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 Activity/Event Wavers (currently 1,663 views) |
| CeltWsdm4 |
| Posted on: October 20th, 2004, 10:26pm |
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Hi everyone!
I just wanted an opinion on something. How would you feel if everytime you went on a homeschool group fieldtrip, attended an event, or participated in an activity - you were asked to sign a waver saying that you would not hold the coordinator/volunteer responsable?
I was wondering if any other groups already do this.
The reason I bring this topic up is because I found out that one of our group's homeschool parents threatened to sue our volunteer for a certain group event that we have annually. It was outragous! There was no valid reason behind the threat. This parent was simply trying to intimidate the volunteer. >
It brought up a good question though -
Should homeschool groups make wavers for parents to sign, releasing coordinators from liability?
I'd love to hear what others think about this.  Thanks! |
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| KBarrera |
| Posted on: October 20th, 2004, 11:08pm |
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I feel kind of weird replying to this because we havent moved there yet. But I can tell you what the group we started here does. We have a fairly detailed, conscious agreement between our members; and liability is one of these agreements. In order to be invited to any "members" events you have to agree not to hold someone else liable. We also dont do "drop off" events for this reason too. We have NEVER EVER had anyone threaten to sue someone. We are however a very small group. This wasnt really a focus to our membership agreement, but it did come up and we all agreed that it would possibly deter a huge nightmare if we just nipped it from the beginning. I will also say that we dont have anyone sign anything, but your post makes me wonder. Im so sorry to hear that this has happened! I cant even imagine!!! Was this at someones home or just a regular public event? Just curious...
Hope this helps.
Basically I would suggest if you really felt it necessary (which apparently it must be) than I would maybe have a one time waiver signed, rather than with each trip or event.
Kari |
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| Admin |
| Posted on: October 21st, 2004, 4:02am |
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| We don't have waivers yet in our group yet, but have discussed them. I think we may start doing this if we get a little bigger and our members aren't so well acquainted anymore. We require a fair amount of participation in our group, and I think that helps with people knowing and respecting each other, but I can see how it could be a problem in the future. I'm sorry to hear that this happened -- you like to think of these things as being very rare occurrences, but are they? |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| dallin2001 |
| Posted on: October 21st, 2004, 5:59am |
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Elizabeth,
In my opinion, we are pretty much there. You never know who will sue you. The potential for money can cause people to do things you wouldn't expect. I have watched those who had once been close friends (I say had been because I lost respect for them when these situations happened.) sue other close friends over minor injuries, such as a sprained ankle. I hate to not be able to ever fully trust people, but that is reality. Or, maybe, for now, it is just California. But, even if it is just California for now, it is only a matter of time before it comes to a courthouse near you. I'd rather be prepared, than be New Mexico's guinea pig.
-Kari |
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| KBarrera |
| Posted on: October 21st, 2004, 4:57pm |
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Elizabeth,
I was relieved to read your post on here. I was wondering how big you guys are? It is "looking" like our move could be sometime after Christmas (HOPING) and I have started telling our kids about a group out in Alb. They are nervous, as am I. We do better in smaller group settings, but are really excited to learn more about your coop group when we arrive.  Our group here only has 12 families in it so far. Combined though we have 36 kids (I believe). So that is a good amount of little people running around a park!
I will keep you guys posted as to our move and again, I am really looking forward to meeting you all soon!
Kari in VA |
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| Admin |
| Posted on: October 21st, 2004, 8:47pm |
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| Hi KariB. Looking forward to meeting you. We have something like 25-30 families. However, we have so many activities that not everyone goes to everything. I'd say that on average, we get 4-8 families attending most activities. Partly this is because we have so many activities (usually between 2 and 5 per week) and partly it may be because our families are spread over a wide area. For example, if we have a park day or a fire station tour on the west side of town, many eastsiders won't be there. Similarly, if we have a class or a craft group on the east side of town, many westsiders won't be there. Oddly, our park days are perhaps the least attended of any of our activities, which I find weird. Maybe that'll change now that we have a "park day coordinator" to plan activities for the winter... |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| LisaSilva |
| Posted on: October 21st, 2004, 11:23pm |
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Ladies,
With some of my other groups we sign a form that states we will adhere to the guidelines (a list of rules for fieldtrips), a waiver that covers any event sponsered by the group or the coordinators, a notice that this is not a daycare and you can not "drop off" your kids, someone must be incharge of them, and agree not to bring "extra's" along on any event unless they are members of the group. (Members defined as paid contributors to the newsletters) and active participants/sponsors of activities. The group just got so big (100+ families) that it became a big concern.
Then as those of you know that take the classes that I coordinate, Liablitly Waivers were required in order to attend any classes at the church at all.
It's too bad that this has happened with your group Barbara, but I myself would think about making the waivers mandatory for your group as well.
If we get much bigger, we too may want to think about it.
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| Admin |
| Posted on: October 22nd, 2004, 1:00am |
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Posts: 1,794
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| By the way, Barbara. If you're interested in a sample liability waiver, I think I still have the one I signed for MOMS Club, and I think that was a pretty good one. Let me know. |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| CeltWsdm4 |
| Posted on: October 22nd, 2004, 3:16pm |
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Quoted from Admin, posted October 22nd, 2004, 1:00am at hereBy the way, Barbara. If you're interested in a sample liability waiver, I think I still have the one I signed for MOMS Club, and I think that was a pretty good one. Let me know. |
Hi Elizabeth,
I'd love a copy, if it's not a bother. Our group is becoming so large, and I fear that situations like this are inevitable. Can you email it? If not, I'd be happy to cover postage. Thanks!! |
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| CeltWsdm4 |
| Posted on: October 22nd, 2004, 3:51pm |
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Quoted from dallin2001, posted October 21st, 2004, 5:59am at here
In my opinion, we are pretty much there. You never know who will sue you. The potential for money can cause people to do things you wouldn't expect.
I hate to not be able to ever fully trust people, but that is reality. Or, maybe, for now, it is just California.
-Kari
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Kari,
I don't think it's just CA. Some might laugh, but I actually consider Santa Fe like a little Berkley. LOL! (We lived in SF,CA - on Treasure Island <military> - for a year, and used to drive through Berkley from time to time.)
I think it's throughout our country. It seems much of our society is becoming so "ME" oriented <self centered>. You see it all the time. People get angry if they're inconvenienced in the slightest. Unfortunately, some act upon that anger. What happened to patience, manners, and making the best of your situation?! It appears to have been thrown out the window. Apparently, some people think the way to make the best of their situation is to profit by sueing. What a shame! Even more of a shame - that an ungreatful homeschool parent would stoop to such an intimidation tactic (threatening to sue) with someone who freely volunteered their time to coordinate, which made it possible for the other parent's child to attent an event. Our group has a hard enough time getting volunteers to coordinate events/activities. I imagine if something isn't put into place to prevent this type of possible behavior, our events/activities might actually almost cease to exist. No one's going to want to risk it.
Well, I personally think it's a reasonable request, and wouldn't mind signing a "Release of Liability" waver, myself. Maybe that's because I coordinate a lot of things for our group, and see the potential risk involved. I'm saddened that it seems to have come to this, though. |
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| CeltWsdm4 |
| Posted on: October 22nd, 2004, 4:04pm |
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Quoted from LisaSilva, posted October 21st, 2004, 11:23pm at hereLadies,
With some of my other groups we sign a form that states we will adhere to the guidelines (a list of rules for fieldtrips), a waiver that covers any event sponsered by the group or the coordinators, a notice that this is not a daycare and you can not "drop off" your kids, someone must be incharge of them, and agree not to bring "extra's" along on any event unless they are members of the group. (Members defined as paid contributors to the newsletters) and active participants/sponsors of activities. The group just got so big (100+ families) that it became a big concern.
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Hi Lisa!
Could I get a copy to use as a guideline? I like the idea of having some general rules for field trips, as well. Parents sometimes need to be reminded that their child's behavior could effect whether homeschoolers are invited back to a place, and that it reflects upon all homeschoolers. As for the "no drop off" policy..........ouuuu, don't get me started. 
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| Admin |
| Posted on: October 22nd, 2004, 4:16pm |
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Posts: 1,794
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Lisa, could I have a copy, too?
Barbara, the form's in the mail to you. Let me know if you have trouble viewing it. |
Elizabeth
Mom to Eric (8 ) and Ruby (4.5) |
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| dallin2001 |
| Posted on: October 24th, 2004, 5:38am |
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Barb-
I can, in some ways, see the relationship between Bezerkley and and Santa Fe, although I find Santa Fe much more charming. One of my brothers just completed his doctorate at Berkeley. He and his family really enjoyed living there, but it is just too close to the city.
You know, there has been talk about turning Treasure Island into an amusement park, although I don't know where that all stands now. I've been gone too long.
In regards to the sue happy nation, there are just so many things that I see in NM that I never would have seen in CA. (I grew up in Auburn, almost in the middle between Berkeley and Reno.) Here I've seen countless shoping carts and restaurant high chairs with broken seat belts. Here I've seen downed street lights streched across the sidewalk, waiting to trip someone. Here I've seen broken glass windows, sitting out for any child to play with in our old apt. complex. In CA you would never see those things. They are law suits waiting to happen. I can see the pros and cons to both. In CA, there are fewer safety hazards. In NM, people tend to be more tolerant of human error, or maybe they just don't yet realize that there is money to be made by "tripping" over the downed light or allowing your three year old to get cut on the broken glass.
As long as lawyers and insurance agents run our society(I can pick on lawyers, I come from a family of them...good ones, not ambulance chasers.), precautions are something we have to take to protect ourselves from those who seek opportunities to make money off of others simple mistakes.
-Kari |
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