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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.
In association with Wells Fargo Insurance (formerly Acordia Insurance Services of Southern California),
FGS has 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.
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: C N A 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: C N A 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: C N A 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 Get More Information
To get application forms or get more information about any of
the above plans, send a letter on your society stationery, to:
FGS Insurance Program
Jim Kelch, Administrator
Wells Fargo Insurance
15303 Ventura Blvd., Suite 700
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-3197
Email: jim_kelch@wellsfargois.com
Phone: (818) 464-9407
Fax: (818) 464-9398
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