Treasure Valley SCORE's 100th column runs on page 12 of this issue. Most often written by volunteer C. Norman "Norm" Beckert, the SCORE column is the first in Business Insider to hit that mark.

SCORE stands for the Service Corps of Retired Executives. Beckert retired 10 years ago as Boise Cascade Corp.'s director of corporate procurement. At no charge, he and his fellow retirees counsel people of all ages who want to start businesses or face problems in businesses they already own. The solutions provide grist for Beckert's columns of practical tips and best practices.

A nationwide organization, SCORE has been in the Valley for 42 years but still isn't well-known. "Many people who want to start a business have never heard of SCORE," he says. He undertook the column to change that.

He's having some success. "We are picking up clients because of the column," he says. The local chapter's 40 volunteers hold 1,100 face-to-face sessions with clients each year, including 650 first-timers.

Last year, Beckert compiled his BI columns into a book. "The Entrepreneur's Handbook" sells for $10. You can order it from Bev Bean at SCORE, 334-1696, ext. 338. Beckert plans to update it with columns written since the first edition came out. Meanwhile, you can find the past year's worth by searching "Service Corps of Retired Executives" at IdahoStatesman.com.

Beckert says he'll keep writing as long as ideas flow. "I haven't run out of steam yet," he says.

dstaats@idahostatesman.com.