will be recognized as the pre-eminent
association of experienced business counselors providing professional guidance
and information through a national network of chapters, strategic alliances
and a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. This will
strengthen the local and national economy through the creation of successful
small businesses.
Who are SCORE members?
SCORE members are successful, business professionals just like you. The men and
women of SCORE have owned, operated and/or managed businesses. The skills
of business counselors represent different talents, generations, ethnic
groups and strengths. The variety of people and skills adds value to the
quality of SCORE's business advice. Knoxville Counselor
Bios
Do I Have To Be Retired To Join SCORE?
No. A number of SCORE members own businesses, manage corporations or own consulting
firms. These working professionals contribute to SCORE as counselors and
workshop presenters, just as our retired professionals volunteer. Both retired
and working professionals are welcome in SCORE.
How Can I Join SCORE?
To request a SCORE membership application to join SCORE contact by phone
at 865-692-0716 or email to volunteer@scoreknox.org
Why Does SCORE Interview Candidates Before Accepting Members?
There are many business people with exceptional business management skills. However,
transferring business skills into a counseling and mentoring situation requires
additional and different skills than a business owner or manager may have
used in his or her career. The interview process allows both the SCORE chapter
and the potential SCORE member to see if this volunteer opportunity is a
good fit for the organization and potential counselor.
Why Do New SCORE Members Participate in a Training Program?
All new SCORE members participate in an orientation and training program, so they
understand SCORE's mission, services and the opportunities for volunteer
participation. The Counselor Professional Development Program also
provides guidance on how to be a business counselor and apply new listening,
interviewing and problem-solving skills -- specifically to business counseling
and mentoring.
Why is SCORE important to Knoxville?
- FACT: Small businesses are a vital part of our community, and one of the most fragile.
- FACT: Nationally, 90% of all small business owners fail within three years.
- FACT: The failures of small businesses have serious repercussions throughout the community -- owners and employees are put out of work, and may have to apply for unemployment compensation. Suppliers lose business and are unable to collect monies owed them, and may even fail themselves. Local banks and financing agencies can't collect on their loans.
The Greater Knoxville SCORE Chapter provides consulting services to small businesses
and potential small business owners. We currently counsel over 1,500 individuals
each year; almost half are folks who want to start their own firms, the
other half are small business owners who are faced with problems they don't
quite know how to handle. Almost 50% of our clients are women; 10% are minorities.
While each client's situation is unique, almost all of our clients need
counseling in several areas, including marketing, finance, manufacturing,
and insurance. The whole Knoxville community benefits when SCORE is able
to provide the counseling needed to make its clients successful. If only
10% (the national average) of the clients counseled by The Greater Knoxville
SCORE Chapter are successful, this means that:
- Our community will have 120 new successful small business owners each year.
- Our community will have 60 new successful women small business owners each year.
- Our community will have12 new successful minority small business owners each year.
- If each of these businesses hires two employees, we'll have 240 new jobs each year.
- If each of these businesses buys $50,000 in supplies and services from local firms, this will add six million dollars to Knoxville's economy.
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