Insurance Program

FGS National Insurance Program for Genealogical Societies

Insurance is an important, often ignored, aspect of running your genealogical society. If someone is injured while attending your meeting, if fire damages books in your library, if a statement is made in your newsletter that a person considers libelous, your society and possibly the members of your board of directors may be involved in costly litigation that might ultimately award money to the complaining party. It is therefore important that you have insurance to protect your society in the event of such occurences.

The Federation of Genealogical Societies is proud to announce a new benefit for member societies: The FGS Insurance Program. In association with Acordia Insurance Services of Southern California, we have developed a series of insurance plans for member societies of the Federation. It provides one-stop shopping for a variety of coverages at low cost. If you already have some of these types of insurance plans, cost compare. We tested the rates for our plan against what some societies are currently paying and our rates were cheaper. FGS itself expects to save 25% on its current general liability and directors liability insurance.

You don't have to get all the coverages; pick and choose those plans that apply to your organization. Note that the descriptions below are a general overview of what each policy covers. The actual terms and conditions are defined in the policy itself.

Comprehensive General Liability

Carrier: Travelers Insurance Company. Provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate and personal injury for $1,000,000. Example: Someone attending your meeting trips over the microphone cord set up for the lecture and is injured. This insurance will cover your society for such an event.

Property Coverage

Carrier: Travelers Insurance Company. Provides coverage for fire and special form perils (excludes earthquake and flood) on libraries, computer equipment (up to $10,000), furniture and fixtures. Coverage included for exhibitions ($10,000), property at other premises ($10,000), valuable papers including electronic media ($25,000) and property in transit ($10,000). Example: You store your books at the institution where you hold your meetings. A fire at the institution destroys these books. This insurance will cover your society for such an event.

Blanket Fidelity Bond

Carrier: Travelers Insurance Company. Provides "dishonesty" coverage for those handling money and includes all the board members on a blanket basis. Example: You discover that your treasurer has been misappropriating funds. This insurance will cover your society for such an event. It requires that you implement certain controls to minimize risk.

Directors and Officers Liability

Carrier: Executive Risk Indemnity Inc. Provides a $1,000,000 limit for wrongful acts, breach of duty, neglect, error, misleading statement, of the members of the board (and the entity itself) with defense coverage outside the limit. Covers defamation, infringement of copyright or trademark, and other improper activities associated with your newsletter or internet activity. Protects the association against lawsuits claiming mismanagement of funds held in trust by the directors of the association acting within their capacity as trustees. Examples: Some activity of your society injures a person and in the lawsuit filed by the injured party, they name any or all members of the board of directors as defendants. Your editor makes a statement in your newsletter that someone considers libelous. You run a bulletin board on the Internet where someone posts a message someone considers libelous. You raise funds for some specific activity and a contributor claims you did not use the funds properly.

How To Apply or Get More Information

To get application forms or get more information about any of the above plans, send a letter, on society stationery, to: