[TheForge] insurance for demonstrators

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

given the reasons given in the letter sent out by 'ye olde world history
foundation' for the cancelation and inability to secure new coverage
there are not many choice out there. given the current climate in the
insurance business i have serious doubts that coverage will be found at
an affordable price. 

with many state attorney generals investigating the insurance brokers
and insurnace companys for wrong doings. the largest insurance broker,
marsh & mclennan cos, forcing the chairman and chief executive
officer,  jeffrey w. greenberg, to resign in a bid to avoid criminal
prosecution. the insurance industry is basically in turmoil.

the alternative would be for those 17,000 members of 'ye olde world
history foundation' to setup a 'captive insurance' company. if each
member paid $500.00 usd to capitalize the 'captive insurance' company it
would be a good starting point. 17,000 * $500.00 usd == $8,500,000.00
usd. figure $500,000.00 usd would be spent on the legal paperwork and
filings to form the 'captive insurance' company. claims would be paid
out of the remaining $8,000,000.00 usd. google for 'captive insurance'.
avoid any management firms that are offshore particularly located in
bermuda.

the problem even the 'captive insurance' company would have would be
what is covered. if an event to subjected to a terrorist attack and
there are large number of casualities and injuried, is that covered.
most insurance companys now have the 'act of war or act of terrorism'
clause. 

basically, events are either going to cease to exist due to no
affordable insurance coverage, or state legislatures will pass laws
exempting such events from having insurance coverage and liability.

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004, Daniel Kretchmar wrote:

daniel> 
daniel> Greetings,
daniel>    I have asked to demonstrate blacksmithing at a civil war event.  Unlike the
daniel> SCA, this event requires demonstrators to have their own insurance. I have
daniel> always had demonstrators insurance through membership in "Ye Olde World History
daniel> Foundation".  It is a blanket organization that provides insurance for it's
daniel> members at a group rate.  Unfortunately, they recently had their policy
daniel> canceled.  Most Ren faire people that I know, get (got-past tense) their
daniel> insurance through this organization. If I had to get a personal policy, it
daniel> would cost me over $1000 per event and that would eliminate any smithing at
daniel> events.
daniel> 
daniel> Anyone know where I can get insurance for demos?  Any other blanket insurance
daniel> groups out there?
daniel> 
daniel> Daniel Kretchmar
daniel> www.irontreeworks.com
daniel> 

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>