[Linux-aus] Public Liability Insurance for Lug's.

[Dave Davey]

On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 02:01:51AM +1000, John Ferlito wrote:
> Hi Russell,
> 
> The short answer is that LA cannot provide PLI insurance to LUGs as it
> has done in the past. The long answer including our proposed solution
> is outlined below.

I'm involved in a regional arts group in Tasmania which operates independently
but as a branch of Tasmanian Regional Arts.  As a branch we must pay an
annual fee to TRA (a modest $35) and a capitation fee for each of our
members ($6).  One of the benefits of being a branch is that our activities
are covered by the TRA's insurance, for personal injury when running events
(members and volunteers), for public liability, and for loss or damage to
property involved in events (which particularly when we run chamber music
concerts involving expensive instruments is quite important).  The money we
pay to TRA almost completely goes to paying for the insurance.

This branch model, which is probably more structured and formal than
a subcommittee one, might be worth considering for LA and the LUGs.

Dave

> 
> On Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 11:19:38AM +1000, Russell Stuart wrote:
> > The University of Queensland, which is where we (Humbug) currently hold
> > our meetings, generously provides the rooms for free.  However they do
> > want to sight a Public Liability Insurance policy.  In previous years LA
> > has provided one.  However, I understand LA may be not be doing this any
> > more.
> > 
> > Could the council clarify the provision of Public Liability Insurance
> > for LUG's?
> 
> I'm glad you asked. I'm was going to include some information on this
> in my next President's report but I'll move it up a bit.
> 
> As you may have noticed from the council meeting minutes, a few months
> ago I performed an audit of the existing insurance policy held by
> Linux Australia.
> 
> The outcome of this audit was that we did not have sufficient cover
> for all of the activities we were undertaking. We engaged David Fisk
> of OAMPS to investigate our options in terms of insurance.
> 
> We now have three new insurance policies, the old one having been
> cancelled. These policies are
> 
> - Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Insurance
> - Public and Products Liability Insurance
> - Association Liability Insurance
> 
> The first covers us for volunteers, something that we have not had
> previously. Some what useful seeing as we are a volunteer run
> organisation.
> 
> The second is the usual PLI and covers the types of events that LA is
> involved with, most importantly running conferences, workshops and LUG
> meetings.
> 
> The third covers the members of the council and sub-committees in the
> event that any sort of legal action is taken against Linux Australia.
> 
> We also have pre approval for Events Cancellation Insurance. We
> haven't purchased any yet for LCA as we need a more finalised budget
> than we have now and we need to evaluate what we actually get for it
> and whether it is valuable to us or not.
> 
> So that is where Linux Australia currently stands in terms of
> Insurance.
> 
> In the past Linux Australia has extended coverage to LUGs as well as
> events like OSDC. The advice I received from our previous insurer as
> well as our current insurer is that this type of arrangement is simply
> not possible.
> 
> We can only provide coverage for events which are run by Linux
> Australia and under our ABN. We cannot provide coverage to third party
> organisations.
> 
> This is one reason why events like PyCon have been organised as LA
> sub-committees similar to LCA so that as well as bank accounts, filing
> of BASs and other support provided by LA, they can also take advantage
> of our insurance. There are a number of other Australian FOSS
> conference, Wordcamp, Drupal Down Under etc who are interested in
> similar arrangements.
> 
> What I would like to propose is that we set up a framework in which
> LUGs can become sub-committees of Linux Australia. This will provide
> the required PLI coverage as well as some other basic services.
> 
> Unfortunately the council has not had time to put a proposal together
> as to how this would work. We will try to achieve that in the next few
> weeks.
> 
> At least one LUG chomping at the bit and indicating that they are
> interested will definitely move this process along more quickly.
> 
> Cheers,
> John
> 
> 
> -- 
> John
> Blog                             http://www.inodes.org
> LCA2011                          http://www.lca2011.org.au
> 
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-- 
David F. Davey
D'Entrecasteaux                                       Phone: +61 3 6267 4852
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Kettering                                               Fax: +61 3 6267 4791
Tasmania 7155
Australia                                            daved at windclimber.id.au