Volume XX Number 8

Communities

Ask Evelyn

STC Chapters and Liability Insurance

By Evelyn McCamey, STC Community Relations Manager

Why Should My Chapter Have Liability Insurance?

The purpose of liability insurance for STC chapters is to protect the officers of the chapter should an incident occur. For example, if you’re holding an STC event and you do not have liability coverage, there’s nothing to stop an injured party from filing a suit against your chapter. Furthermore, because chapters are not incorporated, there’s nothing to stop an injured party from filing a suit against your chapter’s administrative council members as volunteer officers of STC. This means that the exposed assets of individual chapter officers could be seized to pay for damages associated with a chapter event.

It is also important to ensure that all of the facilities in which you hold your events have liability coverage. Most facilities already have coverage, but remember that this protects the facility itself, not the party or parties holding the event.

International Chapters

Our insurance carrier covers chapters located in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada. All other international chapters are responsible for obtaining liability coverage in accordance with individual national laws.

It is to your advantage to have liability coverage. All eligible STC chapters will be added to the Society’s overall liability coverage policy when it is renewed for 2008. All other chapters should take steps to obtain coverage as well.

Certificates of Insurance

Should a facility ask for a certificate of insurance from you while you’re planning an event, you may request that certificate from the STC office. Certificates are sent directly to the facility that makes the request. The insurance company will not send them to the Society or your chapter. When you contact the STC office, please be sure to include the full mailing address and contact information of the facility that has made the request. STC’s insurance carrier can fax the certificate of insurance within twenty-four to forty-eight hours, so please be sure to also include the fax and telephone number of the facility when you make your request.

If you have any questions about liability insurance for your chapter, please contact Evelyn McCamey, STC Community Relations Manager, at +1 (571) 366-1919 or evelyn.mccamey@stc.org. Additional information will also be sent to chapter presidents and treasurers.