[TheForge] Events vs. Liability insurance (was: Grants?)

[Bruce Freeman]

David,

If the IBA has a lot of money or isn't incorporated, insurance costs
may be an issue.  If not, what's the worry?

Get a reasonably written injury-release consent form written, and
write into it a mediation provision, so cases can't go to court.
Avoid negligence lawsuits that could "breach the corporate veil" by
appointing a safety nazi empowered to kick out anyone doing something
stupid (no eye protection, long sleeves at machinery, etc.) - with no
back-talk permitted from any instructor or participant.  At this
point, if an accident occurs, the chances of the participant
prevailing financially against the organization are much reduced.

NJBA has minimal insurance, reasonable enforcement of safety
practices, and lots of instructional venues, and we've never had a
problem.

I suggest you also insist participants join IBA.    Being a member
makes you feel part of the organization doing the instruction.  I once
saw a long-time member of another chapter get what could have been a
nasty burn on the hand during a bronze-pouring workshop.  The crucible
tongs were inadequate, and in a court that could have been taken as
negligence on the part of the organization.  Did he sue?  No.
Fortunately, he reacted correctly to get away from the hot metal.
Then he put his hand on ice and kept it there for the next day or so,
and suffered no permanent injuries.  The fact that he was "used to
getting burned" helped, but being a participant in the group probably
helped more.

The REALLY important thing is to insulate individuals and institutions
from heavy liability by means of the "corporate veil" and practices
that disregard safety.  Make safety rules, write them down, and
enforce them.

On Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 11:05 PM, David Childress <trollkeep at gmail.com> wrote:
> Since this came up and I think I can keep my daughters from going into
> computer withdrawal.  I am Vice President of the Indiana Blacksmithing
> Assocation a 501(c)3 organization and I would like to arrange for
> blacksmithing classes for the public and the Board keeps saying that
> we can not even afford the insurance little alone the space to be able
> to do this.  I do not even know were to begin about arranging funding
> but I am willing to learn and pretty stubborn.  Has anyone out there
> ever done such a thing and is willing to lend assistance.
>
> David Childress
>
> On 3/6/09, Jonathan Barnhart <blakkpawss at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> I've been trying for a long time to set up a shop, but something always
>> happens financially to keep me from moving forward.  Someone suggested that
>> i should start looking for grants.  I tried looking around on the net and so
>> far they mostly seem to be for non profit organizations.  Does anyone here
>> have any experience with grants and if so is there any such thing as grants
>> for individual artists these days?
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Bruce
NJ

The total lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working.