Answer: We receive at least one question like yours every year and we answer all of them in this column rather than by mail as they concern the reputation and prestige of our service corps in general and our chapter in particular. All of us upon joining our Corps are bound by the SCORE Code of Ethics in which confidential treatment of all information received from clients is clearly spelled out as absolutely mandatory. Every year we all renew, in writing, the pledge to observe the Code of Ethics.

As a request for counseling reaches the chapter office each case is given a number and from then on it will be known to SCORE members only by that number. Only the senior member in the chapter in charge of assigning cases and the member to whom the case is assigned will know the identity of the person or organization requesting our assistance. Our monthly meetings are held behind closed doors where we can consult our fellow members on any case but the client in question will always be referred to only by his case number. We also are careful not to mention any information that might indicate the identity of the client whose request is being discussed.