Certificate of Insurance

[Old Timer]

Our church allows outside groups to use the building for meetings. Our insurance carrier has requested we require certificates of insurance (a photocopy) prior to letting the group use the building (1MM of liability coverage recommended). For most groups this is not a porblem as they have coverage from the master organization such as scouts, AA, WeightWatchers, etc. But in some cases, it is a small group like a garden club and they do not have insurance.

However, they are willing to purchase it but can't seem to find an agent to sell it to them. Does anyone have any ideas on what we can recommend in these situations? Is there an on-line option for this (not sure how I'd search for it or if what I found was appropriate as I am mostly P&C illiterate :-? )?

Thanks for any help or suggestions you might have.

Old Timer

[joeorez]

Our insurance carrier has requested we require certificates of insurance ...


Ask the insurance company if they will sell such insurance.

Or ask the insurance company if they know who does.

Or ask the church's insurance agent if he/she knows who does.

Unfortunately, I guess a minimum premium for a million dollar liability limit for a garden club might be more expensive than they can afford.

[Old Timer]

Thanks for the reply. Our agent says that they do not offer this coverage nor can the Church's policy be set up in such a way that we can cover them.

[Mulan]

I would think that the personal insurance of the officers of the garden club would be sufficient proof of responsibility.

The Church's insurance company should clarify what "proof of insurance" is acceptable to them in this situation. Maybe there is a "hold harmless" the officers can sign?

[BassFreq]

Try asking in the "Hard-to-Place Accounts" (http://www.insurancejournal.com/forums/index.php?showforum=1) forum

[11pecans]

make all members of the garden club honorary church members or consider them potential proselytes

call their meetings church functions and an opportunity to build fellowship and community

don't require them to pay to use the facilities, but intimate that a donation is encouraged (they might also volunteer to do a little church gardening)