Re: 2 Deep: Begin and End
Settummanque, the blackeagle (waltoml@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU)
Wed, 30 Mar 1994 14:39:15 CST
Susan Ganther <susan@GIBBS.OIT.UNC.EDU> writes:
>Our Troop is insured through the local council....
Huh? ALL units are insured through their local Council for GENERAL
LIABILITY. Here's a copy of what I've found a few minutes ago for Jim
McCullars (Jim's doing a session on Insurance for his District's
Roundtable and asked me to research some stuff on the BSA Insurance
policies):
> Now I need clarification about something. You and Kathie alluded to a
>$5M policy that is in force to protect the volunteers. Where would I find
>details about that? I really don't believe such an animal exists.
The policy is listed in several BSA publications....I couldn't find
any reference to insurance in the present Scoutmasters' Handbook; in
the current Troop Committee Guidebook, it is listed under
"Conprehensive General Liability Insurance" on page 86.
The coverage, as stated, provides protection for anyone in a official
role in Scouting, WHETHER THEY ARE REGISTERED OR NOT; their units, the
local Council and their officials, for any liability claims resulting
from negligence in the performance of their duties in Scouting.
The insurance does NOT take the place of any volunteer's personal
liability insurance (why they want volunteers to get their own!), nor
does it provide for medical payments for injuries. And of course, the
BSA's coverage is in excess of those that can be obtained from other
parties (in other words, its a secondary policy as opposed to a
primary one).
The Exploring Reference Guide is a little more specific as to whom is
covered under the insurance: " The policy covers the local Scouting
Council (including posts or ships), the National Council, all Scouting
officials, employees, chartered organizations, donors and volunteer
workers, young adult leaders, and certificate holders by special
endorsement.
The insured parties are covered for sums which they shall become
legally obligated to pay as damages to third parties because of bodily
injury or property damage caused by an occurance arising out of or in
the course of Exploring functions and activities and *as excess over
other valid and collectible insurance carried by volunteers or
chartered organizations*." (Exploring Reference Guide, page 5.
, so if I were in your
>position, as the Committee Chair, I would talk to the District Exec and find
>out for certain what kind of liability situation you and the other
>Committee members as well as the Chartered Organization face if you are
>allowing unregistered guests which do not match the guidelines for safe
>Scouting. If you or the Chartered Organization face any liability exposure
>as a result of the SM taking the boy along, then you have a right to put a
>stop to it.
The answers are in the preceding paragraphs, Susan. If your unit has
additional insurance, I would double check it.
>This brings up another question, where does this policy leave those of us
>who plan to have a family campout yearly for the Cubs and their families?
The same place where its' always been...the families and others
involved are also covered AS LONG AS IT'S A CUB SCOUTING event and
particularily if it is held at the Council's camping facility. Make
sure that you file a local Tour Permit and meet any other local
Council prerequists (sp) beforehand.
2 Deep leadership STARTS with everyone being aware of the policy
(including *your* Council's interpretation of that policy). It ENDS
with the implementation of the policy, good, bad or otherwise.
However (and I say this ONLY because we've been at this topic for well
over a month, and that the vast majority of our questions were
answered one way or another during the past week and a half), I would
like to move onward with another topic and leave this one behind for a
while.
In doing so, I would like to ask the list the following question:
In the course of a Troop meeting, a police officer comes by the Troop
meeting place and asks to speak to one of the "leaders in charge".
The Senior Patrol Leader goes to speak to the officer and explains
that he's the leader of the Troop. The officer wants to speak with
an adult and the Scoutmaster comes over and talks with the policeman.
It seems that earlier that evening, the parents of one of the boys in
the Troop killed his wife, dog, and then himself after being depressed
for a period of time...(the Scoutmaster and several of the boys
noticed this, but said nothing to anyone about it). Now, the
Scoutmaster has to tell the boy that his parents are dead. While the
Scoutmaster felt that he dealt with the situation well enough, the
boy, now staying with his grandparents in the same town, is still
attending Troop meetings and outings but has become a "loner".
The Troop has a upcoming "Dad and Lad" weekend set up, which the
Troop's Committee has been working on for several months before this
occurance.
The BSA does not have any training dealing with grief or anger or
any other emotional situations; several local Councils do have
successful programs (not this one!) Should the BSA invest time and
money in training our adults in those aspects? Should the volunteers
in a District work with local agencies to provide that kind of training
to its volunteers?
And how would *you* deal with this situation, as the Scoutmaster OR as
the Troop Committee Chair (that was the main planner of the this
special weekend coming up)? Should you *cancel* or *do it and plan
something special to observe the passing*?
And finally, should the Troop members (youth and adult) attend the
funeral of the parents? Craig (the person I am asking for) has
already sent flowers and a nice card to the kid's grandparents on
behalf of the Troop. Should the Troop be exposed to death?
Settummanque!
--
Settummanque, the blackeagle... (MAJ) Mike L. Walton (
___)_
(h) 502-782-7992 (f) 502-781-7279 (w) 502-782-7467 |-=-|]
3201-D Cave Springs Avenue -- Greenwood, KY 42104-4439 -=====-
Internet: WALTOML@WKUVX1.WKU.EDU/America OnLine: KYBLKEAGLE@AOL.COM
"Not speaking for WKU......................but I do speak well!!"
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
