Women’s Membership to CCMS – An Insurance Issue? Not a membership requirement!

Is changing membership the appropriate solution to an insurance problem?

I understand that one of the reasons for proposing women’s membership is to address insurance arrangements for women participating in our woodworking courses.

Clearly, everyone using the Shed’s facilities should be appropriately protected, and resolving any shortcomings in our insurance arrangements should be a priority.

However, I question whether changing the constitution to provide full membership is the most appropriate solution to what may be a relatively specific insurance problem.

AMSA’s own insurance guidance cautions that making visitors and external participants into members is not necessarily an appropriate solution to insurance difficulties. It can complicate governance arrangements and may not resolve all coverage limitations.

Before considering a constitutional amendment, I believe members should be informed of:

The precise deficiency in the existing insurance arrangements.

Whether the insurer has advised in writing that full membership is necessary.

Whether specific participant insurance, additional cover or alternative arrangements have been investigated.

The costs and limitations of those alternatives.

Why an insurance issue should require a potentially permanent change to the membership and governance structure of the organisation.

I am supportive of ensuring that women attending woodworking courses have appropriate insurance protection.

However, the solution should be proportionate to the problem being addressed.

Mel White the AMSA Shed staff member responsible for insurance issues made the following statement about 6 weeks ago: Irrespective of insurance, only current financial members of the shed can operate any equipment on shed premises. ”

If an insurance arrangement can achieve that objective without fundamentally changing the nature of the Men’s Shed, surely that option deserves proper consideration before proposing constitutional change.

Reference: AMSA – Shed Insurance: A Deep Dive into Public Liability, Visitors and Outside Groups
https://mensshed.org/the-shed-online/shed-insurance-a-deep-dive-into-public-liability-insurance-insuring-the-shed-visitors-and-outside-groups/