[Paddlewise] Club Safety

Hi Folks-

I have been thinking about Richard Culpeper's post on club
safety and trip leadership for the last few days.  Our club (Twin
Cities Sea Kayaking Club- Minneapolis) is also grappling with the same
issues raised, partly due to the fact that in the last three years our 
club has grown from five people who knew each other pretty well to about
sixty (I think membership just about doubled last year). While some of
these points have been discussed in a general way during the last few
weeks, I would like to hear specifically from members of other clubs on
how they have dealt with the following questions-

Are trip leaders for your club strictly organizers or are they expected to
be responsible for safety of participants?  What are their
responsibilities in the event of an emergency?

What, if any, are the requirements in terms of skills, training or
certifications for trip leaders?  For participants? 

Does your club have any sort of process for approving trips or trip
leaders?

Do you have trip ratings such as beginning, intermediate and advanced?  If
so, how do you define the different ratings?  

To answer Richard's question, our six member board of directors is
currently considering forming a safety committee.  Initially, at least,
the policies that need to be worked out seem too complex to leave to one
person.

Some of the discussion about safety rules and/or guidelines in 
our club has to do with liability issues.  So these next questions are
for any attorneys on the list, or any other clubs that have
experience with the legal aspects of club safety.  

Our club is incorporated, we do have a liability waiver (for what it's
worth) and since we are a chapter of the ACA (American Canoe Association)
our trips are covered by their liability insurance. But some are
concerned that we have not covered our butts legally, and that safety
rules may be required for this reason in addition to ensuring the safety
of our club members.  Is there any information on this, maybe from clubs
who do other activities such as ww kayaking or mountaineering?
 
Personally, I worry that too much obsessing about liability will result
in no club activities at all.  But then, I have no good information on how
much of a concern lawsuits should be.  Are there any examples of clubs or
club members being sued?  Are there any cases of club activities resulting
in fatalities in sea kayaking?  I sincerely hope the answer to these
question is "no"!

I would really appreciate any feedback from other clubs who have faced or
are facing these questions.

Thanks!
Sarah Ohmann


On Sat, 28 Feb 1998, Richard Culpeper wrote:

> Large Club Safety Oversight Function
> 
> The discussion concerning waivers, the discussion concerning group
> dynamics, and the rapid growth in popularity in paddling have got me
> scratching my head over how clubs can improve the safety of their
> trips.  I thought I might take a look at the old chestnut of trip
> organizers v. trip leaders in large clubs.  A review of the problem
> large clubs are having in this area has led me to the conclusion that
> large clubs should consider having a person or committee in an oversight
> role with the function of  looking at safety throughout the club and its
> activities.


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************