[OSGeo-Discuss] Director's Insurance (Chickens, Boards and Export Restrictions)

[Cameron Shorter]

Insurance for office bearers is something I think is important and 
something I seriously consider when taking responsibility.

While I enjoy giving a lot of my time to something I believe in, I don't 
want to put my house on the line in case I make a stupid decision.
In taking my role as FOSS4G2009 committee chair, I first confirmed that 
I have no legal rights to approve finances (since I have no insurance). 
This is not a desirable situation.

Frank Warmerdam wrote:
> Bruce.Bannerman at dpi.vic.gov.au wrote:
>> Some Local Chapters are going through this process currently, e.g. 
>> OSGeo-AustNZ.
>>
>> We will need to incorporate as a non profit within Australia with its 
>> overheads of audits, annual fees etc.
>>
>> One potential upside is that we may get some protection by way of 
>> Directors Insurance for people making decisions on behalf of OSGeo  
>> (or the local chapter).
>
> Bruce,
>
> Are you suggesting that the local chapter would be taking out directors
> insurance?  At the OSGeo global level I believe we don't yet have 
> directors
> insurance though we are looking into getting it (or perhaps we just 
> got it
> recently).  But that would not apply to local chapters which we make some
> effort to treat as separate entities to avoid cross-liability.  For 
> instance,
> we recently clarified that OSGeo local chapter representatives are not
> automatically OSGeo officers at the global level.
>
> So, my point is that local chapters should not assume that being an
> official chapter gives them any sort of insurance protection 
> automatically.
>
>> During the recent FOSS4G-2009 work, several of us were left high and 
>> dry with no protection from the parent body. This situation is not 
>> acceptable.
>
> Well, people need to judge acceptable risk, and act accordingly.  In the
> past FOSS4G organizers have accepted the potential liability that comes
> with the role, with the exception that we generally have venue insurance
> for problems that occur on site during the conference (slip and fall, 
> etc).
>
> Best regards,


-- 
Cameron Shorter
Geospatial Systems Architect
Tel: +61 (0)2 8570 5050
Mob: +61 (0)419 142 254

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