Minutes of June 12, 2018 Scribe: Ian Burgess
The meeting was called to order by President Alex Soutar at 12:15 pm.
The President notified the attendees that this was a club assembly being held to verify and discuss information distributed with respect to "waiver" requirements from Spruce Meadows regarding our parking agreement with them.
Visiting guests and Rotarians included only Don Taylor from South Calgary. He received our usual guest's welcome.
Bob Montgomery offered to order Stampede Shirts for any club members who wished them.
George Kimura, President Elect, announced that Bart was not too well and was even looking to surrender the chair of the program committee, if a suitable candidate can be found.
A date with the Okotoks Dawgs was announced by Terry Green. The price for the usual seating and steak dinner was announced as $37. We will need between 20 and 40 guests to make it work. (Confirmation by July 17/18, please!)
Anthony as Foundation Chair, presented Paul Harris Fellowships to Paul Gaudett (courtesy of Gwynneth Gourley) and to Al Pettigrew (+6).
Joe Hooper on behalf of the club members who helped parking at the official opening of the new Atco buildings on Crowchild Trail presented the cheque for $1500 from Atco.
Sunshine committee report from Pat Hutchinson was that Bart was awful, with a lung infection. He had started some new medicine and felt better and hoped to return next week. (The truth is he showed up at the President's dinner and wowed us with his one-liners!)
50/50 draw was won by Albert Amaniampong. (Sergeant at Arms was cancelled!)
Last week's speaker was acknowledge by a number of members as having made an exceptional presentation.
As there was no guest speaker, the Chair dismissed guests and those who were not involved with our discussion of the Spruce Meadows request of a Volunteer Waiver from Calgary Chinook Volunteer members.
President Alex asked the members to make their comments or ask their questions re more information on the subject of the waiver.
Tammy Truman and Bill Stemp were asked to take the podium to answer questions posed by the members.
Hank asked about the risk to the members. Tammy pointed out that the member is injured personally the responsibility falls on him or her alone. Spruce Meadows is denying any liability. (Rotary's Master policy does give some small coverage.)
Rhea wanted to discuss the waiver and whether defining the scope of our activities would or could modify our need to sign the waiver.
Bill suggested that if you signed the waiver you were on your own.
Dave asked who wrote the waiver, and why now after our forty plus years of no actions nor claims. He was advised, that although not Rotary actions, SMs insurers had 26 law suits last year.
Several members made the broad statement that waivers were a fact of life. Jim Hennessy observed that insurance was available but at considerable cost. Garth S suggested that Linda Southern required individual policies, not group.
Lew Christie questioned whether there were other ways to deal with SM.
Joe Hooper commented on his association with SM since '82 and noted that other groups that worked with us were prepared to sign, including Red Deer Lake and some others. Joe included himself in those willing to take the risk. Al Holt raised the issue that the Club would need a similar waiver from any members who signed the Spruce Meadows one and worked on the grounds representing Rotary Chinook, otherwise the club would now be open to lawsuits, etc.
There is some risk at other things we do. However there was some indication that the club would like to try to explore some avenue for us to work with SM still available.
The Chair adjourn the meeting at 1:35pm having heard from most of the club members present, individually. Alex said he would discuss further steps with the Board and the executive.
