Red Hat Insurance
We now have an insurance program in
place for our red hatters in B.C., Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario and Nova
Scotia - done with the full approval of the R.H.S. and the assistance
of the R.H.S. lawyer, Joel Wight.
New Web Site for insurance information and
application for chapters that are members of the Red Hat Society:
Please share this web site with your chapters at
your Queen's Council meeting or via a mass mailing to all chapters in
your area if you are able to do that.
Thank you.
Please note that we
are still waiting for the final cost per policy for 2008. Once we
know that and how many chapters are enrolled we can set the per
person rate for 2008.
You must
enroll/renew before February 20th so that your invoice can be
emailed to you immediately. Final payment will be due March 1st.
We expect the per
person rate to be approximately $10 and no more than $12 per person
The
policy will consist of the follow coverages and premium:
• Commercial General Liability with an each occurrence
limit of $2,000,000
• General Liability Aggregate Limit $5,000,000
• Including Personal & Bodily Injury
• Tenants Legal Liability $100,000
• Medical Payments $10,000
• Non-Owned Automobile $1,000,000
• Including Cross Liability and Volunteers as
Additional Insureds
Other information as reported on the web site:
Several Red Hatters have investigated the option of this same
coverage through their home-owners insurance and have reported
that to obtain this same coverage would cost anywhere from
$300-700 each. Some have hired their own lawyer to review our
offer and have been told they would be very wise to take the
insurance offered and foolish not to.
Letter received…from chapter on Vancouver Island:
March 28, 2007
My Vice-Queen and I just came back from seeing our lawyer. I had
previously emailed him all the information that you sent, plus I
went on the website and sent him more details on the insurance
program. After our meeting with ** he gave us the
advice to go for it (the insurance) as the package is a good one
in his estimation, plus the cost is so reasonable for each
member.
When in doubt
– Please contact your own lawyer for his advice and show him a
copy of the policy overage posted above.
Please note that
insurance policies and programs are different for each
province/state and for that reason nationwide insurance is not
possible for all of Canada or the U.S.A. For that reason it is
impossible for the R.H.S. to offer coverage for their members. A
Primary residence in the U.S.A. is protected whereby a primary
home in Canada is not. Therefore, the R.H.S. fully supports our
endeavor to provide our members with this coverage.
NOTE:
Some chapters are discovering that to enter parades and other
events, they are now being asked for “proof of insurance”
LIABILITY CAN IMPACT A REIGNING QUEEN, THE PERSON WHO SENT THE
NOTICE OF THE EVENT, OR SOMEONE WHO HAS TAKEN ON THE DUTY FOR THAT
MONTH, or just been involved in the planning of a particular
outing.
Chapters have "frequent
hostesses"
A term some insurers have dubbed
as applicable to Queens or others in their chapter. It works like
this: You may be setting up an event in a local restaurant, and
happily assume that the restaurant would be liable in the event of
any mishap. However, as a "frequent hostess", i.e., the person
organizing the outing in the first place - you could also be named
in a lawsuit just by virtue of the fact that you were arranging
for everyone to gather at that venue ... in theory, you are the
"hostess" for the event.
Two different insurance experts explained to us that you are wrong
if you believe a restaurant's insurance would cover you and your
event because it goes beyond that...
Their insurance company will come after you for reimbursement of
their loss. If you have insurance coverage through your chapter
then your home is protected. If you do not, then yes, your
homeowners policy will cover you. You will lose your claim's free
status, your insurance premium will go up but if it happened to be
a SUBSTANTIAL claim, and you're not insured to cover a claim in
the millions, you could possibly lose your home. Note that the
laws in some states are very different and a primary residence may
be protected
Entertaining in your own home
If you host a red hat event in your home, yes if properly
insured your home owners policy would most likely protect you
(check with your own insurance agency) but “our” insurance would
work as an umbrella policy offering you one more layer of
coverage. Should someone sue you, this extra layer of protection
would most likely protect them from having any effect on your
homeowners policy therefore you would not lose your home and/or
your no-claim rating, would not pay that hefty deductible and your
rates would not skyrocket for the next FIVE years.
We have the support of the Red
Hat Society:
My contact at The Red Hat Society is their lawyer, Joel Wight.
Mr. Wight has been working with my lawyer here in B.C. to help us
with setting up this insurance program. Mr. Wight said in his
letters to me “This will confirm that the Red Hat Society has no
problem with your proceeding as outlined in your email. Your
approach is consistent with the RHS position that chapters and
members should address directly any concerns they have regarding
potential liability from activities and event which they plan and
sponsor. The initiative which you have shown is commendable.” And
...“You and the others who have worked with you in British
Columbia to address your mutual concerns deserve all the credit.
Congratulations!”
From Sue Ellen Cooper:
Experience has shown that most chapter activities or group
activities do not result in legal problems. It is highly
likely that everything will go well. But accidents can happen. If
you are concerned about potential risks, you may want to obtain
event insurance.
For more information (Log in to your Member Account first)
Posted on the Red Hat Society Queen Mothers Board
November 1, 2007:
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"The
RHS's position on chapter and member insurance is that you
as a member or queen should be insured up to the point that
makes you feel comfortable." |
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