The State Society continues to receive questions about chapters obtaining liability insurance coverage. As many chapters have found out, the venues where they meet are requiring chapters to show proof of insurance coverage. Churches, rental halls and the like, are now requiring chapters to have insurance. Generally, restaurants, hotels, and country clubs do not require chapters to have separate liability coverage.
The state regent has spent a lot of time this past year calling, emailing, and meeting with insurance agencies. It has been determined that the State Society cannot make general liability coverage available to chapters under some sort of “blanket” policy. In the past we have recommended that chapters talk to their personal homeowners or business insurance agents, and check out Costco or other inexpensive insurance.
Many chapters have asked about “one day riders” to cover events held at venues that require insurance coverage. It has been recommended that chapter regents speak to their own personal insurance agent about this or seek out a company that will give one-day insurance coverage. The other alternative is to change the meeting venue to a place that does not require coverage. Yet another alternative is to go ahead and get full liability coverage to protect your chapter all during the year as it performs its activities.
Some important things to remember:
1. If your chapter is having an event where alcohol is served, the State Society’s insurer has indicated that if the beverages are being served in a members’ home, the homeowner get a one-day insurance rider to cover the liability of serving alcohol. If chapters are meeting and serving alcohol in a rental facility that requires you to show proof of liability insurance, make sure your insurer knows that you are going to serve alcohol.
2. Chapters that meet in members’ homes should have a copy of the certificate of homeowner’s insurance from the member hosting the meeting. Surprisingly, many people do not have homeowner’s insurance. By way of example, remember the big Oakland fire in 1991 where dozens of huge mansions were totally destroyed? Many of those homeowners did not have insurance.
3. Do you regularly carpool in your chapter? If so, it is wise for members who do the driving to produce a certificate of automobile coverage. This protects the members and the chapter. Once again, many people do not carry auto insurance even though it is required by law, or they carry minimal limits that would not be adequate in the event of an accident. In addition to your chapter acquiring liability coverage, you should ask your insurance agent about including “hired and non-hired” automobile coverage. This will protect the chapter when its volunteers are driving during their DAR volunteer activities.
Concerns regarding how to pay for liability coverage have been expressed. Many chapters have opted to add a per member charge to their dues notices indicating that it is a mandatory fee for chapter insurance coverage.
Your insurance agent will ask you to fill out an application indicating the types of activities your chapter performs, how many meetings per year, how long you have been in existence, how many members, whether you participate in more risky activities like parades; and you will be asked how your organization should be classified. Your chapter should be listed on an application as a “patriotic women’s volunteer organization.”
In discussing these issues with the agency that insures the State Society, we are advised that chapters may contact this agency to inquire about liability coverage and to ask questions:
Lisa Taylor, Agent ISU Derby Insurance Associates, Inc. Phone: 626.963.8581 Fax: 626.335.2160 Email: lisa@isuderby.com License #0583803
If you have any questions, please contact this officer.
Debbie Jamison
State Regent
regent@californiadar.org