Insurance and World's Biggest

[jim]

OK, we found out in January that the Park District has asked the club to provide or purchase insurance for any larger event we have at Bevier. Particularly the World's Biggest and Widdershins. After meeting with Mike Trigg today, I found that the insurance is much more than originally conveyed to us. The cost is $150 per day per event. That's a $75 cost for the insurance plus another $75 non-detailed fee, totalling $150 PER DAY. The fee is for/from the insurane policy holder; I do not believe the WPD gets any of this money.

This changes things. $300 off the top (payable soon) is steep and not in our coffers. We either need to:

(1) Raise (double?) the entry fees for both the WB and Widdershins;

(2) Have no payouts;

(3) Get a sponsor (or two) pronto who is willing to put up cash (in exchange for advertising); or

(4) Change our plan.

I do not want the players to pay out their noses. I do not expect people to show up if the payouts are BS. I would LOVE to get a local sponsor who wants their logo on the website, on flyers, and maybe on t-shirts. I think we can do this, but we must do it fast!  Ops Committee - and anyone else who could help - please let me know what you need to get a local business to come up with some cash. $50 or $100 will be great. We'll just need a couple of them. :-)  Please pound on a door or two.

Another alternative: Have both events, the World's Biggest AND the Widdershins, on the same day. We can have the WB from 8am until 2 or 3pm, then take a break and do the Widdershins at 4 or 5pm.

Please post what you think or need. It's coming fast and we need to settle this insurance issue within 2 or 3 weeks.

[mirth]

You would think that the people putting on the WB would have some kind of assistance for these things.... Either that or are most other courses running without insurance?

It seems odd that we would be the only people required to carry insurance for that event.

Can't the Parks help us out at all?



If you want, maybe give West's insurance a call... At least then we could get an idea as to what it costs elsewhere.



Also, she suggested that maybe we'd want to pick up a general liability policy that is in-force for a year... it could be less expensive in the long run, especially if we run more than 5 or 6 events. Of course, it would be more cash upfront....



West's phone number is 847-623-0456. Ask for Beth... She's not the right person to talk to, but she can get you to the correct people.

[mirth]

If we need to raise capital in a hurry, we could always sell some of the club discs to local places that sell plastic... I know the Walgreens on the corner of Buckley & 21 sells discs, there is the Sports Authority at Gurnee Mills, then some other places further away. We could even add $1 to the non-member price if they bite.



Also, I know that Sandy Point's pro shop likes to carry unusual discs.



We could even carry a few to events at other local courses such as leagues @ Parkside (and again, the Union there sells discs....), leagues at [shudder] Libertyville, etc.

[mirth]

The insurance I mentioned, and again - give Beth a call!, would be year round coverage that would cover any club event.... leagues, tourneys, anything that is put on by the club.



Based on the little I could answer for her, she came up with a guesstimate of about 750 for a one year policy.

If the club puts on 6 more more events that WPD would require insurance for within a 12 month period, we begin to save money...



Its just an idea, not to mention its not a bad idea to shop around to be sure we're getting a good rate from the parks dept.



Now, get back on topic kids!

[mirth]

Yes, my wife is an agent for West's insurance. She isn't the correct person to talk to, but she can get you to the right people.



Seeing how you are the club president, I think its better for you to call & talk to them... especially since I couldn't answer all of the questions she was asking yesterday.



And one note on the policy, if it works like an auto policy, for example, then it would cover the CLUB for any events we put on regardless of location... Just like how an auto policy covers the car, regardless of who's driving.



Call her! :)

[jim]

Yes, the course will be all ours.  If we do them the same day, I would rather have the contests at the end of the WB, and have the WB most of the day because the public is unpredictable and can show up late or early - and often do. I found this out last year. 5 folks showed as we were packing up. Also, most of the public that shows will not play in the tourney, so why make them wait 3 hours for the tourney to end?  Also, I want to keep the WB contests seperate from the tourney because we could have some good player come out and win all the WB prizes; that would not be fair to the public and/or kids.  We could have an extra CTP or distance contest after the tourney just for the players.  Hey - that's an idea!  Have a really good CTP after the Widdershins - just for Widd players. Charge $1 a shot, with as many shots as you want.  Winner gets half the money, the club gets half.

[jim]

Excellent, Smithers!  I will bring some by the Walgreens and Mobil and White Hen in Libertyville tomorrow to see if they bite.  I used to buy all my discs there for years; maybe they'l remember my ugly mug.

Mirth, can you contact Sandy Point and find out if they might be interested?  We have no Glows, no Archangels, and very few Eagles. We can send some JLSs, Q-JLSs, heavier Cheetahs, and a few others.

Brent, can you hit Sports Authority?  If time is a problem, let me know.

THANKS EVERYONE!

[jim]

The Sports Authority was for Brent, who has the contact info. Regarding insurance, it covers medical and property, but only for ONE DAY at a time.  Each day it will cost us $150. I can understand it for larger crowds (50 and over), but not for leagues or casual play.  There is no need or precident.  If the WPD demands insurance for the Juniors leagues, well then, we either scrap them or hold them somewhere else. But this has not been discussed, nor will I bring it up to the WPD.  However, I expect the Junior League reps (Bill and Brett and Angela) to talk to every parent and get a waiver signed.  I will provide a whole pad of 'em before JL starts.

[jim]

That's raw!  I heard a rumor that there will be a dunk tank at the WB, which you trigger by hitting a target with a disc.  Rumor has it that YOU will be a shaven and spanked dunkmonkey!

[jim]

My brain is suffering from advanced decrepidity; I cannot remember talking about this. Your wife does insurance?  I believe we would need a general liability policy for members and public. It would cover only events at Bevier Park, I would imagine. I dunno.  Shall I call her or would you rather handle it?  Lt me know. And I am sorry for having holes in my memory. And my socks.

[jim]

FABULOUS NEWS!!!  I spoke with the Waukegan Park District's Safety Risk Manager at length over the past few days and convinced her that we do not need insurance this year!  If we grow to over 35 members, then we will need to have insurance for our larger events at Beiver NEXT year.

I believe that going with a general policy for the whole year is the way to go for 2003, and I will be speaking to Beth about it, but the rush is no longer needed.

So the WB will remain on Saturday and the Widdershins will remn on Sunday!  YEAH!!!!

[CEValkyrie]

I think it would be ok to have both on the same day but I would have the Biggest from 9-noon then start the tournament. That way players won't get too tired but they have a few hours in the morning to practice. After the tournament open it up & have the skill contests & prizes. This would keep people from jetting right after the tourney. I think this may work better anyway. People don't have to commit the whole weekend, just a Saturday.

[CEValkyrie]

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vanmaster_b]

I like the idea of having both on the same day. If we have a tournament, does that mean the course is closed for other people to play casually?

[vanmaster_b]

Brent or Brett?  :)





I meant to ask about the insurance issue but forgot. Is this insurance for medical coverage in case someone gets hurt, or is it for property damage? ...and if we decide to be insured for the whole year, does that mean every time a club member plays at Bevier he/she is insured for damages?

[vanmaster_b]

You da' man.



So hey Jim, are you getting any real work done today? Here's another fun idea: for the rest of Best Shot, let's call Brett Brent, and Brent Brett. Won't that be just hilarious! I'm laughing just thinking about it. O the fun we'll have.

[vanmaster_b]

The rumor is true. However the tank may not be filled with water. It will be filled with either rubbing alcohol or live flexh eating eels.