[Rockhounds] rock club insurance

[Alan Silverstein]

Gang, for your interest...  I just learned from our club treasurer that
the Rocky Mountain Federation (one of the members of the American
Federation) lost its umbrella insurance coverage, and is looking to
replace it.  I hope the author of the following text, already widely
disseminated, won't mind me sharing some excerpts anonymously:

  ...Firemen's Fund has canceled the RMFMS insurance policy that
  provided optional general club liability insurance.  We thought that
  we had found a replacement company, Hartford, but that has not worked
  out, either.  53 clubs have paid for the optional insurance coverage.
  If another carrier cannot be found, I will be refunding the insurance
  premiums that have been paid.  In the meantime, if your club needs
  liability insurance coverage immediately, you will have no choice but
  to find another carrier.  Please let me know if you do and I will
  refund your premium upon notice.  I will keep you posted of any
  further news...

  The problem apparently stems from the problems with AIG's reinsurance
  business.  The carriers of this type of commercial insurance get it
  reinsured in order to spread the risk, and the reinsurance business
  has suddenly become very limited on what will be reinsured.

Interesting times...

I guess our club will have to pay close attention and/or look for local
insurance option soon, before running any field trips.  Fortunately
we're a small enough club that we don't own any shop space, equipment,
etc.

Cheers,
Alan Silverstein