Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling Clubs

Please remember that you can always be sued for negligence.
A Waiver can not remove this right.
If you are taking members on outings its the 
clubs' or leader's responsibility to know the skills of the group
and to NOT take anyone into a situation that they are not skilled for.
By having every member take a skill test and rating your paddling
adventures you can help mitigate the risk of suing. This is because you
have taken steps to reduce the risk.

Niels Henriksen
Ottawa, Canada

>>>
>>>Use a waiver and go have fun but use common sense.  This concern has been 
>>>mentioned many times but I haven't heard of and don't know anyone that is 
>>>aware of a paddling club being sued.  It may have happened, but I haven't
>>>heard or read of it.  I'd be sure everyone understands that I am a trip
>>>coordinator and not a guide or expert and everyone is responsible for their
>>>own safety.  Check liability laws in your state.  It might be beneficial
>>>to incorporate your club to protect the club and its members from being
>>>sued for the negligent acts of a club member acting as a club representative.  
>>>I don't know if this is significant if you are not collecting dues. 
>>>
>
>by all means, use a good waiver. and then have LOTS of fun!! sadly, the
>RMCC club pres, relayed a short story to us, at our winter meeting. he now
>lives on the other side of the state, and says there is a club there...
>but they never run trips, because someone told them a story about being
>sued. now they are looking at adopting our waiver. we have people sign
>them to become a member, and then again at the start of each trip. we've
>not had any problems at all. we do have a couple lawyers in the club, and
>they've reviewed it, and it should stand up in court. we also pray we
>never need to find out.

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